Places to Visit in Jakarta

Monumen Nasional, or Monas, is the 132-metre obelisk at the centre of Merdeka Square, topped by a flame sheathed in gold leaf. A hall in its base holds dioramas of Indonesian history, and a lift runs to an observation deck near the top with a view over central Jakarta. It is within walking distance of the National Museum and Istiqlal Mosque, so the three are usually done together.

Mesjid Istiqlal is a famous mosque in Jakarta. The mosque is so huge that it can accommodate as many as 120,000 people making it the biggest mosque in South East Asia. The mosque is an architectural delight, and resonates peace when one goes inside. It serves as the praying place for the Muslims of the country, but it is visited by everyone from all walks of life.

Museum Nasional, or the National Museum of Indonesia, is one of the premier locations to discover and understand Indonesian culture and history. With a collection that beautifully preserves nearly two hundred years of Indonesian Heritage, it is considered as one of the most comprehensive museums in the Southeast Asian region.

Ancol Luar Biasa is Indonesians' "Dreamland." Loaded with amusement rides, it is a recreational complex consisting of many sporting and leisure activites for children and adults alike. Beautiful views of the area can be enjoyed through the cable rides. Nearby is an Art market known as Pasar Seni where you'll find cafes, craft shops and art works for prices that are negotiable.

As one of the largest public squares in the world, Merdeka Square is considered an attraction worth visiting in Jakarta. Boasting of open green spaces shaded by a tree cover, well-paved roads winding all around, and Indonesia’s National Monument at its centre, it’s certainly a leisure destination for those looking to spend a quiet day exploring Jakarta City.

Kepulauan Seribu, the Thousand Islands, is a chain of 342 low coral islands running some 45 kilometres north into the Java Sea, of which only a few dozen take visitors. Fast boats leave from Ancol and Muara Angke and take an hour or two. It is the only entry here that gets you out of Jakarta altogether, and the only one that needs a full day or a night away.

Taman Mini Indonesia Indah spreads over some 250 acres in East Jakarta, built around a lake laid out as a map of the archipelago, with a pavilion for every province showing its own house style, crafts and dress. Museums, gardens and a cable car sit between them. It is far enough out, and large enough, to take most of a day rather than an hour between the central sights.

Galeri Nasional is a hub of Indonesian modern art as well as art from the rest of the world. In this museum, you will find the evolution of Indonesia through art. It has temporary and permanent museums, containing more than 1700 artworks. There is also an open air cafe where you can sit back and relax after viewing these masterpieces.

Of the museums around Fatahillah Square in Kota Tua, Museum Bank Indonesia is the one to pick if you have time for only one: air-conditioned, clearly laid out, and its route through Indonesian money from the spice trade to the 1998 crash doubles as a short history of the country. The old Javasche Bank vaults and banking hall are part of the walk.

Sea World Ancol, also known as Sea World Jakarta, is a marine aquarium that aims to provide entertainment, conservation and education in the marine domain. It comprises of 1 Main Tank, 1 Shark Tank and several small tanks. The Main Tank is the biggest aquarium in South East Asia. The owner company plans to turn this facility into the world’s largest sea park.

The Jakarta Cathedral, St Mary of the Assumption, is a neo-Gothic church completed in 1901 with three iron spires visible from some distance, and it stands directly across the road from the Istiqlal Mosque, the largest in South East Asia. The two lend each other parking at their festivals and are now joined by a tunnel. That pairing, more than the building, is the reason to come.

Long before the nation of Indonesia came into being, a Chinatown of Jakarta, previously known as Chinatown of Batavia, existed as an enclave of Chinese settlers in Dutch occupied Indonesia. Today, the remnants of the past Chinese settlement still exist with old Chinese temples designed with distinct elegant architecture still residing on these streets.

A former circular court designed to control the traffic in area, Taman Suropati is now a park where the citizens come to relax and walk their dogs. Indonesians escape from the daily humdrum of the city to be in the presence of mother nature in this area. On Sundays, you can soothe your ears with the musical lessons being played by an oopen air orchestra.

Kota Kasablanka is a typical mall in Jakarta that houses some of the well-known international brands.The upper levels of the mall consists of various restaurants and the area is known as Food Zone that has options ranging from fine dining to fast food chains.

Believed to be the 10th largest building in the world, Central Park Mall in Jakarta includes shopping spaces, an office tower, apartment buildings, and even a hotel. It draws its name from the iconic park in New York City and covers over 70,00,000 square feet in Grogol Petamburan district, West Jakarta.

Long before Jakarta turned into a modern metropolis with skyscrapers, it was colonized by the Dutch in the 15th century. The Jakarta Old Town or Kota Tua Jakarta bears reminisce of the Dutch era, with its colonial architecture and historical references.

Grand Indonesia Mall is a one-stop-shop for everything one needs after a tiring week. The place is a hub for entertainment, food, recreational and fun activities. Other than a variety of international brands that one can find here, the mall also represents the rich culture of Indonesia and its contemporary forms which are becoming quite popular nowadays.

Taman Anggrek in West Jakarta takes its name from the orchid nursery that stood on the site, and it was the first mall in the region to put an ice rink indoors. It is one shopping centre among several in this city, so it earns a place here mainly when a wet afternoon needs filling or children need somewhere to burn an hour.

Waterbom Jakarta is a waterpark for children and adults. A perfect place to visit on a hot day, the waterpark is equipped with high-quality rides for children. There are some extreme rides with high slopes and great lengths for the teenagers and adults as well, giving visitors a rush of adrenaline with its water sports and activities.

Setu Babakan is located in the Southern end of Jakarta and is very well-known amongst tourists for its cultural heritage. Also known as Situ Babakan this village is centred on a manmade lake and is dedicated to the preservation of the Betawi culture. In fact, the village is named after one such lake.

Dunia Fantasi literally means Fantasy World and it is as exciting as it sounds. It borrows the theme from Disneyland and offers rollercoasters and rides especially for those who love getting adrenaline rush. The themepark is quite huge in area, inclusive of beaches, water parks along with adventurous water sports. It is an enjoyable place for children and adults alike.

Gambir Train Station is an old station built by the Dutch government. Being one of the major stations in Jakarta, it acts a major transit points for trains heading towards other big cities around Java. The station is meant for the use of executive class trains only.

Pondok Indah Mall is two malls in the southern suburbs joined by a bridge over the road between them, and it serves the expatriate and wealthier residential districts around it rather than visitors. Prices run from high-street chains to designer. It sits a long way south of everything else on this list, so it makes sense only if you are staying nearby.

Lined with lush green trees and well-maintained gardens, the Jakarta War Cemetery is the resting place for soldiers lost their lives fighting for Indonesia against the Japanese during their World War II. Tourists visit this place to pay their respects to the brave soldiers.