Location: Jakarta
Top Things to do in Jakarta
10 Free Things to do in Jakarta That You Shouldn't Miss
Chaotic, crowded, and cosmopolitan, Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, is a city of contrasts. Home to millions of people from around the world, the city is a mixture of languages and cultures, poverty and wealth. The city boasts some of the best nightlife in Asia and some of the worst traffic. Every holiday, the locals escape the pollution and the crowds to enjoy relaxing diversions like Ancol Dreamland, an amusement area featuring water parks, beaches, golf courses, and a SeaWorld.
Restaurants in Jakarta
1. Istiqlal Mosque
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,680 reviews
Indonesia's largest mosque is a sacred place of worship as well as a center for conferences, lectures and seminars.
Reviewed By erinhN4157MB
We visit this mosque with a guide from Holiday Jakarta City Tour and he showed us around mosque give us information about Moslem and Islam which is very beautiful religion. The building itself is gigantic and amazing. Love it!
2. Jakarta Cathedral
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,251 reviews
Reviewed By snavi153 - Jakarta, Indonesia
Jakarta’s neo-gothic Roman Catholic Cathedral stands on the north corner of Lapangan Banteng, or Banteng Square, which, during the Dutch colonial period was called Waterlooplein, or Waterloo Square in Central Jakarta. Today, the Cathedral stands right across Jakarta’s largest mosque, the Istiqlal Mosque. Indonesia’s first president, Soekarno, chose the site for the mosque on purpose, to symbolize the nation’s philosophy of unity in diversity, where all religions could co-exist in peace and harmony. Today, both establishments continue to cooperate with one another, especially to accommodate the parking of cars during religious festivals. The parking lot of the mosque is used by the church congregation during Easter and Christmas midnight mass, and vice versa, during Eid prayers, parking is extended to the Cathedral’s parking lot. This neo-gothic church was consecrated in 1901 having been rebuilt at the same location where previously stood the old cathedral, which was built in 1829 but collapsed in 1890. As the Dutch were Protestants and prevented the spread of the Catholic faith in the East Indies, the church was left in ruins. It was not until Napoleon Bonaparte conquered Europe, and placed his brother Lodewijk (Louis Napoleon) on the Dutch throne that Catholicism was again allowed to be spread in the archipelago. Jakarta’s Cathedral is dedicated to the Virgin Mary and is officially named Gereja Santa Maria Pelindung Diangkat ke Surga, meaning the Church of Our Lady of Assumption. A statue of Our Lady Mary stands at the front portal, facing West, with a sentence above the portal saying: “Beatam Me Dicentes omnes Generationes”, meaning: All generations shall call me blessed. Although from its appearance the church seems to be made of stone, as are neo-gothic churches in Europe, in fact, the cathedral is constructed of thick red brick that is covered with plaster and applied with patterns to mimic natural stone construction. The thick walls are made to support the teak beams to form the roof. The three spires are made from iron frame. These materials were used instead of stone because they are relatively lighter than stone masonry Above the church are three wrought iron spires, the two highest are 60 meters tall, while the central spire is 45 meters. Entering the church one sees that the cathedral is designed to form a cross. Its central aisle is 60 meters long and in front of the altars the aisle stretches 10 meters plus 5 meters to each side. There are three altars. The left is the Altar of Saint Mary which was completed in 1915, and on the right is the Altar of Saint Joseph, completed in 1922. The splendid and most important central altar and tabernacle and the gold cross are said to have been made in the Netherlands in the 19th century and installed here in 1956. Around the walls of the church are paintings of the Stations of the Cross, where before every Easter, congregations stop to meditate the sufferings of Jesus Christ to his crucifixion until his resurrection from the dead. On the south side is the statue of Pieta, showing Mother Mary carrrying Jesus Christ on her lap after his crucifixion On central right is a raised decorated pulpit with a shell shaped construction overhead for acoustics. The building itself has two floors. The upper floor used to be for the choir, but as the building has aged and there are concerns that the floor will not hold many people, the upper floor has now been converted into a museum, which holds relics for rituals during the days of the Dutch East Indies, as also the history of the spread of Catholicism in Indonesia. The Cathedral is still actively used to this day. During Easter and Christmas, when congregations overflow, tents are pitched on the parking lot to allow the hundreds to pray, by following mass through TV monitors.
3. Grand Indonesia Mall
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3,232 reviews
Reviewed By Lily18S - Jakarta, Indonesia
Good place to enjoy shopping, eating, etc. Very near to Plaza Indonesia, Grand Hyatt Hotel & Kempinski Hotel.
4. Central Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 433 reviews
Reviewed By IMJASIM
This is another big mall in Jakarta, There arre 5 floors altogether which range from clothes outlets to eating places. There is a outdoor park called Tribeca park which has a raising water fountain in the middle and at night when the lights are on is beautiful. You can eat in one of the restaurants and watch the view.
5. Aeon Mall Jakarta Garden City
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 83 reviews
Reviewed By Rachman87 - Jakarta, Indonesia
A new big mall in Bekasi that just opened early of this year (2018) (I think). This mall sell variety of items and brands from Japan which was never available in other malls in Bekasi so far. The mall itself is big and located in a newly developed (rather premium) housing area, but the access to this mall still feel limited due to development of infrastructures at the main roads towards this place. That probably also one among many the reason why this mall is not that crowded, even in weekends (aside the fact it's new and not many people might aware of its existence). Now, aside from Japanese brands, this mall also have many shops from standard famous fashion, accessories, and food brands in Jakarta and Bekasi. There is also CGV movie theater which is also cozy and quite good. Aside from that, the BIG ferris wheel outside the mall and its surrounding area also good for selfies and strolling after shopping. Now, I do feel this mall lack one important store: the book store, preferably the Japanese franchise one, particularly Kinokunniya. IF that book store opened it branch here, this would be a perfect mall (at least in my opinion).
6. Fatahillah Square
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 582 reviews
Fatahillah Square, also known as Old Batavia, is the historical district of Jakarta located in Kotas. During Dutch Colonial times in the 16th century, this was the heart of the walled city. Home to attractions such as the Jakarta History Museum and many colonial buildings, this area fills up with artisans, jugglers, and tourists on the weekends.
Reviewed By JohnA7396
Just a five minute walk either along the canal and market street, or via the bridge, village and open market from Mercure Batavia Hotel. Surrounded by Bank Museum, Red House, train station and not far from Chinatown, Fatahilla Square is a haven in the old Dutch Colonial style of architecture. There are great views of the town hall with defences, ceramic museum, post office, restaurants and the Cafe Batavia. The streets are festooned with arts and craft stalls and boutiques and various museums of interest. Artistes practice mime and puppetry, vendors offer the use of bright-pastel coloured bicycles and fancy dress. Well-orchestrated and supervised school children in their droves politely ask to survey foreigners - how can you say no? A massive museum exhibition and concert venue took up the expanse, which added to the charm of the location, and was buzzing.
7. National Monument (MONAS)
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 4,142 reviews
Built to commemorate Indonesia's independence, National Monument dominates Medan Merdeka.
Reviewed By JackieLeeCanada
This is the symbol of Indonesia's independent from Dutch colony. It's a high monument in the centre of garden. We can go to top of tower as well by elevator.
8. Jakarta Old Town
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 2,000 reviews
This is the old city of Batavia. Rundown, picturesque and a great night market.
Reviewed By LS0458
I was always interest in history to know the town or country itself, so one fine morning i went to old town by trans jakarta bus from thamrin and stop at central station old town, the you can just start walking around because there are many museums just in walking distance or you can hire bicycle for around 50.000 per hour /3 dollar , there are Fatahillah museum use to be the house of former Colonial general and cafe with old Netherland architecture, puppet museum ,indonesian currency museum ,textile museum, painting museum, ypu can also walk though chinese town with their traditional and delicious dishes with their everyday life though alley and talking with them, or you can just continue to eat at many cafe with the old building turn into cafe after lunch go further to “Rumah Merah “or red house which use to be old casinos for chinese rich at old days and continue to old harbour called Sunda Kelapa
9. Gelora Bung Karno Stadium
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 270 reviews
Reviewed By syahrul101kl
This newly renovated museum located in the sport center of Indonesia. Surrounded with all sport venues, but this stadium is the biggest one. There's also one nice coffee shop on the ground floor.
10. Flea Market at Jalan Surabaya
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 405 reviews
The Jalan Surabaya market is the place to find antiques, rare finds, and other oddities.
Reviewed By stanleisarwonohamzah
But I found more than what I expect. You can find all sorts of late 19th and early 20th century items, from framed mirror, gramophone, LP, laser discs, ceramics plates, old coins and stamps, furnitures, even luggages. But visitor that plan to buy things, better be equipped with the skill to haggle and bargain. It certainly fun for me.
