Location: Jakarta
Top Things to do in Jakarta
What to do and see in Jakarta, Java: The Best Budget-friendly Things to do
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. Museum Bank Indonesia
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,078 reviews
Once the first banks of Indonesia, now a museum of banking in Indonesia.
Reviewed By JackieLeeCanada
I've visited many museum in Jakarta because I love to get to know to Indonesia's history. I will say this museum is the best museum all over the city. Eventhough, their main focus is for the Indonesia's economic history.
3. 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.
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. National Museum
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 1,663 reviews
In 1778, the Batavia Society for Arts and Science established what would become, after many expansions and name changes, the world-famous National Museum.
Reviewed By nariswari05 - Jakarta, Indonesia
Been there watching the perform of didi ninik thowok actually.. i think with a very affordable entrance fee (only 5000 rupiahs for adult), everything is beyond expectation. The museum have so many things to see about history (statue, guns, pledge, gold jewerly and so many more and it'all well maintained and it's clean...
6. Textile Museum (Museum Tekstil)
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 175 reviews
At this museum tourists learn the history and methods of the traditional art of Javanese batik.
Reviewed By ratihmira - Jakarta, Indonesia
One of recommended place to visit while u are in jakarta. This is was old building. Located very near to the biggest shopping centre in Jakarta Tanah Abang so might busy for access. The building was nice and historical. It used to be the village belong the French people during colonial time. When we go inside the museum, we can see textile collections, not only batik but also tenun, songket, and more. For those people who wants to learn making batik, this is the right place. We can see and learn how to making batik. With simple patterns. Not a big size of batik but it's really cool and awesome to learn by ur self and bring it home. And it's not too expensive also. In pendopo, we can learn how making that. And the local guide would also accompany and explain us alot also about batik and the processing, and give every best suggestion for creating wonderful batik with our own style. If u have ur own idea with ur own pattern for making batik, just do that. The place also was calm and cold since alot of big trees here. Not so noisy. We can also sit and relax under the tree and enjoy our drink. If u wanna buy souvenir also, this museum has options for souvenirs. Easy for public transportation. And also good place to visit for learning Batik as one of world heritage from Indonesia.
7. Wayang Museum
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 541 reviews
This museum exhibits a great many wayang kulit, two-dimensional puppets used in the ancient art of Javanese storytelling.
Reviewed By DipuKV - Pune, India
The museum gives you an excellent view of the varied aspects of the culture of this diverse nation via the various forms of puppets and musical instruments.
8. 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.
9. Beautiful Indonesia in Miniature Park
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 2,289 reviews
Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (TMII) merupakan suatu kawasan taman wisata bertema budaya Indonesia di Jakarta Timur dengan area seluas kurang lebih 150 hektar atau 1,5 kilometer persegi. Taman ini merupakan rangkuman kebudayaan bangsa Indonesia, yang mencakup berbagai aspek kehidupan sehari-hari masyarakat 33 provinsi Indonesia (pada tahun 1975) yang ditampilkan dalam anjungan daerah berarsitektur tradisional, serta menampilkan aneka busana, tarian dan tradisi daerah. Disamping itu, di tengah-tengah TMII terdapat sebuah danau yang menggambarkan miniatur kepulauan Indonesia di tengahnya, kereta gantung, berbagai museum, dan Teater IMAX Keong Mas dan Teater Tanah Airku), berbagai sarana rekreasi ini menjadikan TMIII sebagai salah satu kawasan wisata terkemuka di ibu kota.
Reviewed By rocketbabylove
Exposed to the different cultures of Indonesia, it was truly an eye-opener for me.. With the many sub-groups of what makes Indonesia as it is, I had the pleasure of getting to know which culture and tradition originated from which part of Indonesia.. A must go, if you are a historic and cultural buff..!
10. 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.
