Top Things to Do and Interesting Places to See in Jakarta

November 25, 2020 Mustafa Natalwala 3585 Views

The Special Region of Jakarta is the national capital of Indonesia, situated towards the northwestern side of the main island of the country. The city is known for a variety of fun things to do in Jakarta ranging from history, entertainment, leisure, and adventure. There is something to enjoy in each category when you visit Jakarta. Among the best places to visit in Jakarta are mosques, water parks, amusement parks, markets, beaches, entertainment centers, and more.

There are enough Jakarta tourist attractions to keep you busy for several days. There are few where you have to choose between several Jakarta attractions of the same kind. For example, there are numerous waterparks spread across the city. You can include all of them in your itinerary of the Jakarta trip, but that would leave you bored at the end of the day. There are only so many water slides one can enjoy back to back. So pick the one you think you will enjoy the most and spend a good amount of time there. Amusement parks are among the most fun things to do in Jakarta and there are plenty of those as well. Don’t worry though, we have picked out the best places to go in Jakarta for you and organized them in a 4-day itinerary in the next section.

Jakarta sightseeing is rather pleasant as you get a variety of experiences in the city. The city is known for its diversity in all aspects: food, culture, art, and more. The art scene is incredible in the city, especially contemporary art. Besides paintings and sculptures, there are several things to see in Jakarta in terms of performance arts as well. There are many Jakarta tourist spots including art galleries, theatre, performance centers, art centres, and cultural centers where you can admire the work of incredible artists. Shopping is yet another major attraction in the city. Among places to go in Jakarta for shopping are boutique shops, handicraft shops, markets, and malls. You can shop till you fall down and explore several places to see in Jakarta at the same time. Many of the markets are located quite close to tourist attractions and landmarks.

Jakarta’s trip is incomplete without exploring the beaches and islands. The beaches in Jakarta are lines along the city’s eponymous bay and the islands are situated in the same bay. You can spend an entire day enjoying a boat ride hopping from island to island, and enjoying different activities in Jakarta offered there. For those who are looking for beautiful views, the islands are the most interesting places in Jakarta. This is not to say the city is dull in any form. As much as the day is fun, the nights are even more happening. Jakarta tourist places for enjoying nightlife are as varied as they are plenty. You can enjoy sightseeing during the day & party your heart out in the evening.

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Table of Contents

Enjoy the Best Tourist Places in Jakarta in 4 Days (Travel Itinerary)

In this section, we have outlined all the top things to do in Jakarta which you can cover in 4 days.

Day 1

1. Jakarta Cathedral (St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral)

This Roman Catholic Cathedral is among the popular places to visit in Jakarta. You will need 30 to 45 minutes to explore this Cathedral.

I suggest you should go for a Guided Tour of Jakarta City to see Jakarta Cathedral and other attractions.

2. Monas Monument

Monas Monument or Indonesian National Monument celebrates the independence of the nation. There is not much to see here besides the monument so you would only need 15 to 20 minutes for this place.

3. Jakarta Old Town (Kota Tua Jakarta)

The Old Town is among the best places for Jakarta sightseeing. You can see many heritage buildings here and also several major Jakarta tourist attractions. You will need 2 to 3 hours to explore this area.

I suggest you should book a Guided Tour of Jakarta Old Town to understand the history behind this old town.

4. Taman Kembaug Sepatu (Hibiscus Park)

This large garden is dedicated to hibiscus flowers. Unless you are interested in strolling, there aren’t many fun things to do in Jakarta at this garden. You should be in and out within 30 minutes.

Day 2

1. Taman Mini Indonesia Indah

This is one of the best places to visit in Jakarta. Taman Mini is the most iconic building in the city and your Jakarta trip is incomplete without a visit here. You will need anywhere between 2 to 3 hours at this place.

I suggest you should book a Guided Tour of Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (Miniature Park) in advance.

2. Ragunan Zoo

The Zoo has numerous animals exhibited in the zoo. You can easily spend 2 hours at this Jakarta tourist attraction.

3. Istiqlal Mosque

The mosque was built in 1978 and is one of the largest for Jakarta sightseeing. You won’t need more than 30 minutes to explore this mosque.

4. Fatahillah Square

The square is one of the biggest Jakarta tourist places. The square is surrounded by many old buildings and a museum. You can spend 20 to 30 minutes at Fatahillah Square.

I suggest you should book a Guided Tour of Fatahillah Square in advance.

5. Lubang Buaya Memorial Park & Museum

This museum is one of the best places to visit in Jakarta to learn and understand the region’s culture and traditions. You will need about an hour to explore this museum.

Day 3

1. National Museum of Indonesia

It is also known as the Elephant Museum, this place tells the history of the nation. It is one of the Jakarta tourist spots to visit to gain a historical and cultural perspective on the nation. You will need a couple of hours to explore the exhibits in this museum.

I suggest you should book a Guided Tour of the National Museum of Indonesia in advance.

2. Indonesia Bank Museum

The bank outlines the history of finance and economics in the country. It also tells about the role played by the national bank in the history of Indonesia. You will need 2 hours to explore the exhibits here.

3. Wayang Museum

Wayang is a form of puppet storytelling. It is an integral part of Indonesian culture, you will need about 2 hours to explore this museum. You can even enjoy Wayang performance at this place among the top things to do in Jakarta, Indonesia.

4. Jakarta History Museum

Also known as Fatahillah Museum, it is the prime collection of Jakarta’s history. There are more than 23,000 exhibits in this place. It is one of the most interesting places in Jakarta. You will need 2 hours for this museum.

Day 4

1. Ancol Dreamland (Taman Impian Jaya Ancol)

This is yet another amusement park among places to go in Jakarta. You can spend an entire day at this place. It has several sub-parts listed below. Even the beach is adjacent to the park so you can enjoy the ocean as well near this Jakarta attraction. All the Jakar-ta tourist places listed in this day are a part of Ancol Dreamland.

2. Ocean Dream Samudra Amusement Park

This large amusement park can keep you engaged with several activities in Jakarta. You can easily spend rest of the day exploring the various rides here and rejuvenate yourself.

3. Sea World

This large aquarium exhibits marine flora and fauna for you to admire. If you tour the entire place, it will take you at least 2 hours.

4. Jakarta Beaches

The city has a long coast line owing to Jakarta bay. Beaches in Jakarta are the biggest attractions. You can enjoy leisure here or the water sports. It’s up to you. You can spend 3 hours or more here.

If you are staying for a longer time then you can check out the section that follows to get a complete list of all the Jakarta tourist attractions.

Things to do in Jakarta

Monuments, Museums & Historical Places to Visit in Jakarta

Taman Mini Indonesia
National Monument
Istiqlal Mosque
Jakarta History Museum
National Museum
Wayang Museum
Jakarta Bahari Museum
Jakarta Cathedral
Museum MACAN
Museum Bank Indonesia
Selamat Detang Monument
Taman Prasasti Museum
Museum of Textile
Monas Monument
Indonesia Museum
Proclamation of Independence Monument
Benteng Heritage Museum
Formulation of Proclamation Text Museum
Museum Layang-Layang
MOJA Museum
Museum Sumpa Pemuda
Masjid Kubah Mas
Museum Mandiri
Satriamandala Museum
Patung Dirgantara Monument

Nature & Wildlife Tourist Spots in Jakarta

Taman Suropati
Setu Babakan
Mangrove Ecotourism Park
Curug Parigi
Godongijo Ecotourism Park
Muara Angke Wildlife Refuge
Srengseng City Forest

Entertainment & Leisure Tourist Spots in Jakarta

Taman Impian Jaya Ancol
Dunia Fantasi
Ragunan Zoo
Sea World Ancol
Kidzania Jakarta
Taman Ismail Marzuki
Ocean Dream Samudra Amusement Park
Istana Merdeka
Transera Waterpark
Taman Legenda Keong Emas TMII
Trans Studio Theme Park Cibubur
Trans Snow World Juanda
Taman Situ Lembang
Situ Gintung Tourism Park
D’kandang Depok Park
Depok Fantasi Waterpark
Jakarta Planetarium
Tugu Kungstkring Paleis
Pasar Seni Arts & Crafts Center
Magic Art 3D Museum
Faunaland Ancol
Snow World International Mall Revo
Pondok Indah Water Park
Skyrink Jakarta
Gedung Kesenian
Dinosaur Adventure
Kampung Main Cipulir
J Sky Ferris wheel
Bounce Street Asia
Monas Dancing Fountain
Taman Wisata Pasir Putih

Shopping in Jakarta

Surabaya Street
Mayestik Market
Glodok Chinatown Market
International Mall
Mall Taman Anggrek
Taman Puring Market
Kalibata City

Beaches & Islands in Jakarta

Pulau Bidadari Island
Ancol Beach
Onrust Island
Kahyangan Island
Ancol Beach Pool

Offbeat Places, Tours, & Adventure in Jakarta

Hiking
Watersports
Ice Skating
Scuba Diving
Snorkelling
Speed Boat Rides

Sightseeing in Jakarta

Merdeka Square
Taman Menteng
Taman Lapangan Banteng
Wisata Kota Tua Jakarta
Taman Rekreasi Wildatika
Fatahillah
Jakarta Old Town
Taman Potret
Jembatan Kota Intan Bridge
Fatahillah Square
Taman Ayodya
Taman Langsat
Bundaran Hotel
Wisma 46

Food, Dining, Restaurants, & Street Food in Jakarta

Bandar DJakarta
OKU
Le Quartier
Plataran Dharmawangsa
Lara Djonggrang
Namaaz Dining
Bunga Rampai
Altitude Grill
Tugu Kunstkring Paleis
GIA

Where to Stay in Jakarta?

Here we have listed Top Rated Luxurious, Mid-Range and Budget Hotels in Jakarta. You can check below listed hotels for your perfect stay in Jakarta.

Luxurious Hotels

Mid-Range Hotels

Budget Hotels

Custom Tours Package in Jakarta

How to Reach Jakarta?

By Air

The best option for Jakarta travel is Soekarno Hatta International Airport located 20 kms towards the north of the city. You can get direct flights to visit Jakarta from several cities in Asia, Australia and Europe. You can reach all the best places to visit in Jakarta by bus or by taxi. If you are staying at a luxury hotel, you might also get airport pickup included in your package. The next most convenient alternative is using a cab. You will be charged higher at the airport for the cab. You can also choose between regular public buses and shuttle buses to reach your hotel or Jakarta tourist attractions.

By Road

You can get direct train for Jakarta trip from many cities and towns in Indonesia. But, international travel by train is not available owing to all the oceans surrounding the island. You can book your tickets as early as 90 days before your date of Jakarta travel. The same goes for bus travel. There are 3 major bus terminal in the city receiving buses from several cities, towns, and villages on the island. There are also tour buses available from major cities like Bandung and Surabaya which cover several fun things to do in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Even if you want to travel to by car, you have to be on the island, unless you have a car which can run on water as well. There two routes to reach Jakarta attractions by road, Route number 1 & 2. Quite easy to remember, isn’t it? Route number 1 runs west to east and through the city. There are many things to see in Jakarta located on this route. Route number 2 connects to Jakarta from the southern side. On this route too you will find several Jakarta tourist spots.

By Water

You can get ferry, boat cruise and luxury boat rides to the islands in Jakarta bay. Other than that, there are hardly any connections by water for Jakarta travel.

Image Reference

Jakarta Cathedral – CEphoto, Uwe Aranas / Wikimedia Commons
Monas Monument – Bonar Gultom / Flickr
Jakarta Old Town – J-lorentz / Wikimedia Commons
Taman Kembaug Sepatu – MrGajowy3 / PixaBay
Taman Mini Indonesia Indah – Gunawan Kartapranata / Wikimedia Commons
Ragunan Zoo –
Istiqlal Mosque – HKmPUA / Flickr
Fatahillah Square – Midori / Wikimedia Commons
Lubang Buaya Memorial Park & Museum – Chris Woodrich / Wikimedia Commons
National Museum of Indonesia – CEphoto, Uwe Aranas / Wikimedia Commons
Indonesia Bank Museum – Siska Maria Eviline / Flickr
Wayang Museum – Masgatotkaca / Wikimedia Commons
Jakarta History Museum – Rhmtdns / Wikimedia Commons
Ancol Dreamland – Riyana Fauzy / Wikimedia Commons
Ocean Dream Samundra Amusement Park – Rosiaziz10 / Wikimedia Commons
Sea World – Chicken Little / Flickr
Jakarta Beaches – Ya, saya inBaliTimur / Flickr