48 hours in Jakarta – Weekend Edition
Jakarta In Less Than 48 Words
Once an old port city, Jakarta is now a dynamic and bustling metropolis that serves as the gateway to Indonesia’s 17,000 or so islands. It is a city of contrasts as well, with a traditional port scene, coexisting with a complex mosaic of skyscrapers a few streets away.
National Monument in Merdeka Square (Photo by ~It’s_me!)
First 24 Hours
You can arrive at the bustling city of Jakarta via the Soekarno–Hatta International Airport, which is located some 20 kilometers west of the city center. From there, you can catch a DAMRI Shuttle Bus, which will take to the heart of Jakarta. However, the most popular mode of transportation from the airport is riding a taxi to your hotel, which will take around 90 minutes and cost you IDR100,000.
The city of Jakarta covers a length of around 25 kilometers, starting from its shipyard docks at the north to the affluent suburbs of the south. It is a fairly big metropolis, and is not at all easy to navigate, especially for the first-timers. You can learn valuable tourist information at its main tourist office (Jakarta Theatre, Jalan Wahid Hasyim 9, 00 62 21 3154094, website). It is open from Mondays to Fridays from 9 am to 5 pm, and on Saturdays from 9 am to 1 pm.
CHECK IN: Get your bearings back at Jakarta’s hotels
You can arrange for a nice place to stay in during your 48 hour visit in Jakarta at one of its excellent hotels. One of the best in the city is the Hotel Mulia Senayan (Jl Asia Afrika Senayan, Jakarta, Java 10270, Indonesia, (0)21 574 7777, website). It is an elegant and stylish hotel, with spacious rooms and excellent service.
Hotel Mulia Senayan (Photo from Google images)
A nice alternative is the Mandarin Oriental (Jalan M.H. Thamrin | PO Box 3392, Jakarta, Java 10310, Indonesia, 62 (21) 2993 8888, website), which is a five-star hotel with well-maintained rooms and top notch service. You can also try out the Grand Hyatt (Jalan M H Thamrin | Kav 28-30, Jakarta, Java 10230, Indonesia, (0)21 390 1234, website). It has complete amenities, including a pool, beautifully-decorated rooms, and excellent restaurants.
MERDEKA SQUARE: Let’s take a hike
Perhaps one of the most popular tourist attractions in Jakarta is its very heart itself, the Merdeka Square. It covers an area of one square kilometer, and is located right in the middle of the city. The square is also the site of numerous historical buildings, most especially the Istana Merdaka, or the Presidential Palace as it is also known (Jalan Medan Merdeka Utara, Gambir, Jakarta, 10110, Indonesia).
Built in 1796, it serves today as the official residence of the President of the Republic of Indonesia, and is known for its neo-Classical architecture and lush gardens. It is also a place of history, having been the residence of 15 Dutch governor generals, three Japanese commanders, and the first Indonesian president, as well as being the site where Indonesian independence was born.
The square also contains the National Monument, which was commissioned in 1961 by the Indonesian President Sukarno to symbolize the country’s fight for independence. It is a tower that stands at a height of 422 feet, and is a very much recognizable part of the Jakarta skyline. The highlight of a visit there is riding a lift to its viewing platform, where you’ll be rewarded with sweeping views of the cityscape at a height of 115 meters. It also has a history museum containing Indonesian artifacts, an Independence Room featuring symbols of Indonesian independence, and a small pond.
ISTIQLAL MOSQUE: Visit a religious attraction
Istiqlal Mosque (Photo by Anthony Cramp)
You can have a religious experience at one of Jakarta’s most popular landmarks, the Istiqlal Mosque (Jl. Veteren 1 Jakarta, Java, Indonesia). It is best known as the largest mosque in Southeast Asia, with a maximum capacity of over 120,000 people. The mosque’s construction reportedly cost more than 12 million USD, and you must not miss its massive spherical dome measuring 45 meters in diameter. Inside, you can appreciate its minimalist designs, a prayer hall supported by 12 columns, Arabic calligraphy, and four balcony levels.
TAMAN MINI: Indonesia in a park
Another noteworthy attraction for tourists in Jakarta is the Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (Jalan Taman Mini 1, Rambutan, Jakarta, 13830, Indonesia, (021) 840 9214, website). Also known as the “Beautiful Indonesia Miniature Park”, it is a culture-based recreational park spanning as area of over 250 acres. It is dedicated to preserving the Indonesian daily life, and you’ll see pavilions representing the country’s 26 provinces with depictions of traditions, dances, clothing, and architecture. The park is also home to an artificial lake, 10 gardens, 14 museums, cable cars, the Theater Tanah Airku, and a host of other recreational facilities. Not surprisingly, it is one of Jakarta’s most visited destinations. Admission to the site will cost you upwards of IDR9,000.
Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (Photo from Google images)
DINNER TIME: Discover Jakarta’s restaurants
You are guaranteed a delicious dinner at the restaurants available all over the city. One of the best in the city is Domus (Jalan Veteran I/30, Gambir 10110 Indonesia, +62 21 344 7289). It serves an authentic Italian cuisine in a beautifully restored Dutch colonial building, and is known for its pizza that is baked in a traditional wood-burning oven. A nice alternative is the Java Bleu (Kompleks D’Best, Jl RS Fatmawati 15, Blok E31, 62 21 769 7291, website), which offers Indonesian/French fusion food, although you should make reservations in advance as it can only accommodate 20 tables.
Have a taste of Turkey in Jakarta at Anatolia (Jalan Kemang Raya 110, Mampangpra 12730 Indonesia, 62 221 719 46 58). It serves Turkish delicacies such as chicken shish kebab and the Shawarma Iskandar. You can also try out Blowfish (Jl Prof Dr Satrio, Karet, 62 21 5297 1212, website), which is a trendy Japanese restaurant where you can eat while enjoying views of the city.
Next 24 Hours
You can discover Jakarta’s other tourist attractions during your next 24 hours in the city. One of them is the Jakarta History Museum (S of Taman Fatahillah, Jl Pintu Besar Utara, Kota, 11110). Also known as the Fatahillah Museum, it is a former Batavia city hall that today features displays of artifacts dating from the founding of Jakarta to Indonesia’s independence in 1945. Inside, you will see a collection of more than 23,500 objects, including paintings, ceramics, furniture, maps, weapons, and other archaeological finds.
Jakarta History Museum (Photo by Jehanzeb Akhtar)
IMMANUEL CHURCH: Let’s go to church
You can to church at the Gereja Immanuel (Jalan Pejambon, Gambir, Jakarta, 10110, Indonesia), which is better known as the Immanuel Church. It was built in 1839 as homage to King Willem I of the Netherlands, who is famous for uniting the Christian denominations under his rule. You can admire its unique black dome and beautiful architecture, or attend masses conducted in Dutch, English, and Bahasa languages.
NATIONAL MUSEUM: Have a historical visit
You can learn more about the Indonesian heritage at the National Museum of Indonesia (Jl. Merdeka Barat No. 12 Center Jakarta, (021) 3868171-72). Often called the “Elephant Building”, it is an archeological, ethnological, and historical museum preserving the country’s history and culture. It was established in 1778, and houses a collection of over 61,600 prehistoric and anthropological artifacts from Indonesia and Asia. Some of the most notable finds there are the four-meter tall statue of Adityavarman, Chinese ceramics, and Majapahit terracotta.
National Museum of Indonesia (Photo by Joe Duffy)
The site is open during Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays from 8:30 am to 2:30 pm, on Fridays from 8:30 am to 11:30 am, and Saturdays from 8:30 am to 1:30 pm.
PULAU SERIBU: Relax in a thousand islands
You can find some of the few green places left in Jakarta at Pulau Seribu, a group of 105 islets lying a few kilometers off the city in the Jakarta Bay. Also known as the Thousand Islands, most of the islets feature historical heritage, such as Palau Onrust, Palau Kahyangan, Palau Bidadari. Perhaps one of the most popular is Palau Kelor (Kepulauan Seribu, Teluk Jakarta, Jakarta, 14450, Indonesia, +62 21 2617 6272), which is known for its fort ruins and Dutch barracks. You can also relax and unwind at resort islands such as Palau Ayer and Palau Laki, or find small fishing villages at the islets further offshore. You can reach the Thousand Islands via boats from Ancol Marina.
Pier on one of the islands of Pulao Seribu (Photo by Der Willy)
NIGHTLIFE: Enjoy Jakarta’s vibrant nightlife scene
At night you may proceed to Jakarta’s bars and clubs to have a taste of the city’s exciting nightlife. One of the most popular is the Golden Crowd (Glodok Plaza 5th-9th FL, Pinangsia Raya St., Pinangsia Village, 021 6230 28888, website). It is a club popular among locals, and is known for hosting live music and progressive DJ performances.
A nice alternative is Barcode (Le Codefin, Rooftop Floor, Jalan Kemang Raya 8, Jakarta 12730, 62 21 718 2208, website), which has outdoor bars, one full side long table bar, private sofas, and a 400 meter club equipped with a DJ booth. You can also try out the Immigrant Bar (Immigrant Jakarta, Bar, Nightclub and Restaurant Plaza Indonesia Level 6th #E02-E03, (021) 3983 8257-58, website). It is a stylish nightclub resembling an NYC loft with its dim lighting and industrial design, with a restaurant offering excellent dishes.
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