Jakarta
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At a glance
- Country
- Indonesia
- Region
- Jakarta
- Population
- 10.6 million
- Best time to go
- May to September
- Main airport
- Soekarno–Hatta International (CGK)
- Coordinates
- 6.21°S, 106.85°E
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Overview
Jakarta is a sprawling megacity on the north coast of Java, home to more than ten million people and many more in its suburbs. First impressions are of traffic and towers, but there is more here than it seems.
The old Dutch port of Batavia survives in Kota Tua, the food is excellent at every price level, and a growing MRT network has made the city far easier to explore. Give it a couple of days before heading on.
Things to see
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Photo: CEphoto, Uwe Aranas, CC BY-SA 3.0 National Monument (Monas)
A tall obelisk topped with a gold-leaf flame, in the middle of Merdeka Square, with a lift to the top.
Tickets and tours -
Photo: Chainwit., CC BY 4.0 Kota Tua
The old Dutch colonial quarter around Fatahillah Square, with museums in former government buildings.
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Photo: musnahterinjak, CC BY-SA 3.0 Istiqlal Mosque
The largest mosque in Southeast Asia, with a vast prayer hall under a white dome; visitors can join a tour.
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Photo: Rantemario, CC BY-SA 4.0 Jakarta Cathedral
A neo-Gothic cathedral facing Istiqlal across the street, a deliberate symbol of religious harmony.
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Photo: Danumurthi Mahendra from Indonesia, CC BY 2.0 Sunda Kelapa
The old harbour, where wooden pinisi schooners still load and unload cargo by hand.
Things to do
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Photo: Rochelimit, CC BY-SA 3.0 Thousand Islands
Take a boat from the marina to the small islands offshore for a day of snorkelling and calm water.
Find tours -
Photo: Firzafp, CC BY 4.0 Explore Glodok
Jakarta's Chinatown, with temples, herbal medicine shops and food stalls in narrow lanes.
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Photo: Dainsleaf, Public domain Eat street food
Try nasi goreng, satay and kerak telor, a spiced coconut and egg omelette sold at Betawi stalls.
Where to stay
Menteng
Leafy and central, with colonial villas, boutique hotels and good restaurants.
Hotels in MentengThamrin and Sudirman
Business hotels and shopping malls along the main boulevard, on the MRT line.
Hotels in Thamrin and SudirmanKemang
An expat-friendly area in the south with bars, cafés and smaller hotels.
Hotels in Kemang
Getting around
The MRT and TransJakarta buses avoid much of the traffic, and app-based taxis and motorbike rides via Grab or Gojek are cheap and easy.
The airport rail link runs to the city centre in under an hour; taxis take an hour or more depending on traffic.
When to go
The dry season from May to September is the most pleasant time to visit. The wet season, peaking from December to February, brings heavy downpours and sometimes flooding.
Plan your trip to Jakarta
Guide last checked October 2026. Opening times and prices change, so check before you go.