Jakarta is the multi-million dollar capital of the largest Muslim state in the world, a former outpost of the Dutch East Indies. Here, tenacious, raucous Asian street life beats at the foot of gleaming skyscrapers and malls, while northern Kota still retains its elusive colonial charm. Check andyeducation to learn more about Indonesia.
To fully enjoy this city, you need to be able to bargain like the devil and endure traffic jams with the calmness of a Buddha. And those who do not like it can always take refuge in cafes, museums and temples of all possible denominations, or even sail away to one of the heavenly shores of the Thousand Islands National Park.
Jakarta is full of strange combinations. In the “five-star” you can wake up from the crowing of roosters in the next block; the largest mosque in Southeast Asia, Istiklal, is striking in its resemblance to the gloomy giants of Soviet modernism; the local Chinatown is the only one in the world where you will not find picturesque signs with hieroglyphs, and local Muslim women lead a quite active lifestyle. And it’s always warm here.
How to get to Jakarta
There are no direct flights from Russia to Jakarta, you will have to get there with a transfer. Qatar Airways, Emirates, Etihad Airways operate flights through Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Kuala Lumrur, Singapore, Doha, Bangkok. Most of the flights are from Domodedovo, travel time is from 16 to 20 hours. Northern capital If the trip includes visiting other countries in Southeast Asia, you can fly from Kuala Lumpur, Bagkok, Hong Kong or other cities using a local low-cost airline, such as AirAsia.
There are two airports in Jakarta. Halim Perdanakusumah serves only domestic flights. Soekarno-Hatta international – both internal and external. The latter has three terminals located at a considerable distance from each other, so it is better to arrive at the airport in advance. Terminal 1 serves domestic flights, the 2nd – mainly international, the 3rd accepts low-cost airlines. Buses run between terminals.
From airport to city
Soekarno-Hatta Airport is located 20 km from Jakarta, you can get to the city by bus or taxi.
Buses are a cheaper and less comfortable option. It is most convenient to travel by Damri buses – their line passes through Gambir Station and central Jakarta, where most of the hotels are located. Buses run at intervals of 15-20 minutes, the road to the station takes 70 minutes or more, depending on traffic. The cost is 40,000 IDR.
The taxi ride is the same 1.5-2 hours, but more comfortable. Do not use the services of private taxi drivers. The best option is to use the BlueBird taxi company. A trip to the city center according to the meter will cost 200,000-300,000 IDR. A taxi driver may ask for a small amount when leaving the airport to pay service fees.
District Jakarta
Formally, Jakarta is not a city, but a province, it consists of 5 municipalities and one district.
Government offices are concentrated in Central Jakarta, as well as the main mosque of the city of Istiklal, the main monument of Jakarta Monas and most of the popular hotels. South Jakarta is the most prosperous: it is here that elite residential areas are located, skyscrapers rise and shopping centers are concentrated. The area is home to a prosperous middle class and expats. North Jakarta boasts sea access, restaurants and outdoor seafood stalls, as well as the huge Taman Impian Jaya Ancol amusement park and the Sunda Kelapa Historic District.
The main decoration of West Jakarta is the historical district of Kota, where you can imagine how the Dutch colonialists lived in previous centuries.
East Jakarta is a huge industrial area that tourists usually stop by just to visit Mini Indonesia Park. Finally, the Thousand Islands District, although formally part of Jakarta, is actually a national park of more than a hundred islands scattered across the sea for several tens of kilometers.
Jakarta Hotels
Hotels in Jakarta can be divided into two types: the first is 4 and 5 * hotels located in chic skyscrapers with beautiful views, within walking distance from the best restaurants and shopping centers; the second – simpler hotels, hidden among authentic low-rise alleys.
A hugely popular spot for Western bagpackers with plenty of budget options is Jalan Jaksa Street. A decent room with a fan and other basic amenities will set you back around IDR 155,000 per night. Prices for five-star hotels start at IDR 800,000 per night. But a great location and a rooftop pool can boast of many hotels half the price. Double room with modern design can be found for 500,000 IDR.
If you want to touch the colonial chic of the heyday of the East India Company, you can book a room at The Hermitage Hotel.
Transportation
There is no metro in the city, which is not the best way to affect the transport situation. Ordinary regular buses are always crowded with locals, they do not have air conditioning, they are always stuck in traffic jams. It is better to travel by Transjakarta buses: they are air-conditioned and run in a dedicated lane. In the first case, the ticket will cost 1200 IDR, in the second – 2000-3500 IDR from 5:00 to 7:00 and 3500 IDR the rest of the time. Tickets can be bought at stops.
Overcrowded buses increase the risk of pickpocketing, traveling on an expensive bus will be safer.
The city is full of taxis, but it is better to use official carriers. The most famous and reliable is BlueBird, it has the cheapest tariff. More expensive black Silver Birds serve luxury cars, and Golden Birds are driven at a fixed price, payment is made immediately when ordering a taxi.
The cost of a trip around the city on an official taxi is 6,000 IDR for the first km and 3,000 IDR for each subsequent one. Usually drivers round the fare up (up to the next 1000 IDR). It should also be remembered that they almost never give up.
Bicycling is not the best way to get around Jakarta. Of course, there are rental points here, but gas pollution, scooters and motorcycles on the roads and the lack of bike paths do not allow you to enjoy the trip. But you can, for example, rent a bike in the Taman Mini Indonesia Indah park or in the zoo – it’s nice to ride there. The Kota area is also suitable for cycling.
To visit the Thousand Islands region, you will have to use water transport. Faster and more expensive boats leave from Ancol Marina. You can save money by taking a slow boat from Muara Angke pier, then it is better to arrive at the departure point no later than 7:00.
Rent a Car
Travelers who are not accustomed to local roads should refrain from renting a car, it is better to take a car with a driver. Traveling on your own makes sense only if Jakarta becomes the starting point for traveling around Java. The main distributors are the same BlueBird, as well as Europcar, Avis, Jacarta Car Rental and Kumala Car Rental.
Finding parking in Jakarta is not easy, even paid. Most paid parking lots are concentrated in the area of large shopping centers, the average cost is 4000-5000 IDR per hour. In the process of moving along the streets, be prepared for additional fees – there are both toll roads and spontaneous traffic controllers of intersections and parking lots, who are also usually paid.
When choosing a travel time, you should pay attention to the holiday schedule in Indonesia for this year. During holidays, school and student holidays, the streets of Jakarta are filled with local tourists, and traffic congestion becomes even more serious.
Shopping
In Jakarta, there is where even the most demanding shopaholic can roam. A huge number of shopping centers open their doors daily from 10:00 to 20:00, while markets and street vendors are waiting for those who are looking for an authentic flavor.
Always haggle, unless you’re in a luxury brand boutique. When buying items of traditional culture in the markets, it is better to first check their cost in stores – then it will be more difficult for the seller to break the price at exorbitant prices.
The most famous malls are Grand Indonesia and Plaza Indonesia (Jalan MH Thamrin, 1), which are ideal places for luxury shopping. One of the most unusual shopping centers is Jakarta Gem Center (Jalan Bekasi Barat Raya). Here, on three floors of a huge mall, they sell only precious stones and everything that is made from them. There is a giant clothing market at Pacific Place (Jalan Jend Sudirman Kav, 52-53). Cheap clothes can also be bought at Bloc M. And for buying traditional goods, the flea market on Jalan Surabaya Street or Alun Alun Indonesia Shopping Center is suitable.
Every year in June-early July, Jakarta hosts a grand sale – the Jakarta Great Sale. Not only popular shopping centers participate in it, but also some hotels, offering discounts on rooms. The organizers arrange a variety of events, including holding a midnight sale – the night when the doors of stores do not close.
Batik, wooden sculptures, masks, carved paintings and, of course, pearl products are brought here as souvenirs.