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Jakarta isn’t a tourist destination for me—it’s where I live. Strangely enough, I’ve spent more time visiting places outside Jakarta than exploring my home base. The city is often avoided by tourists; for example, most visitors travelling to Bali simply transit through Jakarta, not even leaving the airport, or they fly directly to Denpasar (where Bali’s main airport is located), bypassing Jakarta altogether.
While I will admit that there isn’t any extraordinary “must-see attraction” in Jakarta, it does feature some appealing reasons to visit for a couple of days.
Estimates vary, but there are approximately 170 malls in the Jakarta metropolitan area. Most have a multitude of shopping options. Upscale malls like Pacific Place boast tenants like Prada, Tiffany, and even a Lamborghini dealership. Another mall in Jakarta is currently housing the worldwide interactive Van Gogh multi-media experience that has been a global hit. Many malls have entertainment options like ice skating rinks and giant Ferris wheels. Even the older, less-stylish malls have lots of great shopping options that are easily nicer and more comprehensive than the average mall in the U.S. I’ve only been to about 12 malls in Jakarta, so I’m not an expert, but my favorite is the Grand Indonesia Mall in Central Jakarta, which is gigantic and pleasant and has a nice mix of shops and restaurants.
My favorites are the National Museum and the National Gallery of Art. Both are worth a two-hour visit.
That’s the old neighborhood in North Jakarta where the Dutch established the colonial outpost of Batavia. A couple of the buildings date back to the 1600s and many were constructed in the 19th Century. The neighborhood needs a little restoration, but one can get a feel for the colonial era while strolling through Kota Tua. Having a snack in the restored Café Batavia (circa 1880) and visiting the Wayang (puppetry) Museum are my favorite activities in Kota Tua.
There are thousands of restaurants in Jakarta catering to every kind of taste, representing virtually every nationality. A quick easy way to get a typical (and excellent) Indonesian meal is to visit one of the dozen or so Remboelan restaurants that are situated in mall across Jakarta. I am always skeptical of restaurants located in malls, but Remboelan provides excellent food at moderate prices. Checking websites like Tour Advisor can also assist you in finding a good place to eat.
Jakarta is an overgrown, chaotic city with traffic so congested it can make you scream in frustration and air pollution that is sometimes so thick you can almost cut it with a knife. I certainly understand why some people would choose to avoid the place, but I think it’s worth a stop, because it truly is a one-of-a-kind experience.
If you are traveling by car/taxi, give yourself plenty of time to reach your planned destination, especially if you are traveling during rush hour. If you don’t want to miss your flight at Soekarno-Hatta Airport, schedule ample extra traveling time for your journey when planning your taxi ride there. Better to arrive too early than too late.