ID · Jakarta · 6.18°S 106.83°E

jakarta

Mall-hopping, Kota Tua's Dutch old town and sate at every corner.

Best time
The drier months are roughly June to September. The rainy season peaks from December to February, when floods can disrupt travel.
How long
2–3 days
Getting there
About 2 hours' flight from KL to Soekarno–Hatta Airport. The airport train runs to the city centre and can beat the traffic.
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ID · Jakartajakarta6.18°S 106.83°Egowherelah.com
Dear group chat,Mall-hopping, Kota Tua's Dutch old town and sate at every corner.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingJakartaID, Jakarta
KLjakarta
≈ 1,183 km from KL, as the crow flies
Bundaran Hotel Indonesia dari Halte Transjakarta Bundaran HI Astra pada Maret 2025

Photo: Medelam · CC BY 4.0

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Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.

Indonesia's sprawling capital, home to more than 10 million people. It's not a sightseeing city in the usual sense, but it does malls, food and nightlife very well, and the old Dutch quarter of Kota Tua still has the look of colonial Batavia.

Makan

  1. Soto BetawiJakarta's own beef soup, rich with coconut milk.Map ↗
  2. Kerak telorA Betawi omelette cooked with sticky rice, sold from stalls around Monas and Kota Tua.Map ↗
  3. Nasi udukCoconut rice with fried chicken, tempeh and sambal, a Jakarta breakfast.Map ↗
  4. SateChicken and goat satay from street carts all over the city, especially at night.Map ↗

Things to do

  1. Kota TuaThe old Dutch town around Fatahillah Square, with colonial buildings and museums.Map ↗
  2. MonasThe National Monument in Merdeka Square, with a lift up to a viewing deck.Map ↗
  3. Istiqlal MosqueSoutheast Asia's largest mosque, right across the road from the cathedral.Map ↗
  4. Mall-hoppingGrand Indonesia and Plaza Indonesia, by the Bundaran HI roundabout, are the big names.Map ↗
  5. Sunda KelapaThe old harbour where wooden pinisi schooners still load cargo.Map ↗

Good to know

  • Traffic is notoriously bad. Use the MRT, TransJakarta buses or a motorbike taxi through a ride-hailing app.
  • Around Hari Raya, millions leave the city to go home. The roads are quiet, but many shops and stalls close for days.

Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.