The Sarinah department store at Jalan Thamrin is probably the most comprehensive shopping complex. The store offers designer and sports clothes, electric appliances, textiles, furniture, paintings, handcrafts, needlework, wayang puppets, and much more.

The Jalan Surabaja is an antique market in Benteng. You can shop for Dutch lamps, porcelain, or wooden crafts. Wooden puppets are sold for $2 to $3.

The antique shops in China town will offer you some cheap porcelain items.

You can also visit the shopping areas Pasar Baru, Pasar Cikini, Majestic Pasar, or Senen Pasar.

Remember to bargain while purchasing handicrafts and other tourist items. It is acceptable to bargain for goods if prices are not displayed.

Portuguese Church

The Portuguese church, also known as the Black Portuguese church or the Gereja Sion, is situated on the Corner of Jalan Jembatan Batu and Jalan Pangeran Jayakarta. The 18th century one level Baroque building offers place to about one thousand worshipers. Plain on the outside, the church has a granite floor, wooden ebony framework, original pipe organ, and 17th century copper chandeliers. The carved furniture was shipped from Formosa (Taiwan) while the wall paintings were designed by merchant Ewout Verhagen from Amserdam. The Portuguese Church was established as a place of worship for the enslaved communities of the Ceylonese and Bengalis. They were shipped from the Portuguese dominated areas in Ceylon and India. Upon conversion to Christianity, the slaves were liberated by the Dutch.

Mesjid Istiqlal Mosque

Located in central Jakarta, this splendid mosque features five levels, rectangular prayer hall, spacious courtyards, and facilities for exhibitions, seminars, conferences, and other cultural and social activities. Its floors, walls, and walkways are covered by marble from Tulungagung, East Java. Offering place to more than a hundred thousand worshipers, the Istiqlal Mosque is the biggest mosque in South East Asia.

The building was constructed between 1961 and 1978 as a symbol of Indonesia`s national independence. Designed under the theme Ketuhanan (divinity), ‘Istiqlal’ celebrates freedom.

Please dress modestly when visiting. Women are advised to wear head scarves.

Other places of worship in Jakarta are: the Catholic Cathedral, the Santa Maria de Fatima Church, the Luar Banang Mosque, the Tubagus Angke Mosque, the Annawir Mosque, the Chinese temple Kim Tek Le, the Borobodur Temple, and many others.

National Monument

The National Monument is situated at the Merdeka Square which is in itself a rare oasis of fountains and greenery in Central Jakarta. Monas represents a marble obelisk commissioned by President Soeharto in the 1960s. It was designed as the Hindu fertility symbol Ligga and Yoni. The cap of the 137 meter tall monument is wrapped in pure gold. The monument is just a few minutes off the Istiqgal Mosque, the Gambir railway, and the National Museum.

National Museum

Built in 1862, the National Museum is the finest of its kind in Southeast Asia. The museum holds an extensive collection of bronze and gold artefacts, stone pieces, costumes, musical instruments, household utensils, and other cultural instruments. Its religious art section contains sculptures salvaged from Javanese, Hindu, Buddhist, and other temples. It holds one of the most superb numismatic collections worldwide. There is an outstanding display of Asian ceramics dating back to the Han dynasty (300 BC to 220 AD). Note that various objects are moved to other specialized galleries, and the National museum is best known for its Asian ceramic collection. Another prominent feature is the front yard elephant statue presented by King Chulalongkorn of Thailand in 1871. This art piece has given the popular name of the museum building: Gedung Gajah (Elephant House).

Museum Sejarah Jakarta

The Jakarta history museum has functioned as an administrative building, law courts, church, and the main prison of the old city of Batavia. Nowadays, its premises recreate the spirit of the Dutch period. Thirty seven rooms display old maps and memorabilia of the Dutch East End Company. There are many antique pieces such as furniture, porcelain, carved screens, paintings, weapons, and old carriages. The museum courtyard houses the monument of Pieter Erbervelt who was tortured and put to death for his alleged plan to massacre the Dutch residents of the city. Right across the cobblestone square stands the Portuguese canon Si Jagur. Childless women come and offer gifts to this symbol of fertility in the hope of bearing children.

Balai Seni Rupa

The neoclassical building of Jakarta`s Fine Arts Museum is situated on Taman Fatahillah in Old Batavia. It hosts more than 400 paintings, sculptures and ceramics. The museum holds a superb display of 19th and 20th century paintings by Indonesian artists. Some featured paintings are “The Regent of Lebak” by Saleh, “Tritura Paramilitary Troops” by Judjojono, and “Self-Portrait” by Affandi. The Museum Keramic section displays a collection of 16th to 20th century Asian and European ceramics, terracotta, and contemporary Indonesian ceramics from Aceh, Bali, Bandung, Jakarta, Lombok, and others. Another featured collection displays traditional sculptures and totems.

Wayang Museum

Situated on the western side of Fatahillah Park, the museum holds one of the largest collections of wayang puppets in Java. The wayang represent flat or three dimensional puppets made of wood or leather. In the past, the puppet character has functioned as the literary expert who was entitled to criticize some delicate social and political questions. Wayang dramatizes the anomalies of life and teaches about its meaning and purpose. The master dalang or puppeteer transmits philosophical and moral knowledge through Hindu epics, based on Mahabharata and Ramayana characters. In the Mahabharata folklore, the Kauravas personify the forces of evil while their cousins Pandavas symbolise the spirit of enlightenment. Ramayana characters are represented by the ideal husband and wife, Rama and Sita, the warrior Kumbakarna, and his evil brother Rawana.

Another traditional style, the wayang golek, has been inspired by Islamic myths.

During performance, the puppets are projected on a shadow screen which is illuminated by a lantern. Traditional gamelan orchestra of 60 to 80 musical instruments accompanies the performance. Percussion instruments such as kettle drums, gongs, and xylophones blend with spike fiddles and flutes. You can hear contrasting powerful sounds and subdued solo performances.

Taman Ismail Marzuki

Known as a focal cultural showcase, this art centre is unique for Indonesia. The building is named after the native composer of patriotic songs Ismail Marzuki. The premises host six outdoor and indoor theatres, two art galleries, academy of performing and visual arts, exhibition halls, an archives building, and a planetarium. There are night performances of the Jakarta Symphony Orchestra, drama plays, traditional dancing, poetry readings, song recitals, art shows, and much more. You can obtain a monthly program from the arts centre, the tourist office, and some major hotels. Events are also found in the Jakarta post.

Taman Mini Indonesia Indah

Covering more than 100 hectares of land, Taman Mini holds pavilions, a bird park, an orchid garden, and a Zoological Museum.

You can take a tour to the Taman Mini Indonesia, a thematic park built by the demised wife of President Soeharto. It is an open air museum situated about 25 kilometres away from Central Jakarta. Taman Mini introduces tourists to the cultural wealth of the Indonesian islands. The archipelago is reproduced in a central lake. Twenty seven pavilions inform of the regional architecture and the forms of art and craft typical for the indigenous cultures. The pavilions displays unique architectural styles such as the Lamin house of the Dayak or the Tongkongan house for civic gatherings. You can also observe cultural dances, Batawi wedding ceremony, or baby head shaving.

Eighty six Heads of Government have visited the park as a sign of respect to Indonesia`s cultural heritage. They planted trees of friendship to commemorate their visits to Taman Mini.

Taman Impian Jaya Ancol

Located in Jakarta bay, Taman Impian is quite an attraction for adults and children alike. The resort hosts an assortment of hotels, restaurants, night clubs, swimming pools and aquariums, an artificial fishing lagoon, a golf course, massage parlours and a steam bath. You can also find a drive-in theatre and a gallery. The art market Pasar Seni offers a variety of Indonesian handcrafts, paintings, and other tourist items.

Bogor

The town of Bogor houses a superbly landscaped botanical garden. Set in nearly 80 hectares of land, the garden boasts an extensive collection of 15,000 species of tropical plants, trees, palms, and charming orchids. Located 64 km away from Jakarta, the garden holds one of the major agricultural institutes in the country. The area has clearly denoted “no litter” signs, and there are only minimal amounts of litter around the garden.

• You have plenty of cash? Try the $ 110 hamburgers offered by the Four Seasons hotel. They are made of Kobe beef, Italian Portobello mushrooms, French foie grass, Korean pears, and homemade onion bread. The meal is served with French fries and a cup of wine.

• Would you like to taste a plethora of meals? Join the ten day Indonesian food festival in March. Held at the Saliendra restaurant, the festival features traditional treats from across the archipelago. The large selection of dishes includes bebek betutu (broiled duck in a banana leaf) from Bali, ikan bakar colo colo (grilled fish) from Maluku, sup konro (beef rib soup) from Bugis, and many others.

• Dance the Indonesian line dance Poco Poco. Its steps allegedly come from various farming activities such as rice planting and coconut fiber peeling.

• The Indonesian fresh coffee has an outstanding taste. Hunt the markets to give it a chance.

• Take some goodies that will remind you of the trip. Pick native foods such as kecap manis (soy sauce), kerupuk (crackers), or nutmeg fruit. Buy a homemade sarong. You can use it as a dress, scarf, table cloth, beach mat, towel, or anything you can think of.

• Buy a batik cloth. Make a tour to a batik factory. Learn about techniques of waxing and dying textiles. Then, buy a batik cloth.

• Visit some of the 38 quality golf courses in Jakarta.

• If you travel to Jakarta close to the country`s Independence Day (August, 17th), don`t miss out the celebrations! You could see palm climbing, crackers` eating contests, and much more!

• Immerse in the city`s culture, history, and spirit!

If you dine at Lan Na Thai/ Hazara, have a drink at Face Bar. Situated in a Dutch style building and decorated by works of art, the bar has turned into a meeting point of many international correspondents. Vodka lovers will enjoy the Red Square modern and stylish vodka bar. The Amsterdam style Bugilis is frequented by both, locals and visitors. Cosy and relaxed, the bar offers live music on weekends. BB is a friendly spot that hosts blues and reggae live performers.

If you look for a top notch restaurant, Lan Na Thai/ Hazara is a definite pick. Situated on the upper floor, Lan Na Thai offers excellent Thai. Downstairs Hazara prepares delicious Indian meals. Payon is your best mid-range option for authentic Indonesian cuisine. Memories, one of Jakarta`s most popular backpacker`s eatery, offers a selection of Indonesian and European meals. You can try Dutch sauerkraut and sausages, Indian traditional chicken, and delicious homemade ice cream.

Other restaurants of interest may be: the Chinese Hailai Int’l Restaurant and Club and the Jun Njan Restaurant, the Japanese Furusato and Kobe Barbeque, the Korean Tower Restaurant, and the Indian Omar Khayyam.

You can also taste authentic popular food sold from a food cart.

At midrange hotels, you can expect fairly comfortable bed, modest furniture, Indonesian bath (mandi) or Western bathroom, and a TV set. Backpackers` loshens or guest houses will offer you a bed in a fan-cooled room and a shared bath. Wisma are basic family hotels of slightly higher quality.

Recommended places to stay in Jakarta

The top-end, salubrious Hotel Borobodur Inter-continental Jakarta is renowned for tradition, style, refurbished rooms and plenty of sports facilities. It is handily located at the heart of Jakarta, south of Lapangan Nanteng.

Situated at the centre of Jalan Jaksa, Hotel Marko Polo is a mid-range pick known for its clean and spacious rooms, balconies, and a buffet breakfast.

The Bloem Steen Homestay in Jalan Jaksa is your best budget option. You will enjoy clean quite rooms and amiable staff.

Insider Tips

It is best to avoid areas of unhealthy reputation. Glodok and Kota tend to be unsafe in the early morning hours and at night.

Travel in the wet season (tropical monsoon) is possible but not advisable: the drainage system of the capital is ill-suited to manage the downpours of rain. The dry season is the best time to visit (May until September). You may consider avoiding the major holiday periods as prices tend to skyrocket. These are the end of Ramadan, Christmas, and the high school graduation period between mid-June and mid-July.

Sparkling Jakarta
Photo by aris-ressy

Here’s information on how to get to Jakarta. There’s so much to see and do in Jarkarta, lots of good hotels and good food, and a shopping haven!

Most travellers bypass Jakarta on their way to other famous tourist destinations. Tightly packed and smoggy, the capital city is infamous for its shoddy town planning, polluted slums and traffic clogged main routes. The pavements are marked by myriads of potholes and force pedestrians to join the road traffic. Often times, the only road rule is to keep left. Due to lack of special facilities, the city is a difficult destination for people with limited mobility.

Jakarta is definitely not a major tourist destination. However, if you fall for orchid gardens, enigmatic musical instruments and handcrafts, shadow puppet performances, multilayered worlds of epic and symbols, then the capital will certainly entrance you. If you hunt for a destination of historic insights, the capital`s old city and museums have plenty to offer. Famous for its buoyant and lively night life, Jakarta is a hub of street fare eateries, top notch restaurants, and salubrious bars.

The city`s cultural blend opens a splendid opportunity to discover Indonesia in a nutshell. The capital is an extraordinary melting pot of Balinese, Timorese, Bataks, Sundanese, Indians, Papuans, Dutch, and Chinese. It is a city of multiple faces and spirits, and of stones laid over centuries of history. Jakarta is a multicoloured gem for the explorer of Indonesia`s cultural richness.