Capital city of Indonesia, Jakarta is a huge metropolis hosting about nine million people. Situated on Java's northern coast, the city has been expanding over the years, incorporating the nearby villages called "kampung".
Today Jakarta is a maze of roads, highways, lanes and suburbs. It's easy to get lost.
The best way to explore it is with a local guide or renting a car, provided that you don't fear traffic jams in the rush hours.
If you are about to visit this huge city, the perfect starting point for an Indonesia tour, here are some useful tips on what to see.
What to see in Jakarta: the top 5 attractions
Here are the top five attractions in this gigantic city.
Catholic Cathedral
The Roman Catholic Cathedral of Jakarta was built in Neo Gothic style, located on the corner of Banteng Square, right in front of the largest Indonesian mosque, Istiqlal mosque. The choice of building them close was not haphazard: it symbolizes the nation's phylosophy based on union in difference and tolerance of all religions and cultures.
National Museum
The National Museum of Jakarta is located in Medan Merdeka Barat and offers a complete presentation of the history and culture of Indonesia from prehistoric times up to now. It hosts statues and stone inscriptions found in several places of the archipelago, as well as batik clothes from different periods, jewels and ornaments of ancient sultans and more.
Taman Mini
Taman Mini is located in Eastern Jakarta and is a park containing 26 replicas of traditional houses of chieftains similar to those found over the years in the islands of the archipelago, for example Sulawesi, Aceh, Kava and Paua. They exhibit handicraft objects from various tribes. It is an interesting park for the whole familiy.
Merdeka Square
Merdeka Square lies in the heart of Jakarta and is one of the largest squares in the world. It hosts the National Monument, called Monas, and Merdeka Palace, where independence from the Netherlands was signed in 1949. The square is sorrounded by parks and fountains, the Cathedral of Jakarta and the National Museum. Many events often take place here.
Istiqlal Mosque
Istiqlal Mosque or Independence Mosque is the largest mosque in the country and in South East Asia. It was built in honor of the Indonesian independence and opened to the public on February 22, 1978. Istiqlal means in fact indepenedence in the Arabian language. It can accommodate up to 120 thousand people and has seven entrances, one for each Islamic paradise. Its dome is 45 meters tall, recalling the year 1945 when independence was proclaimed. The minaret is 66.66 meters tall to recall the 6,666 verses of the Koran.
Do you want to explore Jakarta like a local? Let yourself be guided by our travel experts on your Indonesia tailormade tour!
