Jakarta: The Gateway to Java
Should you visit Jakarta?
In all honesty, maybe not. You should definitely visit the island of Java. Don’t end your exploration of Indonesia with Bali and Lombok, as many do. That said, you would be excused for skipping Jakarta, with its thick traffic and palpable pollution. However, if you love cities, then Jakarta has much to offer you. Jakarta is also a great for getting a sense of Indonesia’s history, as well as an understanding of its present challenges, as well as its potential.
As one of southeast Asia’s commercial centers, it’s got a range of top hotel brands, and at attractive prices.
How long should you stay in Jakarta?
I suggest using Jakarta as a homebase for your travels in Java. A couple of nights will do. That will give you enough time to see the historic old town in North Jakarta, do some exploring in Central Jakarta and check out the nightlife of South Jakarta. If you really love cities, spend a bit more time and delve deeper into the different parts of the city.
Where’s the best place to stay in Jakarta?
You’ll want to stay in either Central or South Jakarta, though these are very broad areas. My advice is to plan out your stay as best you can in advance and then pick hotels based on where you want to be and how you plan to get there. There are a few train lines (more on that below), so you may want to pick hotels near them.
See below for more information on the areas:
Central Jakarta: Central Jakarta starts up just north of Merdeka Square and extends south to Jalan Gatot Subroto, one of the city’s major east-west roads. In this area, you’ll find the Indonesian National Monument, the Istiqlal Mosque, and Hotel Indonesia Plaza, which contains the Bundaran Hi monument and MRT station, as well as the Grand Indonesia Plaza mall.
South Jakarta: It’s best to think about South Jakarta in two parts. There’s the SCBD and everything outside of the SCBD. The SCBD is better for transportation, as it’s close to the MRT line that runs up to Bundaran Hi. However, some of Jakarta’s best hotels are outside of the SCBD. Just be prepared to use taxis to get around.
What are the best hotels in Jakarta?
As I mentioned above, Jakarta has outlets of all the big hotel brands. Four Seasons, Kempinski, St. Regis, they’re all here. Rooms can be had for much less than you’d expect to pay in other cities. For instance, a room at the Mandarin Oriental Jakarta will run you less than USD200. Depending on the season and the night of the week, you can find five-star hotels in Jakarta for <USD150 per night. Most properties are prices in the USD150 to 300 range ($$). And there are a few at the high end of the market, >USD300.
My hotel recommendations follow:
Central Jakarta
Mandarin Oriental ($$)
Park Hyatt ($$$)
Shangri-La ($$)
South Jakarta
Four Seasons ($$)
St. Regis ($$)
SCBD
Alila ($$)
The Langham ($$)
The Ritz-Carlton ($$$)
How do you get around Jakarta?
Mostly, you’ll get around slowly. Jakarta’s traffic is just something to endure. Depending on where you are and what time of day, it may be better or worse, but it’s always there. Bluebird taxis are ubiquitous and they’re clean and always use the meters. Otherwise, use Grab or Gojak, the two ride-hailing apps in Indonesia. But be warned the quality of their cars is all over the place.
Jakarta has made some big improvements in its public transportation in recent years. If you plan your stay correctly, you will be able to get around partially by train, but will eventually have to catch a taxi to get some places. There’s an MRT that runs from Central Jakarta down through South Jakarta; a commuter rail line that runs from Bogor, in the south, up the eastern side of the city all the way to old town; and another commuter line that runs east-west through the city. There’s even an express train from the airport.