Overview

Jakarta has much varied sightseeing owing to its colonial past and influx of migrants, namely the Chinese. Some of the world's most striking mosques are here, including the massive Istiqlal Mosque, along with ancient Dutch buildings. Two popular areas to head for in Jakarta are the touristy Kota district and the Sunda Kelapa Harbour.

Istiqlal Mosque

The Istiqlal Mosque is one of Southeast Asia's largest and most beautiful mosques. The mosque is huge and held up by massive pillars while outside is a gigantic red square perfect for strolling and getting a good picture of the main buildings. Be sure to be properly attired and to remove your shoes on entering Istiqlal Mosque.

Jembatan Pasar Ayam

Representing Dutch colonial times in Jakarta, Jembatan Pasar Ayam is the last of the Dutch drawbridges and although it no longer works, it is worth a visit nonetheless. It was built in the 17th century and goes across the Great Canal to link up the Dutch and the British forts either side.

Batavia, Kota

Located in the Kota district, Batavia is the heart of the touristy part of Jakarta and was the Dutch centre of the day. The old town is great for wandering around, with its cobbled streets and many old buildings, and there are loads of places to shop and eat. Highlights in Batavia include the Taman Fatahillah plaza and the charming port of Sunda Kelapa.

Sunda Kelapa Harbour

If you have a love for boats and harbours, have a wander around Jakarta's 17th waterfront; one of the pleasantest areas in Jakarta. It is still a working harbour for cargo ships, including the likes of the Makassarese and Bugis, while the dry part of the harbour is abuzz with activity, tourists, shops and eateries.

Taman Mini Indonesia Indah

Taman Mini Indonesia Indah is the place to head for in Jakarta to get a feel for the culture of Indonesia. It is a huge park that represents all of Indonesia's 27 provinces with old buildings and museums galore. The park is loaded with art, architecture and artefacts from the various provinces while in the centre is a delightful lake, perfect for relaxing.

Taman Ismail Marzuki Arts Centre

Jakarta has several prominent arts buildings, yet the Taman Ismail Marzuki Arts Centre, which was named after a top Indonesian musician, is unique and shows the art of the country well. Highlights include art galleries and exhibition halls and indoor and outdoor theatres as well as a planetarium. Arts and crafts are represented from Indonesia and around the world.

Chinatown (Glodok)

Jakarta's Chinatown is a bustling part of town and can be a welcome break from the incessant noise and traffic of Jakarta's main thoroughfares. Although not a quaint area itself, Glodok is one of traditional, close-knit Chinese shop houses, ancient temples, and markets and streets loaded with hawkers. Head to the bridge between Jalan Hayam Wuruk and Jalan Gajah for handicrafts and Glodok Market for general shopping.

Kota Train Station

Located on Jalan Stasiun in the charming Kota area, Kota Train Station dates from the 1930s and displays a fine show of contemporary colonial architecture. It is totally authentic and still a working train station therefore it tends to get really busy with commuting locals. A jaunt out to the coast or countryside is a nice experience.

Overview

Sports and activities in Jakarta mainly revolve around the theme of water, with the city offering particularly good boating. The Ancol Dreamland complex is the main draw at the waterfront and comes with extensive recreational facilities, including amusements, golfing, and an aquarium, while Ancol Marina itself is the launch point for visits of the beautiful Thousand Islands region.

Golf

Indonesians are keen golfers and Jakarta has dozens of golf courses in its midst. Although many of the golf courses are out of reach of visitors, there are also several public courses where you can have a round. They generally feature striking fairways and greens and have excellent landscaping, while green fees are usually reasonable.

Boating and island hopping

Being located close to the sea, the boating options in Jakarta are good and relaxing on the water is a nice way to get away from the typically manic streets of the capital. Jakarta Bay has excellent cruising and you can either go on a ferry trip or charter a small boat and go for a spin around the many islands in the harbour. Ancol Marina has the best boating options in Jakarta for tourists. The Thousand Islands feature dozens of small island that are perfect for boating around, with Bibadari, Kelor, Onrust, and Putri being the most popular.

Snorkelling and scuba diving

The famed Thousand Islands near Jakarta is a beautiful region pockmarked with numerous islands where you can enjoy a spot of snorkelling and scuba diving. You can do a daytrip with one of the many boating firms at Ancol Marina and even stay overnight on one of the bigger islands. Sepa Island Resort and Kul Kul Kotok Island Resort are two of the best-known resorts in Thousand Islands.

Ancol Dreamland (Taman Impian Jaya Ancol)

Ancol Dreamland is a huge centre at Jakarta Bay which comes with water parks and various fun amusements that the whole family can enjoy. If this isn't enough, there is also a golf course, scuba diving, snorkelling, deep sea fishing, and various other forms of marine type recreation available here.

Spas

For a more relaxing time, Jakarta is loaded with spas of all types, with a huge range of services available to tourists. You can choose from traditional Indonesian body works to international beauty treatments or just a plain oil massage. Just about all of the five-star hotels in Jakarta have spas and there are many stand-alone places to boot.

Dining and shopping

Jakarta has thousands of places to eat in all areas of the city, from easy street food and fast food joints to more elaborate full-service restaurants with the best Indonesian fare. Shopping is another big draw to the Indonesian capital and there are loads of big shopping centres and departments stores, easy-going boutiques, numerous handicraft stores and plentiful flea markets.

As well as a massive amount of Indonesian eateries, you will find really good Chinese, Japanese, and Korean food in the capital. You will also find references to the big colonial powers of the day - the Portuguese, the Dutch and the British - and all budgets are catered for.

The main eating area in Jakarta is Jalan Jaksa and its many associated side streets, where you can pick up great traditional Indonesian cuisine like rijsttafels, rice served with a number of accompanying meat, vegetable and seafood dishes. You will also find excellent Thai, Korean, Indian, and Mexican food on Jalan Jaksa. Although Jaksa is not the be all and end all of places to eat in the capital, it is the best place for tourists to head. Head for Jalan Jenderal and Jalan Jenderal Sudirman for some great Western food.

There are also plenty of cafés in these areas with menus of foods from all over the country, especially Sumatra and Java. You will also find some superb deals in the shopping centres, where you can enjoy the air-conditioning.

Dishes worth a try in Jakarta include soy-based tofu and tempeh, stir-fried rice, and satay, skewered barbequed meat. Curried meat and fish dishes are also eternally popular, and as portions are generally small it gives you the chance to sample many things. The Chinese soup bakso tok-tok is also a good bet.

The shopping in Jakarta is good, with some great deals available, especially in wares and handicrafts, yet it is also chaotic. The main malls are spread far and wide and it can be trying getting between sites. Along with the huge air-conditioned malls are a slew of independent shops all across town that do everything from batik clothing to excellent wood and bronze work.

If you are here during a particularly hot stretch it may be worth heading to Sarinah Department Store, Plaza Indonesia, or Plaza Senayan to do your shopping. They are all huge and have hundreds of popular brands and lesser known shops, as well as good eating and entertainment.

Jakarta's best shopping can arguably be had in its collection of flea markets, however, and the Pasar Antik flea market on Jalan Surabaya is the best of them. You can pick up all types of quality produce here, from handicrafts to antiques and art. It's located in the Mentang district and is lots of fun just to wander around. Cikini Traditional Market is another very popular Jakarta market and is especially good for jewellery, in particular gold. Tanah Abang Market is another good bet.

Jakarta has a growing number of top-end restaurants that cover many cuisines, from authentic Sumatran, to American, Thai, Indian, and Italian. Many restaurants are situated in the city centre and South Jakarta and appeal to expats as well as tourists and locals. You will find some of the best steaks of anywhere in Jakarta and many eateries double as nightspots.

Overview

Soekarno-Hatta International Airport is the main gateway to Jakarta and receives flights from all over the globe via major carriers. You can also get in from neighbouring Southeast Asian countries via ferry or if you are already in Java, trains and buses serve the capital from all points. Buses, minibuses, taxis, rickshaws and other motorised transport allow you to get around the chaotic capital.

Airports

Jakarta is served by Soekarno-Hatta Airport; a busy airport located 20 miles from the city centre. Although small, Jakarta's airport has two terminals and receives flights from all over the world with the likes of Cathay Pacific, China Airlines, Garuda, Japan Asia, Malaysia Airlines, Qantas, Royal Brunei, and Thai Airways. Terminal 1 handles domestic flights while Terminal 2, the larger terminal, receives international flights. The terminals are connected by free shuttle bus.

The terminals at Soekarno-Hatta Airport are well equipped and come with all essential passenger facilities, including banks, currency exchange, ATMs, lost luggage, and several cafés, restaurants and bars. There is also duty-free shopping in Terminal 2 along with business services, while Terminal 1 has a post office.

Taxis, limos and buses provide the ground transportation options to the city centre and hotels. Your best bet is to take a taxi or a metered limousine for the 40-minute trip to town. Bluebird Services is the best known taxi/limousine operator from the airport.

If you're on a budget, you can make use of the public damri buses, which leave the airport's Arrivals halls every 40 minutes. They can be tough going when busy, however, especially if you have lots of luggage. You pay the driver and the main stops in the city are Block M Mall (South Jakarta) and Gambir Railway Station. Buses take an hour to reach the city centre.

Public transportation

The majority of visitors to Jakarta arrive by plane but being an island, ferries also come in from other Indonesia islands and Singapore and Malaysia. If you are already on Java, trains run from major towns and cities to one of four stations in the capital, but generally to the main Gambir Station in the heart of town. The other three stations are Kota, Pasar Senen, and Tanah Abang.

You can also get to Jakarta by bus, with services from virtually anywhere on the island. Safari Dharma Raya and Kramat Djati are the two most reliable bus companies serving Java and they both run to all four bus terminals in the capital. Train travel is more comfortable and safer than bus travel on the island of Java.

There are all sorts of weird and wonderful ways to get around Jakarta, including trains, metro, buses, taxis and the local becaks and ojeks. If you are not content with just seeing the old Batavia area of Jakarta, you will have to rely on public transport for getting about as Jakarta is a large, sprawling city. Regular buses, along with minibuses, serve the city well, taking in all districts.

The cheapest, fastest and easiest, yet not always the safest, way to get around Jakarta is by motorised rickshaw. They can be found loitering all over town, while taxis are also fairly ubiquitous. The most reliable transport option, however, is metered taxi.