Many travelers to Indonesia tend to ignore the capital city of Jakarta like the plague, treating it simply as a place to catch a flight or train somewhere else as quickly as possible. For those with a limited amount of time to spend in Indonesia, the desire to get straight to Jogjya or Bali is understandable. If you’ve got some time on your hands, though, a few days in the “Big Durian” can be a great way to kick off your Indonesia adventure. Plus, after visiting the country’s biggest city and experiencing its worst traffic, every other place will seem like a breeze.

Located in the northwest corner of Java, this sprawling metropolis is actually the most populous city in all of SE Asia, with nearly 10 million people. That number jumps to around 30 million when you consider the entire metropolitan area, known as Jabodetabek. This is a combination of all of the places that make up the urban region –  Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang and Bekasi. It’s the economic, political, and cultural center of Indonesia, and it has recently been dubbed the “likeliest emerging city to rise,” ahead of places like Mumbai, Rio, and Kuala Lumpur. Read more about the study in this Huffington Post article.

For those interested in visiting the Indonesian capital – or those content with just visiting virtually – here are some impressions and tips for you based on a recent trip.

Jakarta First Impressions

Chaotic Traffic

Horrendous traffic is unfortunately one of the first things that comes to mind when one thinks of Jakarta. Narrow roads, an abundance of vehicles, and a lack of a subway makes for a hot, congested mess. Outside of rush hour it’s not so bad, and you do have plenty of choices for getting around: ojek (motorcycle taxis), cabs, angkot (local bus), the busway, bajaj (tuk-tuk), and a few train lines will all get you to your destination… eventually.

This Nat Geo introduces Jakarta and some planned improvements to its transportation.

A Good Home Base is Important

After sweating, dodging motorbikes, and exploring for a while, it’s nice to have a good place to relax. There are plenty of luxury hotels in Jakarta, but if you’re like us and ballin’ on a backpacker budget, you can’t beat the Six Degrees hostel. This place really feels like home for a few days – you can play pool, read, pop on a movie, or head to the roof to enjoy a cup of coffee or a beer with fellow travelers. We probably wouldn’t have enjoyed our stay in Jakarta as much had we stayed in one of the many hostels on Jalan Jaksa.

Locals Are Super Friendly

When visiting Jakarta, don’t be shy when it comes to interacting with locals. If you’re out on a weekend or holiday, don’t be surprised if a group of students mobs you to practice their English and snap pictures with you. Although English is not widely spoken, people are incredibly nice and curious to interact with foreign tourists. Reach out on Couch Surfing or other community-based sites and meet up with locals for a much more enjoyable visit. We had an amazing time sightseeing, munching on street food, and hitting a few bars in the evenings with our new friends, and they definitely gave us a better impression of Jakarta than we would have gotten on our own.

What to Do in Jakarta

Just because Jakarta isn’t high on many traveler’s radars doesn’t mean there’s nothing going on here. After all, this is the capital city of one of the biggest countries on Earth – of course there’s plenty to do here. We only had two full days to burn, so here’s a good sampling of what you can do in a weekend:

Wander Around Kota Tua

Ride the train up to Kota Tua (the Old City) and spend a few hours wandering around. The main square is a lively place with tourists snapping photos, street performers, and plenty of vendors out and about. If you’re into museums, there are plenty of options around here as well. You can also wander down to the port to see a myriad of ships loading and unloading goods, a reminder that Jakarta is a major port.

Check Out Monas

Monumen Nasional (the National Monument), or Monas for short, is basically the center of Jakarta. You can find it smack in the middle of Merdeka (Freedom) Square, and it’s a great place to stroll around for a while to take in the local culture. As it’s a large green space free of honking horns and traffic jams, locals love to come here and hang out day or night. There’s an observation deck at the top of the tower, but it was closed on our visit.

Take in the Beautiful Architecture

Jakarta is more than just high rises and shopping malls – there are many stunning historical buildings here that are worth a visit. You can go inside of the largest mosque in SE Asia (Istiqlal Mosque) outside of prayer time, and right across the street you’ll find a Dutch colonial Catholic church. Their close proximity is meant to show Indonesia’s openness and tolerance of different religions.

Eat Awesome Street Food

If you don’t mind eating in the street, Jakarta is a culinary paradise. During our short stay we had at least half of our meals at small street side vendors, and all were tasty and cheap. From soto betawi (a local specialty best described as a beef coconut curry soup), to crispy bebek goreng (fried duck), to whatever it was that we pigged out on at 2AM after a night out, it was all awesome. Plus, there are always street performers coming by, so you can rock out to local tunes while you feast.

Get Artsy

Explore the area known as TIM for art galleries, exhibitions, and a planetarium. Named after a famous Indonesian musician, Taman Ismail Marzuki, this is a great spot to beat the afternoon heat and check out some local and international art. Big plus if you’re staying at Six Degrees is it’s right up the street.

Shop ’til you Drop

It’s no secret that Jakarta loves shopping malls – the city is freaking hot and malls blast the AC. Even if you loathe shopping malls (as I do), you might as well take a stroll through one in Jakarta just for the experience. Plus, the food courts in Asian malls are incredible. You’ll never look at an American food court full of pizza and fries the same after you eat a burger that’s composed of Japanese friend chicken plus buns made of fried ramen noodles with a side of sushi.

Paint the Town Red (and White)

Hit the club in Jakarta.

Seeing as how a majority of the population here are Muslims, you may be surprised to find that Jakarta has a bumping nightlife. As a matter of fact, clubbing is one of Jakartans’ favorite pastimes. There are tons of gaudy night clubs here, but just make sure you’re dressed for the occasion. With our summer backpacker attire of shorts, tank tops, and sandals, we were destined to spend the night in normal bars. Fine by me, but if you want to cut a rug and get crazy in Jakarta, make sure you pack some slacks and shoes.

 

By now, hopefully you’re convinced that Jakarta isn’t so bad after all. At least check it out for yourself before writing it off – who knows, you might actually have a good time, make new friends, and learn something.