jakarta food trip

Food of Jakarta - 32 Dishes That MUST Be on the Foodie's List

1. nasi goreng (indonesian fried rice).

Where to find: Republic nasi goreng, Kec. Mampang Prpt. (opens 10:00 AM to 12: 00AM) Approximate cost: IDR 15,000 - IDR 37,000

Where to find: Sate Padang Ajo Ramon, Kota Jakarta Selatan (opens 11:00 AM to 12:00 AM) Approximate cost: IDR 20,000

3. Bubur Ayam (Chicken Congee)

Where to find: Bubur ayam barito, Kota Jakarta Selatan (opens 4:30 PM to 11:30 PM) Approximate cost: IDR 10,000

4. Martabak (Stuffed Pancake)

Where to find: Martabak boss, Wahid hasyim street (opens 11:00 AM to  10:30 PM) Approximate cost: IDR 130,000

5. Nasi Padang

Where to find: Rumah Makan Sederhana, Melawai (opens 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM) Approximate cost: IDR 400,000 - IDR 600,000

6. Ikan Bakar (Barbecued Fish)

Where to find: Ikan babar cianjur, Cipete (opens 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM) Approximate cost: IDR 220,000

7. Ketoprak (Vermicelli Tofu Salad)

Where to find: Ketoprak Ciragil, Kebayoran Baru (opens 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM); Glodok-go to the intersection of Jalan Pancoran and Jalan Kemenangan, a food market is there where you can find amazing Ketoprak(opens 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM) Approximate cost: IDR 20,000

8. Beef Ribs

Where to find: Sop Konro Karebosi Kelapa Gading, Kota Jkt Utara (opens 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM) Approximate cost: IDR 60,000

9. Mud Crabs

Where to find: Wiro Sableng, Kelapa Gading (opens 10:30 AM to 9:00 PM) Approximate cost: IDR 3,00,000

10. Mie Ayam (Indonesian Ramen)

Where to find: Jalan Pluit Karang Timur Blok, Penjaringan (opens 6:30 AM to 9:00 PM) Approximate cost: IDR 40,000

11. Bakso (Indonesian Meatball Soup)

Where to find: Bakso Kelapa Muda, Banten (opens 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM) Approximate cost: IDR 13,000

12. Bihun Bebek

Where to find: Dua Nyonya, Kota Jakarta pusat (opens 7:00 AM to 2 :00 AM) Approximate cost: IDR 90,000

13. Telor (Indonesian Egg Sambal)

Where to find: Kota Jakarta pusat (opens 10:00 AM to 11:00 PM) Approximate cost: IDR 50,000

14. Nasi Lemak (Rice with Coconut Milk)

Where to find: Penang Bistro, Kota Jakarta Pusat (opens 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM) Approximate cost: IDR 16,000

15. Kuay Teow (Noodle Stir Fry)

Where to find: Flow Jakarta, Kota Jakarta Selatan (opens 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM) Approximate cost: IDR 25,000

16. Pisang Goreng (Fried Banana)

Where to find: Pisang goreng madu bu nanik, Tanjung duren raya (opens 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM) Approximate cost: IDR 5,000

17. Sop Buah (Iced Fruit Cocktail Dessert)

Where to find: Es Buah Segar Pak Daud, Kota Jakarta Barat (opens 8:00 AM to 9:30 PM) Approximate cost: IDR 15,000

18. Fried Breadfruit

Where to find: Can be found in any marketplace Approximate cost: IDR 2,000

Where to find: Cincua hijau serat, Penjaringan (opens 9:00 AM to 9:00PM) Approximate cost: IDR 8,000

20. Jus Alpukat (Indonesian Avocado Coffee Shake)

Where to find: Can be found in any marketplace Approximate cost: IDR 6,000

21. Sekoteng (Indonesian Ginger Drink)

Where to find: Saung Bandung Wedang, Kota Jakarta Barat (opens 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM) Approximate cost: IDR 10,000

22. Spaghetti Ice Cream

Where to find: Ragusa Italian ice cream, Kota Jakarta Pusat (opens 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM) Approximate cost: IDR 35,000

23. Chicken Feet Soup

Where to find: Can be found in any marketplace Approximate cost: IDR 9,000 - IDR 12,000

24. Popiah (Fresh Spring Rolls)

Where to find: Namaaz dining, Kota Jakarta Selatan (opens 7:00 AM to 11:00 PM) Approximate cost: IDR 16,000

25. Pepes (The Green Parcel)

These are the creative green edible packets filled with nutrition and flavorful taste. It includes assorted fish, meat, and tofu, all marinated and cooked with natural herbs and authentic homeland spices and tightly packed in banana leaves to make a packet. It is also accompanied by fried vegetables like Shallots, Garlic, Lemon basil, Ginger, and Chilies. These are then grilled over charcoal or steam cooked to serve them in their natural form, retaining the essence and flavor of the banana leaf into the meat and vegetables inside. This dish belongs to Sundanese cuisine.

26. Bebek Goreng (Fried Duck)

Indonesia being home to flavorful non-vegetarian and seafood dishes from various provincial segments, Jakarta is a one-stop place that will offer you the opportunity to taste all these in one single town. One such Bali origin dish is the Bebek Goreng, or the fried duck. The small baby ducks are stuffed and marinated with garlic puree and then fried to give you the perfect combination of crispy layer and chewy juicy flesh. This can be served with rice cooked in coconut milk along with the Sambal dip. One such dish can cost you around 28,000 IDR in Jakarta.   

27. Sambal (Hottest and Spiciest Companion)

Whatever you eat, Sambal will accompany you. It is the typical Indonesian sauce made of chilies and some special herbs and spices. There are many varieties of sambal sauces that will add a great taste and flavor to any dish you eat. Some unique traditional recipes from some royal ancestral families in Indonesia possess a rich, authentic taste of Sambal preserved from old times.

28. Soto Betawi (Jakarta Beef Soup)

A pure Jakartan dish is a soup made with beef. The dish has boiled beef flavored with spices like Indonesian bay leaf, lemon grass, candlenut, garlic, and shallots. Once cooked, it is served with either cow’s milk or coconut milk to give it a rich, creamy texture. This will make your stomach full when eaten with rice. Being a healthy and balanced dish on the level of spiciness, Soto Betawi must be tried by those who can not afford to eat hot spicy food. Among the dishes that arrived from the surrounding provinces of Jakarta, Soto Betawi is the one that was born and brought up in Jakartan streets.

29. Gado Gado (Indonesian Salad with Peanut Sauce)

A delicious snack widely sold at every corner of Jakarta, Gado Gado is a pleasure to eat at mobile stalls. This dish combines the creamy peanut sauce smeared all over the soft-cooked rice cakes and healthy green salad vegetables topped with crispy rice wafers. This dish is honored with the label of National dish of Indonesia.

30. Nasi Uduk (Coconut Rice)

The simple yet healthy and sober flavored rice cooked in coconut milk with a dash of a few herbs will enhance the natural taste of rice. This dish will definitely be a lifesaver when your taste buds will be burning with the hot and spicy dishes of Jakarta. So you can always order Nasi Udak to accompany other curries and seafood dishes to balance the sweet and spicy diet. Of course, you can top it up with the Sambal sauce.

31. Rendang (The Festive Feast)

The original Indonesian spicy meat dish from the lands of Minangkabau people in Western Sumatra was voted the number 1 dish in the list of “World’s 50 most delicious food”. The official national dish of the country can be found in any Padang restaurant in Jakarta, and you must try it while you are here. Rendang is served during festivals like Ramzan Eid (Hari Raya in Indonesia) or social celebrations like weddings.  A rich taste of the coconut can be felt at every chew as the meat is slow-cooked in coconut milk and tasty spices like ginger, garlic, galangal, lemongrass, turmeric leaves, shallots, and chilies. The slow cooking gives it the perfect texture and the deep sweet flavor of the coconut and hot spices. Enjoy this royal dish with a variety of rice. Other variations include replacing the meat with lamb, beef, or goat meat.

32. Kue Pancong (Coconut Cake)

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These meals will make you want to travel, just to eat!

Prepare yourself to drool over these 41 meals, each featuring mouthwatering photos, details, and where you can eat it.

I've also included some of my personal travel eating tips and answered some of your top questions... like "Mark, how do you make money to travel?".

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Jakarta travel guide for food lovers

Jakarta is rarely a city travelers are enthusiastic about visiting.

And that’s exactly why I wanted to spend 3 full weeks in Jakarta, exploring the city, eating incredibly delicious Indonesian food , and just experiencing “the Big Durian.”

Contrary to many travel guides that say something along the lines of “get out of Jakarta as fast as you can,” I found Jakarta to be an incredible city, full of life, friendly people, diversity, and a near infinite amount of delicious food.

That’s not to say Jakarta is hassle free, it has its share of problems and crazy traffic, but if you’re up for it, Jakarta will reward you with some unforgettable meals and smiles.

Let’s get started…

Arriving and leaving

If you’re flying into Jakarta on an international flight, you’ll probably arrived at Soekarno–Hatta International Airport , located in west Jakarta.

To get to the center of the city, it’s easiest to jump into a taxi – I would recommend Blue Bird company – and go directly to your hotel or wherever you’re staying. The fare by taxi should cost about 120,000 – 150,000 Rupiah from the airport to the center of Jakarta.

Once you exit baggage claim, find a line for Blue Bird, and there will be a little stand somewhere with an official who gives you a queue number for a taxi.

Where to stay?

Jakarta is a massively spread out city, and so if you have something you need to do in a certain area, it’s a good idea to stay in that area. During my three week stay in Jakarta, I stayed in a couple of different areas of the city, to get a feel for more parts of the city.

In general, I would say the best area of Jakarta to stay in is as a traveler is central Jakarta, either just south of the National Monument (Kebon Sirih) or just north of the National Monument (Hayam Wuruk up to Mangga Besar).

Here are some hotels I would recommend:

• Hotel Santika Premiere Hayam Wuruk  – Newly built and very modern, Hotel Santika Premiere Hayam Wuruk is part of a local Indonesian hotel brand. My wife and I paid about $45 USD per night and we stayed for a week. It was quite a good value hotel, and the location, right on Hayam Wuruk and Mangga Besar is very good. Plenty of delicious food in the area.
• Veranda Hotel – In order to experience a completely different side of Jakarta, in the heart of South Jakarta in an area called Gandaria, my wife and I checked into the Veranda Hotel. The hotel itself is new and very nice. The internet was blazing fast, and there a nice mall right around the corner. And on top of that, there’s a lot of excellent Indonesian food (less Chinese food) in the area. The only thing is, it’s a bit far from the center of Jakarta, but not too bad. Overall, an excellent place to stay.

*Affiliate links – If you make a booking, at NO extra expense to you, I will get a small commission. Thank you for your support.

Restaurants and Street Food

Indonesia is a country that’s made up of over 17,000 islands . Not all of them are inhabited, but there are still many that are, and so the diversity of people, culture, and different foods is astounding. One of the best things about eating in Jakarta is that, being the largest and most influential capital city of Indonesia, people come from all different islands, and so you’ll be able to discover food from all over Indonesia somewhere in Jakarta.

Sometimes when I was eating at street food stalls and restaurants in the city, I hardly even knew what island or culture cuisine I was eating, until finishing my meal and doing some research – and that’s a wonderful thing, because there’s so many different styles of Indonesian food.

There are two frequent types of street food available in Jakarta:

• Warung – A warung typically refers to a small family run restaurant, often in a small shelter style building, but it’s typically a permanent place as opposed to a mobile street food cart.
• Pedagang kaki lima – Literally meaning a five feet trader, pedagang kaki lima is a term used to describe street food carts in Indonesia. Typical carts have two wheels, a leg stand, and then the two legs of the vendor, making five legs in total. You’ll find all sorts of amazing things to eat from street food vendors in Jakarta, ranging from curries and sate, to deep fried snacks and gado gado.

These are the two main styles of dining I focused on during my time in Jakarta, and along with having some seriously delicious food, I also found that many of the sellers, at both local warung’s and street food stalls were very friendly and kind.

A few of my favorite Indonesian dishes:

For a more complete list of Indonesian food in Jakarta, see my full guide (coming soon), but this is just a brief overview of a few of my personal favorites.

• Nasi Padang – Ever since visiting the island of Sumatra back in 2010, I’ve been a little obsessed with food originating in Padang, a province on the west coast of Sumatra. When you eat Nasi Padang it’s a full meal of a variety of different curries, prepared with lots of fresh herbs and spices, coconut milk, and plenty of chilies. Nasi Padang is one of my favorite meals in the world.
• Nasi uduk – Nasi uduk, rice cooked with coconut milk and a few fragrant spices, is commonly found throughout Jakarta. It can be served with a variety of different deep fried things, like deep fried chicken and tofu, with sambal chili sauce, or it can be served with a variety of different local curries and side dishes. The rice itself is so good and fragrant.
• Soto Betawi – Soto is the word used to describe a soup, and nearly every region of Indonesia has their own version of soto. Soto Betawi is from the people native to Jakarta, so it’s true Jakartan food. The soup is typically a little creamy, made with beef, and eaten with rice, and achar pickles. It’s an absolutely must eat Indonesian food in Jakarta.
• Woku – Woku is a dish from Manado , in the northern part of Sulawesi, that’s known for serving spicy and full flavor food. I liked just about every Manado dish I was able to try, but the woku, a blend of aromatic herbs and spices like turmeric, ginger, lemon basil, shallots, and tomatoes, all mixed and pounded together with fish (or something else), was one dish that I couldn’t get over. It’s an amazing dish to eat.
• Sop kaki kambing – Known as goat leg or feet soup, but can include all sorts of random goat organs as well, sop kaki kambing is an Indonesian food dish that only for goat lovers. The dish is commonly served at warung’s, and you often choose any parts of the goat that you want, they will slice them up into a bowl, mix it with soup, and it’s eaten with rice and pickles.
• Ikan bakar – I absolutely love the way fish is grilled in Indonesia. They often begin by butterfly cutting, so that there’s a maximum surface area for both the sambal marinade and the charcoal. Once the fish is slightly blacked from the high fire grilled process, it’s then served with fresh lime (or calamansi), and eaten with either sambal chili sauce, or kecap manis (sweet soy sauce) and diced chilies.
• Gado gado – One of the most common Jakarta street food dishes is gado gado, a salad of vegetables and rice cakes (lontong), all coated in a thick and creamy peanut sauce. Gado gado can make a great light meal, or a snack, and you’ll especially find it being sold throughout Jakarta from mobile street food carts.
• Sate Padang – Trying sate Padang, again from the Padang province of Sumatra in Indonesia, for the first time was a huge surprise. It just honestly didn’t look all that good. But I was in for a flavor explosion on my first skewer – the spice blend coated onto the meat just protruded with spices like cumin and turmeric, and the sauce just sort or melted around the meat. The crispy shallots on top added an extra touch. An amazing dish you’ve got to try, completely different from other variations of Indonesian sate.
• Ayam bakar taliwang – Originating from the island of Lombok, ayam bakar is a type of grilled small baby chicken that’s known for being chili filled and spicy. They normally use country chickens, which are quite small, but very flavorful in a natural kind of tasting way, and have slightly chewy texture. The chicken are marinated and grilled with a choice of powerful chili sambal caked all over them. Eating ayam bakar Taliwang was a little bit of a life changing grilled chicken experience for me.
• Sambal – I couldn’t make an Indonesian favorite food list without including sambal, any variety of different chili based sauce or garnish. You’ll be eating sambal with just about every meal you have in Indonesia, and no two are the same. There must be thousands of different sambal versions, even some families have their own unique one, and it provides extraordinary flavor to just everything.

These are just a few of the dishes and meals you can eat in Jakarta. There are many others as well, but this is a start of a few of my favorites.

Related : For a much bigger list of 50 Indonesian foods and where to eat them, check out my full guide here .

Latest Indonesian blog posts

Here are the latest blog posts that I’ve published about Jakarta and Indonesian food:

Betawi Food at Warung Mak Dower (WARNING: Stink Beans & Jengkol)

28 Comments

Jakarta is a melting pot of Indonesian cuisine from around the country. But one of the regional cuisines that seems to be underrepresented is food from the Betawi people, who are the original inhabitants of the present day area of…

Nasi Goreng Petai (Stink Bean Fried Rice) at Mangga Besar

31 Comments

Nasi goreng, fried rice, is easily one of the most famous Indonesian foods. I wouldn’t call it one of the top Indonesian foods, but I do think everyone can enjoy a plate of nasi goreng from time to time, and I certainly…

Flavor Explosion at Sate Padang Ajo Ramon in Jakarta

20 Comments

Have you ever had a plate of food sitting on the table before you that doesn’t look very pretty? But then you take your first bite, and you’re blown away by how delicious it is? That’s exactly what happened to me…

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Things to do in Jakarta

Being a food lover, and focusing mostly on eating when I travel, I’m not all that concerned about chasing famous attractions when I travel. But that being said, it is nice to occasionally (like in-between meals) to do some sightseeing.

I think part of the reason why Jakarta doesn’t always get too much light as a tourist destination is because there’s not really all that much to do and see in terms of famous buildings, museums, sights, or natural wonders (that is right in Jakarta).

However, there are a few things, and there’s also a big art scene and shopping culture as well.

• National Museum of Indonesia – Located just to the west side of Merdeka Square is the National Museum. The museum houses a great collection of Archaeology and Ethnography collections from around Indonesia. If you enjoyed walking visiting museums, it’s a good place go when you’re in Jakarta.
• Monas (National Monument) – Built as a symbol for the Indonesia struggle for freedom, the National Monument is located right in the center of Jakarta in Merdeka Square. The monument is located in the middle of a huge park, and you can go to the top of the monument for a fee of 5,000 IDR for a pretty good view of the city.
• Istiqlal Mosque and Jakarta Cathedral – Not only the largest mosque in Indonesia, but also in Southeast Asia, Istiqlal Mosque can host 120,000 people at a time. After removing your shoes, you can walk around and get a tour of the mosque. Right across the street, and another icon of Jakarta is the Jakarta Cathedral, a large Roman Catholic Cathedral built in 1901.
• Jakarta Old Town – Also known and Old Batavia or Kota Toa, this area of northern central Jakarta is where you’ll find many of the old colonial Dutch buildings. Fatahillah Square is a good place to start, and there are a number of museums in the area, and you can even rent a pink bicycle and ride around if you’re up for it.
• Glodok (Chinatown) – Along with eating, I like to explore markets and food areas of cities when I travel. Glodok, which is the Jakarta name for their Chinatown, is a very interesting around of the city to walk around, explore, and eat through. There are a few lanes within the center of Glodok where you can walk around local markets and stop at food stalls. I also really enjoyed a cup of coffee at the legendary Kopi Es Tak Kie.

Additionally, you’ll find dozens of modern malls scattered throughout Jakarta, and it seems that walking around air-conditioned malls on the weekends is a pretty popular thing to do.

But of course, I say the best thing to do in Jakarta is eat, and there’s no shortage of food to try, no matter how long you stay in Jakarta.

For more ideas about things to do in Jakarta, you can also browse through the Indonesia tourism official site .

How to get around?

Jakarta reminds me in a lot of ways of Bangkok, but Bangkok with its BTS and MRT, make it a little easier to avoid traffic using public transportation. Jakarta on the other hand, for as big and populated a city as it is, transportation is not quite as convenient as it could be. Although I’ve heard a rail type of MRT or elevated train is in the thoughts, no one really knows if something like that will happen in the near future.

• Taxi – One of the most reputable taxi companies in Jakarta, and throughout Indonesia, is Blue Bird. They have a booking app, or you can just wave one down on the street. Prices are affordable at about 20,000 – 50,000 Rupiah for a short ride and 100,000 – 150,000 for a long ride.
• UberX (<- If you use this link, we’ll both get a FREE ride) – For almost my entire travel trip in Jakarta my wife and I used UberX. We had great experiences with good drivers, and the vehicles are usually Toyota Avanza mini-vans, or equivalents. Sometimes we had to wait about 15 minutes for our UberX to arrive, but usually just about 5 minutes in Central Jakarta. Prices are typically a little cheaper than traditional taxis. For a short ride you’ll pay about 20,000 – 40,000 Rupiah and for a ride across town it might cost 80,000 – 120,000 Rupiah. If you sign up with this link , we’ll each get a free ride.
• Bajaj – Also known as an auto-rickshaw, a bajaj are the mini three-wheelers, that just like in India, prowls the streets, and offer convenient short distance transportation. I particularly like the old orange rickshaws, but there are also newer looking blue rickshaws from India.
• Motorbikes (known as Ojek ) – Motorbikes are a very common (and quick) way to get around Jakarta, and they are frequently used as motorbike taxis.
• Go Jek – Go Jek is an app for booking a motorbike to take you anywhere or do other things for you (like order street food to deliver to you). It’s very convenient, and it charges a set fee, so you don’t have to worry about getting ripped off, and they provide you with a helmet. Good information on this blog post .

There are also buses, and the TransJakarta bus system, but I honestly stuck mostly to using UberX and Bajaj rickshaws during my visit to Jakarta.

Traffic is one of the biggest hardships or hassles of living in or traveling to Jakarta. There’s no real way around the notorious traffic jams . However, I found that if you can avoid the peak rush hours (when traffic is the worst), it’s not too bad. Just give yourself time getting places, don’t be in a rush to get somewhere as fast as possible, and you’ll be fine.

Prices and Expenses

Accommodation:

• Hostel – $10 – $25 USD per bed
• Mid-range hotel – $25 – $60 USD per night
• High end – Everything above $60 USD

Transportation:

• Taxi ride – For short rides you’ll probably spend 20,000 – 50,000 Rupiah and for longer rides across town you’ll spend about 100,000 – 150,000 Rupiah
• UberX ride  (If you use this link, you and I will both get a free ride) – UberX is very affordable in Jakarta. For short rides you’ll spend about 20,000 – 40,000 Rupiah, for treks across town you might spend 100,000 – 150,000 Rupiah.
• Bajaj ride – It’s hard to tell, very much depending on distance and traffic, but a short ride might cost 10,000 – 20,000 Rupiah
• Motorbike ride (ojek) – 10,000 – 40,000 Rupiah
• Street food single dish – 10,000 – 20,000 Rupiah
• Local restaurant – 20,000 – 60,000 Rupiah per person
• Indoor restaurant – 100,000 – 300,000 Rupiah per person or more
• Drink at a bar – 50,000 – 100,000 Rupiah
• Coffee at coffeeshop – 40,000 – 60,000 Rupiah
• Big bottle of water – 5000 Rupiah

Overall budget:

• Budget – $20 – $40 USD per person per day
• Mid-range – $40 – $60 USD per person per day
• High end – $60 – $100 USD per person per day

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Jakarta videos:.

When I was in Jakarta, my wife and I made food videos of many of the restaurants and street foods that we ate during our visit. You can watch the videos below:

(Or you can watch the full playlist of videos on YouTube here .)

Jakarta is not the most talked about city to visit as a tourist in Southeast Asia. But if you choose to visit, with an intent to try lots of delicious food, I think it’s a city that offers so many rewards.

One of the things I love about Indonesia is how diverse it is, consisting of thousands of islands, and Jakarta is the melting pot, the collision of all cultures and foods from around the country.

When you’re in Jakarta get ready to experience the vibrant culture and food of Indonesia!

Have you been to Jakarta? Or to another part of Indonesia?

I would love to hear from you in the comments section below about your favorite Indonesia food…

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• Indonesian Food Guide
• Jakarta Photo Essay (coming soon)
• Hotels in Jakarta *

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21 Must Eat Local Foods When You Visit Jakarta, Indonesia

Indonesia is a huge country, and even the city of Jakarta itself is larger than Singapore. With an endless growth of new Western influenced restaurants, it can be easy to forget about the street hawker food that most Indonesian locals actually frequent. This guide serves to provide an authentic guide on what foods to eat in Jakarta which you can find at the road side, small shops and even in restaurants or food courts.

Indonesia cuisine, because of it’s strategic trading geography, also sees influences from China, India and European countries which become even more distinct near the coastal cities. Hainanese origin of many dishes is also prevalent from the influx of Chinese in the past.

Many of the foods in Jakarta city have been brought in from various parts of Indonesia and been adapted to the region. For the sake of simplicity, I will only be highlighting common foods that can be found here, even though there is an endless variation if you just venture out of Jakarta.

1. Pisang Goreng Sambal Roa (Fried Banana with Chili)

Pisang Goreng is a deep fried batter fritter and in Indonesia, is accompanied with Sambal chili. The banana used in Jakarta is not overly ripe and sweet unlike Singapore, still retaining a starchy firm body. The sambal roa is made with fish and adds extreme spicy kick. Comes with fritters as well for added crunch and is a popular snack for many locals.

Recommended Stall:

Mr Banana Pisang Goreng Pontianak Uya Kuya:  Jembatan ITC Mall Ambassador No. 8, Jl. Prof. Dr. Satrio, Kuningan

2. gorengan (fried foods).

Gorengan literally means ‘fried things’, which is what this popular push cart (geropak) sells. All sorts of ingredients are deep fried and sold, including yam, pineapple,  Tempeh (fermented soy beans), tofu, spring rolls and many others. No doubt unhealthy and a precursor for a heart attack as the oil is re-fried an unknown number of times. Reused oil always seems to taste better.

The gorengan vendors by the road are life-savers, providing quick snacks for local motorists who are more often then not stuck in the infamous Jakarta traffic jams that can last hours. These ubiquitious carts are spread across many roads in Jakarta and it’s hard to miss.

Aneka Gorengan: Pasaraya Grande, Lantai Lower Ground, Dapuraya, Jl. Iskandarsyah II, Melawai, Jakarta

3. otak-otak (brain-brain fish cake).

Otak-Otak is popular in Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore but of course with their variations. I find the Indonesian version to differ the most from the other regions, being mostly pale whitish in color with only little or no chili within the fish paste mix itself. The Jakarta otak fish paste is mostly made with ikan tenggiri (wahoo fish), coconut milk, lemongrass and spices, and is grilled or steamed in banana leaf like other variations of otak for added fragrance.

Otak literally means ‘brain’, which could be derived from the idea that this dish looks like a soft, squishy fish brain.

The Jakarta version however also sees the use of spicy peanut sauce that the otak-otak is dipped in. You can also find otak-otak stalls setup along the street or near bus stops that cater to passerbys.

Recommended Stall: 

Otak-Otak Sangaji: Jl A.M. Sangaji, Petojo , Jakarta , Indonesia

4. bakpao (meat bun).

Bakpao is adopted from the Hokkien name 肉包, which literally means meat dumpling or bun. Originally of Chinese origin from the many Hokkiens living in Indonesia, Bakpao’s initial recipe used pork meat, while many Indonesians have adapted the Bakpao to be filled with other Muslim friendly ingredients like Chicken or vegetables.

The skin is made with dough and after being stuffed, is left to expand from being steamed.

Bakpao Lombobattang: Jl. Boulevard Raya PD9 No. 11, Kelapa Gading, Jakarta, Indonesia

5. ketoprak jakarta.

Ketoprak is another typical street food in Jakarta but has also spread across Java with its  popularity. The vegetarian Ketoprak consists of tofu, lontong (compressed rice cake), beehoon, boiled egg, bean sprouts and cabbage, doused in peanut sauce and topped with fried shallots and kerupuk (deep-fried flavoured rice crackers).

You may also request for the level of spiciness you desire in each individual Ketoprak in most places, with a choice of mild, medium or burn your tongue off.

Ketoprak Ciragil: JL. Cikatomas, II/24, Kebayoran Baru, Jakarta Selatan, DKI Jakarta 12180, Indonesia

6. kerak telor (spicy omelette).

Kerak Telor is made from glutinious rice fried with duck egg, and topped with shredded coconut, fried shallots and dried shrimp. Duck egg is considered to be more flavorful over chicken eggs, which I have to agree.

A Betawi traditional snack, Kerak Telor vendors are most prominent during the annual Jakarta fair and considered a popular choice for visitors. In the past, Kerak Telor was also considered to be food for the wealthy and served during parties.

There are a couple street vendors around Fatahillah Square:  Old Batavia , Jakarta , Indonesia

7. bebek goreng (fried duck).

Bebek Goreng can be found in many street stalls as well as fancier restaurants and is usually sold with rice. Because of this, Bebek Goreng is sometimes also sold as ‘Nasi bebek’ or duck rice. This dish is traditionally eaten with the hands only to really reach every nook and cranny of the duck. There is also a fried chicken version known as Ayam goreng.

The duck is usually marinated with a variety of spices like galangal ginger, lemongrass, bay leaves and cumin, then fried in a pan with loads of oil till its crispy brown.

Recommended stalls:

Bebek Goreng Pak Joko Putra (food cart): Jl. Petogogan, DKI Jakarta, Indonesia

Bebek bengil: the ubud building, jalan h. agus salim no.132, jakarta pusat, dki jakarta 10310, indonesia, 8. martabak manis (sweet stuffed pancake).

Martabak is a soft stuffed pancake and the filling vastly varies from country to country. In Indonesia, Martabak Manis is a popular street dessert version that sees all sorts of sweet ingredients within like condensed milk, cheese and even nutella and toblerone chocolate. The savoury, egg version also found in Indonesia is more commonly known as Martabak Malabar  for locals to distinguish from the dessert variant.

The Martabak in Singapore is not stuffed and completely different from the Indonesian variety- The Ban Jian Kueh in Singapore seems to more closely resemble Jakarta’s Martabak Manis instead.

Recommended  stall:

Martabak Boss: Jl. Yusuf Adiwinata No. 33,Menteng, Jakarta, Indonesia

9. durian pancake.

Probably originating from Medan where there is an abundance of durian merchants, Durian pancakes have spread across Indonesia. Simply made with flour and durian cream puree, the most common presentation is the squarish stuffed pancake although a thinner crepe-like version is also popular.

The skin is sometimes flavoured with Pandan leaves for that green hue, or even strawberry and chocolate.

Ulliko Duren: Grand Indonesia Mall, Lantai Lower Ground, West Mall, Food Hall, Jl. MH Thamrin, Thamrin, Jakarta

10. roti bakar (grilled bread).

Roti Bakar is a thick toast that many Indonesians eat for breakfast or dessert. Street vendors selling Roti Bakar or ‘Ropita’ stalls often offer a variety of toppings including strawberry, banana cheese, pineapple and chocolates. Chocolate and cheese Roti Bakar appears to be the most popular choice among locals though, with a blend of melting shredded cheese and chocolate further sweetened with condensed milk drizzled all over the toast.

Taking the already sugary Roti Bakar to the next level, some stalls have the option to turn it into an ‘Es Roti Bakar’ by adding scoops of ice cream on top of your diabetic treat. Stand by the insulin shot when you try this.

Roti Bakar Eddy: Jl. Raden Patah, Blok M, Jakarta

11. sate (satay).

This famous meat skewer originated from Java, Indonesia and has pretty much become the national dish- it’s no surprise this is my favorite item on the list and Indonesia is where I’ve eaten the best satay in my life.

A popular delicacy consisting of meats like chicken, beef and mutton, each satay is grilled over wood or charcoal fire for that familiar barbecue flavour. The most popular version is also accompanied with spicy peanut and pineapple sauce. Variations include satay made with offal or intestines with a plethora of different sauces.

From street hawkers to high class restaurants, you can find satay pretty much anywhere in Indonesia.

Sate Khas Senayan: Jl. Kebon Sirih No. 31A, Jakarta Pusat, DKI Jakarta 10250, Indonesia

12. sop buntut (oxtail soup).

Sop Buntut  is another well-known food in Indonesia. The ‘ox’ in oxtail soup actually just refers to beef and not any specific cow, and probably incorporated because it’s unwanted by butchers (nowadays oxtail is quite in demand). In Indonesia, slices of fried or barbecued oxtail is cooked in a clear, rich beef broth with loads of vegetables.

A new variant called ‘Sop Buntut Goreng’ has also surfaced, with the oxtail being seasoned and fried dry separately from the soup.

Recommended stall:

Sop Buntut Bogor Cafe:  Jl Jend Sudirman Kav 52-53,  Pacific Place Mall Level 5-57, SCBD , Jakarta , Indonesia

13. soto mie (indonesian soup noodles).

Soto Mie is a spicy noodle dish which itself is actually noodles added to ‘Soto’, traditional Indonesian soup. Due to the gazillion variations of ‘Soto’ depending on the origin of soup, there are also countless variations of Soto Mie based on the soup. Two of the most popular Sotos in Jakarta are the Soto Mie Bogor (beef tendon/cartilage) and Soto Mie Betawi (beef offal with milk).

Mie Kocok Bandung Soto Mie Urat:  Jl. Pegangsaan, Kelapa Gading,  Apartment Gading Nias Residence NL-20 , Jakarta 14250 , Indonesia

14. kopi luwak (civet coffee).

Indonesia is the fourth largest coffee producer in the world, and it’s no surprise they have some amazing coffee. But one of the weirdest coffee recipe discoveries would have to be Kopi Luwak, or Civet Coffee. Seeds of coffee berries that have been ingested and defecated by the Civet cat is collected and then processed into coffee. Its interesting to wonder what was going through the mind of the first Kopi Luwak discoverer who thought it would be a good idea to brew coffee from Civet cat feces.

Authentic Kopi Luwak is one of the most expensive coffees in the world, with prices reaching US$700 per kilogram due to the tedious process of harvesting. The way the Civet selects good coffee berries for consumption, and the digestion of the coffee berries are said to enhance the flavour of coffee.

Kopi Luwak: Kuningan City, Lantai Upper Ground, Jl. Prof Dr Satrio, Kuningan, Jakarta

15. bakso (meatball).

Bakso is an Indonesian meatball usually made from ground beef paste and tapioca flour. However, bakso can also be made from shrimp, fish or chicken. Bakso is typically served with a beef broth with vermicelli or yellow noodles.

The name Bakso is derived from the Hokkien pronunciation for shredded meat, which is ‘bah-so’, suggesting a Indonesian Chinese origin. Bakso has a firmer and denser texture as compared to other meatballs around the world.

Bakso Mas Kumis: Kompleks PT Djarum (Jalan Aipda Karel Satsuit Tubun 2), Jakarta Pusat, DKI Jakarta, Indonesia

16. es campur (mixed ice dessert).

Es Campur is a frozen dessert that means ‘mixed ice’. Blocks of ice are shaved finely with a machine onto an assortment of treats like grass jelly, jack fruit, avocado and coconut in a bowl. The ice is then drizzled with colored sugar syrup and condensed milk for a vibrant presentation.

As with many of the desserts in Indonesia, Es Campur is on the sweeter side as well. Some versions even have a scoop of durian flesh topped above the ice.

Remboelan:  Jl. Asia Afrika No. 8,  Plaza Senayan, 4th Floor, Unit 408 A , Jakarta , Indonesia

17. gado-gado (mix salad).

Gado-Gado is an Indonesian salad with a rich mix of boiled vegetables such as potato, string beans, corn, bitter gourd, cabbage, spinach along with tofu, tempeh and hard-boiled egg all mixed in peanut sauce. Kerupuk crackers are also sometimes added in. The peanut sauce for Gado-Gado is slightly different from the satay peanut sauce, whereby Gado-Gado sauce has Terasi (dried prawn paste) as one of its common ingredients.

Gado-Gado Bonbin:  Jalan Wahid Hasyim No. 87, Jakarta Pusat , Jakarta , Indonesia

18. nasi padang (padang-style rice).

Nasi Padang is basically an array of pre-cooked dishes served with steamed rice, originating from Padang City. The steamed rice is usually also accompanied with gulai Cubadak (jackfruit). Typical dishes served in a padang are Indonesian styled items like Ayam Bakar (grilled chicken), Gulai Ati (cow liver), Udang Balado (chili shrimp) and many more.

There are 2 serving styles in a Padang restaurant- the ‘pesan’ (order) method involved the customer examining the dishes on display and just picking out what he wants; the ‘hidang’ (serve) method will have dishes brought out to the table immediately after guests have been seated in a buffet-style manner for larger banquets.

Rumah Makan Garuda: Jalan H. Agus Salim/ Sabang No. 59 Jakarta Pusat, Indonesia

19. sop kambing (mutton soup).

Sop Kambing is a classic broth made of mutton brewed for hours and flavoured with spices such as coriander, fennel, cumin, star anise and cinnamon. Kambing means ‘Goat’ in Indonesian, which can be called mutton as well.

Although mutton is primarily used for this soup, sometimes chicken and beef are added to enrich the broth. The meat is braised in curry powder before it is cooked. The greenish-yellow hue of the broth comes from the spices used while the meat adds a unique sweetness although the gaminess of the mutton is quite prominent. Some joints also add in bone marrow for extra umami flavours. The soup is served hot and topped with coriander leaves and deep fried sliced shallots, accompanied by rice on the side.

Sop Kaki Kambing Bang Hasan: Jl. Boulevard Raya Blok QJ 7 No. 2, Kelapa Gading, Jakarta, Indonesia

20. siomay (steamed fish dumpling).

Siomay is a Chinese Indonesian steamed fish dumpling, much like the Chinese Shu Mai 烧卖 which uses mainly pork instead. The Indonesian version also uses other types of seafood like tuna, mackerel and prawn. The Siomay is served whole or cut into bite-sized pieces then topped with peanut sauce, sweet soy sauce and chili.

Ika Siomay: ITC Kuningan, Lantai Lower Ground Blok TRW, Jl. Prof Dr Satrio, Kuningan, Jakarta

21. bubur ayam (chicken congee).

Bubur Ayam is the Indonesia version of chicken congee, which is very common in Asia. This simple rice congee is served with shredded chicken with condiments such as chopped celery, fried scallion and shallots as well as Tongcay (preserved salted vegetables). Sometimes there’s also cakwe (youtiao 油条) add which further hints of this dish’s Chinese roots.

A popular breakfast dish that can be found in many warungs (small local shops), many travelling push carts also dish it out at residential areas in the morning.

Bubur Ayam Tebet Barat:  Tebet Barat Dalam Raya , Jakarta 12810 , Indonesia

Book a hotel in jakarta, indonesia.

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Editor’s End Notes

Many of these Indonesian street foods can not only be found in Jakarta, but all over Indonesia as well. As usual, locals will always know best so do leave suggestions on stalls or perhaps more dishes to add in the comments below. This guide was done while I was travelling Jakarta, as well as based on consulting several Indonesian friends.

Written By Seth Lui

Chief Food Hunter. Seth doesn't promise good reviews, only honest ones. Occasionally gets angry emails from restaurant owners for not giving a stellar writeup. Instagram: @sethluicious

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14 MUST-TRY STREET FOOD IN JAKARTA

They say you have not entirely experienced a place to its fullest potential if you have not tried its local food. While our capital city –  a melting pot of cultures – is not short of lavish restaurants, street food remains one of the best ways to truly taste Indonesia’s diverse and versatile culinary scene. You can find street food carts, vendors and small shops at almost every corner of this congested city so to make things simpler, we’ve narrowed down our top 14 picks of street foods that are an absolute must-try while at the metropolitan.

1. Nasi Goreng

A national obsession,  nasi goreng  is a major player in the Indonesian street food scene. Literally means “fried rice”, you would be hard-pressed not to find a pushcart or street vendor serving a type of  nasi goreng  in almost every corner of the city. It’s flavor and looks is worlds apart from the Chinese-style fried rice found throughout the rest of the world – for starters,  nasi goreng  is typically cooked with eggs, meat, vegetables, and soya sauce seasoning and contains a light blend of chili and other local spices. There is a huge variety of  nasi goreng  to choose from as different regions prepare it differently. Some of the most popular ones include  nasi goreng ayam  (chicken fried rice),  nasi goreng kambing  (lamb fried rice),  nasi goreng ikan asin  (salted fish fried rice) and  nasi goreng gila  (“crazy” fried rice made from a mixture of sausages, scrambled egg, meatballs, leeks, onion,  cakwe  and other condiments). 

2. Sate (satay)

One of Indonesia’s most renowned national delicacies sold by street vendors everywhere is known as  saté  (satay). It is a dish consisting of chunks of dice-sized and seasoned meats (such as lamb, beef, chicken, fish, prawns and occasionally vegetables) on bamboo skewers, which are grilled over charcoal or wood fire. The archipelago’s diverse culture has resulted to a variety of  saté  dishes to try – such as  saté  Padang and Taichan, but the most popular one is typically served with a spicy peanut sauce and compressed rice cakes ( lontong ) as well as pickled onions, carrots, and cucumbers on the side. If you’re feeling adventurous, try other variants of  saté  made of kidney, intestine, liver, and cubes of coagulated chicken blood.

3. Gado-Gado

Photo: Primarasa

Gado-Gado , which literally means ‘mix-mix’, is Indonesia’s version of salad sold throughout Jakarta on mobile street food carts. The dish consists of fresh slightly boiled, blanched or steamed vegetables such as potatoes, bean sprouts, corn, spinach, string beans, cabbage, and bitter gourd, with fried tofu and tempeh. The dish can also be served with hard-boiled eggs and compressed rice cake (lontong). These components are all coated in a thick and creamy peanut sauce and garnished with deep fried shallots.  Gado gado  can make a great light meal, or a snack, and is popular among vegans. 

4. Ketoprak

Photo: Masak Apa Hari Ini?

Another popular, staple street food that is a must-try is  ketoprak . Resembling gado-gado in its use of peanut sauce as dressing,  ketoprak’s  components differ slightly. This legendary street food is made of fried tofu chunks, rice vermicelli, sliced cabbage, cucumber, and bean sprout as well as a choice of  lontong  (Indonesian compressed rice cake) and boiled eggs on the side. It is then garnished with Indonesian crackers and fried shallots. When ordering  ketoprak , you can specify the dish’s spicy level according to each individual.

5. Gorengan

Gorengan , which literally means ‘fried food’, is a staple and one of the most desired snacks in the entire country. Seasoned, battered and then deep-fried, you can opt for different bases from banana to cassava, to tofu (with or without filling), yam and/or tempeh (fermented soybean). Many locals eat this bite-sized food with small bird’s eye green chilies ( cabai rawit ) to add spiciness. These pushcarts are spread across many roads in Jakarta and almost impossible to miss.

Soto is Indonesia’s traditional soup, which mainly comprises of broth, vermicelli noodles and vegetables, and the meats most commonly used are beef, chicken or lamb. Nearly every region of Indonesia has their own version of  soto , such as  soto  Madura (from East Java),  soto  Padang (from West Sumatra),  soto  Bandung (from West Java),  soto  Banjar (from South Kalimantan), and  coto  Makassar (from South Sulawesi). While the broth of most  soto  dishes is clear,  soto  Betawi, which is native to Jakarta, uses coconut milk. Steamed rice and other condiments such as fried shallot,  emping  crackers, and lime juice are enjoyed together with the soup.

Bakso  is Indonesia’s version of meatballs, typically served in a hearty broth with vermicelli, rice or yellow noodles, then garnished with fried shallots. While the most popular kinds of  bakso  are made from ground beef, you can also find those made from chicken, fish or shrimp. Some vendors also serve fried  bakso  with their delicious soup instead. To add a kick to the dish, add  sambal , or Indonesian chili paste to the broth.

8. Bubur Ayam

One of the most go-to meals found in many street vendors and pushcarts in the region is  bubur ayam  or chicken congee in English. Usually, opt as a breakfast dish, this simple rice congee is served with shredded chicken and condiments such as chopped celery, fried scallion, peanuts, shallots as well as preserved salted vegetables, and sometimes  cakwe  ( youtiao  or Chinese fried churros). Some  bubur  dishes also come with yellow curry gravy and  sambal  on the side.

9. Bakmi Ayam

Influenced by Hokkien Chinese immigrants from way back when Indonesians have developed a taste for a wide-variety of noodle-based dishes. One of the most popular ones is  bakmie ayam , a simple soupy noodle dish served with marinated minced chicken, side condiments such as fried shallots and  sambal . Another popular cooking-style for  bakmie ayam  is wok-fried with chicken breast and vegetables. Most pushcarts serve either one of the versions but to get both kinds to look for bigger street vendors or shops instead. 

10. Sop Kaki Kambing


This is another popular soup dish that is simply a must-try for all mutton lovers.  Sop Kaki Kambing , which literally means goat feet soup, is a classic broth made of mutton brewed for hours and flavored with spices such as coriander, fennel, cumin, star anise, and cinnamon. The dish is commonly served at small street shops and is served with rice and pickles.

11. Kerak Telor

Kerak telor , which means ‘egg crust’, is considered as one of the city’s culinary heritage. It is an omelet-like dish made from a combination of either duck or chicken eggs and glutinous rice, slowly cooked on charcoal, giving it its crispy exterior. The delectable dish is then topped with a scrumptious serving of crunchy dried shrimps, fried shallots and shredded coconut, served hot on top of the paper. Most people recommend using duck eggs as it gives the dish a richer and fattier taste as compared to chicken eggs. On a side note,  kerak telor  is not as ubiquitous as its fellow street food because it can only be found in certain spots that are iconic in Jakarta like Monas, Kota Tua, and PRJ.

12. Roti Bakar

Roti bakar  is one of the most popular breakfasts or dessert options of the region. Just as its name,  roti bakar  is a kind of sandwich that is charcoal grilled then generously topped with chocolate sprinkles, shredded cheese, and condensed milk. Its earthy, smokey flavor combined with the sweet serenity of chocolate, milk, and cheese is just to die for! Aside from the original topping,  roti bakar  also comes with a variety of other toppings such as strawberry, banana, and pineapple. If you are opting to have  roti bakar  as a dessert, be sure to not fill yourself up at dinner – you will need the space!

13. Martabak


There are two types of this dish – sweet and savory. The sweet one is  martabak manis , an Indonesian dessert that resembles a pancake, and comes either in a thin or thick crust. The classic version of this dish usually involves stuffing the pancake crust with chocolate sprinkles, Nutella, cheese, condensed milk, and nuts. However,  martabak manis  have now evolved to all sort of unique flavors to choose from including green tea, Toblerone, Ovomaltine, red velvet and more. 

The savory version of  martabak  resembles a deep-fried “omelet” made from either chicken or duck eggs and comes either plain or with meat – chicken or beef – filling. The small, crispy little  martabak  squares are best served with pickled cucumbers and bird’s eye chili on the side.

14. Es Campur

Es Campur is a must-have especially to cool off during Jakarta’s most unpredictable heatwaves. This frozen dessert, which means ‘mixed ice’ is literally made of finely shaved blocks of ice mixed with an assortment of treats such as grass jelly, jack fruit, avocado, and coconut. The bowl of ice is then drizzled with colored sugar syrup and condensed milk. What a sweet cooling treat indeed!

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21 Must Eat Street Foods In Jakarta

16 apr 21 must eat street foods in jakarta.

A bustling metropolitan city where cultures across Indonesia come to gather, Jakarta is a treasure trove for those looking to sample some of the best culinary skills the country has to offer, and this is reflected in the street food scene.

From dusk to midnight and dusk again, humble street vendors in Jakarta—hidden to unknowing eyes—have been a reliable source of comfort food to its ever busy citizens for generations. Eating out is part and parcel for most living in Jakarta, it’s a social need for which many would brave the incessant traffic of Indonesia’s capital city.

Must eat street foods in Jakarta are both diverse in options and cultural influences. They range from heavy meals like Madura-style chicken satays to much-favoured nighttime snacks such as the Middle East-inspired martabak (both sweet and savoury)—each one just as unmissable as the next during a visit to the city.

In This Must Eat Jakarta Street Food Guide:

Things to keep in mind while street food hunting in jakarta, street food for breakfast, street food lunch picks, recommended street food for dinner, street food snacks, sweet street food, vegetarian-friendly street food, most popular street food drinks, jakarta street food faqs, download a ride-hailing app.

Though public transport in Jakarta isn’t exactly the most efficient form of transportation, there are app-based ride-hailing options like Gojek and Grab that make travelling from one street food joint to the next a breeze. Be sure to download them on your phone prior to going out. You can even ask the driver for street food recommendations in his local area.

Language Barrier

Most Indonesians do not speak foreign languages and have only a very basic understanding of English. That said, in most cases, it’s not really a problem because Jakarta locals are also used to tourists and can overcome language barriers by way of improvised sign language and numbers.

The early bird gets the worm

Many popular street food establishments can run out of stock far before closing time and some are incessantly crowded, especially on the weekends. So coming early is always a good bet!

1. Bubur Ayam – Chicken Congee

When it comes to an authentic Indonesian breakfast, most locals would immediately think of bubur ayam, or chicken congee. In Jakarta, carts selling warm bowls of bubur ayam can be found in about any of the city’s neighbourhoods. Topped with shredded chicken, nuts, and an array of garnishes – which can be customised according to preference – each bowl is not only delicious, but also nutritious. A perfect start to your day in the bustling city!

2. Nasi Uduk – Coconut Milk Steamed Rice

One of the defining breakfast staples in Jakarta is no doubt nasi uduk, a Betawi-style steamed rice dish that is cooked in coconut milk and a variety of spices—similar to nasi lemak in Malaysia. Accompanying the rice is a selection of side dishes like tempeh, rice noodles, and boiled egg with sambal, which can be customised to your liking.

3. Ketupat Sayur – Rice Cakes With Vegetables

The name ‘ketupat sayur’ is pretty self explanatory. The dish is a combination of rice cakes wrapped in coconut leaves (ketupat) and vegetables (sayur) submerged in a coconut milk-based soup. Topped with egg for protein and pink crackers for added crunch, this dish is usually sold around neighbourhood areas and at West Sumatran eateries.

4. Ketoprak – Vermicelli Tofu Salad In Peanut Sauce

Carts selling ketoprak are usually identifiable from their shape—big and boat-like with cans of crackers for the crucial topping. The dish itself is a lively mix, where rice noodles meet tempe, tofu, bean sprouts and egg, doused in peanut sauce. Adjust the spiciness level to your liking, get yourself a cup of tea (usually free with your order) and enjoy!

5. Soto Betawi – Jakarta’s Beef Soup

While most Indonesian dishes use coconut milk in its ingredients, Soto Betawi is known for its unique use of cow’s milk for its fragrant soup, which is also infused with lemongrass, cloves, cinnamon and cloves. The meat of the dish is a combination of beef meat and entrails—and the latter is definitely worth a try despite appearances.

6. Bakmi – Wheat Noodles With Meat

Your trip to Jakarta wouldn’t be complete if you haven’t had a bowl of bakmi, a wheat noodle delicacy that came alongside immigrants from China many years ago. This food is a staple lunch pick in the city, particularly in West Jakarta where even the simplest of bakmi carts could surprise you with the hideaway quality of their offerings.

7. Sate Ayam – Grilled Chicken Skewers

These skewers of grilled chicken coated in peanut sauce is probably one of the most famous Indonesian foods out there. In Jakarta, street carts selling the popular Madura delicacy begin to pop out once the sun begins to set. Achieving the right level of tenderness requires finesse, same with making the peanut sauce, and not all satay is created equal. So reviews from prior diners are your best friend!

8. Nasi Goreng – Indonesian Fried Rice

Nasi Goreng is yet another popular street food option in the city at night. Sold on street corners and restaurants alike, you would notice the presence of the fried rice dish by the resounding clanging of irons as spatula hits wok. Sweet soy sauce, shredded chicken and sometimes even chicken nuggets and slices of sausage are part of the equation, all rapidly coming together under the practised hands of the cook.

9. Nasi Bebek Bumbu Hitam – Spicy Fried Duck On Rice

Sate Ayam isn’t the only Madura delicacy roaming the night in Jakarta, Nasi Bebek Bumbu Hitam is also a must try staple from the Madurese people. The dish comes with a portion of fried duck, rice, an oily yet alluring dose of black-coloured sambal made up of a variety of spices. Have a go at it with your hands while the rice is still hot, you’re guaranteed for a spicy treat!

10. Gorengan – Fried Fritters

Gorengan here means fritters, more or less equivalent to tempura in Japanese cuisine. The variety ranges from simple fried tofu to molen, which is a banana-based treat where the fruit is wrapped in dough and then deep fried. These pocket friendly snacks are easy to find, as they are usually sold out of carts in the parking lot of convenient stores. Give them a try!

11. Maklor & Cilor – Macaroni Pancakes

Maklor or makaroni telor (macaroni egg) and cilor aka aci telor (tapioca egg) are mini pancakes doused in powdered seasonings, commonly found near schools. It’s admittedly not the healthiest snack, but it’s definitely a quintessential part of street food in Jakarta—and they taste nice! A tip is to customise the seasonings according to your flavour preferences, whether that means to go easy on the spice-level and sweetness or to kick it up a notch.

12. Kerak Telor – Traditional Spicy Omelette

Kerak telor, an omelette and sticky rice treat, is a time-honoured specialty in the city, and vendors often appear at cultural festivals with their cooking tools slung on a stick across their shoulders. Topped with a shredded coconut and dried shrimp, the simple snack is a reflection of the country’s history, as it is said to have been created to make up for the lack of quality of the glutinous rice during the colonial era.

13. Rambut Nenek – Hand-Pulled Cotton Candy

Arbanat, or more famously known as rambut nenek—which roughly translates to grandma’s hair in English—is a common sighting in Jakarta. It’s a type of cotton candy treat, where the pale, hair-like strands of candy are sandwiched between a type of colourful crackers. If you’re lucky, you might encounter a rambut nenek vendor playing a rebab (Indonesian String Instrument) to attract people into buying the treat. When you do, there’s no need to hesitate, go and try it!

14. Roti Bakar Bandung – Sweet Grilled Bread

At its core, roti bakar is simply bread that is grilled over a pan—what makes the ones from Bandung attractive is the way that it’s toasted. The bread is rectangular and thick, slathered with margarine that adds flavour and is absorbed into the bread upon grilling. Sandwiched between the slices of bread is a type of jam or chocolate sprinkles, the latter of which is a definite must try for the irresistible flavour combo of melted chocolate and margarine.

15. Martabak – Sweet or Savoury Stuffed Pan Fried Bread

Martabak comes in two variants: sweet or savoury. The sweet one is a thick, stuffed pancake that comes with a variety of fillings, ranging from classic options like chocolate sprinkles and cheese to more experimental ones like melted Toblerone. Pecenongan street in Central Jakarta is a great place to go if you’d like to go to the hub and explore the diversity of the treat, but martabak’s popularity is so widespread that you can find it everywhere in the city.

16. Mendoan – Crispy Fried Tempeh

There are a lot of vegetarian-friendly options when it comes to street food in Indonesia, many of which use tempeh for their main protein source. For mendoan, the soy-based protein is thinly sliced, coated with dough and then deep fried. Each portion usually comes with three slices of mendoan, accompanied by spicy soy sauce and green bird’s eye chilli.

17. Gado-Gado – Indonesian Salad With Peanut Sauce

Once more, like many Indonesian dishes, peanut sauce is a main component in gado-gado. What makes it a bit more healthy is the content, which is a salad of lightly-cooked spinach, green beans and cucumber, among others. The taste can vary quite a bit depending on who makes it, so be sure to look up which eateries or restaurants serve the best gado-gado in town!

18. Asinan Sayur – Indonesian Salad With Pickles & Peanut Dressing

At first glance, asinan sayur may seem very similar to gado-gado. It’s also a vegetable salad that uses peanut sauce as dressing, but the two actually taste very different due to the pickling involved. The two also vary in vegetable options and peanut sauce recipe, with asinan being lighter on the palate in overall and is often spicy by default.

19. Es Cendol – Coconut Shaved Ice Drink With Green Jelly

Not only popular in Indonesia, es cendol seems to be a delicacy that is equally enjoyed throughout Southeast Asia. And for good reason—the iced dessert drink, consisting of green rice flour jelly in a glass of coconut milk and palm sugar syrup, is a true and tested delicacy, perfect to combat the hot weather of Jakarta.

20. Es Cincau – Coconut Shaved Ice Drink With Grass Jelly

Es cincau is a close cousin to es cendol, but instead of rice flour jelly, the star here is the grass jelly cubes. Nowadays, there are many variations of the drink as alternatives to the classic palm sugar and coconut milk syrup. There’s one with milk, another with coconut pandan syrup and complemented with chunks of bread, and even one with cappuccino!

21. Sari Tebu – Sugarcane Juice With Lime

Often enjoyed chilled with a touch of lime juice, sari tebu is a classic and popular drink in the city. It’s made out of sugarcane juice, extracted on the spot with a special juicing contraption. Known for its health benefits and refreshingly sweet taste, the drink also offers a glimpse into Indonesia’s history, as sugarcane has long been cultivated in the tropical country as one of its popular products.

What are some famous street foods in Jakarta?

Jakarta is simply brimming with options when it comes to street foods. In addition to the options mentioned above, famous options also include siomay, nasi kucing, es doger and many, many more.

Is the street food of Jakarta expensive?

It really depends on your definition of expensive, but street food here is generally very affordable, even at famous street stalls. We recommend not buying it at restaurants as even when it’s still not that expensive, it’s likely overpriced and not as authentic.

Where's the best place for street food in Jakarta?

Famous street food stalls in Jakarta are pretty wide spread across the city. But there are locations, particularly long-standing markets that host a number of good options all in one place. Among them are:

• Glodok in West Jakarta
• Pasar Baru in Central Jakarta
• Blok M in South Jakarta

Jakarta loves its food and nothing captures the diversity of its people as well as its plethora of street food. It brings city locals together regardless of their background, providing a moment of comforting respite amidst all the hustle and bustle. So if you want to get to know the culture of the city and its people together, your experience in the city won’t be complete until you’ve tried Jakarta’s most famous street foods!

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• Street Food In Jakarta : 7 Must-Visit Places For All Food Lovers

23 Mar 2023

Is food  what you think about always and want to go on a food spree where you can feast on some of the most unique and interesting flavors that burst into a tsunami? Flavors that lure you in from one street to the other, one vendor to the other, one restaurant to the other and one festival to the other. If so, then Jakarta is one such country where people can play with flavors and spices and taste some of the best recipes. The country is so rich and diverse when it comes to food. From different and quirky food creations to secret family recipes and classic food, street food in Jakarta is a foodie paradise.

7 Best Places For Trying Street Food In Jakarta

Since Jakarta is one of the most popular hubs amongst its neighboring places, it is full of some of the best restaurants but even then, it is only the street food that has made the place very popular. People can dig into some of the simplest and delicious recipes. There are several street food markets in Jakarta where people can head to and meet like-minded people while discovering sumptuous food and great recipes.

1. Nasi Goreng Kambing Kebon Sirih

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No visit to Jakarta is complete without visiting this place. This is a legendary place where people have been coming back and again for years. Today the place is run by the grandson of the actual owner who continues to sell the equally delicious mutton fried rice that made this place famous. The skillful workers make the rice right in front of you in a large wok in a very artistic manner. The fragrant rice along with various Indonesian spices invites anyone crossing that area.

Location: Jalan Kebon Sirih Barat Dalam, Menteng, Jakarta, Indonesia

Must Read: Jakarta Nightlife: 10 Best Places To Groove To The Indonesian Beats!

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2. Gulai Tikungan

When looking for the best night street food in Jakarta, Gulai Tikungan tops the chart. The marvelous place leaves no passerby and compels everyone to indulge in this spicy savor gravy which consists of beef slices. People swamp all around the place some in cars and some on foot waiting for their turn to come. There is no one who leaves from here with just one plate of Gulai Tikungan.

Location: 28 Mahakam, Jakarta, Indonesia

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3. Warmindo Abang Adek

The street food of Jakarta is absolutely famous for instant noodles and there are many places where these worldwide famous noodles can be feasted on but there is only one Warmindo Abang Adek. The place is known for their oh-so-hot noodles that will blow the whistles of you. Upon placing an order, customers will be asked how many chilies would they like in their noodles. This varies from person to persona nd can go uptill 100.

Location: 8 Mandala Utara, Jakarta, Indonesia

Suggested Read: 10 Jakarta Beaches That Are Bound To Make Your Indonesia Trip All The More Fun

4. Warteg Warmo

Warteg means a streetside food establishment selling ready-to-eat food at cheap rates and Warteg Warmo is one of the most popular warteg in Jakarta. The place is known to sell really inexpensive but utterly delicious food. The place is a big hit among the tourists as well as the locals and contains a big menu. Choose one of the many things from the menu which will instantly be served to you, piping hot with rice. This place is located in one of the best street food areas in Jakarta.

Location: 1D Tebet Timur, Raya, Jakarta, Indonesia

Suggested Read: 27 Places To Visit In Jakarta  That Showcase The Other Side Of Indonesia

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5. Roti Bakar Eddy

The place was started many years ago in a small place and today it has chains all over the country. But even so, after the amazing success, Roti Bakar Eddy still sits at its original location selling its world-famous food. They are known for the wide range of toast filling with toppings which is homemade bread.

Location: 11 Raden Patah, Jakarta, Indonesia

Suggested Read: 11 Best Things To Do In Jakarta: The Indonesia Capital Buzzing With Life!

6. Seafood 68 Santa

If you are a seafood lover, then Seafood 68 Santa is your go-to place. It is widely popular, so much that many celebrities too have enjoyed the food here. Their food is inexpensive and abundant. 2 dollars will fetch you a generous amount of clams, squids, a plate full of stir-fried water spinach. No matter how inexpensive, they DO NOT compromise on the taste, flavors, authenticity, and freshness of the food. There is a reason why it’s a hit among many celebrities and the place is always flooding with customers.

Location: 58 Wolter Moginsidi, Jakarta, Indonesia

Suggested Read: Cruises In Indonesia: 6 Enriching Small Ship Cruise Tours For A Vacay

7. Seafood AYU

Another abode for the seafood lovers, Seafood AYU is some of the most famous places in the whole of the country. They are known to serve 5-star restaurants like dishes in their place is super nominal charges with generous quantity. They have everything from fish to prawns, squids, lobsters, crabs and many more. Their ready to be prepared food pares up well with stir-fried water spinach.

Location: Boulevard Bar, Raya, Jakarta, Indonesia

Further Read: Step By Step Guide On How To Get An Indonesia Visa For Indians

Because of such much variety and a lot to offer Jakarta streets are full of small and big vendors selling some of the most amazing food and recipes. In fact, the country also organizes many street food festivals in Jakarta. These festivals are a place where every food lover must visit to calm their frenzy in their taste buds. Street food in Jakarta is amazing and people must plan a vacation that solely focuses on food. Interested? Plan your trip to Jakarta with TravelTriangle and get ready to treat your palette with some of the most delicious flavors.

Disclaimer: TravelTriangle claims no credit for images featured on our blog site unless otherwise noted. All visual content is copyrighted to its respectful owners. We try to link back to original sources whenever possible. If you own the rights to any of the images, and do not wish them to appear on TravelTriangle, please contact us and they will be promptly removed. We believe in providing proper attribution to the original author, artist or photographer.

Please Note: Any information published by TravelTriangle in any form of content is not intended to be a substitute for any kind of medical advice, and one must not take any action before consulting a professional medical expert of their own choice.

Frequently Asked Question About Street Food In Jakarta

What are some famous street food in Jakarta?

There is a variety of delicious street food in Jakarta. Mutton fried rice, gravy slices of beef, instant noodles, toast filled with toppings are some of the famous and must-try foods in Jakarta.

What are some of the best places to enjoy street food in Jakarta?

Several street food stalls serve delicious local food. Some of them are Seafood 68 Santa, Seafood AYU, Roti Bakar Ady, etc.

What are some places where you can try street food in Jakarta at night?

The nightlife in Jakarta is a happening one, and if you want to try out some street food at night, then a few vendors such as Gulai Tikungan tops the chart of offering the best street food at night in Jakarta.

Is the street food of Jakarta expensive?

No, when it is compared to other western food suppliers, it is all in budget and pocket-friendly. Moreover, the expense of food depends upon the place at which you are going to have a meal.

What spices are used in the street food of Jakarta?

Every place has its patent spices that are used in street food. In Jakarta, lemongrass, cinnamon, ginger, garlic and a few are used widely.

Does Jakarta have any seafood specialty?

There is a wide range of seafood dishes available in Jakarta. However, some of the must-try seafood include Gulai Tikungan, Babur Ayam, and Warteg Warmo.

How can you reach Jakarta?

The availability of multiple air routes can be observed from any metropolitan city globally. Jakarta is well connected with most accessible cities globally through railways, roads, and airways. You can easily reach Jakarta by using the ferry if you are there in Indonesia.

How many days are enough to explore Jakarta?

Jakarta is a city that is filled with a lot of tourist attractions, adventure, and others. If you want to have a complete trip, then planning a 3 to 4 days trip would be enough to explore the city.

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5 Jakarta Food & Drinks You Simply Must Try!

Last Updated on: 19th June 2023, 06:40 pm

Indonesia, the most prosperous economy in Southeast Asia, is home to more than 13,000 islands.

These islands, together with the mainland, is the collective home to more than 250 million people from diverse ethnic groups and speaking different languages.

It’s no surprise that in the capital city of Jakarta food is as diverse as its geography. Here is what to eat in Jakarta as well as what to drink!

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My Favorite Travel Booking Sites for 2023

These are my favorite companies that I use on my own travels.

Protect Your Trip via Safety Wing

Find the best city tours, day tours, bus tours, & skip-the-line tickets on GetYourGuide and Viato r .

Find the best deals on hotels & vacation rentals on Booking.com .

For English-speaking private airport transfers, book through Welcome Pickups.

For road trips and independent travel, rent a car through Discover Cars .

Find information and cruise reviews on Cruise Critic.

For packing and travel essentials order via Amazon .

Book an affordable family or romantic photography session on your trip through Flytographer (Use the code HISTORYFANGIRL for 10% off your first photoshoot).

For travel guidebooks to have with you during your trip, I always pick one or two from Rick Steves and Lonely Planet.

The Influences on Jarkarta’s Food

The abundance of rice, spices, and soybeans in Indonesia is a reflection of the country’s fertile landscape. The seas surrounding the islands provide seafood in abundance for the Indonesian people. 

Many cultures profoundly influence Indonesia’s culinary traditions. Indonesia’s Javanese civilizations shaped the country’s cooking and dining.

It was later influenced by the Indian and Chinese traders who flocked the country to trade. Indonesia’s culinary traditions were then influenced by the Europeans when they flocked the country in search of expensive native spices such as cloves and nutmeg.

Where to Eat in Jakarta, Indonesia

There’s no other better place to experience Indonesia’s culinary traditions than in 5-star hotels in Jakarta Indonesia by Ayana .

Inside these 5-star hotels, you will get the chance to try a mouthwatering array of fiery curries, broth-soaked noodles, banana-wrapped fish, sweet peanut dressing, vegetable salads, among other foods from Indonesia.

Besides 5-star hotels, you can also sample Indonesia’s food in Warung (small family-owned eateries).

In Warung, you will find all the specialties of Indonesia. Food in these eateries is usually prepared ahead of time and served at room temperature.

These eateries are not highly regulated, and therefore you should avoid them if you are worried about your health.

Instead, it would help if you considered having your meals in 5-star hotels in Jakarta, where they employ high-quality standards in food preparation.

In Indonesia, there are Padang restaurants that serve buffet. These restaurants serve food the hidang style, where the waiter brings several saucers with different foods your table.

They will charge you for the dishes you eat. The hidang technique of serving food was invented in West Sumatra, where it spread to other parts of Indonesia, including Jakarta.

Just like many other cities across the world, the love for cheap and good food also spills over to Indonesia.

In Jakarta, you will find street food carts almost at every corner. Again, if you are worried about your health, you should keep off street food in Jakarta Indonesia because many of these eateries have no regard for food safety.

What to Eat in Jakarta, Indonesia

These are the best Jakarta food and drinks that you need to try!

Indonesian satay is meat skewers that are cooked over coals so hot that you would need a fan to waft the smoke away.

Whether it is mutton, goat, or rabbit meat, these skewers are usually marinated in turmeric, grilled, and then soaked in a thick peanut sauce.

Satay is usually served with rice cakes. It’s believed that stay originated from the Indonesian streets and found its way to other parts of the world.

Rendang originated from West Sumatra and spread to other parts of Indonesia, including Jakarta.

Redang refers to dry curry that is beef, goat, liver, chicken, or other meats. It’s prepared by cooking with spices until dry. T

he end product is an intense concoction of taste and texture. It’s considered the best food not only in Indonesia but also all over the world.

Indonesia is among the largest rice producers in the world. It’s no surprise that they have the best-fried rice whose reputation has taken the world by storm.

You can have the fried rice served with chicken, veggies, seafood, beef, or anything else you can think of. Indonesian fried rice is different because they use a sweet, thick soy sauce known as keycap.

They also garnish the rice with pickled cucumber, acar, and carrots.

Nasi uduk refers to rice cooked in coconut milk. It includes a pinwheel of a variety of vegetable and meat accompaniments.

It mostly includes boiled eggs, fried chicken, and soybean cake. Nasi uduk came into the limelight about five decades ago, and it’s now a favorite among Indonesians and individuals coming to visit Indonesia.

Bir pletok is a traditional drink from the Betawi people in Jakarta.

Pletok beer is a refreshing drink made through the mixing of multiple spices, including lemongrass, ginger, and pandan leaves.

Its name might be confusing, but there’s no alcohol here! It’s a purely non-alcoholic drink!

More Indonesia Travel Resources

Headed to Indonesia? Check out these beautiful Indonesia quotes and puns for your Indonesia Instagram captions! You can also use my quotes for Bali and Bali puns if you head from Jakarta to Bali during your trip.

5 Things to Pack for Your Trip to Indonesia

The   Lonely Planet Indonesia   guidebook for your trip. It can be kind of a pain to find the major guidebooks once you arrive or you’ll find them overpriced. I always like to pick mine up ahead of time.

An Unlocked  Cell Phone   so that you can use an Indonesian sim card and have internet access without relying on local wifi.

Backup Charging Bank  for your cell phone since you’ll be using it as a camera, GPS, and general travel genie.

A Camera  since Indonesia is super photogenic. I use a mix of my  Nikon D810  and my   Samsung8  smartphone these days.

A Great Day Bag   so you can carry what you need with you (like your camera, snacks, water, sunscreen, cash, etc). My current favorite is the  Pacsafe Citysafe , which is especially great for Asian cities because it has many anti-theft features.

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance!

Before you leave for Indonesia make sure you have a valid  Travel  Insurance Policy  because accidents happen on the road. I pay for  World Nomads,  and I happily recommend them. It’s especially important to get travel insurance if you’ll be hanging out in cities (like Jakarta…ahem) where tourists can be the victims of pickpockets. 

I have been a paying customer of  World Nomads  for travel insurance for three years, and I happily recommend them.  If you get sick, injured, or have your stuff stolen, you’ll be happy to have the ability to pay for your medical bills or replace what’s stolen or broken.

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JAKARTA TRAVEL GUIDE with Sample Itinerary & Budget + Indonesia Requirements

“Anywhere else, aside from Jakarta?”

This was the reply I would usually get whenever I said I was going to the Indonesian capital. “No, just Jakarta,” was my answer. And it took them a second to realize that they heard my response right.

Jakarta feels strangely familiar. There is so much about it that reminds me of Metro Manila, my home city. Both are capital cities of developing Southeast Asian nations. Both are among the biggest urban hubs in the world, serving as a home and/or workplace for tens of millions of people. And for many international tourists, both are seen mostly as a jump-off point to another destination, a necessary means to a more spectacular end. In Jakarta’s case, this spectacular end can be the beaches of Bali , the temples of Yogyakarta , or the picturesque volcanoes in other parts of Java.

But like Manila, Jakarta can hold its own. It may not be as Instagram-worthy, but it does have a long history and rich culture, making it a great stop for Indonesia first timers. From the numerous museums to the sumptuous street food, the city will give you a taste of what the world’s greatest archipelago has to offer.

WHAT'S COVERED IN THIS GUIDE?

UNDERSTANDING JAKARTA

Jakarta is the capital of and the largest city in Indonesia. Located in the island of Java, the city serves as the economic, political, and cultural center of the country. Jakarta is sprawling. Over the years, as it continues to draw in more people, it also paves way for the development of neighboring areas.

Today, Jakarta may also refer to the Greater Jakarta area or the Jakarta metropolitan area, which is also called locally as Jabodetabek , short for Jakarta–Bogor–Depok–Tangerang–Bekasi, referring to the nearby cities in West Java and Banten. And with an estimated population of 35 million, it is the second largest urban hub in the world, next only to Tokyo.

The history of Jakarta dates back to the 4th century CE, making it one of the oldest inhabited cities in Southeast Asia. It has been known by several names. Under the Sunda Kingdom, it was known as Sunda Kelapa, an important trading port at the time. In 1619, the Dutch took control and founded Batavia which became the capital of the Dutch East Indies. Then in 1942, Batavia fell to the Japanese and was under the Japanese occupation until 1945. It was 1949 when the Indonesian independence was proclaimed and Jakarta became the national capital.

ESSENTIAL TRAVEL INFORMATION

• Language: Indonesian or Bahasa Indonesia. But most can understand and speak English.
• Religion: Islam is the dominant religion. A small part of the population practice Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Confucianism.
• Timezone: UTC+7 (Indonesia Western Time). Jakarta is one hour behind Manila, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.
• Currency: Indonesian Rupiah (IDR, Rp). USD 1 is around IDR 15,700; EUR 1 = IDR 16,200; PHP 1 = IDR 273 (as of December 2022).
• Modes of Payment: Cash. Some establishments like restaurants also accept credit cards, but most still prefer cash. However, there are some places that only take card payments.

INDONESIA TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS

As of our most recent visit (November 2022), these are the requirements required for travelers going to Jakarta as mandated by the government. These must be presented when you check-in for your flight.

• Passport. Must be valid for at least 6 months.
• COVID-19 Vaccination Certificate. Only fully vaccinated individuals are allowed to enter Jakarta. Your vaccination certificate must indicate 2 doses of COVID-19 vaccine.
• PeduliLindungi App. Download the app through google playstore or app store and register.
• E-customs Declaration Form. Fill out the form here . Print or save a digital copy of the generated QR Code.

Depending on your country of citizenship, a visa may also be required. (Filipino citizens may enter Indonesia VISA-FREE.)

WHERE TO STAY IN JAKARTA

Jakarta is huge. Covering 664.01 square kilometers, Jakarta is divided it into its five administrative cities: Central Jakarta, West Jakarta, East Jakarta, North Jakarta, and South Jakarta. Easy to remember, right? But these three areas have the key points of interest for tourists:

• Central Jakarta is home to major landmarks like the National Monument and Istiqlal Mosque. Also situated here is Gambir Station, a major railway station that connects the capital to other cities in Java Island. You’ll also find Grand Indonesia, one of the biggest malls in the country, around the corner. A large concentration of the accommodations in Central Jakarta can be found in Menteng .
• North Jakarta covers the harbor area, the historic port of Sunda Kelapa, and Ancol, a waterfront complex with a theme park, water park, and other various attractions.
• West Jakarta , the closest to the airport, roughly 30 minutes away. Within its territory lie parts of Kota Tua, Jakarta’s Old Town. Glodok , Jakarta’s Chinatown, where you can find a lot of food spots, is also here. A number of different types of accommodations are spread over West Jakarta.
• South Jakarta , which harbors the Sudirman Central Business District (SCBD), with plenty of office buildings, condominiums, hotels, and shopping malls. If you’re interested in experiencing the nightlife in Jakarta, this is the place to be. The accommodations in this area varies from high-end hotels to budget hostels so there are a lot to choose from.
• East Jakarta . This is the largest among the five administrative cities of Jakarta. However, there’s not a lot of accommodations available here. It is also the area farthest from the airport.

Best Area to Stay

In our opinion, the best area to stay is the part where Central Jakarta, West Jakarta, and North Jakarta meet. Staying here puts you in a position close to the key attractions and with plenty of dining and lodging options.

This area includes these neighborhoods:

• Glodok (Chinatown) in West Jakarta
• Menteng in Central Jakarta
• Kota Tua in North/West Jakarta

Any of places above are great for first-time Jakarta visitors. However, if you’re the type of traveler who likes to spend their nights going out or partying, South Jakarta might be a great option too. Just keep in mind that this area is a bit farther from other parts of the city, especially if you plan to visit attractions in North Jakarta.

Top Budget Hotels and Hostels in Jakarta

I booked a dorm bed at The Packer Lodge near Kota Tua for only PHP 450 per night . Yep, that’s only USD 8 or 124,000 IDR. But by random streak of good luck, I was upgraded to a private solo room for FREE! (Possibly because they might have overbooked the dorm.)

But there are plenty of other options, too! Here are some of the top reviewed but affordable properties on Agoda:

• ibis Styles Jakarta Tanah Abang. Check Rates & Availability! ✅
• City Biz Residence. Check Rates & Availability! ✅
• Sleepy Raccoon Hostel. Check Rates & Availability! ✅
• Cool Living. Check Rates & Availability! ✅
• Hotel Alia Pasar Baru. Check Rates & Availability! ✅
• Wonderloft Hostel. Check Rates & Availability! ✅

Search for more Jakarta Hotels!

How to get to jakarta.

The primary airport that serves Jakarta is Soekarno-Hatta International Airport (CGK) , formerly called Jakarta Cengkareng Airport. It is located at Benda, Tangerang, close to West Jakarta. It was expanded in 1991 to replace Halim Perdanakusuma International Airport, which now services mostly domestic and private flights—for international flights. CGK is said to be the busiest airport in Southeast Asia and currently has 3 terminals with a fourth terminal being built.

Manila to Jakarta

As Indonesia’s capital, Jakarta is well-connected. If you’re coming from Manila, Cebu Pacific flies directly to Jakarta and vice versa DAILY. The flight departs from Manila at 8:40 PM and takes around four hours. This is perfect for busy bees who cannot afford to file another leave of absence from work or students who can’t miss a school day. This also means you arrive in Jakarta just before midnight, bypassing heavy traffic to the city center.

For your return journey, Cebu Pacific’s Jakarta-Manila flights are scheduled at 12:30 AM, allowing you to make the most of your last day in Jakarta! Just leave your luggage temporarily at your hotel upon checkout, explore the city the entire day, and pick it up before heading to the airport.

Cebu Pacific has three bundle options for your flight booking: GO Basic comes with a free hand-carry baggage allowance (7kg). If you want a checked bag and reserved seats, GO Easy includes a one piece checked baggage (up to 20kg) and a standard seat. For more flexibility, GO Flexi allows you to cancel your flight for free and store the value as a travel fund.

To book, visit: www.cebupacificair.com .

Jakarta Airport to City Center

Travel time from the airport to your hotel depends on which part of Jakarta you choose to stay, but it could take between 30 minutes to an hour. The most convenient way is by taking a taxi or using a ride hailing app. More details about these below.

Countless taxis await potential passengers at the airport. After going through customs and before reaching the exit, you’ll be welcomed by people offering you taxi services. If you want to take a taxi, a recommended taxi service by locals is Blue Bird . You’ll find a Blue Bird booth to your left after you exit, near the SIM card stores.

However, in my experience, their rate was higher than Grab, but this could vary. You can go to the booth to inquire about the fare going to your hotel and compare it to rates on Grab or Gojek.

By Grab or Gojek

These two are the ride hailing apps available in Jakarta. It is easy to use and booking a ride only takes a few minutes. The Grab pick-up point in Terminal 3 is located at the parking of the arrival area. After you pass through customs, turn to your right and head towards the Pick-up zone. You should be exiting through the West Lobby door. At the parking, you will find signage for the Grab Pick-up Point.

It is important to know that the fare that shows on the app is not the final fare. A parking fee and highway fee or toll fee will be added on top of it. This was also clearly communicated by the person at the Grab Pick-up point once I got there and the driver after I entered the car. But the Grab fare still turned out cheaper than the Blue Bird rate even after adding these fees.

• Parking Fee: IDR 5,000
• Highway/toll fee: IDR 18,500

Gojek is also available at the airport. The pick-up point at Terminal 3 is also located at the international parking area. Gojek also adds the parking fee & toll fee plus a location fee on top of the fare that shows on the app when you book your ride.

Internet Connection / Data SIM in Jakarta

The most affordable way of staying connected in Indonesia is by purchasing a data SIM card. However, SIM cards in Jakarta need to be registered first, so you’ll need to present your passport to get one. Two of the most popular internet providers are XL Axiata and Telkomsel.

You can get a SIM card at the airport, but keep in mind that the prices here are significantly higher than prices at a telco branch or SIM card center. Moreover, airport stores are open only from 7:00AM to 3:00AM.

If you’re from any of the countries below, you can have the data SIM card delivered to you via Klook:

• Deliver SIM to INDIA
• Deliver to SINGAPORE
• Deliver SIM to HONG KONG
• Deliver SIM to VIETNAM

If you’re from the Philippines or any other country, you may opt to pick up Indonesia DATA SIM at the Jakarta Airport (Soekarno Hatta International Airport). The pick up location is at the JavaMifi booth at Terminal 3 Departure at the 2nd floor. The staff will also help you set up the sim card on your phone. However, the operating hours is from 7:00 AM to 11:00 PM only. You can purchase one here: Indonesia DATA SIM Jakarta Airport Pickup!

If you’re arriving in Jakarta late at night, you won’t be able to avail of this since their registration has a cut-off time. Another option to consider is Grapari , the SIM card center of the telecommunications company Telkomsel . They have multiple locations all over Jakarta. If you want to save and you can manage to go from the airport without data, just look up the Grapari branch closest to your hotel. More info on its website .

HOW TO GET AROUND JAKARTA

Jakarta is a very busy city and there are various transportation options available. There are a lot of taxis all over the city and you can also use ride hailing apps. Commuting is also an option since they have an efficient public bus transportation called Transjakarta . However, because it is a busy city, the traffic gets heavy especially during rush hours.

If you’re visiting attractions, some of them are within walking distance from each other. You can walk from The National Monument to see Merdeka Palace, and then walk to the National Museum. You can also explore Kota Tua or the Old Town on foot. You can choose from the following mode of transportations to explore Indonesia’s capital depending on your budget and preferences.

There are a lot of taxis around the city. In some areas there are cabs lined up by the side of the road so you don’t have to hail a cab on the street anymore. The suggested reliable taxi company in Jakarta is Blue Bird . Their units are easy to spot because they’re, well, blue.

Riding a taxi may pose a challenge because of language barrier since not everyone speaks and understands English. But what you can do is write down the address of your destination or find it on Google Maps, and show it to the driver when you take a taxi. You may also ask your hotel to call a taxi for you and ask them for help to communicate your destination to the driver.

By Grab or GoJek

• Car. If you want a more convenient mode of transportation, book a Grab or Gojek. It is more simple since all you need to do is pin your pick-up location and destination on the app and wait for your car to arrive. You may also pay using credit card or cash when using ride hailing apps.
• Motorcycle. This is the best way to beat the traffic in Jakarta. If you’re traveling solo, Grab and GoJek also have a motorcycle/bike option. The motorcycle is also much cheaper compared to the car option. So if you’re on a budget, this is a great option to get from one place to another quicker and at a less price.

By Transjakarta Bus

Taking public transportation is the cheapest option. Each ride costs only IDR 3,500 no matter where your destination is. The bus is very efficient since there are 13 lines and over 200 stations all over the city. You may use Google maps to know which bus line you should take and where you should get off to reach your destination.

Here’s how you can ride the Transjakarta buses:

• Purchase a Transjakarta Card at a convenience store. These cards are available at any Indomaret, Alfamart, and other convenience stores in Jakarta. Each card costs IDR 27,500.
• Top up your card at the digital kiosk at any station. You may also top-up your card when you purchase it at a convenience store, but their minimum amount is IDR 50,000 while you can top up as low as P10,000 at the station.
• Tap your bus card on the ticket barrier at the station to enter.
• Tap again to exit the station where you’ll get off.

Riding the bus can take much longer compared to the taxi, car service, or motorcycle taxi. You can look up your destination on Google maps and compare the travel time for each and decide from there depending on your time and budget.

THINGS TO DO IN JAKARTA

Also known as Old Batavia , Kota Tua is Jakarta’s Old Town. It was a part of the first walled settlement of the Dutch in Jakarta and also served as the capital of the Dutch East Indies. In this area, you will find Dutch-style structures from the 17th century. Some of them used to be government buildings that has been turned into museums. Here are some of the places you can visit in Kota Tua.

• Jakarta History Museum , also called the Fatahillah Museum or Batavia Museum. It used to be the city hall of Batavia. After Indonesia gained its independence, it became the seat of the West Java governor until 1961 and a museum in 1974. Today it highlights Indonesia’s past from the pre-historic era to the Dutch colonization to independence. – Operating Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM; Monday, CLOSED – Entrance Fee: IDR 5,000
• Fatahillah Square , where shophouses used to stand. It is located right at the center of the old town and is surrounded by museums. It serves as a recreational area for locals and tourists alike. Bikes are also available for rent at IDR 20,000 per unit, good for 30 minutes.

• Museum Wayang , putting the spotlight on Indonesia’s traditional puppet theater. Admire various types of wayang like wayang kulit , Javanese leather puppets, and wayang golek , Sundanese three-dimensional wooden puppets. In the museum’s garden, you will find the funeral site of Jan Pieterszoon Con, the Governor-general of the Dutch East Indies. – Operating Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM; Monday, CLOSED – Entrance Fee: IDR 5,000
• Museum Bank Indonesia , housed in a heritage building that used to be the De Javasche Bank, the central bank of Dutch East Indies. It was converted into a museum in 2006, presenting the role of Bank Indonesia in Indonesian history as well as the history of currencies and trade in the country. – Operating Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM; Monday, CLOSED – Entrance Fee: IDR 5,000
• Bank Mandiri Museum , the corporate museum of Bank Mandiri. Established in 1998, this museum is home to artifacts that was used in banking activities in the past. – Operating Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM; Monday, CLOSED – Entrance Fee: IDR 15,000
• Museum of Fine Arts and Ceramics , housed in the former Court of Justice under the Dutch. It showcases traditional Indonesian paintings and ceramics. Join a pottery workshop and make a piece of your choice. The workshop lasts for 30 to 45 minutes. – Operating Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM; Monday, CLOSED – Entrance Fee: IDR 5,000 – Pottery Workshop: IDR 50,000
• Cafe Batavia , set in the second oldest building in the square. Constructed in the 19th century, the 2-story building has a bar, performance stage, and lounge area on the ground floor and the “Grand Salon”, which is the main dining hall on the upper floor. This is one of the most recommended restaurants in Jakarta because of its historic location, good food, and great service. They serve Indonesian food from breakfast to dinner plus a few western dishes. Their menu also includes coffee, tea, non-alcoholic, and alcoholic drinks. – Operating Hours: Monday to Thursday, 9:00 AM – 12:00 AM; Friday, 9:00 AM to 1:00 AM; Saturday, 7:00 AM – 1:00 AM; Sunday, 7:00 AM – 12:00 AM

The biggest Chinatown in Indonesia, Glodok was established back in the Dutch colonial period.

Today, Glodok is dotted with stores selling snacks and Chinese medicine. There’s also a market where you can buy seafood, fruits, and vegetables. Foodies will also be delighted by an array of dining options, from street food stalls to food courts.

Merdeka Square & Surrounding Landmarks

Merdeka Square serves as a recreational park for the locals. With an area of around 75 hectares, the square is so vast that they even have a shuttle to take you to the National Monument , its centerpiece.

If you visit at night, you will see the Monas light up and illuminate the square. There’s also a food court area here where you can have snacks or a meal.

Operating Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM Entrance Fee: FREE

Here are some of the structures within and around Jakarta’s Merdeka Square:

• National Monument , also called Monas , the symbol of Indonesian independence. The 132-meter (433-foot) monument was erected under President Sukarno and was opened to the public in 1975. Incorporated in its design is the date of the proclamation of Indonesia’s independence — August 17, 1945. Visitors may enter the National Monument and climb to the top to get a panoramic view of central Jakarta. – Operating Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM – Entrance Fee: IDR 40,000

• National Museum of Indonesia , aka the Elephant Museum or Museum Gajah because of the elephant statue in front of the museum building. It is said to be the most complete in the country. It boasts around 141,000 artifacts including pre-historic, anthropological, and archeological artifacts from Indonesia and other parts of Asia, housed in two main buildings: Gedung Gajah which is the old wing, and Gedung Arca which is a new wing that was added in 2007. – Operating Hours: Daily, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM – Entrance Fee: IDR 25,000
• Jakarta Cathedral , officially named The Church of Our Lady of the Assumption. It serves as the seat of the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Jakarta. The current neo-Gothic structure is not the original church, but what was rebuilt after it collapsed in 1890.
• Merdeka Palace , located on the north side of Merdeka Square. It is also known as Istana Merdeka in Indonesian. The construction of the palace started in 1873 and was completed in 1879. It was then called the Palace of the Governor-general. After Indonesia gained its independence in 1949, it became the residence of the president of the Republic of Indonesia. You may see the palace from across the street near Merdeka Square.
• Istiqlal Mosque , the largest mosque in Southeast Asia. Its construction took 17 years, from 1961 to 1978. It was built to mark the independence of Indonesia hence the name Istiqlal , which means independence in Arabic. Visitors may enter the mosque through Gate 5, which is right across the Jakarta Cathedral. They also provide a guided tour of the mosque to tourists. The tour is FREE but you are welcome to give a tip or donation. Tour is held every 30 minutes from 10am to 11:30am, from 1pm to 3pm, and 4pm to 4:30pm.

A 19th century market located in Central Jakarta, Pasar Baru is one of the oldest shopping districts in the city.

The whole street is lined with stores selling mostly textiles, shoes, and clothes. You will definitely not miss this area when you visit because the street is marked by a bridge and a gate that displays its name.

Ancol Beach

Ancol is a waterfront complex located in the coastal area of North Jakarta. Inside Ancol is a theme park called Dunia Fantasi or Dufan. You’ll also find Atlantis Water Adventure which is a waterpark featuring the ancient cities of the Mediterranean.

Also located within he complex are an ecopark, an art market, and Gondola Ancol , which is the first cable car ride in Indonesia. Each of these attractions has a separate entrance fee.

You may purchase tickets online through their website . You may also pay for the ticket at the entrance on-site, but take note that they only accept card payments for now.

Operating Hours: Daily, 6:00 AM – 9:00 PM Entrance Fee: IDR 25,000

Textile Museum

Textiles are a huge part of Indonesia’s culture. Museum Tekstil displays collections from different parts of the country. Located in West Jakarta, the museum was inaugurated in 1976 in honor of Madame Tien Soeharto, who was Indonesia’s first lady at the time.

Aside from the different textiles, traditional weaving instruments and equipment used to make batik also take centerstage inside the museum.

Visitors may also join a workshop where you can get try making batik. From the gate of the museum, turn to your left and follow the sign that says Pendopo Batik . You may also tell the person at the entrance that you want to make batik so they can lead you to the workshop area. Here, the nice ladies who make batik will guide you through the whole process starting from tracing your chosen design and using the tjanting , a traditional tool used to apply the liquid was to the fabric in batik making. The whole process takes around an hour and you get to keep your batik and the tjanting as a souvenir!

Operating Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM Entrance Fee: IDR 5,000 Batik Making: IDR 40,000

Jalan Surabaya Flea Market

Along Jalan Surabaya in Menteng District lies a flea market. The street is lined with stores selling tons of various antique items. A visit to Jalan Surabaya is a must — especially if you’re interested in antique items or you just like looking at random unique pieces, from trinkets to collectibles to chandeliers. Also available are old CDs and vinyls, ceramics, and a lot more!

WHERE TO EAT IN JAKARTA

Jakarta’s food scene mirrors Indonesia’s rich culture and long history. The food here is a mix of different cuisines from various parts of Indonesia, with influences from other places. You won’t have a hard time looking for a place to eat in Jakarta because it’s bursting with choices — from street food stalls to hawker centers (food courts) to proper sit-down restaurants. And because Indonesia has a strong coffee culture, you will also find a lot of cafes ranging from traditional establishments to modern ones that give a new spin to everyone’s favorite drink.

• Sabang Street. Found in Central Jakarta, Sabang street food or Kampung Kuliner Sabang is located along Jl. H. Agus Salim. Starting at around 5PM, vendors begin to set up and open up their tents by the side of the road. This is one of the best places to visit in Jakarta if you want to try various Indonesian dishes — including sate , gudeg , nasi goreng , and martabak .
• Glodok. Chinatown’s streets are flanked with establishments selling snacks, fruits, and desserts. Some stalls also sell meals like bakso and nasi goreng that you can eat right there on the kerbside while sitting on a chair.
• Petak Enam. If you prefer to have a meal more comfortably while you’re in Chinatown, head over to Petak Enam, a food court in Glodok. The place is filled to the seams with stalls offering various Indonesian dishes and other cuisines too including soto betawi , which is beef soup with coconut milk broth; and nasi campur , white rice served with different types of meat dishes.

– Rumah Makan Surya Operating Hours: Daily, 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM. Address: Jl. Bendungan Hilir 

• Kopi Es Ta Kie. A breakfast place in Glodok, Kopi Es Ta Kie is one of the oldest cafes in Jakarta. This family-owned institution has been in business since 1927 and has been passed on over generations. They are open from early morning to early afternoon serving food like nasi campur, bakmi ayam, and more along with their coffee. Aside from the restaurant in Glodok, they also now have several branches in Jakarta. – Operating Hours: Daily, 7:00 AM – 2:00 PM. But they might close early once they sell out.
• Kopi Oey Sabang. Kopi Oey has several branches, too, but their most popular branch is probably the one in Sabang. The coffee shop has an Indonesian Chinese design with walls paintings and framed photos of food. Their menu includes a variety of nasi goreng, soto and sop, mie or noodles, pasta, roti, and other Indonesian breakfast food. If you’re a coffee lover, included in their selection are single origin coffee which you can pick your preferred brewing method. – Operating Hours: Sunday to Thursday, 7:00 AM – 11:00 PM; Friday to Saturday, 7:00 AM – 12:00 AM – Address: Jl. H. Agus Salim 
• Giyanti Coffee Roastery. if you’re after cafes with Instagrammable interiors, consider Giyanti Coffee Roastery in Jalan Surabaya. This is a perfect stop for coffee and pastries for breakfast or after you feast your eyes with antiques and shop at the flea market. It has a vibrant interior and a lot of seating space including an outdoor area with a garden feel. Because it is also a roastery, you can also purchase coffee beans here that you can take home. – Operating Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM; Monday, CLOSED – Address: Jl. Surabaya, Menteng  – Note: Giyanti Coffee Roastery does not accept cash payments. You may pay using debit or credit card.

SAMPLE JAKARTA ITINERARY

Here’s a sample 3-Day Jakarta itinerary with breakdown of expenses. This assumes that you will be flying with Cebu Pacific, staying in Central Jakarta, and taking public transportation to go around. You may use this itinerary and make adjustments based on your schedule and preferences.

• DAY 0: ARRIVAL 11:50 AM – Arrival in Jakarta 1:00 AM – Purchase SIM card, IDR 250,000 1:30 AM – Grab to hotel, IDR 160,000 1:40 AM – Hotel check-in
• DAY 1: CENTRAL JAKARTA 8:00 AM – Wake up call 9:00 AM – Breakfast at Kopi Oey Sabang, IDR 90,000 10:00 AM – Buy Transjakarta Card, IDR 27,500 10:30 AM – Walk to Merdeka Square 10:40 AM – National Monument, IDR 40,000 11:30 AM – Walk to Merdeka Palace 11:40 AM – Merdeka Palace 12:00 PM – Lunch, IDR 100,000 1:00 PM – National Museum, IDR 25,000 2:30 PM – Bus to Istiqlal Mosque, IDR 3500 3:20 PM – Jakarta Cathedral 3:45 PM – Istiqlal Mosque, Tour at 4pm 5:00 PM – Walk to Pasar Baru 5:10 PM – Pasar Baru 6:10 PM – Bus to Padang Street Food, IDR 3,500 6:40 PM – Padang Street Food, IDR 100,000 
9:00 PM – Back to hotel
• DAY 2: KOTA TUA 8:00 AM – Wake up call 9:00 AM – Breakfast at Kopi Es Tak Kie, IDR 85,000 10:00 AM – Bus to Kota Tua, IDR 3,500 10:30 AM – Museum of Fine Arts and Ceramic, IDR 5,000 11:00 AM – Pottery Workshop, IDR 50,000 12:00 PM – Lunch at Cafe Batavia, IDR 200,000 1:00 PM – Jakarta History Museum, IDR 5,000 2:00 PM – Museum Wayang, IDR 5,000 3:00 PM – Museum Bank Indonesia, IDR 5,000 4:00 PM – Bus to Ancol, IDR 3,500 5:00 PM – Ancol, IDR 25,000 7:30 PM – Dinner, IDR 100,000 8:30 PM – Back to hotel 9:00 PM – Lights out
• DAY 3: JALAN SURABAYA & GLODOK 9:00 AM – Wake up call 10:00 AM – Early check-out, leave bags 10:30 AM – Brunch @ Giyanti Coffee Roastery, IDR 100,000 11:30 AM – Jalan Surabaya Flea Market 12:30 PM – Textile Museum, IDR 5,000 1:30 AM – Batik Making, IDR 40,000 2:30 PM – Bus to Glodok, IDR 3,500 3:30 PM – Explore Glodok 7:00 PM – Dinner, IDR 80,000 8:00 PM – Back to hotel, get bags 9:00 PM – Grab to airport, IDR 160,000 9:40 PM – Flight Check-in 12:30 PM – Flight out

This itinerary will set you back around IDR 2,700,000 (USD 172, EUR 165, SGD 235, PHP 9700), excluding airfare and travel tax , but assuming you book a hotel room that costs around IDR 200,000 per night. You may still minimize the cost if you stay in a dorm or book a cheaper hotel like we did. In reality we only paid IDR 124,000 per night.

This also includes a big allowance for incidental expenses.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)

When is the best time to visit jakarta.

May to October is the best time to visit since these are the driest months in Jakarta.

Jakarta has a tropical climate. The temperature here doesn’t change so much throughout the year. However, the chance of rain varies significantly making the wet and dry season very apparent. The dry months are from May to October, with the driest month being August, so schedule your trip around this time if you want to avoid the rain ruining your plans.

The wettest months are September to April, with the most rain in January. During these months, some parts of the city are prone to flooding.Public holidays may also affect the traffic and the operating hours of attractions and other establishments. Here’s the list of public holidays in Indonesia:

• New Year’s Day – January 1
• Chinese New Year – February 11
• Ascension of the Prophet Muhammad – February 28
• Hindu New Year – March 3
• Good Friday – March or April
• International Labor Day – May 1
• Eid-al-Fitr
• Ascencion of Jesus Christ – April or May
• Pancasila Day – June 1
• Eid-ul-Adha
• Islamic New Year – July 30
• Independence Day – August 17
• Maulid Nabi – October 8
• Christmas – December 25

Where to exchange currencies in Jakarta?

I’ve only tried a couple of money changers along Gajah Mada near Glodok. They are open until late night and there’s one that is open for 24 hours. DollarIndo and Primatama have the same or very similar rates, which are pretty good.

What is the power plug or socket used in Jakarta?

Electricity Info: 230V, 50Hz frequency. Type C and F plugs and sockets.

More Tips on YouTube ⬇️⬇️⬇️

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[THAILAND] UNIQUE THAI LOCAL EXPERIENCE – The Million Shades of Thailand

With so many wonderful destinations and unique experiences, it is no surprise Thailand is a very popular destination in South East Asia. Thailand, “The land of smiles” has many attractions to offer for tourist from all around the world. Delicious street food , tropical islands, luxury modern shopping centers, historical site, countless Buddhist temples to name a few.

[KOREA] ITINERARY TRAVEL GUIDE – Top Places to Visit in Seoul

Seoul is a huge city with many things to do. It’s certainly an impressive city, with towering skyscrapers, modern architecture and lots of shopping possibilities. In this guide, we’re going to share with you tips to exploring Seoul, the best specific areas, activities you can do, and hopefully, it can help you to plan your daily itinerary in Seoul.

[KOREA] AUTUMN IN SEOUL – Fall Foliage Destinations and Places to Visit

Every fall, sightseers flock to Korea’s beautiful rural destinations to enjoy the fiery colors of autumn. It’s time to immerse yourself in a sea of red, orange, and yellow leaves. Fall or autumn is indeed one of our favorite seasons with the colorful leaves that warm our souls. In this post, we are going to show you some of the best places to visit and enjoy fall foliage in Seoul during the autumn season. Hopefully, it can help you plan your itinerary for Autumn holiday.

[KOREA] FOOD GUIDE – WHAT TO EAT IN SEOUL

There are a lot of amazing things about Seoul, but for food lovers, it’s the never-ending amount of delicious food that makes Seoul such an exciting city. With an abundance of food options, Seoul offers everything from small traditional street food stands serving basic rice and vegetable dishes to up-market restaurants with comprehensive menus.

[KOREA] NAMI ISLAND (NAMISEOM 남이섬 종합휴양지) – Travel Guide

When you think of traveling to South Korea, Nami Island always on the top of the list of places that must be visited. Nami Island is one of the best places to visit if you want to see the gorgeous and beautiful autumn foliage. This is our most favorite place and the most memorable moment during our #FoodInLoveKOREA trip last autumn. In this post, we’ll be providing you with details on what you can do and how to get to Nami Island from Seoul.

FROM PERU WITH LOVE Launching at Duta Cafe Restaurant – Holiday Inn & Suites Jakarta Gajah Mada

In collaboration with the Embassy of Peru in Indonesia, Holiday Inn & Suites Jakarta Gajah Mada invited Peruvian Professional Chef, Jaimie Arbulu to bring to the table the most authentic Peruvian dishes with all the ingredients rarely found in Jakarta.

[NEW MENU] ULTIMATE STUFFED PASTA FROM BAKERZIN

Last July, Bakerzin Indonesia has launched their N ew Italian Twist, The Ultimate Stuffed Pasta Menu . I went to the foodies gathering they held earlier this month, and will share my experience and review with all of you.

TASTE THE ORIENTAL by Holiday Inn & Suites Jakarta Gajah Mada

As one of Chinese-friendly hotels in Jakarta, Holiday Inn & Suites Jakarta Gajah Mada has launched special menu “Taste the Oriental” on 24 July 2019. I was invited at the launching event last week at Duta Cafe & Restaurant, located on 3rd floor oh Holiday Inn & Suites Jakarta Gajah Mada.

DAMAR RESTAURANT – PULLMAN CIAWI VIMALA HILLS

Congratulations for the Soft Opening of Pullman Ciawi Vimala Hills! The first 5-stars hotel in Ciawi and first Pullman resort experience has just opened for public on May 21st, 2019.

NUDLES – Senayan City

As a noodle lover, I’m glad to know that Nudles is restaurant that served a wide range of noodles, not only Indonesian noodles but also Asian noodles with a lots of soup and topping selection. FYI, Nudles is a concept by Boga Group, a company who also owned and managed Paradise Dynasty, Pepper Lunch, Bakerzin , Shaburi , Kintan Buffet, etc.

TUCANO’S CHURRASCARIA BRAZILIAN BBQ & BUFFET – Sudirman

All you can eat BBQ is always satisfying, especially with great meat and a wide selection of buffet. While mostly Asian and Western AYCE BBQ restaurants out there, here I wanna share a rather different and unique recommendation, Tucano’s Churrascaria Brazilian BBQ & Buffet in Sudirman area, Jakarta.

[SINGAPORE] JIA JI MEI SHI (佳记美食) – Chinatown

Chinatown Complex Food Centre is a home for more than 250 food stalls, and also known for the biggest hawker centre in Singapore. In my previous posts, I have reviewed Liao Fan Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice & Noodle and 168 CMY Satay whom also located at Chinatown Complex Food Centre. And in this post, I will review another stall called Jia Ji Mei Shi.

[SINGAPORE] 168 CMY SATAY – Chinatown

My hunt for Michelin-starred hawker in Singapore continues. In this post I will review one of the best satay stall in Singapore, 168 CMY Satay, who listed in Singapore Michelin Guide and awarded 1 Michelin star. Anyway, don’t forget to check #FoodInLoveSINGAPORE on my Instagram !

[SINGAPORE] SHENG KEE CURRY CHICKEN NOODLE – BERSEH FOOD CENTRE

Curry Chicken Noodles is one of those local hawker dishes that are familiar among Singaporean. During my #FoodInLoveSINGAPORE , I have tried a bowl of curry chicken noodle from Sheng Kee Curry Chicken Noodle at Berseh Food Center.

SIMHAE KOREAN BBQ ALL YOU CAN EAT – Pluit

Korean BBQ at affordable prices has been popping up lately in Jakarta, and one of them that I’ve visited lately is Simhae Korean BBQ All You Can Eat in Muara Karang, North Jakarta.

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Home » Southeast Asia » Indonesia » Jakarta

JAKARTA Itinerary • MUST READ! (2024)

Jakarta is a city of ten million people making the largest in all of Southeast Asia. With such a vast city, it stands to reason that there’s no shortage of things to do in Jakarta. It is a cultural melting pot of Indonesian, Indian, Chinese, Dutch and English histories, and an emerging destination for nightlife and shopping.

As one might expect from a city with such a rich history, you’re likely to find unique clashes of culture here. The city carries a strong sense of history, evidenced by its buildings and people.

But you won’t be stuck for what to do in Jakarta. It is also a modern city, embracing burgeoning entertainment and retail sectors, and driving new travel to Jakarta with resorts, theme parks, and commercial development.

With this in mind, our Jakarta itinerary looks to take in the best of many worlds within Jakarta. We get to explore the historical and cultural sides of the city, but also the fun and modern aspects that make it popular with new tourists.

We also enjoy a little bit of shopping and even some rock n’roll Jakarta-style. Here’s what you can do in Jakarta!

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Best Time To Visit Jakarta

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If you are visiting Indonesia then there is a strong chance you’ll be passing through it’s capital, Jakarta. Unless perhaps you are purely here to visit Bali in which case you may not. There are two things to consider when planning an itinerary for Jakarta:

If you’re looking for long, sunny days and as little rainfall as possible, come between June and September. This is probably the best time to plan a Jakarta itinerary, as you’ll be able to enjoy all Jakarta’s offerings in their full capacities.

The rainy season can sometimes bring flooding in the lower-lying parts of the city. But even if you visit during the ‘wet season’ between October and May, you’re unlikely to ever be cold. Do bring a water proof jacket though.

The daily temperature will seldom drop below the high 60s Fahrenheit (15c), and rain is mostly intermittent, even in the rainy season. On many days the rain will actually be a welcome relief from the soaring subtropical temperatures.

The second consideration is whether you’d prefer a slightly less busy time of year. In the month of Ramadan, the city slows down as people observe the holy month. Many businesses may close during prayer time, and some locals may leave the city to visit family for Eid.

On the other hand, some hotels have been known to offer discounted rates over this time, as tourism tends to slow down accordingly. Before visiting Jakarta, you may want to check when Ramadan will be observed.

Here is a month-by-month breakdown of average conditions you can expect in Jakarta through the year, not taking into account the month of Ramadan, which follows the Muslim lunar calendar and changes every year. It should give some idea of When to visit Jakarta/

Where to stay in Jakarta ? The expats in Jakarta have nicknamed the city ‘Big Durian’, after a local fruit. Apparently, this is because they think of the city as being the New York of Indonesia.

Both cities are notorious for traffic, but Jakarta does not have the advantage of a subway system. With this firmly in mind, planning where to stay can help you save lots of time getting to where you’d like to go. Buses and taxis are plentiful, though walking can be a faster option for close-by activities at peak times.

The Sudirman Central Business District – SCBD for short – is basically the CBD of Jakarta. As such, it’s the most visited tourist area for entertainment, clubs, malls, hotels, and shopping.

Ancol is a popular seaside area and has several attractions in that area. The Sea World aquarium and water, eco and adventure parks make it a popular Jakarta itinerary item with families.

Kemang is a good option if you’re partial to nightlife spots. There are also lots of expats here, so you’re likely to find a good mix of entertainment, food and drink options. Ultimately, where to stay when planning a trip to Jakarta depends on your budget.

Best Airbnb in Jakarta: New apartment in complex

Completely renovated, modern and luxurious – this Airbnb is perfect for your first time in Jakarta if you want to stay close to Mangga Dua. The shopping mall is just moments away, and you’re also close to public transport options. Since the apartment is part of a complex, you can use the on-site pool and gym for free.

Best Budget Hotel in Jakarta – YELLO Hotel Harmoni

Starting at a little under $40 USD, you’d be hard-pressed to find a budget hotel at a better location. It offers direct access to the HXC mall, good food, and modern amenities like free Wi-Fi and very comfy beds. Of the hundreds of hotels in Jakarta, the Harmoni consistently rates in the top 20 for single and business travelers, despite being a budget hotel.

Best Luxury Hotel in Jakarta – The Hermitage, A Tribute Portfolio Hotel

The 1920s touches at this art-deco boutique hotel in the Menteng district make it one of the most beautiful in all of Jakarta. Spacious rooms and a rooftop bar for those wonderful warm sunsets. If the on-site glass-top cafe or gastronomic bistro isn’t for you, the area is known for a vibrant live music scene, restaurants and cocktail bars to add to your to-do list.

Best Hostel in Jakarta – Six Degrees Hostel

It’s hard to find someone who’s had a bad experience at Six Degrees. Besides its convenient location, the key attraction is its rooftop garden and bar. Sunsets from here are quite an experience. The ultra-friendly staff will also arrange walking tours of the city and free use of the hostel’s bicycles. The mini-cinema, gym and free breakfast are the clinchers – making Six degrees the best value hostel in Jakarta.

Six Degrees Hostel is one of our favourites in Jakarta but they’re not taking guests right now. We’re not sure if they’re closed for good but we hope they’ll come back soon.

The key to a great 2-day itinerary in Jakarta is balance. A little bit of everything on each of your 2 days in Jakarta is better than a one-day overload of one particular type of activity. Fortunately, Jakarta is big enough to try this approach, with similar but different options to satisfy all ages and interests.

Getting around a city as crowded as Jakarta can be challenging. As a rule of thumb: if it’s close enough to walk, that’s probably the best option anyway. But there are public and private transport options, like taxi cabs, which operate much like any other major city.

Motorcycle taxis or ojeks can be hailed like any conventional taxi. The upside is that you can negotiate a rate before you take the ride. In recent years, ojek co-ops have started using apps similar to Uber as well. Note that many Insurance companies do not cover you for any accidents that happen on motorbike taxi’s.

Slightly upgraded from that are trikes – a lot like the famous tuk-tuk from Thailand . These tend to be pretty efficient if your party is small enough to use them. For the most part, ojeks and trikes are good for short distances within the city.

Here’s a tip: If you can avoid taking the bus, do so. They’re generally a lot slower, and sometimes quite irregular. This might therefore interfere with any plans on your Jakarta itinerary.

Istiqlal Mosque | Jakarta Catholic Cathedral | Monas Tower | Atlantis Water Adventure | Taman Anggrek Mall

We’ll start the Jakarta itinerary with some fascinating history and culture, and then onto some fun relief from the heat. We’ll end the day with a theme park excursion the whole family can enjoy, and we’ll even do some shopping on the way.

Day 1 / Stop 1 – Istiqlal Mosque

• Why it’s awesome: It is the largest mosque in Southeast Asia.
• Cost: Free, but a $1 USD – $2 USD gratuity for your guide is expected
• Food nearby: Kantin Koperasi Istiqlal is ideal for a quick snack with a local flavor.

It’s only fitting to start our Jakarta itinerary here, as no Jakarta trip is complete without it. Istiqlal means ‘independence’, and the mosque was built to commemorate Jakarta’s independence.

This mosque is one of the most beautiful places in Indonesia . The huge white dome of the Istiqlal Mosque that rises above the nearby treetops is impossible to miss. The mosque is an active house of worship, as well as school, but allows tourists to visit its second floor.

There are five floors in all. Four of them form balconies from which to observe the main area. A guide will offer to take you around to the areas in which you are allowed. Bear in mind that Islamic rules regarding footwear and clothing are observed which means dress respectfully. But a coverall gown will be provided if needed.

The mosque (or masjid) can host up to 120, 000 people, which is an incredible sight to witness. It is likely to be fuller on Fridays. Many dignitaries have visited the mosque, including US Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and Prince Charles.

The Istiqlal Mosque and adjacent Catholic Cathedral are two major Jakarta points of interest.

Day 1 / Stop 2 – The Jakarta Catholic Cathedral

• Why it’s awesome: A unique piece of European cultural history within Asia
• Food nearby: Miyama Japanese and Teratai Chinese restaurants

Here’s a piece of trivia worth knowing: The official name of the Catholic cathedral in Jakarta is Gereja Santa Perawan Maria Diangkat ke Surga . Its official English name is St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral.

The Cathedral with its distinctive gothic spires is the perfect second stop for our day one itinerary, as it is directly opposite from the Istiqlal Mosque. The proximity of the two buildings symbolizes the nation’s desire to celebrate both its diversity and unity.

The beautiful building was opened in 1901, but is still a very active church, as crowds attend masses – sometimes to overflowing. At other times, visitors are invited to take a look at the museum or the bookshop.

The museum is especially interesting, as it contains various artifacts and records that detail the legacy of Christian faith in the region. Most fascinating of all are the various old clerical robes and hats, documents, paintings, goblets, and other trinkets. They truly offer a glimpse into an important past for Indonesia.

In the catholic tradition, the church is adorned with various statues and symbols. Most notable are the key statues of Mary and a depiction of The Pietà.

Day 1 / Stop 3 – Monas Tower

• Why it’s awesome: Monas offers visitors a sense of what independence meant to the Indonesian people
• Cost: $1 USD
• Food nearby: Nasi Goreng Pak Kumis is great for a local-flavored snack.

We’re a short walk away from another one of the major Jakarta landmarks, so let’s stop by Monas National Monument to pay our respects to this nation. The monument project was initiated by Sukarno, the first president of Indonesia, as a symbol of the nation’s independence. It was completed after his death in 1975.

This beautiful building stands an impressive 137 meters in Merdeka Square, and offers several points of visual and experiential interest. Start in the yard, where the walls bear relief sculptures of Indonesia’s most important historical events. Here you can trace the Majapahit Empire’s rise and fall, the arrival of the Dutch, the road to independence and beyond.

Push on into the Indonesian National History Museum and the Meditation Hall. The most impressive of the exhibits here are the copy of the original proclamation of independence and the gilded map of Indonesia.

For an additional thrill, you can access a viewing platform near the top of the tower. At 117 meters, it provides a breathtaking view of the city.

Day 1 / Stop 4 – Atlantis Water Adventure

• Why it’s awesome: It’s a welcome and cooling distraction on a hot day for all ages
• Cost: Weekdays $7 USD; Weekends $10 USD
• Food nearby: A variety of food stalls within the park

Time to add some fun and games to our Jakarta itinerary. Hop on a taxi and head north towards Danau Ancol, where we can enjoy the Atlantis Water Adventure water park. Remember to pack your swimming costume (naked swimming is not permitted), and take note that the park makes a point of saying it’s not just for kids.

The jewel in the water park’s crown is the Multistructure, a new eight-slide monster. But there’s also Crazy, the highest and longest slides in the park. Reckon you can do a 22 meter-high, 150 meter-long glide?

Our favorite is the Skybox. It’s a glass enclosure that flushes you down an 80-degree tube at 56km/h! It doesn’t last long, but the sensation will stay with you for a while.

Nine separate rides or pool areas can be found within the park, making it a great place in Jakarta to go waste a couple of hours or even an entire day.

Insider Tip: Be aware that the park does get crowded on weekends, so be sure to show up early or simply choose a weekday that suits you better.

Day 1 / Stop 5 – Taman Anggrek Mall

• Why it’s awesome: It’s the biggest mall in Jakarta, and one of the biggest in Southeast Asia!
• Food nearby: Food court and many options

Let’s head back into the city, to the biggest mall in Jakarta to satisfy our shopping bug. The Mall Taman Anggrek (or “Orchid Garden Mall”) is a spectacular seven-floor experience that plays host to nearly 18 million shoppers per year – Definitely one of the major Jakarta attractions.

The mall itself is quite a sight. Sitting above the seven lower floors are seven residential towers, which can be seen from miles around. The mall itself contains around 400 stores, covering an impressive 360 000 square meters.

As with any modern mall, there’s a grand variety of shops to explore, from fashion to jewelry, electronics and more. There are 20 exhibition areas so something will always be happening at one of them.

Of special note is the mall’s ice rink! Yes, this mall has its very own ice rink attraction – ideal for when you need a break from exploring the 400 retail outlets.

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These are packing cubes for the globetrotters and compression sacks for the  real adventurers – these babies are a traveller’s best kept secret. They organise yo’ packing and minimise volume too so you can pack MORE.

Or, y’know… you can stick to just chucking it all in your backpack…

Jalan Surabaya Flea Market | Museum Wayang | Pasar Baru | Ancol Dreamland

Welcome to day two. We’ve got more shopping and unique cultural aspects of Jakarta to explore today. But there’s also a ton of fun to be had with a visit to an amusement park, and we will end your 2 day itinerary in Jakarta with some live music to rock to!

Day 2 / Stop 1 – Jalan Surabaya Flea Market

• Why it’s awesome: It’s like a fascinating walk through time
• Cost: Free, but you might buy a few things
• Food nearby: Local stalls for snacks and food

Let’s start the second day of our Jakarta itinerary by checking out the old-time goods at the most famous flea market in Jakarta. The Menteng flea market also goes by the names Jalan Surabaya, or Pusat Barang Antik.

Though it’s defined as a flea market, it’s actually a collection of stalls and shops that specialize in items that appeal to the antique collector. That said, you don’t really need to understand antiques to shop here – you can simply look for something you like.

The most important factor is your bargaining skills. Most market vendors will expect you to haggle (so make sure you know how to barter ), and that’s fair because sometimes you’re taking their word for it that the item in question is indeed antique.

It’s all part of the fun, really. You can find items of furniture, curios, jewelry, trinkets, and even pottery. There may be several items from Indonesian and even Dutch history here. Whatever you might be seeking from a bygone age, there’s a good chance you’ll find it here.

There are a couple of stalls offering food if you’re on a break. You can lose a good couple of hours of your Jakarta itinerary just talking to the vendors and browsing through the goodies on offer. If you spend one day in Jakarta, be sure to spend it here.

Day 2 / Stop 2 – Museum Wayang

• Why it’s awesome: Explores a unique aspect of Indonesian culture
• Food nearby: Cafe Batavia is a popular and highly-rated eatery nearby

The Museum Wayang – or puppet museum – may not be top of mind when thinking about places to visit in the city. But this guided tour is fascinating and dives deep into the culture of puppetry tradition in Indonesia.

UNESCO proclaimed Indonesian puppets as “Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity”, which gives you some idea of the cultural importance of these fascinating items. The guides are exceptionally informative, as they are puppeteers themselves.

Interestingly, the museum also displays Indian puppets. The traditional Wayang performances are based on Ramayana and Mahabharata of Indian mythology. If you’re lucky, there might be a performance or a puppet-making workshop taking place when you arrive.

The walk among life-size models is intriguing. The puppets are usually made of wood and buffalo hide and take months to make. If you’re totally in love by the end of the tour, stop by the souvenir shop and consider buying a puppet of your own. (Remember to bargain!)

Day 2 / Stop 3 – Pasar Baru

• Why it’s awesome: If you’re looking for the widest range of market goods to browse and buy, this is your place.
• Food nearby: Goku restaurant (vegetarian Indian) and Tropik (ice cream!) are highlights.

If you’re able to hold off eating up to now, you’ll be rewarded as you visit Pasar Baru, in Jakarta’s busiest locale. Some call Pasar Baru “Little India”, though it has several major cultural influences including Dutch and Chinese.

The main attraction is, of course, its market. Here you can find almost anything and everything, from materials (silk and satin) to clothes to electronics (cameras and radios).

But what makes it worth doing around lunchtime is the choice of street food you can try. Pop down alleyways and side streets, and you’ll find small eateries that serve fish, meat, noodles, and almost any locally-flavored snack you can think of.

An interesting side-note is that there are a few religious locations in the area that you can visit. One popular site is the Sin Tek Bio temple, built by Chinese farmers in the mid-1600s.

You’ll spend a few hours here, as the area is pretty big and there is lots to see and try.

Day 2 / Stop 4 – Ancol Dreamland

• Why it’s awesome: A broad selection of activities all in one area
• Cost: $2 USD per adult and per car at the main gate. Add Fantasy World from $15 USD, Sea World from $6 USD, and Atlantis from $9 USD per person. Some rides may cost extra.
• Food nearby: There are plenty of eateries and restaurants in the resort.

Time for a fully-designed tourist experience – we need at least one on this Jakarta itinerary. Taman Impian Jaya Ancol (or Ancol Dreamland) is a resort that is specifically designed as a tourist attraction complete with shops, beaches, parks, and other recreational facilities.

You can enjoy a marina, more than 70 eateries, an art market, a gondola ride, a theme park, two beaches and more.

The Gondola ride is a cable car experience that is definitely a highlight, as you can see the surrounding area from above – a gorgeous sight, especially in the evening. Attached is a theme park, Dufan, which has more than forty rides including the roller coaster named Hallintar!

If you’re feeling really courageous, try the most notorious of the rides, the Tornado and Hysteria!

The kids will also enjoy the aquatic park SeaWorld, which includes alligator and shark pools. Beyond the aquatic theme, there’s also an eco-park to explore, offering green-themed edu-tours around Eco-Energy, Eco Care, Eco Nature, and Eco-Art.

A bonus is that some of the restaurants here are open 24 hours, so if you’re a late-night reveler, you’re good to go in Ancol.

Six Degrees Hostel

It’s hard to find someone who’s had a bad experience at Six Degrees. Besides its convenient location, the key attraction is its rooftop garden and bar.

• Free Breakfast

Thousand islands | Gedung Kesenian | Museum Layang-Layang | War Cemetery | Kidzania

You lucky fish! If you have 3 days in Jakarta or more, there a few other offerings to consider. Here are a few more places to consider for a 3 day itinerary in Jakarta and beyond.

The Thousand islands

• Get out of the city hustle and bustle
• Tropical beaches to replenish the soul and the body
• It’s best to do over a weekend in Jakarta

If you do have more time beyond your 2-day itinerary in Jakarta, consider a boat ride out to explore a few of the literal thousand islands to visit in the Indonesian archipelago . A full weekend to sit on a beach and relax is ideal, but the boat ride only takes an hour or two.

Some say a classy beach resort is the best place to stay in Jakarta. Of the best are Pulau Bidadari, which is the closest, and Pulau Macan, which is popular with honeymooners and eco-tourists.

You can get to most of the islands by speedboat from the Marina Ancol resort for around $15 USD. Here’s a tip: If you want to opt for a slightly cheaper way to get to the islands try Kali Adem harbor in MuaraAngke. This is a fishing jetty, but you could score a cheap trip to an island from here, where privately or via ferry for $3-5 USD.

If you want to go from island to island once you’re there, several resorts will let you rent boats to island-hop. This would be another enviable addition to your Jakarta itinerary.

Gedung Kesenian Jakarta

• A feel of an old Euro-style theater
• Shakespeare’s Othello was the first-ever performance here
• The premiere concert hall in Jakarta

Take an evening out to attend a performance of an opera, play or symphony at this amazing old colonial-era theater.

This beautiful old theater was commissioned in 1821. Over the years, it has served many functions. For example, during World War II, the occupying Japanese army used it as a military headquarters for the region.

The building also served as a headquarters for groups during the Indonesian push for Independence. It has even been a university building. Today it serves as one of the city’s main opera houses and theaters. Hosting regular performances of classics and modern works.

Museum Layang-Layang

• Another most unusual museum to marvel in
• Kite making, ceramics and batik workshops on offer
• The founder and owner still works here as the main guide

By now you’ve realized that Indonesia has a fondness for puppets. It also has a special place reserved for kites, of all things. In the unusual but quaint Museum Layang-Layang, it is the latter that is celebrated.

In a traditional-looking house in Pondok Labu, South Jakarta, Endang Ernawati opened this monument to a passion that seems unequaled. There are over 600 kites on display here, and some of them are incredibly unique.

Visitors usually marvel at the smallest (2 cm) and the largest (26 meters). But you’ll also find the strange, like a duo of kites that need to be flown together to produce a sound, not unlike a flute! You may also be intrigued to find the kite that is flown at a traditional wedding.

Among the other highlights is a giant 3D horse and cart, and bamboo and banana-tree leave constructed flyers. The museum  hosts workshops specially for children where kids can make their own, and adults can paint theirs. All the while, the guide will offer interesting bits and pieces on the history of kites in Indonesian culture.

Jakarta War Cemetery

• A serene and respectful monument to War heroes
• Commissioned by the Commonwealth and Dutch authorities after World War II
• Gates opened upon request on weekdays

If you’re a cultural or historical tourist, the War Cemetery in the suburb of Menteng Pulo is a somber reminder of the devastation of World War II on the region and its people. It’s a definite item on any history buff’s Jakarta itinerary.

The cemetery contains the graves of Indonesian, Dutch and commonwealth (English, Indian, Pakistani and other) forces. It commemorates the soldiers lost during the Japanese invasion in 1942 and the subsequent re-taking of the region.

At the center of the cemetery stands the Cross of Sacrifice, which can be found in many Commonwealth war cemeteries around the world. The Dutch section of the cemetery contains a small chapel.

What makes a visit here so enriching is the many stories that can be learned from the plaques and stones, especially in the British section of the graveyard. There are around 1200 graves in all, including those belonging to POWs who died during the war, and even a few given to heroes of the Indonesian Revolution.

• A cutting-edge approach to edutainment and fun in a Kids Park is indeed possible
• Kids can learn about professions and how money works
• Adults can take a break at the food court

Kidzania in the CBD is a kids’ play park with a difference. It is designed to look and feel like a real city, and lets kids take on roles in real occupations. It taps into that children’ desire to roleplay, while simultaneously giving them basic life lessons as they navigate the ‘city’.

The park is divided into a number of scenes, themed by activity. There’s even a flight simulator! Each of the activities or scenarios – whether it be a car dealership, fire department, city parade or disco lounge – is designed to impart life skills.

Each kid is given ‘KidZos’ on entry, which they treat as money in Kidzania. On a smaller scale, the kids will also learn about a number of professions along the way.

Sadly, no over 16s can participate, but there is a food court and pizzeria to enjoy. Don’t worry about the kids as there is plenty of high-end security to make sure everyone remains safe within the enclosed park. If you bring kids, this is a MUST on your extended Jakarta trip itinerary.

It’s a good idea to check with travel authorities when traveling anywhere, and Jakarta is no different. The region is prone to volcanic activity and other natural threats, so it will reassure you to know if any such warnings are in effect.

Like in any major city, it’s best to err on the side of personal caution in Jakarta. Take care not to be too casual with valuables like cameras, wallets, and jewelry. If using crowded public transport, be aware of the threat of pickpockets.

Ask advice from your hotel or a trusted local desk about things like reputable taxi companies and fair rates. There are several unlicensed operators out there who are looking to overcharge you if they can. It’s not a good idea to ask for an unmetered quote from a taxi operator. Better to make sure the meter is running, and even then to make sure it’s a legit operator.

With so much traffic in the city, you’ll want to be extra vigilant when walking around on your vacation in Jakarta. Drivers aren’t always alert, and different ideas might apply to pedestrian safety.

Drinking tap water is not safe. Fortunately, bottled water is available almost everywhere. Keep in mind to ask about the ice in your establishment as well. If the ice is made directly from tap water, it’s best to avoid it.

For the most part Jakarta and Indonesia are safe destinations if you are sensible and heed local advice.

Don’t Forget Your Travel Insurance for Jakarta

ALWAYS sort out your backpacker insurance before your trip. There’s plenty to choose from in that department, but a good place to start is Safety Wing .

They offer month-to-month payments, no lock-in contracts, and require absolutely no itineraries: that’s the exact kind of insurance long-term travellers and digital nomads need.

SafetyWing is cheap, easy, and admin-free: just sign up lickety-split so you can get back to it!

Click the button below to learn more about SafetyWing’s setup or read our insider review for the full tasty scoop.

If you have between two and eight hours to spare on your itinerary for Jakarta, a day trip is the perfect way to see a part of the city that interests you. This is also because most day trips from Jakarta are guided. You’ll get to experience the attraction as its intended. Here are five of the most fascinating on offer.

Jakarta: Like a Local Customized Guided Tour

What better way to explore a city than with a knowledgeable local? Take a walking tour through Jakarta’s coolest neighborhoods  someone who can show you all the best-kept secret. The little things matter, like where to get the best food or knick-knacks, or how much to pay for what.

And the best part is that you can customize your tour according to what you want to see. The guide will meet you at your hotel, and you can specify where you’d like to go within the time you have. It’s a very personal approach to exploring the city that can leave a unique, lasting impression.

Jakarta: Bogor Cultural Tour with Botanical Gardens Visit

This is one of the longer day trips from Jakarta and will require one whole day to do. It’s a ten-hour excursion to the countryside and towards the city of Bogor. Among the stops will be the glorious botanical gardens, an authentic local gongsmith’s, and a puppet maker’s workshop.

The gongsmith visit is a notable highlight. It’s unusual, and shows visitors gong manufacturing techniques that have been used for hundreds of years.

Jakarta: 3-Hour Chinatown Guided Walking Tour

The biggest Chinatown in Indonesia offers a wealth of colorful sights, sounds, stories and food to experience first hand.

The expert guide starts the walking tour at a 19th-century house and takes you through the streets towards the traditional market. On the way, you’ll pass by and learn about Chinese art and calligraphy, religion and traditions at the temple, and even get your fortune told.

Jakarta: Old Batavia Guided Walking Tour

Jakarta’s fascinating Dutch Colonial history is explored in this three-hour walking and biking tour of what was then called Batavia. See how the Dutch East India Company’s presence here influenced the architecture and the culture.

For example, The Old Railway Station and The Jakarta History Museum are just two of the fascinating stops on this essential tour of Old Town Jakarta. Traditional Indonesian street food at the market stop will replenish the body. The bike is also included in the price of the tour.

Jakarta: Indonesia in Miniature Park Tour

Arrange for a pick up from your hotel for this one – it’s included in the service. The gorgeous representation of Indonesia is a beautifully designed walk-through of small islands and pavilions.

Each of these represents a province, complete with fascinating miniature artifacts that depict important aspects of the district. Best of all, you then get to take a breathtaking cable ride to see the whole park from above. The day finishes with a visit to the Museum of Indonesia, exploring the extraordinary culture and history of the region.

Stash your cash safely with this money belt. It will keep your valuables safely concealed, no matter where you go.

It looks exactly like a normal belt  except for a SECRET interior pocket perfectly designed to hide a wad of cash, a passport photocopy or anything else you may wish to hide. Never get caught with your pants down again! (Unless you want to…)

Find out what people want to know when planning their Jakarta itinerary.

What should you include on a Jakarta city tour itinerary?

Don’t miss out on these top Jakarta highlights: – Istiqlal Mosque – Jakarta Catholic Cathedral – Jalan Surabaya Flea Market – Pasar Baru

Where should you stay if you have a 3 day Jakarta itinerary?

If you’re only in Jakarta for a few days, it’s best to base yourself somewhere central like Mangga Dua or Sudirman Central Business District.

What is the best month to visit Jakarta?

June-September are the most popular months, as they offer the best weather for exploring Jakarta.

Is Jakarta worth visiting?

Most people overlook Jakarta in favour of Bali, but we highly recommend it. As the largest city in Southeast Asia, it’s packed with things to see and do.

If touring Jakarta forms part of a larger Indonesia itinerary, we hope this article has offered a little taste of everything the region has to offer. Jakarta is an eclectic combination of Southeast Asian and European colonial culture, history, and food; a melting pot ready for exploration and enjoyment.

Remember also that observing local values and customs will go a long way to helping you enjoy all the city’s many offerings. Here’s hoping that this itinerary is a great help to you on your trip to Jakarta.

And for transparency’s sake, please know that some of the links in our content are affiliate links . That means that if you book your accommodation, buy your gear, or sort your insurance through our link, we earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). That said, we only link to the gear we trust and never recommend services we don’t believe are up to scratch. Again, thank you!

Rose Wilson

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Excellent guide and tells a lot about Jakarta and how someone can use time to see the wonder of the city within a short time. It helps a lot and thank you.

Just now discovered your website while preparing to spend a couple of weeks in Java, starting at Jakarta. Brilliant site. So much useful information. I’m signing up right now. Best wishes, Will

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• Travel Planning Guide

Travel Budget for Jakarta Visit Jakarta on a Budget or Travel in Style

• Jakarta Costs

• Jakarta Hotel Prices
• Best Hotels for One Night in Jakarta
• Best Hotels for One Week in Jakarta
• Best Luxury Hotels in Jakarta
• Best Family-Friendly Hotels in Jakarta
• Best Romantic Hotels for Couples in Jakarta
• Best Cheap Hotels in Jakarta
• Best Hotels for First Time Visitors in Jakarta
• Best Hotels for a Weekend Getaway in Jakarta
• Best Party Hotels in Jakarta
• Best Business Hotels in Jakarta
• Is Jakarta Expensive?
• How much does a trip to Jakarta cost?
• Indonesia Costs
• Mount Bromo
• Gili Trawangan
• How much does it cost to travel to Jakarta? (Average Daily Cost)
• Jakarta trip costs: one week, two weeks, one month

Is Jakarta expensive to visit?

• How much do I need for a trip to Jakarta?
• Accommodation, Food, Entertainment, and Transportation Costs
• Travel Guide

How much does it cost to travel to Jakarta?

You should plan to spend around $64 (Rp1,030,754) per day on your vacation in Jakarta. This is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors.

Past travelers have spent, on average for one day:

• $17 (Rp268,630) on meals
• $20 (Rp329,953) on local transportation
• $66 (Rp1,064,313) on hotels

A one week trip to Jakarta for two people costs, on average, $895 (Rp14,430,551) . This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

All of these average travel prices have been collected from other travelers to help you plan your own travel budget.

• Travel Style: All Budget (Cheap) Mid-Range Luxury (High-End)
• Average Daily Cost Per person, per day $ 64 Rp 1,030,754
• One Week Per person $ 448 Rp 7,215,276
• 2 Weeks Per person $ 895 Rp 14,430,551
• One Month Per person $ 1,919 Rp 30,922,610
• One Week For a couple $ 895 Rp 14,430,551
• 2 Weeks For a couple $ 1,791 Rp 28,861,103
• One Month For a couple $ 3,837 Rp 61,845,221

Are You an Experienced Traveler?

Help other travelers! Answer a quick question about your past travels. Click here: let's do it!

How much does a one week, two week, or one month trip to Jakarta cost?

A one week trip to Jakarta usually costs around $448 (Rp7,215,276) for one person and $895 (Rp14,430,551) for two people. This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

A two week trip to Jakarta on average costs around $895 (Rp14,430,551) for one person and $1,791 (Rp28,861,103) for two people. This cost includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

Please note, prices can vary based on your travel style, speed, and other variables. If you're traveling as a family of three or four people, the price per person often goes down because kid's tickets are cheaper and hotel rooms can be shared. If you travel slower over a longer period of time then your daily budget will also go down. Two people traveling together for one month in Jakarta will often have a lower daily budget per person than one person traveling alone for one week.

A one month trip to Jakarta on average costs around $1,919 (Rp30,922,610) for one person and $3,837 (Rp61,845,221) for two people. The more places you visit, the higher the daily price will become due to increased transportation costs.

Independent Travel

Traveling Independently to Jakarta has many benefits including affordabilty, freedom, flexibility, and the opportunity to control your own experiences.

All of the travel costs below are based on the experiences of other independent travelers.

Jakarta is a reasonably affordable place to visit. Located in Indonesia, which is a reasonably affordable country, visitors will appreciate the relatively low cost of this destination. It falls in the average range in the country for its prices. If you're traveling on a budget, then this is a good destination with affordable accommodation, food, and transportation.

Within Asia, Jakarta is a moderately priced destination compared to other places. The overall cost of travel here is fair for the region and comparable to Matsue or Hangzhou.

For more details, and to find out if it's within your travel budget, see Is Jakarta Expensive?

How much money do I need for a trip to Jakarta?

The average Jakarta trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these Jakarta travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers.

Accommodation Budget in Jakarta

Average daily costs.

Calculated from travelers like you

The average price paid for one person for accommodation in Jakarta is $33 (Rp532,157). For two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room, the average price paid for a hotel room in Jakarta is $66 (Rp1,064,313). This cost is from the reported spending of actual travelers.

• Accommodation 1 Hotel or hostel for one person $ 33 Rp 532,157
• Accommodation 1 Typical double-occupancy room $ 66 Rp 1,064,313

Hotel Prices in Jakarta

Looking for a hotel in Jakarta? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.

Find the best hotel for your travel style.

Actual Hotel Prices The average hotel room price in Jakarta based on data provided by Kayak for actual hotel rooms is $25. (Prices in U.S. Dollars, before taxes & fees.)

Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world.

Recommended Properties

• ZEN Rooms Terogong near Pondok Indah Budget Hotel - Kayak $ 60
• The Ritz Carlton Hotel Jakarta Pacific Place Luxury Hotel - Kayak $ 187

Transportation Budget in Jakarta

The cost of a taxi ride in Jakarta is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $20 (Rp329,953) per person, per day, on local transportation in Jakarta.

• Transportation 1 Taxis, local buses, subway, etc. $ 20 Rp 329,953

Recommended Services

• Jakarta Full-Day Highlights Tour with Transfer Viator $ 60
• CGK - Private Airport Transfer Service Viator $ 20

Flights to Jakarta

Rental cars in jakarta, what did other people spend on transportation in jakarta.

Typical prices for Transportation in Jakarta are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the prices in Jakarta, but your costs will vary based on your travel style and the place where the purchase was made.

• Taxi to Station Rp 17,500

Food Budget in Jakarta

While meal prices in Jakarta can vary, the average cost of food in Jakarta is $17 (Rp268,630) per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in Jakarta should cost around $6.67 (Rp107,452) per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Jakarta is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.

• Food 2 Meals for one day $ 17 Rp 268,630

Recommended

• Mangga Besar Food Tour Viator $ 49
• Kota Tua Food Tour Viator $ 64

What did other people spend on Food in Jakarta?

Typical prices for Food in Jakarta are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the prices in Jakarta, but your costs will vary based on your travel style and the place where the purchase was made.

• Dinner Rp 44,000
• Dinner Rp 12,000

Entertainment Budget in Jakarta

Entertainment and activities in Jakarta typically cost an average of $13 (Rp205,464) per person, per day based on the spending of previous travelers. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.

• Entertainment 1 Entrance tickets, shows, etc. $ 13 Rp 205,464

Recommended Activities

• Private Tour Baduy Village Viator $ 130
• Full Day Private Jakarta Tour(Inc Lunch, Puppet show, & Souvenir) Viator $ 76

Alcohol Budget in Jakarta

The average person spends about $4.23 (Rp68,134) on alcoholic beverages in Jakarta per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.

• Alcohol 2 Drinks for one day $ 4.23 Rp 68,134

Water Budget in Jakarta

On average, people spend $0.62 (Rp10,000) on bottled water in Jakarta per day. The public water in Jakarta is not usually considered safe to drink.

• Water 2 Bottled water for one day $ 0.62 Rp 10,000

Related Articles

Jakarta on a budget.

Neighborhoods

Food and dining, transportation, more related articles.

We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works .

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