If you want to get to know Indonesia a little better, a visit to the capital city of Jakarta is a must! We have put together a Jakarta itinerary suitable for almost anyone visiting this pulsating, cosmopolitan city that’s packed with the spirit of Indonesia.
A sprawling metropolis typical of Southeast Asia, Jakarta is alive with the energy of more than 11 million people. Located on the north western region of Java Island, the city is a bustling financial centre with trade and education at its core. Like every large city, Jakarta has its own unique personality. It was occupied by the Dutch and Japanese since its beginnings in the 4th Century, with the evidence of this occupation still seen throughout the city in the architecture, food and culture.
Interestingly, Indonesia is planning on moving its capital city to the Borneo region sometime in 2024, due to its issues with overcrowding. But Jakarta will still remain alive with its distinctive personality which has evolved over many centuries, with business, art, museums, dining and shopping taking centre stage.
With this Jakarta 3-day itinerary, you will be able to hit all of the iconic sites, whilst experiencing the culture and cosmopolitan glamour of Jakarta city life!
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When you’re in the city, why not enjoy an all-out luxury experience at one of Jakarta’s best 5-star hotels? Take a look at our round-up of Jakarta’s best 5-star hotels!
Where to stay in Jakarta
As this is a short 3-day Jakarta trip itinerary, we recommend you pick accommodation close to the city centre around Menteng and the central area.
Read our detailed travel guide to Jakarta for some comprehensive travel info on Indonesia’s capital city, including which areas to stay, recommended hotels and how to get there.
Day 1 – Jakarta Tour; City Centre exploration and Kota Tua Walking Tour
Morning
- Get acquainted with Jakarta’s most iconic sites in the city centre. Start with a walking tour around Central Jakarta including the National Monument, to get your bearings. The monument is in Merdeka Square, where you can stretch your legs and catch locals enjoying some exercise and recreation time. The monument symbolises the struggle for Indonesian Independence against the Dutch colonial empire.
- Visit the Istiqlal Mosque, the largest mosque in Southeast Asia and the ninth largest mosque in the world in terms of worshipper capacity.
- Head over to the National Museum which is just an 8-minute walk away. This museum houses artefacts and exhibits showcasing everything from historical, cultural, archaeological and geographical aspects of Indonesia, giving you a well-rounded introduction to this vast nation. The museum has free tours available in different languages and the entrance fee is just IDR 15k for Indonesians and IDR 25k for foreigners. The building itself is built in a colonial-style, and you could spend 1 to 2-hours browsing the exhibits and getting a feel for Indonesia’s amazing history.
- Depending on your budget and travel style, you could grab lunch at one of the 5-star hotels in the area, or head to the Kota Tua neighbourhood to experience Indonesian food at a more casual and authentic restaurant. Another option is the iconic restaurant, Cafe Batavia in Kota Tua where there is often live music and always a great vibe.
Afternoon – Walking tour of Old Batavia
- Head to the Kota Tua area by TransJakarta bus from the Senayan city centre area, and get off at Kota Station, or you can easily order a taxi or Gojek also.
- Kota Tua, aka ‘Old Batavia’ has a history dating back to the 1600’s when it was built as a port town to service the trade industry and store precious spices like pepper, nutmeg, cinnamon and tea, as well as other valuable cargo. It was also used as an administrative centre.
- On a walking tour of Old Batavia you can still see Dutch colonial buildings that are around 200 years old. The Wayang Puppetry Museum, the Fine Arts & Ceramics Museum, Fatahillah Museum and the Maritime History Museum are all located within the Kota Tua vicinity and depending on what interests you, you can explore one or two of these spots.
- Visit the historic Kota Intan Drawbridge, a typically Dutch drawbridge which is a reminder of the enduring Dutch influence on Indonesia.
If you want a tour guide to accompany you for this Jakarta tour, you can use this Klook voucher to book a comprehensive day tour of Jakarta’s best historical sites. Prices start at just AUD $82 including hotel pick up!
Evening
- Catch a taxi or Gojek to Chinatown and experience the vibe, smells and sights of one of Jakarta’s most vibrant neighbourhoods.
- Glodok Plaza is a small mall or market, where you can buy everything from clothing and electronics, to Chinese medicine, souvenirs, dried food and snacks.
- There are plenty of Indonesian street food and Chinese dining options lining the streets.
Day 2 – Shopping and Culture
Morning- Cruise Jalan Surabaya for antiques
- Start the day with a walking tour of Jalan Surabaya before the heat kicks-in.
- The stalls of Jalan Surabaya stretch for around 450-metres, selling things like antiques, vintage clothing, records, handicrafts and even luggage.
- Cool-down with a chilled beverage or coffee at Giyanti Coffee Roastery and enjoy the eclectic, retro vibe.
Afternoon
After pounding the pavements of Jalan Surabaya in the morning and the city tour from the day before, you might fancy some time in an air-conditioned shopping mall for a spot of retail therapy. Jakarta has quite a few choices, as Jakartans are well-known for their love of shopping!
- Grand Indonesia Shopping Town has all of the international chain stores like H&M, Zara and Pull and Bear. There are well-maintained play areas for kids, dining options from fast-food to gourmet, and the shops are high-end to luxury.
- Mall Taman Anggrek is Indonesia’s largest shopping mall, and is more casual than some of the high-end malls. Here, you’ll find an ice rink, IKEA, UNIQLO and cinema.
- Plaza Senayan is a smaller, upscale mall with luxury brands as well as some international chain stores like Next, located near the Semanggi area. It is a high-end and modern mall with lots of dining options and nice facilities.
- Pondok Indah Mall (aka PIM) in South Jakarta has both high-end and mainstream stores. The mall is sleek and modern with new facilities.
- Gandaria City in the District of Gandaria has plenty of dining options, international brands and boutiques.
- Pacific Place Mall in the Sudirman Central Business District has fashion, lifestyle, entertainment and electronics. There is a large indoor playground for kids as well as Kidzania for keeping the young ones entertained. The mall caters to high-end shopping, with some more affordable shops also.
Not into shopping malls? Why not explore Pantai Indah Kapuk in the prestigious residential area of North Jakarta. A newly developed tourism destination, you can enjoy some culinary exploration by dining along the waterfront. There are interesting spots for photos, with pedestrian bridges over canals, its very own Chinatown, and a large pagoda. Want to explore Pantai Indah Kapuk with a private driver, including hotel pick up for just AUD $45? Use this Klook voucher!
Evening
- Depending on your budget and your tastes, you might like to find a fine dining or trendy restaurant to try. Otherwise, the Santa Modern Night Market is a recently revamped night market with food stalls and a cool hipster vibe, with plenty of vintage clothing stores, book shops and record stores.
- Fancy a night out? Jakarta has a bunch of cosmopolitan nightlife options like clubs, bars and lounges. It’s worth noting that bars and clubs in Jakarta can be lavish and expensive, and enforce strict dress codes. However, there are also some cheaper, backpacker and student-type bars if that’s more your vibe.
Day 3 – Cultural Exploration
Morning
- Taman Mini Indah is a fascinating cultural theme park where there are replicas of traditional Indonesian architecture from across the archipelago, as well as some of Indonesia’s iconic sites, a contemporary art gallery housing art from Indonesian artists, and frequent dance performances with costumes and dance from across the country.
- To get there, you can catch the LRT to Taman Mini Station.
- There is a fountain show in the evening which tells the story of Indonesian folklore.
- You can sample cuisine from all around Indonesia at cafes throughout the park.
- Catch a cable-car across the park or use shuttle buses, as the park area is quite large with lots of exhibits to check out. You can easily spend a day here learning all about the tapestry of cultures that make up the archipelago, and finish-off with the delightful fountain show.
- Head back into the city centre for some final culinary exploration. Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant, or you might have a trendy restaurant you simply can’t wait to try!
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That wraps-up our 3-day, 2-night Jakarta itinerary, jam-packed with iconic sites, cultural experiences and of course amazing food and entertainment! We hope you enjoy your Jakarta tour!
