Insiders’ guide to Jakarta: from cultural festivals to traditional markets and hip coffee shops
Indonesia’s capital has plenty to offer visitors willing to stay awhile
Southeast Asia’s largest city is unlike any other, its skyscrapers competing for space with colonial Dutch buildings such as the Jakarta History Museum (formerly the Batavia City Hall), the Bank Indonesia Museum (formerly the Dutch East Indies Bank) and the Jakarta Kota Railway Station.
However, many travellers dismiss Jakarta as little more than a transit hub for travel across Indonesia. Spend a little time here, though, and you’ll find cultural attractions aplenty, delicious food and drink, and a wealth of shopping opportunities.
The real deal
“To see the real Jakarta, take a wander down the alleyways, in the kampongs,” says coffee shop owner Reza Adhiatma, who was born and raised in the Indonesian capital. “You’ll see daily life unfolding, food vendors, people at work. It’s an interesting contrast to the shiny side of Jakarta that most visitors see.”
The city can be overwhelming to navigate, though, and Adhiatma recommends starting in Glodok.
