Top 10 Places to Visit in Jakarta

Jakarta is the capital and the biggest city of Indonesia with a population of over 10 million people and a developing megalopolis.. This interesting city is characterized by tall rising floors and clay wood-built kampong houses, it has much to offer to the tourists. Besides, Jakarta offers a wide range of tourist attractions ranging from historical places such as museums to shopping destinations such as markets and modern malls. Time is a precious commodity and to ensure that you make the best out of the time that you will spend in Jakarta, you need to visit the following 10 places.

1. Old Town (Kota Tua)
The Old Town of Jakarta is the historical-dating part of Jakarta. Formerly, it was the city center of Dutch colonial Batavia, there are still some buildings of 17th Dutch style. The main attraction here is Fatahillah Square where the Jakarta History Museum is located at one of the architectural landmarks of Jakarta – the former Dutch town hall. Stroll around the ‘Kampung Jawa’ with other attractions including the Wayang Museum which has information on Javanese puppetry and Café Batavia a restaurant that specializes in fusion cuisine in a colonial setting.

2. Merdeka Square (Lapangan Merdeka)
It would be highly regrettable if a visit to Jakarta does not include a vantage stopover at the forty-five-story tall National Monument in Merdeka Square, which stands at 137 meters. Built to commemorate the Indonesian independence, there is a possibility of taking an elevator to the top to provide a tour of the view in 360 degrees. It means that tall structure is illuminated at night. The large grassy square also houses the Indonesian Museum of National containing cultural and historical pieces.

3. Taman Mini Indonesia Indah
This is an interesting feature that translates to Beautiful Indonesia Miniature Park, which captures Indonesian culture in detail. There are traditional house models that show different regions and ethnic groups of the country and they are full scale with an area of 250 acres. Other attractions include museums, the AnIMA science center, a lake with cable cars, amusement park-style rides, and arts, and theatrical productions. There is something for everyone in this open-air museum, and you will receive education and entertainment for the full day.

4. Chinatown (Pecinan)
Chinatown also known as Glodok has a colonial origin in which the Chinese came and worked as indentured laborers in Indonesia. Today, this colorful area thrives with the architecture seen in traditional Chinese temples such as the Vihara Jin De Yuan dating back to the 18th century, red lanterns, and the aroma of Chinese food from hawker centers and restaurants. Other recreational activities include shopping where markets and malls are open selling items ranging from fake brand items to fabrics, spices, etc.

5. Sunda Kelapa Harbor
Despite the modernity of Jakarta, those wanting to build up their feel of the city can visit Sunda Kelapa, the city’s ancient harbor. This harbour is still in use and it provides anchoring for the vintage wooden sailing ships known as pinisi as well as other relatively small boats. Observing people carrying goods such as salt, copra, and wood from the boats right at the waterfront. Another recognizable point of interest is the old city park Taman Fatahillah and the Museum Bahari, both of which offer a beautiful view of the harbor. The ships can also be viewed up close by ferrying on a wooden boat for a closer view of the ships.

6. National Monument (Monas)
Monuments such as the 137-meter-tall National Monument (Monas) situated in Merdeka Square are some of the historic places that are easily recognizable in Jakarta. Built to celebrate Indonesian independence in 1945, there is a possibility to go up by an elevator to see the view of Jakarta in all four directions. The monument can be seen when it is night because it stands tall and has bright lights to illuminate the skyline of Jakarta. It also includes a large grassy square as well as the National Museum of Indonesia which is stocked with numerous cultural and historical relics.

7. Jakarta Cathedral
Another incredible structure that is a part of Jakarta is the Neo-Gothic Catholic Cathedral, also known as Gereja Katedral Jakarta. Designed by the well-known architect Frederick John O'Hara and constructed in 1901, the church boasts twin towers, stained glass windows, and open halls. People can come and admire the architecture and can also attend a mass should they choose to do so, for the parish is an important part of the Christian community of Jakarta. But it is situated in Gambir near the presidential palace and the CBD at Jalan Katedral.

8. Ancol Dreamland
Stretching along Jakarta’s seafront line, Ancol Dreamland is an entertainment city occupying over 300 hectares with facilities comprising of Atlantis Water Adventure water park, Seaworld oceanarium, hotels, drive-in cinema, golf course, restaurant, and many others. Kids and families will have a special appreciation of the fantasy world amenities such as the multicolored wheel and the actual performers and theaters of the rollercoasters. This is another fascinating place to be since, with everything that there is to do, one can spend his or her entire day at Ancol.

9. Ragunan Zoo
For your information, Ragunan Zoo is located in Jakarta which occupies an area of approximately 140 hectares. More than 270 species of animals are living in the park; it is one of the best and the most popular zoos in the world. These are the attractions that people love to watch most; the Sumatran tigers and elephants, orangutans, giraffes, komodo dragons as well as the different types of monkeys. It has a splendid tropical layout, well developed with remarkable green gardens. You should also not leave the zoo without visiting the large aquarium and the insect museum which is also within the premises.

10. Dufan is an abbreviation for Dunia Fantasi is an Indonesian language that translated to English means the World of Fantasy Theme Park.
The best-known amusement park for fun is the Dunia Fantasi (Dufan), situated about 40 km west of Jakarta. This enormous equipment has special areas such as Central Park with such attractions as the castle and water park. One of the well-known launch coasters is the Halilintar launch coaster, which is around Asia. Feel the thrill in such a ride as the Niagara Flume log ride, Hysteria Upside, down rollercoaster, and 4D motion theaters you can’t resist. Due to the ample of places to visit, Dufan is exciting and enjoyable whether you’re a kid or an adult.

Ending Thoughts
Jakarta is one of the biggest megapolises in the world, so when in Jakarta, there are so many options and choices that a visitor may get lost in choosing what to visit. However, as outlined in this optimized guide, it is rational to follow the plan of visiting the most significant tourist sites and attractions since it would be wiser to get the most out of this interesting capital within the available time. Has the influence been able to compel you to book your Indonesian adventure exploring dynamic Jakarta? Please include your thoughts in the comments section below.

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