Jakarta

Arjuna Wijaya

A statue of Arjuna and Krishna riding horse chariot, the scene taken from Mahabharata epic. Created by Nyoman Nuarta.

Bank Indonesia Museum

Perhaps the best museum in the area as it displays the legacy of Indonesia (and a general overview of the world)'s monetary and economy history, with music and technology that works through your senses. Please differentiate with Bank Mandiri Museum, which only 30 meters from Fatahillah Museum, but inferior to Bank Indonesia Museum.

Tue-Sun 08:00-15:30·Free for students who show their student IDs, groups who have registered and got confirmation from the BI Museum, and children up to 3 years old; for others Rp5,000

Basoeki Abdullah

The late Basoeki Abdullah was a famous painter in Indonesia and Dutch. Collection: hundreds of beautiful paintings, sculpture, masks, watches.

Tue-Fri 08:00-16:00, Sat-Sun 09:00-15:00, Mon and public holidays closed·Adults Rp2,000 (individual), Rp1,000 (group), Children Rp1,000 (individual), Rp500 (group), foreigner Rp10,000

Dia.lo.gue Artspace

Contemporary art centre and exhibition with coffee shop inside. The name can be interpreted as "she/him, you, and me", or conversation in Bahasa Indonesia.

9:30-18:00 weekdays, 9:00-21:00 weekend

Diamond City Drawbridge

Jembatan Kota Intan

A Dutch style drawbridge that crosses a canal, situated near what was once the Diamond Fort.

Djoko Sutono

This statue commemorated Professor DR. Djoko Sutono, SH, the founder of Indonesian Police Academy.

Erasmus Huis

A Dutch cultural hub. Next to the Dutch embassy. Movie, drama, music show, library etc.

Mon-Sat 09:00-16:00

Farmer Statue

Pak Tani dan Bu Tani

Created by Matvei Manizer and Otto Manizer (from Russia). This statue commemorated the struggle for Independence by Indonesian farmers and their family.

Freedom of Irian Jaya

Pembebasan Irian Jaya

This statue, right at the centre of the court, celebrates the annexation of Irian Jaya (West Papua) into Indonesia from the Netherlands in 1963. Has dancing musical fountain, futsal area, children playground, jogging track, and can be used at night because of good illumination.

Galangan VOC

VOC Shipyard

Dating back to 1628, this is the former trade office and ship repair of the VOC (East Indies Trade Company) built by the Dutch. It is the center of the trade routes that stretched from Japan to Cape Town, from the Spice Islands to Persia. The place is now a restaurant, also called the VOC (Very Old Café), but maintains what's left of history.

General Soedirman

The statue stands on the avenue named for his namesake. Sudirman (old spelling: Soedirman) was the leader of the Indonesian forces in the guerrilla war against the Dutch in Yogyakarta (1948-1949).

Gudang Sarinah Ekosistem

Art and creative space founded in 2015. Usually used for various events such as music festival, concert, and education. It was once a warehouse (gudang) owned by the Sarinah mall in Central Jakarta.

Heroes

Perjuangan Rakyat Jatinegara

This statue commemorates the heroic struggle for Indonesian independence by Jatinegara residents in 1945.

Istiqlal Mosque

Masjid Istiqlal

Not far from Gambir Station and Monas is the largest mosque in Southeast Asia. Designed by a Christian architect, the mosque was deliberately erected in front of an older cathedral by former president Soekarno to show religious harmony and diversity. The mosque is grand and gorgeous both inside and out, virtually every element was designed meticulously to reflect philosophical meanings of the Muslim world. Be sure to wear proper attire if you are going here for the day, or a sarong can be lent if you are wearing shorts. Get a guide to explore if you are on your own, but expect to pay a tip (arrange the amount before the tour) both to the guide and to the mosque.

24 hours daily. For non-Muslims, preferably not during prayer time (12:00, 15:30, 18:00)

Jakarta Cathedral

The century-old neo-gothic church is the seat of the Jakarta Archdiocese of the Roman Catholic Church. After you admire the design inside and out, go to the 2nd floor for a museum.

Jakarta History Museum

Museum Fatahillah

The building was a city hall (Stadhuis) until 1710, and then an underground prison, and used as the provincial office before restored into its use today as Jakarta's History Museum in 1974. Start from the right entrance, the first room you'll encounter is the transportation mode Jakarta used, including carts. Next, the chronology begins with writing on the stones that tell the growth of the area from as early as the 5th century, then the Portuguese and the Dutch. The backyard has the famous Jagur cannon. Other highlights include the fusion of cultures from both in and out of Indonesia and the assimilation that shapes the local Betawi culture. The basement used to be a dark prison of torture.

Tue-Sun 09:00-15:00·Adult Rp 15000, student Rp 3000, children Rp 2000

Jakarta Port Authority's Lookout Tower

Established in 1834, it functioned as the watchtower for ships docking and departing Sunda Kelapa Harbor. No longer used, the building is in dilapidated condition.

Kalibata Heroes Cemetery

Taman Makam Pahlawan (TMP) Kalibata

Opened in 1954, more than 7,000 people who are military casualties and veterans from Indonesian War of Independence, as well as B.J. Habibie, the third president of Indonesia, are buried here.

Free

Kalijodo Park

Taman Kalijodo

Formerly a red-light district, it is the newest park in the city, with 3.4 hectares (8.4 acres) of land area besides the Krendang River. The park has international-standard skateboard facilities, a playground, an indoor football court, and an amphitheater.

Kites Museum of Indonesia

Museum Layang-Layang Indonesia

Established in 2003, this museum's collection include about 600 kites, with varying sizes from 2 centimeters to 9 x 26 meters.

Lubang Buaya

Marks the site where an alleged failed coup d'état by the Partai Komunis Indonesia (Indonesian Communist Party) met its end in 1965, alongside the bodies of several high-ranking generals who are believed to have been tortured to death.

Muara Angke Nature Reserve

Cagar Alam Angke Kapuk

This is the last nature reserve in Jakarta with mangrove plantations and wildlife still preserved. Look for the endemic birds, plants, monitor lizards and monkeys. Obtain a permit to enter at the Conservation of Natural Resources Office at Salemba, Central Jakarta. The reserve is very quiet, located about 500 meters from Pantai Indah Kapuk, Muara Karang Gate. Although there is no official parking area, you can park on the shoulder of the road in front of the park gate. No permit is required, because there aren't any guards.

Museum Bahari

Maritime Museum

A legacy of Indonesia's maritime past. Artifacts of boats from the Pinisi to the Navy, underwater life and the heroes of the Indonesian seas. Magnificent old building and very modest entry fee.

Rp15.000

Museum Sumpah Pemuda

In 1928, a group of youth at the 2nd Youth Congress declared one motherland, one nation, one language. The museum has complete information on how the dispersed youth tied to their home region gathered in unity for an idea of a country that was yet to be officially formed, and when the creator of the Indonesian national anthem, W.R. Supratman, performed this piece on violin for the first time ever.

Tue-Fri 08:00-16:00; Sat Sun 08:00-17:00·Indonesian Rp2,000; foreigner Rp10,000

Museum of Fine Arts and Ceramic

A fine art gallery featuring some of Indonesia's maestros of art. Not just paintings, but ceramic sculptures, and structures that represent the Hindu mythology commonly found in temples (candi).

Closed · opens 8 am·From Rp 5,000 per adult

National Museum

Museum Nasional

Step back in time from humble prehistory to the Hindu Kingdoms, from the Dutch to the Independence. It has a fine collection of Hindu sculptures and cultural artifacts from around the country, as well as an impressive treasure room filled with gold items. Look out for the elephant statue at front, a gift from the King of Siam (Thailand) in 1871. The Gold room is closed 1 hour before the museum normal closing time.

Daily 08:00-16:00·Foreigner Rp 150,000; Indonesian Adult Rp 50,000 child Rp 25,000,

Presidential Palace

Istana Merdeka

Along with the Negara Palace and others minor buildings, it forms the Presidential Palace complex. Built in 1796 as a mansion for a Dutch businessman, it became the centre of the Dutch administration during the 19th century, and the official residence of every single president. As of 2014, the Palace doesn’t seem to be open for public.

Sat Sun 09:00-16:00

Prince Diponegoro

This statue commemorates the rebellion against Dutch occupation (1825-1830), led by Prince Diponegoro from the Kingdom of Mataram, Yogyakarta.

Proclamation Museum

Museum Perumusan Naskah Proklamasi

This is where the Declaration of Independence is read on August 17, 1945, by the founding fathers Soekarno and Hatta. Complete storyline of how the Independence came to be, through dioramas, mock-ups, and propaganda posters.

Tue-Fri 08:00-16:00 (Fri closes 11:00-13:00), Sat Sun 08:30-17:00·Indonesian Rp2,000; foreigner Rp10,000

Puppet Museum

Museum Wayang

This museum is dedicated to the Wayang, a Javanese puppet used in traditional shows to explain religious and philosophical ideas (so it's discouraged to call it a mere toy). There are different types of wayang from the shadow puppets to marionettes, from Java and around the world. Grab a tour guide (staff) to explain everything in English (the description on the display is not very helpful). The shadow puppet show is regularly held at 11:00 on Sunday.

Tue-Sun 08:30-15:00·From Rp5,000 per adult