Monumen Nasional, often abbreviated Monas
A towering 137m-tall obelisk of solid bronze platted with 50 kilos of gold shaped into flames up top, this is the most famous landmark in Jakarta. The monument was commissioned by Sukarno in 1961 to celebrate Indonesia's independence, it was completed in 1975 after his death and is consequently known irreverently as Sukarno's Last Erection. The 1 square kilometre Medan Merdeka (Freedom Square) plaza/park around it was created by bulldozing a squatter community. In its basement, look for the collection of dioramas depicting the struggle for Indonesian independence from a firmly revolutionary point of view, while the top has an observation deck. The musical fountain at the east side of the park dances on weekends at 19:00.
08:00-16:00, except the last Mon of the month·Museum and the first platform Rp 5,000 for adult, Rp 3,000 for student and Rp 2,000 for child; observation desk Rp 10,000 for adult, Rp 5,000 for student and Rp 2,000 for child. Only 1,800 tickets are available per day for the observation desk before noon. Since April 5, 2016, the observation desk is also open from 19:00 to 22:00, with 700 tickets available at Rp 15,000/ticket and ticket sales available only until 9pm, but night observation is closed in Ramadan (fasting) month
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
Established by the Italian Ragusa brothers in 1932, this hole-in-the-wall gelato parlor provides your imaginable ice cream menu, but has an antique charm that entices you to come back for more.
Daily 10:00-00:00·Rp20,000-Rp70,000
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)