Things To Do In jakarta In Two Days

Alhowor - Jakarta, the busy and vibrant capital of Indonesia, and also a popular city for stopover for many of you travelling or living in Asia. For this reason, we did a complete guide of , whether it be for cultural and historical visits, or also where to go to get an insight on Jakarta’s lifestyle.

Day 1: Cultural and Historical tour of the City

• Glodok, Chinatown of Jakarta

Glodok (Chinatown) is the biggest Chinatown of Indonesia. We recommend you to check out this place for some delicious Chinese food.

A good time to visit would be around Chinese New Year, beginning of February. This is a good way to have an insight on their culture and you’ll be taking part in their colourful and extravagant celebrations as well.

ChinatownThings to do in Jakarta in 2 Days. Courtesy of Liong.

• Kota Tua/Old Batavia

Kota Tua was once the business and central government area during the Dutch colonial era. It is easy to see why this place is nicknamed “Tropical Amsterdam” with its array of preserved Dutch colonial buildings.

There are a few things to look out for as you cycle or walk through this historical city. One of the most unique attractions in Old Batavia is their Jembatan Kota Intan (the Diamond City Bridge), a beautiful wooden bridge built to link the canal.

You should visit Old Batavia’s most famous attractions, which is the Café Batavia. The antique decoration will bring you back 60 years into the past, with a lot of Dutch influence.

Old Batavia is also home to a number of museums. We strongly recommend that you visit theMuseum of Bank Indonesia. Apart from its breathtakingly beautiful architecture, the museum has high tech videos and medias that are informative and interactive. It is also free of charge, but do note that they are closed on Mondays.

Things to do in Jakarta in 2 Days. Kota Tua/Old Batavia. Courtesy of Prayitnophotography.

• Gedung Kesenian Jakarta (Jakarta Arts Theater)
  

The beautifully renovated Jakarta Arts Theater is home to not only local arts, but historical significance as well. Sir Stamford Raffles first built the Jakarta Arts Theatre in 1814 to provide entertainment for the British soldiers residing in Java during that period.

Do check out the updated events on their page and treat yourself to a day of cultural performance: Gedung Kesenian Jakarta

• Istiqlal Mosque

The Istiqlal Mosque is Indonesia’s national mosque, also the largest mosque in South East Asia. The word “istiqlal” means independence in Arabic, and was built to commemorate Indonesia’s struggle for independence.

Have a tour inside the spectacular mosque and be blown away by its size and architecture. There will be ‘free’ English speaking guides, but do take note that you have to tip them at the end of your tour, for about Rp. 30,000-50,000.

Day 2 – Explore the heritage part of Jakarta

• Taman Mini Indonesia Indah

Located in East Jakarta, Taman Mini Indonesia Indah is the perfect place for an introduction into Indonesia’s extensive culture. Here you will find the diverse architectures, traditional clothes and dances of the various cultures in Indonesia, from Aceh to Sulawesi.

You may join a 4-hour tour with an English-speaking guide as this place is huge! Book it with eOasia

• Ancol Dream Park

Ancol Dream Park is an all-in-one leisure park. Here you may visit the Seaworld, or spend and adrenaline-filled afternoon in their amusement park. Alternatively, you may also try thewakeboard, which is one of the most sophisticated cable parks in South East Asia.

Wakeboard in Ancol Dream Park. Things to do in Jakarta in 2 Days.

What to eat in Jakarta – Best Traditional food

This vibrant city is home to thousands of restaurants. We have picked the three different options for you to immerse yourself into the Indonesian culture.

• Bofet Maknyus

This restaurant has a carefully selected menu of delicious dish from all around Indonesia. If you want to have the best dishes from different parts of Indonesia all in one place, this is where you should go.

• Lara Djonggrang

If you are looking for a romantic place with a good fusion of Indonesian food, head down Lara Djonggrang. Located inside a colonial house filled with Indonesian tribal designs, Lara Djonggrang is a popular place for a culturally rich gastronomical experience. Do remember to make a reservation!

Lara Djonggrang Restarant. Things to do in Jakarta in 2 Days. Courtesy of Tugu Hotel.

• Skye Bar – Dine with a View

Located in the city centre and on top of the 56th floor of BCA tower, Skye Bar offers a clear aerial view of the vibrant Jakarta. Do place a reservation for dinner, and take note of the strict dress code of the restaurant.

Skye Bar. Things to do in Jakarta in 2 Days. Courtesy of Skye Bar – Ismaya Group.

What to do during your free time in Jakarta?

• Shopping

If you want to see a different face of Jakarta, do visit their malls and be amazed at their sizes. TheGrand Indonesia is one dazzling mall where you will find everything you need for shopping and places to eat. You will also discover for yourself the local’s consumerism culture, an interesting insights to Jakarta’s modern lifestyle.

Another interesting place for shopping is Mangga Dua, a place where you will find cheap quality imitation goods. Block M is another place you can go to find shoes, clothes and bags.

Do note that Mangga Dua and Block M have no fixed prices for their goods, so make sure to bargain when making a purchase. Also, these places are very crowded on the weekends, so keep an eye on your belongings.

• Coffee Tasting
  

Jakarta is a caffeine haven for those of you who love coffee. Home to many gourmet cafés, you’d be spoilt for choice in tasting some the best coffees of Indonesia.

Read our article 5 Coffee shops you must visit in Jakarta to learn more about it.

Coffee Tasting. Things to do in Jakarta in 2 Days. Courtesy of Tanamera.

• Indonesian Massage

Refresh your body, mind and soul with some traditional Indonesian massages. We handpicked two Spa salons where you will live through your most authentic Javanese massage experience:

Taman Sari Royal Heritage & Martha Tilaar Spa

Nightlife in Jakarta

You should head to the SCBD area to start your visit of Jakarta by night. Lucy in the Sky and Potato Head are two names you should remember, and this is where your night will most likely start.

To quote a few clubs and disco in Jakarta, Empirica, X2, and The Immigrant are places where the party is always on during the weekends.

If you are planning for an even bigger party, do not miss the Warehouse Project in December, one of the most famous electronic music festival in Jakarta.

Things to do in Jakarta in 2 Days. Courtesy of Joe-Joe.

Where to stay in Jakarta & How to get around?

Staying in the central area would be a good choice if you are planning to do the cultural visits.

South Jakarta, especially Kemang area is also a safe place to stay but it will be relatively far from the cultural sites, but closer to all lifestyle activities.

The airport is about 30 mins to 1 hour from both places on a Sunday morning , but for other times, plan 2 to 4 extra hours because of the heavy traffic.

Blue Bird Taxi should be your main way of transportation as they are the safest taxis in town, they do not speak much English though but they do know how to get around.

See Also : Spending Your Day at Parangtritis Beach

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