What to see and do: 1 day Jakarta

Jakarta is the busy and chaotic capital of Indonesia with a population of more than 10 million people. The city has a rich history, bustling streets, modern skyscrapers, historical sites, large shopping malls and countless markets. The contrast between the skyscrapers and the sometimes somewhat shabby neighborhoods is something that will definitely stay with me from my visit to the sinking capital.

If you only have one day to explore Jakarta, there are some must-see sights you should not miss. In one day, you can visit the largest Mosque in Southeast Asia, the National Museum, the Freedom Monument and imagine yourself in the Netherlands for a little while.

The daily schedule!

This daily schedule is based on my own experience, arriving myself at Gambir Station (from Bandung) at 09:00 in the morning, after which I had to go to the airport late in the evening for my return flight. Tip: should you fly home (or your next destination) from Jakarta, get to the airport on time. Due to traffic jams, it took me 2.5 hours by bus.

Morning: National Museum & National Monument

The morning is all about history lessons.

1. National Monument

The National Monument, also known as Monas, is an iconic tower in Jakarta that symbolizes the struggle for Indonesian independence. The tower is more than 130 meters high and has a magnificent view of the city from its viewing platform. The accompanying museum tells the story of Indonesian history and the struggle for independence.

• Entrance fee: IDR 15,000 (note, may be crowded if you go later in the morning)

2. National Museum

The National Museum in Jakarta is one of the largest and oldest museums in Indonesia, with an extensive collection of more than 140,000 objects reflecting the country's rich history and culture. The museum displays artifacts from different periods, from prehistoric times to modern times, including religious art, textiles, ceramics, weapons and traditional clothing.

You'll learn more about Indonesia's rich history, why the Dutch wanted to colonize the country, how big the country really is and the cultural differences this brings, among other things.

• Entrance fee: IDR 25,000 (includes free English tour)

Did you know that?

Jakarta is not ideally located around the so-called Ring of Fire and a crossing of earth plates, resulting in earthquakes and shifts. According to our guide, the city is sinking, so the government wants to declare a new capital.

That new capital, by the way, has yet to be completely built, quite absurd to imagine. Borneo (Kilimanjawa) was chosen because of its perfect geographical location. Political operations could be moved as early as next year to the island where part of Malaysia is also located; the city will not be ready until around 2034.

Afternoon: An impressive Mosque & imagining yourself in the Netherlands

3. Iztiqlal Mosque

The Istiqlal Mosque is the largest mosque in Southeast Asia and is located in the heart of Jakarta. The mosque has a unique design and is built with modern architectural elements and Islamic principles. After Ramadan, 200,000 Muslims gather here to pray, clever how they can accommodate such a large group of people. Especially with the logistics, it will be maddening, as traffic on a normal Thursday is already chaotic and busy enough.

Speaking of details:

• The diameter of the large dome: 45m (1945)
• The diameter of the small dome: 8m (August)
• 5 floors for the 5 principles of Islam

Opposite the Mosque is a large Cathedral, intended to portray that the different religions in the country are more than capable of coexisting. Others say that the Mosque was built precisely to overshadow the Cathedral, since over 90% of the island of Java is Muslim. Well, who will have the right answer?

As a tourist, you are not allowed to walk around the Mosque unaccompanied, so a guide will accompany you through the Mosque. Beforehand, you will be asked to fill out a short registration form with your name and Nationality.
 

• Entrance: Free, but I tipped the guide!

4. Batavia

Batavia, now known as Kota Tua, was once the center of Dutch colonial power in Indonesia. It is a district in northern Jakarta steeped in Dutch influences and colonial architecture.

You can visit Fatahillah Square, home to the Jakarta History Museum, and explore the VOC buildings and canals. In case you haven't used a classic Dutch bicycle in a long time, in Jakarta you can! At Fatahillah Square you will see countless local, as well as international tourists, introduced to Dutch popular means of transportation.

Lunch?

Jakarta was my last destination in Indonesia, so to finish off my culinary list, I enjoyed one last local specialty in Jakarta: Otak Otak. Literally translated as "Brain Brain. Don't worry, it's not the brain of an animal you're about to eat. Otak Otak is a spiced fish cake wrapped in banana leaves and grilled over charcoal.

The fish meat is mixed with coconut milk and spices, and the banana leaf gives it a fresh taste. In Jakarta, this dish is served with a spicy peanut sauce and a glass of coconut drink is not to be missed. Locals like to add some extra sugar, but that's a little too much for me.

• Tip: Otak Otak Binatu An (near the National Museum)

• Cost: IDR 155,000, including 1 glass of coconut drink and 1 serving of white rice

Is one day really enough?

One day in Jakarta is certainly not enough to see everything, but hopefully this travel guide will give you enough handles to get a good impression of this vibrant city.

Oh yeah, don't forget to wear comfortable shoes and bring plenty of water, as it can be quite hot and humid in Jakarta.

Next up?

Does your trip start in Jakarta? Then you can easily travel on from the Indonesian capital by Kereta API train to:

• Bandung: About 3 hours (from Gambir IDR 140,000 - Ekonimi)
• Yogyakarta: 7 hours

You can easily buy a ticket on Tiket.com, then at the station you have to redeem your E-ticket for a paper ticket at one of the counters.