Jakarta is the capital city of Indonesia, located on the northwest coast of the island of Java. Indonesia is a country consisting of over 13,000 islands with a population of over 180 million people who speak 200 different languages.

The country exhibits a beautiful and historic mix of cultures, linguistic and religious traditions. The beautiful cultural mixtures include Javanese, Malay, Chinese, Arab, Indian and European that obviously influence the country’s architecture, language and cuisine. The capital is a melting pot of representatives from each of these ethnic groups.

Jakarta is one of Indonesia’s best touristic areas; it is accessible through all the means of modern transportation by land, air, sea and by rail. It has the largest and most modern airport in the country, the most important harbor in Indonesia and is well connected by rail and good roads to other destinations in Java, Sumatra, and Bali.

The city is the center of government, commerce and industry and has an extensive communications network with the rest of the country and the outside world. Strategically positioned in the archipelago, the city is also the principal gateway to the rest of Indonesia. From the capital city, sophisticated land, air, and sea transport is available to the rest of the country and beyond.

Jakarta’s architecture reflects to a large extent the arrival of outside influences, which came and have remained in this vital seaport city.

Below are the top places to visit when in Jakarta:

One of the best things to do in Jakarta is to enjoy nature, this is possible when visiting the Taman Ayodya park. It is located in the south between Jalan Barito, Mahakam and Melawai nearby the Blok M area, making it the perfect escape from skyscrapers and modern shopping malls.

The park was previously a flower and fish market until it was converted to a city park in 2009. This particular park is situated on 7,500 square meters of land area with a 1,500 square meter man-made pond at the center. There are floating lotus leaves accentuated by a number of lights in the form of octopi and water fountains. Taman Ayodya is furnished with steps and chairs for sitting, gazebo, pendopo (similar to pavilion) and cafes. Tourists and locals both love this park for different reasons, you will see many people jogging, cycling, roller blading and feeding the fish.

Visiting a historic museum gives you an opportunity to learn more about the country’s background, culture, religion and costumes. Jakarta’s History Museum is located in the old town area in an 18th-century building (previously a city hall) and houses objects from the prehistoric period of the city region, the founding of Jakarta in 1527, and through the Dutch colonization period from the 16th century until Indonesia’s independence in 1948.

It is also known as Fatahillah Museum or Batavia Museum, and was inaugurated on March 30, 1974 as the center for collection, conservation and research of all kinds of objects of cultural property related to the history of the city of Jakarta as well as a center for education, study and recreation for the community.

Another interesting museum to visit is the National Museum. The collection here comprises ancient statues, inscription, ceramic, textile and historical relics. The collection of Indonesian ceramics and ethnography in this museum was the largest and the most comprehensive in the world. It is located in Jalan Medan Merdeka Barat, Cebtral Jakarta, right on the west side of Merdeka Square. The museum is known as the Gedung Gajah (Elephant Building), named after the elephant statue in its forecourt.

The museum’s broad collections cover all of Indonesia’s territory and almost all of its history. The museum has endeavored to preserve Indonesia’s heritage for two centuries.

Jaya Ancol Dreamland Park:

It is a recreation area located at the seashore of Jakarta Gulf. There are a number of fun facilities such as the Golf Course, Ancol Marina Bay, Art Market, Dubia Fantasy, Seaworld, Gelanggang Samudera, Atlantis Water Adventure and Beach Park.

Jaya Ancol Dreamland Park provides three hotels and a cottage for those who want to stay in this area.

Dunia Fantasy is a theme park arena, it is Indonesia’s own Disneyland. It is part of Jaya Ancol Dreamland Park where one is able to discover a cultural journey through Indonesia and many other countries. For most Indonesian people, Dunia Fantasy is better known as Dufan. Dunia Fantasy has various kinds of games that are divided and grouped into regions — Jakarta Region, Balada Kera Region, Indonesia Region, Eropa Region, Hikayat Region, Amerika Region, Istana Boneka Region and Asia Region.

Attractions include a thrilling corkscrew roller coaster, adventurous flume rides, turbo tour simulators, bumper cars as well as many other exciting fairground amusements with the latest addition of Hysteria where you can experience the sensation of zero gravity when you are dropped down from a considerable height.

Ancol Golf Course:

Jaya Ancol Dreamland Park has a golf course of international standards. The golf course is located close to Dunia Fantasy (Fantasy World in English) and Mercure Hotel. It has a restaurant, a golf equipment shop and many other facilities. You can seek professional help and take golf classes for the whole family.

Sea World

This giant aquarium features more than 4,000 fish and sharks from 300 species. You are able to enjoy deep-sea panorama while strolling through an 80-meter tunnel. The fascinating creatures live in some 500 million liters of seawater and are fed three times a day and some are hand-fed. The attraction also features a theater, which plays three educational films in English and Bahasa Indonesia.

In Ancol Bay Area, there are so many things to do and see. If you like water sports, in Ancol you can find different and adventurous water activities. You can go sailing or visit Bidadari Island, one of the islands among the Thousand Islands.

Ancol art market:

Ancol Art Shop was initially built to help provide local artists materials and medium to create beautiful art pieces. There’re various kinds of fine arts, craft and souvenirs sold at Ancol Art Shop, like paintings, sculptures, carves, relief sculptures and crafts made of ceramic, horns, leather, earthenware, bamboo, rattan, wood, and brass. There’re also other kinds of collections like woven cloth, batik and accessories made of pebbles, pearls and shells.

Jakarta’s Old Town Batavia:

In this rambling metropolis of a city, it’s hard to imagine that Jakarta was once confined to just a small area here around a town that was known as Batavia. Today it is called the Old Town or Kota Tua and it’s a reminder of the centuries of Indonesian history dominated by Europeans.

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