It is true that Jakarta, the capital city of Indonesia, has always been associated with traffic jam, chaos and congestion. However, it is also true that Jakarta is a unique, vibrant city and often regarded as the melting pot of cultures.
If you’re travelling to Jakarta to run the Jakarta Marathon, we urge you not to leave the city too soon. Plan at least 3 days of active marathon recovery days, by exploring what Jakarta and its surrounding have to offer.
1. Unwind at the Thousand Islands
Take a day trip or spend a night at one of the islands in Thousand Islands for some quiet time, away from the hustle and bustle of the city. You can swim, snorkel, dive, go on island hopping trip, visit undersea aquarium, have a massage, or simply relax by the beach while admiring the ocean or Jakarta skyline.
2. Go on a Safari
At Taman Safari Bogor, you can admire wildlife from the comfort of your car. Drive slowly as you observe the behaviours of hippopotamus, zebra, deer, giraffe, lion, tiger, and other animals. If you’re lucky, you’ll get to see them up-close as they stand beside your car!
3. Learn History at Old Town
Kota Tua, or Old Town, is located in the north of Jakarta. Discover the history of Jakarta by visiting Jakarta History Museum (Fatahillah Museum), Museum of Fine Arts and Ceramics, Puppet Museum (Wayang Museum), Maritime Museum, Bank Indonesia Museum, and Bank Mandiri Museum. Also, don’t leave before trying the street food and paying a visit to Café Batavia.
4. Drink at Rooftop Bars
For a change of scenery, head to Jakarta rooftop bars and be spellbound by the breath-taking view of Jakarta’s skyline. Three recommended rooftop bars are Skye Bar (56th floor, Menara BCA, Jalan Thamrin), Cloud Lounge (49th floor, The Plaza building, Jalan Thamrin) and Henshin (67th floor, The Westin Jakarta).
5. Explore Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (TMII)
Located at east of Jakarta, TMII (translated as Miniature Park of Beautiful Indonesia) showcases traditional houses of each province in Indonesia, traditional costumes and traditional performances. In addition, there are numerous gardens, museums, theatres and recreational activities. The most interesting part is probably the miniature of the archipelago, which is built on a lake and visible from cable car ride.
6. Have Fun at Dunia Fantasi
With over 40 rides and attraction, Dunia Fantasi (Fantasy World) theme park is one of the most popular attractions for families in Jakarta. Its most interesting rides include Halilintar, Tornado, Ombang Ambing, Hysteria and Kora-Kora.
7. Visit Monas
Monas, or National Monument, is a monument built to commemorate the struggle for Indonesia independence. Visit Monas observation deck to see Jakarta from the top and take a compulsory Instagram-worthy shot in front the monument.
There are a couple of attractions located within walking distance from Monas, such as National History Museum where you can see over 50 dioramas illustrating Indonesian history, Istiqlal Mosque (the largest mosque in Southeast Asia) and Jakarta Cathedral.
8. Swim and Slide at Atlantis Water Adventure
Located at Ancol, Atlantis Water Adventure is a water theme park with 8 main pools. Challenge yourself at AWA’s Crazy Water Slide, which is the highest and tallest slide in Indonesia. Crazy Water Slide has 2 slides, with the heights of 18.6m and 22.8m, and lengths of 122m and 149m.
9. Visit the Shopping Malls
When in Jakarta, you can’t escape shopping malls because they’re everywhere. Instead of avoiding the malls, why not embrace them? Treat yourself to a spa, retail therapy, food hunting, flatbed cinema experience (Mall of Indonesia) or even a flight simulation experience (Gandaria City).
10. Go Restaurant Hopping at PIK (Pantai Indah Kapuk)
Along Jalan Pantai Indah Kapuk and Jalan Marina Indah, you can find clusters of restaurants to satisfy any cravings you might have. From international cuisines such as Italian, Japanese, Chinese, Vietnamese, to Indonesian cuisines, you’ll be really spoilt for choice.
The 5th Edition Jakarta Marathon 2017 will be held on 29 October 2017. Take the opportunity to enjoy the marathon of Jakarta and wonderful Indonesia!
