Jakarta is not really a tourist city. It is a place where people live and work. Yet it is still difficult to ignore the capital city of the world’s fourth most populated country.
Where to Stay
The vast majority of backpacker-oriented accommodation is located on or just off Jalan Jaksa. This is a centrally located street that doesn’t have much traffic noise, as it is not a major road. However, there may be noise from the bars until about 2am.
Jalan Jaksa
Hostel 35 (Tiga Lima)
Rooms start at 150,000Rp for a double room with fan and attached toilet and shower (though there is one single room for 125,00Rp) and rise to 275,000Rp. This place is well run and has some character and is clean, but it is starting to become a bit overpriced now if you are on a budget. Some rooms can also be a bit noisy.
Bloemstein Hostel
Rooms here are mostly 60,000Rp or 80,000Rp for a fan room. Air-con will mean a big jump in price to 130,000Rp. There is a nice communal courtyard area out the front where it is possible to meet other travellers.
Wisma Delima
This place has single rooms for 75,000Rp and twin-bedded rooms for 80,000Rp. Toilets and showers are on the ground floor and are shared.
Where to Eat
The cheapest places to eat in the Jalan Jaksa area are the street stalls. There are a couple across the street from KL Village, next to Memories Bar. One sells nasi goreng for 8,000Rp and the other next to it has BBQ satay chicken at 10,000Rp for 10. These places have both been going for a while and the food is good.
Drinking
Memories Bar – This is a hangout for backpackers, older expats, some liberally minded locals, single women and transgenders trying to earn a living and various ad-hoc people.
Getting There
Train - most trains leave from Gambir Train Station about a 15 to 20 minutes walk north east of Jalan Jaksa.
Ship – Tanjung Priok is located around 13kms north east of the centre of Jakarta. If arriving by Pelni ship, walk out to the road in front of the port building, turn left and keep walking for about 10 minutes until you get to a checkpoint, marked by two arches over the road. Turn left and you will find the start of the busway. You may need to ask for directions. If so ask the police or other officials, not the taxi or motorbike drivers who are likely to mislead you.
Getting Around
Busway – this is the cheapest way that is easy to navigate around. The cost is 3,500Rp, which is paid on entering the busway system.
Taxi – Stick to the reputable Bluebird company. These taxis can be identified as they are blue, have Bluebird written across the top of the front windscreen or side of the car and have an emblem of a bird on the roof.
Train – it is possible to get to the Kota area (old Dutch quarter) by train from Gondiglia Station, located near Jalan Jaksa.
Miscellaneous
There are a few convenience stores along Jalan Jaksa or nearby including Indomaret and a 7/11 on the main road southwest of Jalan Jaksa.
Money Changers
For the best rates try the Money Changers inside the Plaza Indonesia or the shopping malls next to it. Empat Delta on the third floor of the Grand Indonesia East Mall is a good choice.
Tour Guides
If you need a tour guide there is a guy called Chris from Sumatra who is in his 30’s who tends to hang out at Memories bar. He runs tours of Jakarta and places nearby. It should be easy to find him, if he hasn’t already found you first! Memories Bar also organises various tours at great expense. Such as the ridiculously overpriced US$95 day tour of Jakarta, which includes transport.
Exchange Rate
At the time of writing US$1 is worth approximately 9,000Rp.
Richard Milnes - Richard was born in London, England, but has since spent much of his life travelling the world and has visited nearly 50 ...
