Originally named Meester Cornelis after the preacher and schoolmaster Cornelis Senen, Jatinegara Station was opened in 1909 to connect the Meester Cornelis independent municipality (present day Jatinegara subdistrict) with Bandung, West Java.

A major renovation work in 2018 led to the construction of a new station building large enough to host passengers from both the Commuter Line and intercity trains. Although travelers now transit through the new building, the original station designed by S. Snuyf still stands as a cultural heritage site and an icon of times gone by.

Covering an area of 1.5 square kilometers, the cultural park represents Indonesia, reflecting the archipelago's rich cultural heritage. At its center is a man-made lake with artificial islands shaped like the archipelago, which is best seen from the cable cars running across the park.

TMII is also home to the Keong Mas Theater, the first IMAX theater in Indonesia when it opened in 1984. With its iconic golden shell shape, the theater has always been a crowd favorite. 

Aside from the museums, one of the main attractions in TMII is the 33 pavilions that represent every province in Indonesia. Each pavilion displays at least three traditional houses unique to each province and traditional clothing and weapons, showcasing the diversity embodied in the Bhinneka Tunggal Ika (Unity in Diversity) motto.

A rather gruesome remembrance, the Lubang Buaya monument marks the site where seven Indonesian Army officers were murdered and dumped into a disused well during the 30 September coup attempt in 1965.

As ordered by President Soeharto, the construction began in 1967 and took five years to complete. It sits atop an area of 14.6 hectares to commemorate the struggle of the Revolutionary Heroes who fought to defend the state ideology from the threat of communism during the power struggle during the Cold War. The monumental event orchestrated by the communist party was now known as Gerakan 30 September or G30S.

The location was strategically placed among other notable places during the failed coup d’etat, namely the Museum of PKI Betrayal, the old well where the bodies of seven revolutionary heroes were disposed of, the house where they were tortured and Pos Komando, where the kidnappers planned the scheme in the first place. 

Dating back to the late 19th century, Tanjung Priok Station is one of the oldest train stations in Jakarta, with the distinction of being the largest built during the Dutch colonial era.

Due to the expansion of the Tanjung Priok Port, the original station was demolished. The current building is actually the second generation station that was opened to the public in 1925, hosting the first electric train system that would go on to become the KRL Commuterline.

During the new millennium, Tanjung Priok Station sat unused as passenger services had been deactivated, with the building falling into disrepair. After a round of renovations, the station is now back to serving the Commuterline and freight trains, as well as hosting numerous music videos and film shoots.

Known by its old nickname of Beos Station, Jakarta Kota Station was once known as Batavia Stad, connecting the old city center with Buitenzorg (present day Bogor), Tanjung Priok port and the port of Merak.

Originally, the old city center was served by two stations approximately 200 meters apart, Batavia Noord (North Batavia) and Batavia Zuid (South Batavia). The current Jakarta Kota Station building was built in 1929 as a successor to the Batavia Zuid Station, and now serves both intercity and Commuterline trains.

Visitors interested in the station’s architecture and history might as well visit Kota Tua, which is just a stone’s throw away.

Spanning approximately 1.3 square kilometers, this perennially popular tourist area is home to numerous historic buildings, from the museums around Fatahillah Square, the original Sunda Kelapa port where Jakarta has its origins, to the 17th century Sion Church.

Kota Tua, like its name suggests, is the old downtown area from when Jakarta was still known as Batavia. The buildings in Kota Tua are a mix of 18th century relics and newer 20th century developments.

Tourists and students on school trips will likely visit the Jakarta History Museum, which was built in 1710 as the Batavia Stadhuis (city hall). A short walk from there is the Museum of Fine Art and Ceramics, built in 1870 as the Court of Justice, and the Wayang Museum, which occupies the site of an old church where Dutch East Indies governor general Jan Pieterszoon Coen was interred.

Named after the composer, songwriter and national hero, there’s never a dull day at the cultural center complex, which hosts numerous concerts, arts exhibitions, film screenings and theater performances.

Taman Ismail Marzuki was built on the former site of the Taman Raden Saleh public park and zoo, which was established and owned by the prolific painter. In addition to concert halls and theaters, the complex is also home to the Jakarta Planetarium and the Jakarta Arts Institute (IKJ).

An extensive revitalization project beginning in 2019 was finally completed in 2022, welcoming Jakarta’s creatives once again to evenings filled with culture.

Built in 1962 to welcome athletes competing in the 4th Asian Games, the monument welcomes visitors and commuters to the busy Bundaran Hotel Indonesia traffic circle. The traffic circle is a popular tourist area, particularly during car free days, which are held every Sunday morning.

Then-deputy governor of Jakarta Hendrik Hermanus Joel Ngantung was responsible for the statue’s design, which was entrusted to sculptors Edhi Sunarso and Trubus Soedarsono. 

Construction took approximately one year, during which Edhi received high profile guests in his studio including President Soekarno and then-US ambassador to Indonesia Howard P. Jones.

The former official residence of the governor of the Dutch East Indies is located in the same complex as the Istana Merdeka, which was designed later to be the larger of the two. It was first built in 1796 by Dutch citizen J.A. van Braam before being taken over by the Dutch East Indies government in 1816 and adopting the name of Istana Rijswijk.

Overlooking the Ciliwung River, the building functions as the center of state government activities. Over the years, its walls have seen the inauguration of high-ranking state officials, the opening of national and international congresses, and the building acts as a venue for state banquets. Most importantly, it is home to the office of the President of the Republic of Indonesia.

Istana Negara has a special place in the history of Indonesia’s independence, as it became a historical witness to the signing of the Linggadjati Agreement on March 25, 1947, which marked the day the Republic of Indonesia was granted de facto authority over Java, Sumatra and Madura by the Dutch.

Built for the 4th Asian Games in 1962, the sports complex also hosted the 2018 Asian Games and Asian Para Games, as well as numerous other tournaments, concerts and events. 

The history and name of the complex demonstrates the complicated history of the country. As we know today, the stadium is named in honor of Soekarno, the first president of the Republic of Indonesia, who also initiated the construction. However, it was briefly changed to Senayan Main Stadium in 1984 during the New Order under President Soeharto to distance the legacy of Soekarno. 

After the rolling reform wave in 1998, the name of the stadium was changed back to its original name through Presidential Decree No. 7/2001 signed by President Abdurrahman Wahid. A list created by the Ticket Gum gave GBK the eighth spot for the best arenas in the world earlier this year, news that both shocked and delighted locals. 

Gold, food, and textiles, oh my! Dating back to 1820, the promenade of Pasar Baru allows visitors to browse its myriad offerings, from bowls of chicken noodles to vintage cameras. It is the oldest shopping center in Jakarta.

The shops at Pasar Baru are built in Chinese and European architectural styles, which clearly demonstrates the cultural melting pot of Indonesia’s past and present. Now, the area is the center of the Indian-Indonesian community, some of whose members are textile merchants and shop owners.

While times have changed, the people of Jakarta will always remember the marketplace as the birthplace of the Bakmi Gang Kelinci restaurant and the Matahari department store. Other remnants from the first years include the Kimia Farma pharmacy, toko Lee Ie Seng and toko jam Tjung-Tjung.

Arguably the most iconic landmark in Jakarta, the monument’s eternal flame shines bright day and night, offering unrivaled views of the capital’s skyline from its observation deck. Known affectionately to locals as “Monas,” the 132-meter-tall obelisk is located in the middle of Medan Merdeka Square, Central Jakarta.

Monas was established to commemorate the resistance and struggle of the Indonesian people in gaining independence from the colonial government. The monument took 14 years to build and is hoped to inspire and create pride and patriotism for the nation’s future generations. The flame, covered with gold leaf, symbolizes the burning fighting spirit of the Indonesian people.

Step into the Independence Room to feel the euphoric spirit of 1945. The amphitheater stores the original text of the Proclamation of Indonesian Independence, which is kept in a glass case inside the gold-plated gate, the Indonesian state symbol, and the gilded map of the islands of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia. Originally, it was supposed to display Sang Saka Merah Putih, the flag that was originally hoisted on August 17, 1945, however the sacred piece was kept away due to its aging and fragile condition.

Although most Jakartans today associate Pos Bloc with trendy hangout spots, the original 18th century creation possesses a vision beyond the modern twist.

Previously known as Gedung Filateli, the building was known as the first ever post office in the Dutch East Indies era, built in 1746 under the orders of Governor-General Gustaaf Willem van Imhoff. After the VOC’s bankruptcy, the building still served the local community’s mailing needs, undergoing a renovation in 1913 under Dutch architect J. Van Hoytema.

After receiving cultural heritage status in 1999, Gedung Filateli remained a history buff favorite, especially for those who enjoy the increasingly rare art of sending a letter instead of an e-mail. The 2021 iteration now allows families and friends alike to explore the artistic realm of culture as an enduring heritage, while also celebrating local businesses and communities.

Previously known as the offices of the Indonesian SOE Perum Peruri, the now trendy M Bloc Space opened its doors in September 2019 and has quickly become one of the most beloved hangout spots in Jakarta for the city’s youths.

Originally built in the 1930s, the Perum Peruri building complex was used for the printing of Indonesian paper money and the minting of coins. Their operations slowly winded down throughout the 90s and the buildings were completely abandoned by 2005, until their revival in 2019.

The repurposing of the derelict building complex into M Bloc Space features a slew of exciting points of interest, including music venues, retro record stores, food and beverage tenants and the eco-friendly supermarket, M Bloc Market. For many Jakarta residents, M Bloc Space has become their go-to place to grab a bite, shop for unique goods and meet up with friends.