Visit the parks

For a change of pace, you may be interested in going to the rare and somewhat mythical green areas of Jakarta. One of them is Taman Suropati, a park located in Menteng, Central Jakarta. Aside from relaxing beneath the trees, you can also enjoy or join in with the local music community playing their instruments on the weekends. There are also literature and art groups doing activities there, so spectators can expect to see a more artistic side of Jakarta here, although on a small scale.

Visit Pasar Baru

Built in 1820 under the name Passer Baroe, the place is the oldest market in Jakarta. It is located in Sawah Besar area, Central Jakarta. When visitors don’t feel like buying clothes, fabrics or any other bargain-able things from the various kind of stores in the area, they can enjoy sightseeing and take photos on the streets, when it doesn’t rain.

(Read also: Explore these 5 spots in Pasar Baru, Jakarta's 'Little India')

Ride the City Tour Bus

Since 2014, the Government of Jakarta provides a free double-decker bus for tourists. While on the bus, passengers can see and get informed on the history of Jl. Medan Merdeka Barat, Balai Kota, Sarinah, Bundaran Hotel Indonesia, the National Museum, Pecenongan, Pasar Baru, the Jakarta Art Theatre, Masjid Istiqlal, the Cathedral Church, and Jl. Medan Merdeka Utara. The tour is for both local and international tourists, so normally, there are introductions in English and other languages. To ride the bus, people can go to any bus stop labelled with a “city tour” sign on the route. Usually, the queue will be very long on weekends. People can also book the bus for a group tour with a prior reservation.

“Kota Tua” Tour

Kota Tua or the Old Batavia Complex is located in North Jakarta. As a heritage-listed area, visitors can see Dutch colonial architecture all around the area. Some people love to just walk on the streets toward Fatahillah Square or take photos of the buildings. There are also museums to visit, such as the Bank Indonesia Museum, Wayang Museum, Fatahillah Museum, or the Fine Arts and Ceramics Museum, which some of them are free of charge. In the area, there is also the Kota Train Station, which is another heritage site and is still being used by train commuters to this day.

(Read also: Tourism Ministry proposes single body for Kota Tua)

Enjoy the Car Free Day

Every Sunday, particular streets of Jakarta are free from vehicles. For example, along Jl. Sudirman in South Jakarta to the roads surrounding the National Monument (Monas) in Central Jakarta. On these days, people usually will take the opportunity of the vehicle-free roads to do various sporting activities, such as running and cycling or gather with their communities, for example pet lovers.

Visit Galeri Indonesia Kaya

Located on the 8^th floor of Grand Indonesia Shopping Town in Central Jakarta. Combining education with multimedia technology, visitors can enjoy various virtual experiences here, such as taking pictures in Indonesian traditional clothes virtually, playing Indonesian traditional music instruments and exploring Indonesia through a virtual map. There are also various workshops and other activities scheduled, so people may be interested in checking out their website to see what events are upcoming.

Bentara Budaya Jakarta

Bentara Budaya is a cultural institute established by Kompas Gramedia in South Palmerah, West Jakarta. It has various collections of Indonesian cultural heritage, ranging from paintings to ceramics, as well as wayang puppets from the famous puppet master, Asep Sunarya. One of its most unique collections is its traditional Javanese house, brought directly from Kudus, Central Java. Aside of its collections, Bentara Budaya often holds various art and cultural activities, such as exhibitions, film screenings, and monthly discussions. (asw)

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