Official language: Indonesian
Time zone: UTC +7
Currency: Indonesian rupiah (IDR)
The best time to come to Jakarta is the dry season, between June and October. Although even then there is a big chance for rain, it does not occur so often, and at that time it brings relief.
One of the most delicious local dishes is rendang – beef boiled in coconut milk served with rice and soto ayam, aromatic chicken broth with lime flavor.
Jakarta International Java Jazz Festival takes place in Jakarta, being one of the biggest events of this kind in the world. For three days on more than a dozen stages, concerts of over three hundred musicians take place.
Jakarta is the capital and the biggest city of Indonesia. It is located on the north-western coast of Java – the most densely populated island in the world. The city itself is inhabited by over ten million people, while the agglomeration of Jabodetabek altogether with the surrounding towns, is the second most populated in the world, overtaken only by Tokyo.
Jakarta is a clash of cultures. You will see temples of many religions, especially Muslin and Catholic next to each other. There is a mosque next to the city’s cathedral, thanks to which the elements of the cults mingle, creating a unique atmosphere. The cathedral resembles churches that we all known from other parts of the world, while the mosques are worth visiting. The Istiqlal Mosque, the largest mosque in South-East Asia, is certainly unique. Most of the interior of this modern temple from the end of the seventies of the twentieth century is covered with steel.
Probably the thing that you are afraid of when traveling to the capital of Indonesia is smog and huge crowds. Unfortunately, the pollution is a big problem here, but it is hardly surprising when you think how big it is. Crowds and noise are also the order of the day, but it is enough to stay here for a few days to say that it is an inseparable element creating the intriguing atmosphere of this place. What are the other things that create it? Phenomenal architecture, cultural richness, extremely friendly and open-minded people and, above all, outstanding cuisine.
What restaurants are worth visiting in Jakarta? In at least a few places you can expect ingenious, local flavors, delicious pasta or rice and coconut desserts. Among the most popular there are for sure the Dharmawangsa Teras at JI. Darmawangsa VI & IX, Plataran Dharmawangsa at JI. Darmawangda Raya 6 or Plataran Menteng at JI. H. O. S. Cokroaminoto 42.