What I did during my 12-hour layover in Jakarta, Indonesia

Like most bustling cities, having an enjoyable layover in Jakarta (without having to stay in the airport) will take a lot of effort. If you have not been to this city yet, let me warn you about the very bad traffic in this Indonesian city.

Most of my Indonesian friends say they leave their houses five (5) hours before their flight just to make it in time (ouch!) because as exaggerated as it may sound, you cannot play with the traffic in Jakarta – it’s really a pain!

However, if you have over 12 hours layover in Jakarta, it is also not that pleasant to stay in Soekarno-Hatta International Airport. Personally, I find this airport very limiting when it comes to dining experiences and things to do but the wifi connection is really good.

Either way, when in a long layover in Jakarta, you still need to choose between staying in the airport and going out of the city. In my fourth time in Jakarta, I opted for the latter.

How to get to Jakarta from the airport

To travel from Soekarno-Hatta International Airport to Jakarta City Center, several options are available.

One option is to take a taxi, which takes approximately 45 minutes depending on traffic. The cost is around IDR 170,000 (approximately $10). Taxis are available 24/7 at the airport, and it is recommended to use Bluebird Taxi, which is a trusted company.

Another option is the Soekarno-Hatta Airport Rail Link. The train journey takes about 50 minutes and costs around IDR 30,000 (approximately $1.90). The train station is located between Terminal 1 and Terminal 2, and trains run every 30 minutes from 06:19 to 20:49. Passengers can alight at BNI City Railway Station in Central Jakarta.

Alternatively, travelers can opt for the DAMRI Bus, which takes approximately 2 hours to reach the city center and costs around IDR 40,000 (approximately $2.50). The bus departs from the airport and makes several stops before reaching the final destination, which can be convenient for those not staying directly in the city center.

For a more personalized experience, private transfer services are available. The journey takes about 45 minutes and costs around IDR 220,000 (approximately $13).

Lastly, there is the option to rent a car. The journey duration varies depending on traffic, and the cost depends on the rental company and the duration of the rental.

Renting a car provides the most flexibility, but it requires navigating Jakarta’s traffic, which can be daunting for foreign visitors.

Jakarta Airport Hotel

If you’re only staying for a few hours, you won’t necessarily need to book an accommodation in Jakarta. In my case, I arrived late in the evening so I decided to stay at Swissbell Airport Jakarta. A private room for 2 pax costs $85 USD (approx).

Jakarta Layover: My itinerary

10:00 AM – 12:00 NN: Visit Fatahillah Museum

Erected in 1710 as the city hall of Batavia, this building used to be the headquarters of the Dutch East Indies company which housed dungeons and water prisons. Prisoners include Dutch rebels and Indonesian natives who were barbarically executed in what we call today, the Fatahillah Square.

Today, the museum displays an amazing collection of the pre-historic period such as the founding of Jayakarta in 1527 and mostly relics from the Dutch colonization fro, the 16th century until Indonesia’s independence in 1945.

Fatahillah Museum is called many names such as Jakarta History Museum, and Batavia Museum. Don’t be confused if you hear people calling it in different names!

What’s interesting here?

• In this museum, you will find the richest collection of Betawi style furniture from the 17th to the 19th century
• A Portuguese cannon called Meriam Si Jagur which locals believed possesses “magic energy”.
• Over 1,000 books from the colonial era written in languages such as Arabic, English, Dutch, and Malay
• The Fatahillah Cinema shows documentaries and movies from the Batavia era.

Open from Tuesday – Sunday, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm; closed on Mondays. To get here, use the TransJakarta bus going to Kota from Blok-M (Corridor 1). Stop at the last terminal, Kota.

12:00nn – 2:00 pm: Lunch at Cafe Batavia

Literally a few steps from Fatahillah Museum, Cafe Batavia sends me back to the 1940’s movie Casablanca where everyone is smoking and playing music in a restaurant bar called Rick’s Cafe Americain.

The ground floor is a full smoking area with a stage for live performance while the second floor is for great dining with an exclusive view of Fatahillah Square.

The walls are filled with pictures from the old jazz in 1930’s theme which played perfectly in the mix as the building where the cafe is located in the second oldest building in Fatahillah Square.

A 2-page long menu of Asian and Western menus are available but if you are confused with the 4-course dining setting, here’s what I ordered:

• Appetizer: Caesar salad (with blocks of good parmesan cheese)
• Starter: Erwten Soup, a dutch soup made from green peas
• Main: Roasted half chicken with mashed potatoes
• Dessert: Tiramisu!

They also have a full menu of Western and Indonesian coffee that will go with your tasty tiramisu. Of course, always go local!

2:00 pm – 3:30 pm: Visit Museum Wayang

Just next to Cafe Batavia is Museum Wayang which houses a large collection of puppets from all over the country and some parts of Southeast Asia. The word Wayang (Javanese) is a form of puppetry art in Indonesia.

In 1640, this building was once the Old Dutch Church but was destroyed during an earthquake in 1808. In 1912, it was rebuilt to function as a warehouse for Gedung Geo Wehry & Co. until 1939, when it was converted into the Old Batavia Museum.

Since Wayang has a large collection, it was inaugurated to be a separate entity in 1975.

What’s interesting here?

• There are over 4,000 puppets in this museum not only from Indonesia but also from Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, China, Colombia, and even India.
• Puppet show performances are held every second, third and fourth Sunday every month. I was lucky enough to have seen one during my visit! However, the language is in Bahasa Indonesia so just enjoy the visuals!

Open from Tuesday – Sunday, 09:00 am – 03:00 pm. The entrance fee is 5000 IDR ($0.35 USD) for adults and 2000 IDR ($0.14 USD) for kids.

3:30 pm – 7:30 pm: Work, coffee, early dinner and beers at The Pier (Ancol)

inally, before flying out, I decided to have a more relaxed afternoon at The Pier (Ancol). While I was checking work e-mails and writing on my journal, coffee and sweets were the first highlights of my afternoon. The Pier’s topmost floor gives you a nice view of a river where you can take a peak tram to a larger view of the Ancol.

The Pier also offers nice meals (I had fish and chips!) and beers for a cheap price. It’s probably the best long hangout I had in Jakarta!