Jakarta

Jakarta is a city of contrasts, where colonial-era streets sit alongside soaring high-rises and sprawling suburbs stretch in every direction. The city’s core is Taman Merdeka, or Independence Square, dominated by the 132 m National Monument topped with a glittering stylised flame. Nearby, Kota Tua (Old Town) preserves traces of Dutch Batavia, with Taman Fatahillah at its centre, surrounded by old buildings and museums. Glodok, Jakarta’s Chinatown, is lively and colourful, mixing long-established markets with newer cafés and shops. At Sunda Kelapa, the old port, wooden schooners still carry cargo between Jakarta and the outlying islands, alongside warehouses dating back to the colonial era. South of the centre, Jalan Jaksa offers a jumble of budget guesthouses, tour offices, and souvenir shops, reflecting the city’s enduring role as a hub for travellers. Today, Jakarta continues to grow and change, balancing modernity with history. Despite its sprawl and traffic, the city remains a place of energy and contrast, where past and present sit side by side, giving visitors a glimpse of Indonesia’s evolution in one bustling metropolis.