Jakarta’s National Monument rises above the modern city skyline
Country guide

A little more prepared for Indonesia.

Explore Jakarta through Kota Tua, Glodok, Monas and the nearby Thousand Islands, with month-by-month packing help and practical local transport notes. Conditions and transport differ across this large archipelago, so check each city and island separately.

Explore Indonesia

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Before you zip the bag

Heat, rain and island days

  • Choose breathable clothing and sun protection for warm, humid city walks.
  • Carry a rain layer during the wetter months and protect electronics on boat days.

Getting around Jakarta

  • Use JAKI and official operator sources for routes and arrival information; check each transit fare and ticket method.
  • Book island ferries separately and recheck weather and sailing notices before departure.
Currency
Indonesian rupiah (IDR)
Plug types
C / F · 230 VCheck your adapter →
Emergency number
112 (Jakarta; check local availability elsewhere)

International Telecommunication Union — national numbering plans · Indonesia Immigration — official portal · Jakarta Provincial Government — emergency service 112 · World Standards — Indonesia plugs and voltage

Stay connected

Mobile data for your trip. Check what your current plan includes for roaming. If you need another option for maps, messages and booking details, compare NXTL eSIM coverage and rates. Check that your phone supports eSIM and is unlocked, and check coverage for every stop. Download important maps and confirmations for offline use too.

Useful reads for Indonesia

Jakarta’s modern skyline seen above the dense city

A first weekend in Jakarta: old Batavia, Monas and a food-filled evening

Use one day for Kota Tua and Glodok, then cross the city the next day for Monas, the civic centre and an evening meal.

Shoppers browse goods at a busy market in Jakarta’s Chinatown

Glodok food walk: market lanes, coffee and Chinese-Indonesian flavours

Take a compact, respectful walk through Jakarta’s Chinatown, using a locally mapped food route and leaving time for the market.

Colonial-era buildings in Jakarta’s Kota Tua at golden hour

A Kota Tua Jakarta walk: Fatahillah Square to the old harbour

Read Jakarta’s old port quarter on foot, from the former city hall and museum square toward the canals and Sunda Kelapa.

Monas lit at night above Jakarta’s central skyline

Monas and Merdeka Square: planning Jakarta’s central landmark visit

Pair the National Monument with the civic spaces and religious landmarks around central Jakarta, while planning around its weekly closure.

Aerial view of a small island jetty and boats in Kepulauan Seribu

Kepulauan Seribu from Jakarta: choose an island and plan the boat day

Treat the Thousand Islands as a separate sea journey: choose a public ferry island or a resort service, then verify the boat and weather.

Borobudur’s stone stupas and carved terraces in daylight

Borobudur from Yogyakarta: terraces, reliefs and a measured day trip

Borobudur lies beyond the city, so plan the journey, ticket type and site access together. This route focuses on the temple’s terraces and a realistic return to Yogyakarta.

Evening crowds move along Malioboro, Yogyakarta’s central shopping street

A first weekend in Yogyakarta: palace lanes, Malioboro and Kotagede

Use one day for the old centre and Malioboro, then give Kotagede its own slower half-day before an evening food stop.

A blue wooden doorway and leafy lane in Kotagede, Yogyakarta

Kotagede’s old lanes and silver workshops

Kotagede works best as a slow half-day: follow the old street pattern, notice carved house fronts and arrange a visit with a working silver studio before travelling.

The historic bathing pool and masonry arches at Taman Sari in Yogyakarta

Kraton and Taman Sari: a walk through Yogyakarta’s royal quarter

A compact route through the palace district links the Sultan’s court, Taman Sari’s pools and nearby lanes, with dress rules and visitor access to check before setting out.

Prambanan’s stone temple spires rise against a cloudy sky

Prambanan day trip: temple courtyards, reliefs and access notes

Prambanan makes a rewarding day outside central Yogyakarta: plan for the main Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma temples, the smaller Sewu complex and the current access rules.