From Bali to Jakarta – Best Travel Options, Map & Top Things to Do in Jakarta
Traveling from Bali to Jakarta is easy, and the fastest option is a direct flight. The direct flight from Bali to Jakarta usually takes around 1 hour 35 minutes to 1 hour 50 minutes. Driving from Bali to Jakarta takes around 18 hours and includes a ferry crossing plus toll / express roads across Java.
To help you visit Jakarta, here is a complete Jakarta travel guide with places to see, activities to do, and practical transport options from Bali. If you are wondering what to do in Jakarta after Bali, this guide keeps the original useful information while making the page cleaner, more visual, and easier to understand.
Jakarta is the capital of Indonesia and is located on the northwest coast of Java. The city itself has more than 11 million inhabitants, and the wider metropolitan area has more than 30 million people. Very different from Bali, Jakarta offers a mix of history, museums, religious landmarks, colonial heritage, modern rooftops, shopping districts, and island escapes.
Because Jakarta and Bali are not far apart by air, it is easy to combine both in one Indonesia itinerary.
Quick answer: the best way to go from Bali to Jakarta is by plane. But if you have more time, you can also combine bus + ferry + train for a long overland journey across Java.
Table of Contents
From Bali to Jakarta by Air
The main airport of Jakarta is Soekarno-Hatta International Airport (CGK), which handles most flights from Bali. Flight time is usually around 1 hour 50 minutes, sometimes a little less depending on the airline and schedule.
Airlines offering Bali – Jakarta flights:
Competitive prices
Low-cost fares can be very attractive. In the original article, Airasia was highlighted as one of the cheapest choices, with one-way fares sometimes starting around €24 and round trips under €50 depending on season and availability.
Bali to Jakarta by Land
You can also use a combination of bus, train and ferry, or drive. This is longer, but it allows you to see more landscapes across Java and can sometimes cost a little less.
Bali – Jakarta by Bus
You can book a seat on a bus traveling all the way from Denpasar in Bali to Jakarta.
The companies mentioned in the original article are:
- Lorena
- Pahala Kencana
The trip takes around 24 hours. Buses are generally clean and tickets may include meals, but delays can happen and sometimes be long. Approximate budget in the original text: around €25 per person.
Bali – Jakarta by Bus and Ferry
Bus from Bali to Yogyakarta: for less than €20, evening buses can take you to Yogyakarta in roughly 15 hours, including the ferry crossing.
Train from Yogyakarta to Jakarta: from the station, the express train reaches Jakarta in around 8 to 10 hours for roughly €18.
Menteng, the old history of Jakarta
First of all, Jakarta is a megalopolis. It is certainly not the most beautiful place to visit in Indonesia, but it is a very lively city with cultural and historical places to see.
What to Do and See in Jakarta?
Jakarta has a population of over 30 million in the metro area. It is a cosmopolitan city with Javanese, Malay, Arab, Indian, Chinese and European influences. Jakarta is on the northeast coast of Java in Indonesia and offers a very different experience from Bali.
Visit Jakarta: the must-sees
1. National Monument or Monas
Monumen Nasional, or Monas, is Jakarta’s most famous landmark. It is a 137-meter tower (449 ft) in central Jakarta at Merdeka Square.
This monument was built to commemorate Indonesia’s struggle for independence. Construction took about 14 years and involved the first two presidents of the Republic of Indonesia.
At the top is the famous gold flame. Visitors can take the elevator to the top for panoramic views of Jakarta, while the lower levels include displays about Indonesian history.
Merdeka Square
Merdeka Square literally means Independence Square. It is a huge public square in central Jakarta with an area of approximately 1 square kilometer (0.39 square miles). Monas stands at its center.
2. Old Batavia – Fatahillah Square and Museum
Fatahillah Square is the historical center of the old quarter of Batavia, now known as Kota Tua. This pedestrian-friendly zone includes the famous Fatahillah Museum, the Wayang Museum, and the Museum of Fine Arts and Ceramics.
You can walk around the neighborhood and discover one of the most atmospheric areas in Jakarta.
Jakarta History Museum (The Fatahillah Museum)
Jakarta History Museum, also known as Fatahillah Museum or Batavia Museum, is located right in Fatahillah Square in Kota Tua. The building dates from 1710 and became a museum in 1974.
It contains rare objects from prehistoric periods found around Jakarta and Java, and it also traces the history of Dutch colonization through to Indonesian independence in 1945.
3. The Seribu Islands
The Seribu Islands, or Kepulauan Seribu, are an archipelago of around 100 islands off Jakarta, roughly 45 kilometers (28 miles) away.
Only some of the islands are inhabited. The better-known names include Bidadari Island, Ayer Island, Onrust Island, Tidung Island, Pari Island, Pramuka Island, Sepa Island, Pelangi Island, Macan Island and Putri Island.
You can explore marine life, beaches and snorkeling spots there. It is one of the best island escapes from Jakarta.
4. Kota Tua (Old Town District)
Kota Tua is part of downtown Jakarta and is also called Old Batavia. The district covers about 1.3 square kilometers (0.5 square miles) in the northwest of the city.
It includes Chinatown and many colonial-era buildings, some restored and others still weathered by time. It remains one of the most interesting areas to explore on foot.
Places of interest in Kota Tua:
- Batavia Cafe
- The Jembatan Kota Intan drawbridge
- Gereja Sion Church
- Luar Batang Mosque
- Yuan Jin Temple
Wayang Museum (Traditional Puppet Museum)
The Wayang Museum in Kota Tua is dedicated to the Indonesian art of Wayang, the traditional world of shadow and puppet performance. It is a very good stop if you want to learn more about one of Indonesia’s best-known cultural arts.
5. St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral in Jakarta
The Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption in Jakarta, also called Gereja Santa Maria Diangkat ke Surga, is a neo-Gothic cathedral rebuilt in 1901. It is one of the finest Christian landmarks in central Jakarta.
6. The Great Istiqlal Mosque
The Istiqlal Mosque is the largest mosque in Southeast Asia. Located near Merdeka Square, it can accommodate more than 110,000 people. Its giant hemispherical dome measures 45 meters (147 ft) in diameter.
7. Jakarta Art Building
The Jakarta Art Building, or Gedung Kesenian Jakarta, is a concert hall in central Jakarta with Dutch colonial architecture. It is worth seeing for its elegant façade even if you do not attend a performance.
8. Pulau Bidadari Island
Pulau Bidadari is part of the Kepulauan Seribu archipelago and is a pleasant island escape from Jakarta. The beaches are known for white sand and blue water, and the island is also covered with mangroves and tropical vegetation.
You will be able to stroll in a luxuriant nature also inhabited by monitor lizards. A great experience to do a few kilometers from Jakarta.
9. The National Museum of Indonesia
The National Museum of Indonesia, known as Museum Nasional or Museum Gajah, is one of the country’s most important museums. It opened officially in 1868 and contains prehistoric, anthropological, archaeological and ethnographic collections from all over Indonesia and Asia.
You can visit the treasure room, ceramics collection, ethnography collection, prehistory collection and colonial relics section.
The ceramic collection
The collection includes ceramics from the Majapahit empire and from China, Japan, Vietnam, Thailand and Burma.
The ethnography collection
The ethnographic collection presents daily life and ritual objects from across the archipelago: Sumatra, Java, Kalimantan, Bali, Nusa Tenggara, Sulawesi, Maluku and Papua.
The prehistory collection
Artifacts include fossils, stone tools, beads, menhirs and bronze or stone axes.
The collection of relics
There are relics from the VOC period and the Dutch East Indies, especially furniture and colonial-era objects.
10. The National Gallery of Indonesia
The National Gallery of Indonesia is an art museum and gallery in Jakarta with more than 1,700 works by Indonesian and international artists. It is a good stop for visitors interested in art and exhibitions.
11. The old port of Sunda Kelapa
Sunda Kelapa is Jakarta’s historic port at the estuary of the Ciliwung River. Today it is still known for old wooden boats and traditional phinisi schooners. It is a beautiful place for photos and to feel Jakarta’s maritime history.
12. Glodok Chinatown and Temple
Glodok Chinatown in Kota Tua is one of the most atmospheric parts of Jakarta. It offers food, temples, old Chinese shopfronts and a lively street feeling.
Vihara Dharma Bhakti Temple (also known as klenteng Jin De Yuan or Kim Tek Ie.)
This Chinese Buddhist temple was first built in 1650 and is the oldest Chinese temple in Jakarta.
It remains one of the most interesting religious sites in Jakarta, especially during Chinese New Year festivities.
History
The Vihara Dharma Bhakti complex was originally built under Lieutenant Kwee Hoen, later restored in the 18th century, renamed Kim Tek Ie, and eventually recommended to use the Indonesian name Vihara Dharma Bhakti during the post-colonial period. It suffered severe fire damage in March 2015.
13. Taman Mini Indonesia Park
Taman Mini Indonesia Indah is a large cultural park representing the provinces of Indonesia through architecture, costumes, music and traditional arts. It is one of the best family attractions in Jakarta.
14. Ragunan Zoo
Ragunan Zoo is in South Jakarta and covers about 140 hectares (346 acres). It is home to more than 270 animal species and more than 170 plant species.
It is one of the rare big green spaces in Jakarta and a popular family outing.
Hang Out Places in Jakarta
1. Skye Bar rooftop
Skye Bar is one of the best-known rooftops in Jakarta. It is located on the upper floors of Menara BCA in central Jakarta and offers excellent skyline views.
Address: Jl. M.H. Thamrin no. 1. Located on 56th Floor, Menara BCA, Jakarta 10350 Indonesia
SKYE BAR & RESTAURANT, Jakarta – Menu, Prix & Restaurant Avis – Tripadvisor
SKYE Bar & Restaurant, Jakarta : consultez 2 020 avis sur SKYE Bar & Restaurant, noté 4 sur 5 sur Tripadvisor et classé #60 sur 10 114 restaurants à Jakarta.
2. Tugu Kunstkring Paleis Restaurant, €€€€ Dutch, International, Asian
This is one of the most beautiful heritage dining places in Jakarta. It is a 1914 palace building restored by the Tugu group and remains famous for its décor and atmosphere.
Several decorated rooms that take you to a bygone era. It feels like we are back in the 19th century.
The establishment has enormous charm and remains one of the memorable places for dining in Jakarta.
Read also: From Bali to Bogor | 1 Hour from Jakarta | A Guide to Exploring the Hidden Gems in West Java
Main photo credit: Gunawan Kartapranata, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Photo description: view around Medan Merdeka (Merdeka Square), central Jakarta and Monas with the Jakarta skyline in the background.
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