What to do in Jakarta in 24 hours?

Many tourists stay in Jakarta for only 1 night, usually before heading to Bali. If you are in the same situation, you might be wondering what are the best things to do in the city in 24 hours or less.

To help you, I have written this one-day itinerary that covers the town's best attractions. It is a bit rushed but it is realistically doable in 24 hours. Of course, you can skip some of the steps to make your day more relaxed.

Choosing the right hotel in Jakarta for a short trip

A hotel near Plaza Indonesia would be perfect or, alternatively, near Sarinah. To reach the airport faster, you could also stay near Semanggi, Taman Anggrek or Pluit, but then you would be further away from the attractions I will recommend below.

You should be aware that every Sunday is car-free day in Jakarta. This means that Jalan Sudirman and Jalan Thamrin will be closed to cars from 6 AM to 11 AM.

Recommend Hotel Near Sarinah/Plaza Indonesia for a 24-Hour Stopover in Jakarta

→ 5-stars (more than 150$/night): Kempinski, Grand Hyatt, Mandarin Oriental

→ 4-stars (more than 100$/night): Kosenda, Artotel, Pullman Thamrin

→ 3-stars (more than 40$/night): Liberty Hotel, A-One

→ Under 40$ per night: Erian, Dreamtel

Read also: Where to Stay in Jakarta as a Tourist?

Things to Do in 24-Hour in Jakarta

8 AM - 8.45 AM: ISTIQLAL MOSQUE

If you've followed my advice and booked a hotel near Sarinah, you can reach the Istiqlal Mosque in less than 10 minutes by taxi/Grab or 15-20 minutes by foot.

This mosque, the largest in Southeast Asia, is my favorite monument in the city. Not only is the building really impressive, it is also an interesting way to observe how Indonesians practice Islam.

9 AM - 9.30 AM: MONAS

The Monas, with the Istiqlal mosque in the background

You can walk from the Istiqlal Mosque to the Monas Park in just a few minutes.

The park is not particularly well-maintained, but in the morning it is nice enough for a short stroll until you reach the National Museum. If you feel like it, you can climb on top of the Monas for just Rp10,000.

9.30 AM - 11.00 AM: NATIONAL MUSEUM

The National Museum is just across from the Monas and it is open from Tuesday to Sunday starting 8.30 AM.

11.00 AM - 11.30 AM: TRANSPORT TO KOTA TUA (OLD CITY)

The touristic area of Jakarta is in the older part of the city, in the North. This is where you will find most Dutch historical buildings (Taman Fatahillah), the Chinatown (Glodok), and the old harbor (Sunda Kelapa).

You can go there by taxi/Grab: Ask the driver to drop you at Jalan Pancoran. The trip should last around 30 minutes and cost Rp50,000.

You can also use the TransJakarta bus line number 1 to go there. There is a bus stop just in front of the National Museum and you can ride it until Glodok Station. In this case, it will cost you only Rp4,500 per person.

11.30 AM - 12.15 AM: CHINATOWN

Jalan Pancoran is the gateway to Chinatown. From there, you can visit the whole area by foot. The best streets are Jalan Kemenangan and Jalan Kemenangan III. In the latter, don't miss the beautiful Chinese temple Tan Seng Ong.

From Chinatown to Taman Fatahillah, the distance is less than a kilometer. Considering the potential traffic situation, I think it's better to just walk.

12.15 AM - 1.30 PM: LUNCH IN TAMAN FATAHILLAH SQUARE

There are several restaurants near Taman Fatahillah Square, including the famous Batavia Café. It is much pricier than the rest but I think it is worth it, at least for a drink.

Another option is to eat Padang food in Sederhana Restaurant on Jl. Kemukus No. 2A. Order the Nasi Rendang (around Rp45,000) and you'll feel full for the rest of the day.

1.30 PM - 4.00 PM: MUSEUMS OR SUNDA KELAPA

Because of limited time, you will have to choose between visiting a few of the museums of Taman Fatahillah Square (History Museum, Art Museum, Puppet Museum, Bank of Indonesia Museum) or going to the old harbor of Sunda Kelapa.

I'd recommend the latter to those who want to take impressive pictures. If you have a keen interest in the history of spice trade and colonization, you'll probably enjoy the museums (particularly the Bank of Indonesia Museum).

4 PM - 5 PM: TRANSPORT BACK TO SARINAH

It is better to go back to Jakarta's city center early to avoid the worst of the traffic jams (when office workers start to head home, around 5 PM).

If you do not wish to take a Grab/taxi, you can ride the Transjakarta Bus line 1 from Kota Station to Sarinah directly. The trip should last about 1 hour.

5 PM - 7 PM: MASSAGE

By the time you arrive, you will probably feel dirty and exhausted. The best way to recharge your batteries is to indulge in a spa. There are a few recommended massage parlors near Sarinah. Relax Living offers good value for money, with their traditional Javanese massage starting at 20$.

For 30$ more, you can also try the more upmarket Taman Sari Royal Heritage Spa which is 300 meters from Sarinah.

7 PM - 8 PM: BACK TO YOUR HOTEL AND RELAX

After your treatment, you can go back to your hotel, relax for a while and change your clothes. Don't sleep yet, your 24 hours in Jakarta are not over!

8 PM - 10 PM: STREET FOOD DINNER / SHOPPING

I would recommend eating street food in Jalan Sabang (also called Jalan Agus Salim), a 2-minute walk from Sarinah. There are dozens of various food stalls, as well as some proper restaurants. The area is famous for its "satay" sellers (skewers served with peanut sauce).

If you prefer eating Western food, you go to the nearby Grand Indonesia Mall instead. It is the largest luxury shopping center in Jakarta and it has a huge restaurant section. It closes at 10 PM so you can do a bit of shopping there as well (for cheaper prices, the next door Thamrin City Mall is perfect).

10 PM - 5 AM: DRINKING AND PARTY

Even on Sundays or Mondays, you can find great parties in Jakarta's bars and clubs.

It is a good idea to start your night in a rooftop bar, for instance in Cloud or SKYE. Then, you have plenty of choices, from the expat bars of Mega Kuningan to cheaper backpacker bars like Camden or Melly's Garden. For clubbing, SCBD is the place to go to (check H Club or Embassy).

You can read one of my nightlife reviews for more information:

Best Things to Do in Jakarta at Night, Best Bars in Jakarta and Jakarta Nightlife Guide.