West Jakarta City: Kota Tua, Museums and Urban Green Spaces
Accommodation in West Jakarta City
West Jakarta City offers a variety of reasons to stay: in Kota Tua Jakarta, historic buildings and museums tell the story of Batavia; Glodok is known as Jakarta Barat’s Chinatown and is famous for its street food. There are also collections dedicated to puppetry, textiles, art and monetary history, as well as Hutan Kota Srengseng, a public recreational area. If you’re looking for a holiday rental, you can choose your focus based on whether you want to include history, collections, animal encounters or outdoor activities in your trip.
Kota Tua: Batavia’s History and City Life
Kota Tua Jakarta is located in Kelurahan Pinangsia, Kecamatan Taman Sari, Jakarta Barat. During the Dutch colonial period, it was Batavia’s former administrative and commercial center. The historic buildings date from the 17th century to the early 20th century. Following revitalization, Kota Tua is considered pedestrian-friendly. Stasiun Jakarta Kota railway station is nearby; Kota Tua can be reached by KRL Commuter Line, TransJakarta and connecting services with the MRT.
Taman Fatahillah is used for art performances, cultural festivals and community activities, and is also a place for photography. The Museum Sejarah Jakarta presents the city’s history from prehistoric times through the port of Sunda Kelapa and the colonial period to the post-independence era. The museum preserves 23,500 historical objects, including originals and replicas. It is housed in the former Stadhuis van Batavia, which was built as a town hall between 1707 and 1712.
Museums of Puppetry, Textiles and Monetary History
The Museum Wayang has various types of Indonesian wayang as well as puppets from other countries. It also features gamelan sets and wayang paintings. The Museum Tekstil preserves batik fabrics, woven textiles, textile equipment and assorted textile collections. These collections offer different ways to explore puppetry and textile design.
The Museum Seni Rupa dan Keramik displays paintings, sculptures, prints and ceramics from Indonesia and other countries. The museum is housed in the former Raad van Justitie building, constructed in the 19th century in the neoclassical style. The Museum Bank Indonesia presents the history of Indonesia’s monetary system through dioramas, currency collections, archives and interactive multimedia exhibits. The Museum Bank Mandiri focuses on collections related to banking history, including calculating machines, safes and documents, as well as preserved original interiors of bank counters. Both museums offer a distinct perspective on the city’s history of money and banking.
Glodok and Historic Buildings
Glodok is home to Kelenteng Kim Tek Le, which is more than three centuries old. Toko Merah is another landmark historic building in the area: the colonial building was constructed around 1730 and was once the residence of VOC Governor-General Gustaaf Willem van Imhoff. Part of the building is used as Rode Winkel Coffee & Savoury and can be visited while exploring Kota Tua. Gedung Chandra Naya is also located at Jalan Gajah Mada No. 188, Jakarta Barat. The building is designed in the Chinese style and features a roof structure called Tou-Kung.
Nature and Animal Encounters
Hutan Kota Srengseng is a conservation area for flora and fauna as well as a publicly accessible recreational area. A 1.7-kilometer jogging trail offers a practical way to add exercise to your stay. For animal encounters, Jakarta Aquarium & Safari offers a different focus: visitors can discover more than 3,500 species. The Aquarium & Safari also offers close contact with animals, accompanied by experienced animal keepers. It is located in Central Park Mall 2 in Jakarta Barat.
The different experiences can help guide your holiday rental search: city history and museums call for different priorities than a visit to a recreational area or aquarium. If you plan to include Kota Tua in your itinerary, the nearby railway station and the transport connections mentioned above may also factor into your choice of location. West Jakarta City is part of the West Jakarta area.
For the broader travel overview: Jakarta.
More Destinations
More places in the same destination:
