Kicking off the new year in this new month, it’s possible we all still got that holiday feeling lingering in the air. Before we dive into the routine, let’s do some recharging by strolling around Jakarta. Who said you have to fly for a vacation? Jakarta has a lot of space to be explored!

Museum Date in Jakarta

Jakarta has many museums which have been reopened to the public. If you missed your chance due to the activity restriction, now is the right time to pay that off!

Museum MACAN

Museum MACAN (Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Nusantara) is located in AKR Tower, Kebon Jeruk, West Jakarta. To get here, you can take Transjakarta and get off at the Kebon Jeruk bus stop. Museum MACAN often holds exhibitions with various themes, so there’ll always be new touches to explore and new things to see. The works displayed are mainly modern and contemporary art, which come from Indonesia and others. Prior to your visit, you need to book a ticket first via the website or ticketing partner.

National Gallery

The National Gallery is home to thousands collections of works by Indonesian artists such as Raden Saleh, Affandi, and Basuki Abdullah. The museum also houses the works of artists from India, Vietnam, Myanmar, and others. The National Gallery is open Monday-Friday at 08.00-15.30. Make sure you save the date for exhibitions, art performances, film screenings, and other special agendas held by the National Gallery to make your visit even more exciting!

Take A Trip Down Memory Lane in Cikini

Cikini has a new face.The sidewalks have just been revitalized and widened, so it’s now more comfortable to walk on. The location is passed by Transjakarta, so you’ll have an easy access to explore the place. A lot of historical buildings are still standing here, containing a lot of memories from the past, which should be enjoyable for you to visit.

Joang 45

This building was once a luxury hotel called Hotel Schomper. Those traces of luxury can still be recognized through the architecture and marble floors that surround it. Now, this heritage has become a documentation site for Indonesia’s independence journey. Rows of dioramas, paintings of the events of the proclamation, the three presidential vehicles used by the first President and Vice President are kept here. If you fancy an audio-visual experience, there is Bioskop Joang 45 which plays documentaries.

Bakoel Koffie

You’ll find a bunch of cafes in Cikini, one of which is Bakoel Koffie. Having been around since 1878, the cafe has a relaxing atmosphere because of the calm and classic feel it exudes. The cafe is divided into two parts: a smoking room downstairs and non-smoking room upstairs. After a long day walking around Cikini, it'd be perfect to end it with a big cup of coffee. There are latte, cappuccino, and avocado frost that you should try.

Culinary Hopping with Public Transportation

It’d be a big loss if you don’t use public transportation while in Jakarta. To avoid that, here are some culinary spots that you can visit by public transportation.

Pos Bloc

This place has been the buzz in the internet after it officially opened in October 2021 because of its aesthetic appearance. Previously, Pos Bloc was the Jakarta Philatelic Building which was later converted into a public creative space. In an area of ​​7,000 m², there are small local shops operating here, including cafes and small restos. You can indulge yourself in scrumptious meals and cake accompanied by a beautiful outdoor area. Located in the Pasar Baru area, Pos Bloc can be reached via the Pasar Baru Transjakarta bus stop.

Thamrin 10 Food & Creative Park

Located in the city center and strategic position, Thamrin 10 is the right spot to visit. At Thamrin 10, you can enjoy local food ranging from snacks to meals made by the small business at friendly prices. The well-maintained area, neatly arranged benches and tables, make this place a comfortable place to hang out with friends and family. At night, this area will be illuminated with beautiful lights which keeps the atmosphere alive and insta story-worthy. Thamrin 10 is open from 15.00 to 21.00. To reach Thamrin 10, you can take the Transjakarta bus and get off at the Bank Indonesia bus stop. Lastly, all tenants don’t accept cash payments, so make sure to prepare your e-wallet.

Strolling Down the City with JakPeta

JAKI comes with a new feature to accompany you in exploring Jakarta, called JakPeta. JakPeta contains information such as public facilities (parks, RPTRA, sports facilities), transportation (bus stops, Transjakarta stops, MRT stations, and LRT stations), and health facilities (hospitals, health centers, clinics, and health labs). If you happen to visit a new, unfamiliar area, you can use JakPeta to find these locations. To access JakPeta, follow these steps:

1. Open JAKI, select 'Lainnya', then click 'JakPeta'
2. After JakPeta opens, click on 'Kategori'
3. Select the type of location you want to find (e.g. Transjakarta bus stop), then click 'Lihat peta'. You’ll see the distribution of Transjakarta bus stops
4. Click on a pin to view more information.

These are some top recommended spots in Jakarta to visit. Hope it gets you inspired and recharged to start the new 2022. Please comply with the health protocols and don't forget to check-in and check-out when entering public spaces, Smartcitizen!