Jakarta: Half-Day Highlights Tour

Take a fascinating trip to the exciting city of Jakarta, where you can discover its rich culture. You'll have the chance to see famous places, learn about history, admire beautiful buildings, and hang out with local people.

Start your journey with passing the Merdeka Square and visiting the incredible National Monument, which is often called Monas. It stands tall in the middle of Jakarta, showing the world that Indonesia is an independent country. Monas is 132 meters high and has a golden flame on top, which represents the country's freedom. This is one of the coolest things you can see in Jakarta!

Next on our tour is the stunning Istiqlal Mosque, which is the biggest mosque in Southeast Asia and the sixth largest in the world when it comes to the number of people it can hold. This mosque sits right across from the Cathedral and is a symbol of peace and religious tolerance.

Then, we'll visit the Cathedral in Jakarta, a marvelous piece of architecture that showcases the city's religious diversity. This church was built in a gothic style way back in 1891. It features a tall tower and beautiful windows adorned with colorful glass paintings. Inside, there are three altars that create a semi-circle shape, and there's also an exquisite old altar. It's a truly special place!

Let's take a deep dive into the history and culture of Old Batavia in Jakarta. In this area, you'll find buildings that used to be the governor's offices, banks, hospitals, post offices, and courthouses. Now, these historic places have been transformed into museums and stores. We'll kick off our journey at Fatahillah Square, which is like the beating heart of Old Batavia. When you step into this square, it feels like you've time-traveled to the past.

You'll get the chance to meet puppet masters and learn all about puppet-making, a special art from Indonesia. You can even learn how to play with these puppets and see collections from different parts of Indonesia.

Our adventure wraps up at Sunda Kelapa Harbor, an ancient port that tells the tale of Jakarta's seafaring history. It's situated at the head of Batavia, and on the way there, you'll pass the old Kota Intan Drawbridge from the 17th century. This harbor was used by the Portuguese and Dutch when they first came to Indonesia. You'll be amazed by the traditional wooden schooners called "pinisi" and the bustling activity of the dockworkers. It's like stepping into the past and witnessing the city's maritime heritage.