Where to stay · Jakarta · Indonesia
Where to stay in Jakarta
7 neighbourhoods compared, with the trade-offs hotel listings don't tell you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
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Quick answer
For a first visit, stay in Thamrin and Bundaran HI. Central hotels and malls around the Selamat Datang roundabout. Best alternatives — budget: Kota Tua and Glodok; nightlife: SCBD and Senopati.
Key facts
- First visit
- Thamrin and Bundaran HI
- Families
- Thamrin and Bundaran HI
- Budget
- Kota Tua and Glodok
- Nightlife
- SCBD and Senopati
Best area for each kind of trip
| Trip type | Area | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First-timers | Thamrin and Bundaran HI | Central hotels and malls around the Selamat Datang roundabout |
| Families | Thamrin and Bundaran HI | Central hotels and malls around the Selamat Datang roundabout |
| Couples | Menteng and Cikini | Leafy Dutch-era villas, embassies and an arts centre |
| Budget | Kota Tua and Glodok | Old Batavia, colonial museums and the Chinatown temples and markets |
| Luxury | Thamrin and Bundaran HI | Central hotels and malls around the Selamat Datang roundabout |
| Nightlife | SCBD and Senopati | Skyscrapers, rooftop bars and the city's most fashionable restaurants |
| Food lovers | SCBD and Senopati | Skyscrapers, rooftop bars and the city's most fashionable restaurants |
| Solo travellers | Menteng and Cikini | Leafy Dutch-era villas, embassies and an arts centre |
| Shopping | Thamrin and Bundaran HI | Central hotels and malls around the Selamat Datang roundabout |
| Quiet stays | Menteng and Cikini | Leafy Dutch-era villas, embassies and an arts centre |
| Beach | Ancol | Seafront leisure park with theme parks, a marina and resort hotels |
Jakarta neighbourhoods in detail
$$$ · Best for first-timers, shopping, luxury and families
Thamrin and Bundaran HI
Jalan Thamrin runs from Merdeka Square to the Bundaran HI roundabout, lined with international hotels and the Grand Indonesia and Plaza Indonesia malls. The MRT's Bundaran HI terminus and TransJakarta corridor 1 make it the most practical base for first-time visitors, with the National Monument a 10-minute ride away.
- Good
- MRT and bus links to most sights; Large malls for heat and rain; Wide hotel choice
- Watch out
- Busy roads and limited street life; Traffic jams at rush hour
- Nearby
- Grand Indonesia, National Monument, National Museum of Indonesia, Selamat Datang Monument
$$$$ · Best for nightlife, food lovers and luxury
SCBD and Senopati
The Sudirman Central Business District and neighbouring Senopati in Kebayoran Baru hold Jakarta's densest mix of upmarket restaurants, cafés, cocktail bars and clubs, plus the Pacific Place and Ashta malls. It is lively at night and well placed on the MRT's Senayan and Istora stations.
- Good
- Best dining and nightlife; Modern hotels; MRT access
- Watch out
- Expensive; Far from Kota Tua
- Nearby
- Pacific Place, Gelora Bung Karno, Senayan City, Blok M
$$$ · Best for couples, culture, quiet stays and solo travellers
Menteng and Cikini
Menteng was laid out in the early 20th century as a garden suburb, and its tree-lined streets of colonial villas, Taman Suropati park and the Jalan Surabaya antiques market make it Jakarta's most pleasant area to walk. Neighbouring Cikini has the Taman Ismail Marzuki arts centre, old bakeries and guesthouses close to Merdeka Square.
- Good
- Shady, walkable streets; Close to central sights; Boutique hotels and cafés
- Watch out
- Few big hotels; Some streets have little pavement
- Nearby
- Taman Suropati, Jalan Surabaya, Taman Ismail Marzuki, National Monument
$ · Best for culture, budget and food lovers
Kota Tua and Glodok
The historic north centres on Fatahillah Square, with the Jakarta History Museum, the Wayang Museum and old Dutch warehouses, a short walk from Sunda Kelapa's wooden schooners. Just south, Glodok's Petak Sembilan market and Vihara Dharma Bhakti temple form Jakarta's Chinatown. Accommodation is limited, but the area rewards a full day.
- Good
- The city's main historic sights; Cheap Chinese-Indonesian food; Commuter trains from Jakarta Kota station
- Watch out
- Few good hotels; Hot, with little shade
- Nearby
- Fatahillah Square, Sunda Kelapa, Petak Sembilan, Jakarta Kota station
$$$ · Best for nightlife, food lovers and solo travellers
Kemang
Kemang grew up as a residential area for expatriates and now has a long strip of cafés, live-music bars, art galleries and design shops along Jalan Kemang Raya. Hotels and serviced apartments are smaller and greener than in the centre, but there is no MRT station nearby, so ride-hailing is essential.
- Good
- Relaxed atmosphere; International restaurants and bars; Boutique hotels
- Watch out
- No MRT station; Flood-prone in heavy rain
- Nearby
- Jalan Kemang Raya, Cipete, Blok M
$$ · Best for budget, food lovers, nightlife and solo travellers
Blok M
Blok M in South Jakarta combines old shopping centres, the Japanese restaurants and bars of the Little Tokyo lanes around Jalan Melawai, and M Bloc Space, a creative hub in former state-mint housing. The MRT has two stations here, making it a good-value base.
- Good
- MRT to Bundaran HI in about 15 minutes; Cheap food and bars; Young, creative scene
- Watch out
- Older hotel stock; Crowded at weekends
- Nearby
- M Bloc Space, Blok M Square, Senopati, Kemang
$$ · Best for families and beach
Ancol
On the north coast, Ancol Dreamland holds the Dunia Fantasi theme park, SeaWorld Ancol and a seafront promenade, and Marina Ancol is the departure point for boats to the Thousand Islands. Hotels here suit families and island-bound travellers.
- Good
- Theme parks on site; Boats to the Thousand Islands; Close to Kota Tua
- Watch out
- Far from the central business district; Very busy on weekends and holidays
- Nearby
- Dunia Fantasi, SeaWorld Ancol, Marina Ancol, Kota Tua
Areas compared
| Area | Price | Nearby |
|---|---|---|
| Thamrin and Bundaran HI | $$$ | Grand Indonesia, National Monument, National Museum of Indonesia, Selamat Datang Monument |
| SCBD and Senopati | $$$$ | Pacific Place, Gelora Bung Karno, Senayan City, Blok M |
| Menteng and Cikini | $$$ | Taman Suropati, Jalan Surabaya, Taman Ismail Marzuki, National Monument |
| Kota Tua and Glodok | $ | Fatahillah Square, Sunda Kelapa, Petak Sembilan, Jakarta Kota station |
| Kemang | $$$ | Jalan Kemang Raya, Cipete, Blok M |
| Blok M | $$ | M Bloc Space, Blok M Square, Senopati, Kemang |
| Ancol | $$ | Dunia Fantasi, SeaWorld Ancol, Marina Ancol, Kota Tua |
Getting to your hotel
Soekarno-Hatta International Airport is about 25 km northwest of the centre; the airport rail link reaches BNI City near Sudirman in about 45–55 minutes, and taxis take 45 minutes to two hours depending on traffic. Halim Perdanakusuma Airport in East Jakarta handles some domestic flights.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best area to stay in Jakarta for first-time visitors?
Thamrin and Bundaran HI. Jalan Thamrin runs from Merdeka Square to the Bundaran HI roundabout, lined with international hotels and the Grand Indonesia and Plaza Indonesia malls.
+Where should families stay in Jakarta?
Thamrin and Bundaran HI: MRT and bus links to most sights.
+Which area of Jakarta is best for a budget stay?
Kota Tua and Glodok ($): Old Batavia, colonial museums and the Chinatown temples and markets.