Jakarta Travel Tips

Banks: 08:30 to 15:30, Monday to Friday; 09:30 to 12:30 on Saturdays
Post Offices: 09:00 to 15:00, Monday to Friday; 08:00 to 13:00 on Saturdays
Department Stores and Shops: 08:00 to 17:00, daily
Museums: 09:00 to 15:30, Tuesday to Sunday; closed Mondays
Business Offices: 09:00 to 17:00, Monday to Friday

Like all massive cities, Jakarta has more than its share of crime, and tourists are sometimes on the receiving end. Within the frenetic, crowded environment of Jakarta, it’s easy to lose track of your surroundings. This is when pickpockets and bag snatchers may take advantage of your confusion to clean you out. Thieves are particularly rife around the major tourist spots like the Kota district, the historic waterfront port and transportation stations. Keep your valuables safely tucked against your body whenever you find yourself in a crowded situation.

There is a lot of poverty in Jakarta, which inevitably breeds desperation. Be particularly careful when you venture out at night. Avoid dark streets and parts of the waterfront where people aren’t congregating. It’s best to use taxis after dark to move around, but even then be careful. Phoning in for a taxi makes it harder for the driver to rip you off since he’s on record. By hailing a taxi in the street, you are more susceptible to being overcharged or even robbed.

Police: 110

Electricity: 230V AC, 50Hz; all plugs are round European two-pin types.

Jakarta is not the most sanitary city on the planet and visitors need to take extra precautions during their trip. The most common cause of illness is the consumption of contaminated food or water. Tap water should never be used for drinking. Bottled drinking water is available everywhere at a cheap price. Make sure your food has been thoroughly cooked. Many of the street stalls and small cafés don’t follow strict hygiene rules, but by ensuring your food has been well cooked you can be sure that most bacteria has been killed off. Avoid fresh salads, unpeeled fruit and other uncooked dishes.

It’s a good idea to ensure you are up to date with all basic vaccinations like hepatitis, tetanus and typhoid. Malaria isn’t a major issue in Jakarta, but it does exist, so wear long pants and socks after dusk to protect yourself from getting bitten by mosquitoes. Should you get a stomach upset, a local pharmacy can prescribe you medicine.

For more serious problems, Jakarta has a very good medical network, with efficient hospitals and high quality care. Nearly every doctor speaks English, so don’t hesitate to visit a clinic if you get sick. It’s highly suggested that all travellers to Jakarta buy travel insurance to help cover the cost of any unexpected hospital visits.

Medestra Hospital: +62 21 521 0200

Although Bahasa Indonesia is the official language in Jakarta, the older generations speak Dutch as a second language. With some 583 regional dialects and languages spoken across Indonesia, it’s likely you’ll hear plenty of unusual conversations. Locals who work in the tourism industry can speak fairly good English as well as a handful of other major languages.

Indonesia’s official currency is the rupiah (Rp). Notes come in denominations of Rp100,000, 50,000, 20,000, 10,000, 5,000, 1,000 and 500. Coins come in denominations of Rp1,000, 500, 100, 50 and 25.

Visitors to Jakarta should encounter little trouble exchanging money at any of the more obvious tourist areas. Banks typically offer the best exchange rates, but there is also a thriving private money exchange business in the city. These small kiosks can be found all over town and usually offer competitive rates. Hotels, shops and restaurants can normally exchange money for you, but their rates are commonly the worst available.

ATMs can be found in all tourist areas and at banks. Withdrawing rupiahs from an ATM is an increasingly popular way to take out a daily amount of cash, but be careful the bank doesn’t charge an excessive service charge per transaction. Credit cards such as Visa, MasterCard, Eurocard and American Express are widely accepted at most large shops, restaurants and hotels in the city. If you shop at a small shop, you’ll need to use cash, so always carry a small amount with you for sundries like drinking water or taxi fares.

Every visitor to Indonesia over the age of 18 is allowed to bring in 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars or 100g of tobacco; 1 litre of alcohol; a small amount of perfume; and personal gifts not exceeding US$250 per person in value. All cameras must be declared to customs officials upon arrival, and any DVDs or CDs you buy while in Jakarta will likely be screened by customs upon departure. The import and export of cordless telephones, Chinese medicine and pornography are prohibited.

Indonesians in general are very forgiving of foreigners who don’t understand the social rules of their culture, and in Jakarta you’ll find most locals even more tolerant than those in the countryside. However, there is a few rules of etiquette which will serve you well if you can remember them.

Shoes should always be taken off when you enter someone’s home, a temple and certain shops. You’ll need to dress appropriately before you entering a temple; a sarong should be tied around your waist and most of your body should be covered. Dress codes for entering mosques are even stricter, but the locals normally provide gear.

Try not to point at things or people, as this is considered rude. Use your entire hand when you need to point at something. Don’t use your left hand to eat, give or receive things, as this is considered the ‘dirty’ hand. People in Jakarta take pride in not losing their temper. Showing anger or aggression is considered socially embarrassing, so keep your temper no matter how frustrating the situation may be.

Just as the feet are the lowest part of the body, the head is the highest. Never touch someone on the head, as this is very rude. Never use a pillow as a seat cushion or use your feet to point or move something. The best rule of thumb is to follow the locals whenever you are unsure of how to act. Also, be aware that public displays of affection are frowned upon, so avoid contact with local women and don’t kiss your partner in public.

Dining Etiquette
There aren’t too many rules in Jakarta when it comes to eating, since the society as a whole is fairly relaxed about the art of dining. Try and remember not to use your left hand during the eating process, and wait for your host to begin eating before you start. Indonesia is primarily an Islamic nation and the month of Ramadan puts special restrictions on when and where you can eat. This doesn’t necessarily apply to foreigners on holiday, but you’ll find most of the smaller local restaurants are closed during the Ramadan fasting period. Hotels and touristy eateries still serve food throughout the day.

If you are invited to eat out with an Indonesian, expect them to be about 30 minutes late. Forks and spoons are used to eat food, which is often rice-based and tough to maneuver with only one utensil. Don’t expect Muslims to eat pork or consume alcohol, and men are typically served first. Always wait until your host indicates where you should sit and when to begin eating. If you invite someone to dine out, you will be expected to pay the bill. Tips are not normally expected, but a small amount is appreciated if the service was good.

Visas are required by citizens of all countries to visit Indonesia. Tourist visas are valid for 30 days and are available upon arrival. There is a small fee for a tourist visa, although citizens of other ASEAN countries are exempt from this charge. Make sure your passport is valid for at least six months from the date you enter Indonesia.

The main tourism information office is located right in the heart of the city, although there is also a very useful tourist office right at the airport. Visitors can stop by at Jakarta City Government Tourism Office, Jalan Kuningan Barat No. 2, Jakarta Selatan, 12710, or call the office at: +62 21 520 5455.