Jakarta is a mega city. With more than 11.5 million population, Jakarta has something for everybody. From skyscraper to old city, historical exploration to culinary adventure, it is almost impossible for you to get bored in Jakarta.

Here is a simple itinerary for one day in Jakarta, enough for you to get to know Jakarta. If you only have one day to spend, it is advisable to rent a car if you are coming with a small group, or better use a motorcycle ojek (ojek wisata) if you want to get even closer with the locals. 

Begin your adventure in Glodok, the China town of Jakarta. 

Glodok is an urban village located in Taman Sari District of Jakarta. It has a rich and long history dated back to the colonials era of the Dutch. During which Jakarta was still called Batavia, the Dutch authorities required Chinese resident to live in this area. Overtime, Glodok evolved into bustling neighborhood with traditional houses, markets, and Chinese temples.

Glodok has also gained reputation as the electronic hub of Jakarta. This is the place where you go to find any electrical appliances or gadgets. However, with the advancement of online marketplaces, Glodok gradually looses the reputation. Yet, Glodok remains an interesting part of Jakarta to explore.

Continue to Jakarta Old City (Kota Tua)

Jakarta Old City is one part of Jakarta you don't want to miss. Even for the locals, this area of Jakarta is like a strong magnet that attracts many people to come.

Beside the colonial style of the buildings, Old City offers many attractions to check out.

First, check out Jakarta History Museum. Also known as Fatahillah Museum or Batavia's Museum, the museum is a captivating gem located in the heart of Kota Tua. The building of the museum was originally constructed in 1710 and functioned as city hall during the Dutch colonial era. It was then turned into museum in 1974 and has been preserving Jakarta's history ever since.

Next worth checking out is the Wayang Museum or Museum Wayang. This is another attraction not to miss especially if you want to know one of the most traditional form of puppetry in Indonesia.

Museum Wayang is located in Jalan Pintu Besar Utara in Kota Tua facing the Fatahillah square. The museum building has an intriguing past. It occupies the site of a church built in 1640, initially known as the Old Dutch Church. Over time, the church underwent renovations and name changes, eventually becoming the New Dutch Church. In 1808, an earthquake destroyed the church, and in 1912, a Neo-Renaissance-style building was constructed on the same site. The building initially served as a warehouse.

The museum houses an impressive collection of various wayang (puppets). Starting from Javanese wayang kulit (traditional shadow puppet), to Sundanese wayang golek (wooden rod puppets from West Jawa). Periodically, the museum hosts wayang theater performances and workshops on puppet-making.

Still in the Kota Tua area, there is an old drawbridge called Kota Intan bridge worth visiting. The bridge is a historic hanging bridge and has a long and interesting historical facts behind it.