Top Rated Attractions in Jakarta

With its large 1,200 capacity and excellent acoustics, this is the place to enjoy classical music concerts in Jakarta. Inside, the décor is splendidly outlandish and the red and gold hues are in perfect harmony with the golden statues of muses who are all holding a musical instrument. Portraits of famous composers on the walls add to the hall’s splendor, and there is also a magnificent Steinway and Sons grand piano as well as a huge 10 ton Cassavant organ! Besides Western classical music, there are also interpretations of Indonesian classical music featuring instruments such as the angklung, a musical instrument comprising two bamboo tubes attached to a bamboo frame. For information on upcoming performances check out the website. - Martin Jenkins

This extravagantly beautiful mosque sits on nine and a half hectares of land. Construction lasted from 1961 to 1967, but its official opening did not occur until 1978. One of the largest mosques in Southeast Asia, Mesjid Istiqlal can accommodate more than 10,000 people and 800 vehicles. It comprises five levels, and its walls, walkways and floors are almost entirely covered with marble from Tulungagung, East Java.

Situated on 120 hectares of land in the east of Jakarta, this unique complex offers visitors the opportunity to see all of Indonesia's 27 provinces in an afternoon! The complex features life-sized replicas of traditional architecture from each province, a miniature version of the Indonesian archipelago, a series of museums and a number of well-maintained parks and gardens. The park's centerpiece is a beautiful artificial lake. The complex was the brainchild of Madam Tien Soeharto, the late Indonesian first lady.

Designed in a neo-gothic style, this cathedral was finally completed in 1901, after almost a decade of idle time due to financial difficulties. Beautifully decorated with holy pictures and figures, it is said to be the largest and most unique center of Catholicism in Jakarta. A small history museum on the second floor of the tower exhibits various artifacts and memorabilia related to the church. A small candle factory is located behind the grotto.

A spellbinding collective of over a hundred islands, the Thousand Islands is a tourist's wonderland and a nature lover's dream. These tropical islands are strewn across Jakarta Bay, and are called the Thousand Islands. With a human population only running in thousands, the bay contains a sprinkling of delightful atolls and islands, out of which most are uninhabited and some, privately owned. Shrouded in layers of long-standing history comprising defenses and colonists, the Thousand Islands now sit sheathed in increasingly-dramatic landscapes which roll into one another. Boasting a spectacular coral reef system, the archipelago is a rich repository of enchanting marine life, including clams, varicolored sea worms, green sea turtles and hawksbill sea turtles, among many others. Bathed in a nonpareil tropical aura and home to the Thousand Islands Marine National Park, this spellbinding archipelago is where nature unveils its most magnificent layers, one island at a time.

Bearing an enormous scale of 132 meters (433 feet), and topped with flame-shaped gold of monumental proportions, this imposing obelisk is an emblematic landmark of Jakarta. Construction of the monument started in 1961 under President Soekarno but was not completed until 1975, under President Soeharto. Taking pride of place in the heart of the city, this obelisk serves as a solemn tribute to the country's long-standing journey towards independence. Dominating Jakarta's skyline, the national monument's design philosophy is deeply entrenched in ancient Indonesian ideologies, hence being rooted in its history, whilst also keeping up with the contemporary times. Inside the monument is the National History Museum, The Freedom Hall, which depicts Indonesia's struggle for independence through a series of dioramas, whereas the Hall of Contemplation displays the original Declaration of Independence document and a recording of the speech. An elevator takes one to the observation platform, which commands a bird's-eye view of the city.