Getting There By Air:Soekarno Hatta Airport (CGK)
Tel: (021) 550 5179.
Website:
www.angkasapura2.co.idJakarta’s international airport has two terminals and twin runways. It is located 30km (18.5 miles) west of the city center, although it can take over an hour to get in to the center in heavy traffic.
There are currency exchange facilities, a business lounge, bars, souvenir shops, telephones, ATMs, car rental offices and a tourist information desk for arriving
passengers.
Damri (tel: (021) 460 3708) run regular buses to various destinations within the city center. Taxis can be booked at the counters in arrivals or outside arrivals. With the latter it is wise to negotiate a price before setting off.
Getting There By Road:Express roads supposedly connect Jakarta with most of the other main cities on the island of Java, but in reality conditions can be poor and congestion is a serious problem. There is a ring road around the city, which is currently being upgraded. Toll roads already operate out to the airport and also connect Jakarta with Bandung.
Jakarta has four principal bus terminals. Kalideres is 15km (9 miles) north of Merdeka Square and serves the likes of Merak and Labuan. Kampung Rambutan is 15km (9 miles) south of the city center and offers buses to Bogor and Bandung. Pulo Gadung is 10km (6 miles) east of the center with services to the likes of Padang and Bukittinggi. Ladek Bulus is 15km (9 miles) south of Jakarta’s center with handy services for tourists to Yogyakarta and Bali.
Myriad bus companies operate to and from Jakarta. Two of the most popular are
Safari Dharma Raya (tel: (021) 548 5644; website:
www.safaridharmaraya.com) and
Kramat Djati (tel: (022) 420 0858; website:
www.kramatdjatigroup.com).
Breakdown emergency services:
Tel: 0800 140 1287.
Getting There By Rail:Jakarta has four railway stations: Kota, Gambir, Pasar Senen and Tanah Abang. The largest and of most use to travelers is Gambir Stasion on Merdeka Square (tel: (021) 692 9194), which serves destinations to the east such as Yogyakarta and Surabaya.
PT Kereta Api (tel: (022) 424 1370; website:
www.kereta-api.com) are the state operator running all services throughout the country.
Getting Around:Public TransportMassive change is afoot in Jakarta’s public transport system with a new
bus network, with a dedicated bus lane system in operation, and a
monorail currently under construction.
TransJakarta (tel: (021) 722 8727; website:
www.jakarta.go.id/transjakarta/home/index.php) is a rapid transit bus system that already has seven lines or ‘corridors’. There are slated to be 15 lines by 2010. Fixed rate fares are payable. In addition a number of smaller companies also offer bus and
minibus routes, though these tend not to stick to timetables, are chronically overcrowded and often don’t have air-conditioning.
The Jakarta Monorail is currently under construction. The Green Line will be a loop line serving Semanggi-Karet-Semanggi with the Blue Line serving Kampung Melayu-Mall Taman Anggrek. The system has been beset by delays however, and there is no firm completion date.
Bajaj are motorized rickshaws that are a cheap, though relatively dangerous way to get around the city.
TaxisHailing a taxi in the street can lead to overcharging so either book at a hotel or call ahead with companies such as
Batavia (tel: (021) 733 6776),
Dynasty (tel: (021) 568 0986) and
Koperasi (tel: (021) 840 8877). Given the overcrowded nature of much of Jakarta’s public transport network, taxis are considered by many expats and visitors to be the best way of getting around.
Car HireDriving in Jakarta can be both challenging and dangerous due to poor local driving standards. A number of international car hire companies have offices in Jakarta including
Avis, Jalan Diponegoro 25 (tel: (021) 314 2900; website:
www.avis.com) and
Europcar, Jalan Hayam Wuruk 6 (tel: (021) 385 6666; website:
www.europcar.com). Many backpackers are tempted to accept one of the cheap deals offered by touts in the Jalan Jaksa backpacker enclave, though these touts are not always dependable.
Bicycle HireCycling on Jakarta’s busy streets is not recommended and there are no official cycle rental companies in the city.
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