North Jakarta (Indonesian:Jakarta Utara) is where Jakarta began to take shape. The colonial Dutch legacy still lives on at the Old City to Sunda Kelapa Harbor. When you are done with history, find amusement at Ancol, great food at Pluit or Kelapa Gading, and vibrant shopping destination at Mangga Dua. It is also the gateway to the Thousand Islands. More than 1 million people, many of whom are of Chinese descent, call this part of the city home.

Get in

By train

There are train terminals at Kampung Bandan, for easy access to Ancol & the Old City, & Tanjung Priok.

By sea

Jakarta passenger port terminal ("Nusantara Pura") is located at Tanjung Priok, North Jakarta. [1]. All ferry ships to other areas across Indonesia docks there.

By bus

The Transjakarta Line takes you to the western side of town, especially Pluit, from another of downtown's corridor of business district. Line ends at Ancol from East Jakarta, Line goes right to the center of the Old City from Blok M and Sudirman, Line ends at Tanjung Priok from East Jakarta.

By car

The Jakarta Inner Ring Road ends at Pluit in the west and Tanjung Priok at the east. The Outer Ring Road ends at Pantai Indah Kapuk in the west. The airport tollroad has a direct connection to the western side.

Get around

By bus

The Transjakarta Line is the best public transportation mode available, taking you from the west end (Pluit) to the east end at Tanjung Priok (line ) , via most important points of the area, such as Kota (Line 1), Mangga Dua (Line 5) and Kelapa Gading.

By car

The Harbor Tollroad has the similar track as Line 12 of the BRT.

See

The Old City

Most attractions throughout this area of town are accessible from the Line stops of Pakin & Museum Fatahillah.

• 1 Galangan VOC (VOC Shipyard), Jl. Kakap No. 1-3. Dating back to 1628, this is the former trade office and ship repair of the VOC (East Indies Trade Company) built by the Dutch. It is the center of the trade routes that stretched from Japan to Cape Town, from the Spice Islands to Persia. The place is now a restaurant, also called the VOC (Very Old Café), but still maintain what was left of history. 

• 2 Jakarta Port Authority's Lookout Tower, on the corner of Jl Pakin and Jl Pasar Ikan, Sunda Kelapa, Jakarta 14440., ☏ +62 21 315 4094. Established in 1834, it functioned as the watchtower for ships docking and departing Sunda Kelapa Harbor. No longer used, the building is in eerie leaning condition. 

• 3 Museum Bahari (Maritime Museum). The museum has a legacy of Indonesia's world of maritime. Artifacts of boats from the Pinisi to the Navy, underwater life and the heroes of the Indonesian seas. 

• 4 Sunda Kelapa Port. This is where Jakarta began as Fatahillah defeats the Portuguese in a battle to conquer his kingdom in 1527. The old port area of Sunda Kelapa remains today as a bustling hub for inter island trade. Graceful Bugis phinisi schooners, the world's last wind-powered sailing fleet used for trade, still berthed at the quay as they have for century. 

Nature reserves

• 5 Muara Angke Nature Reserve (Cagar Alam Angke Kapuk), Jl. Pantai Indah Utara Raya (use the BKTB from Monas, Pluit, or Kota). This is the last nature reserve on Jakarta to see mangrove plantations and wildlife still well reserved. Watch out for the endemic birds, plants, monitor lizards and monkeys. Obtain a permit to enter at the Conservation of Natural Resources Office at Salemba, Central Jakarta. The reserve is very quiet, located about 500 meters from Pantai Indah Kapuk, Muara Karang Gate. Although there is no official parking area, you can park on the shoulder of the road in front of the park gate. No permit is required, because no guard stands by there. 
• 6 Taman Wisata Alam Angke Kapuk (use the BKTB from Monas, Pluit, or Kota). Daily 08:00-19:00. Similar to the above attraction but does not require a permit. Larger, even has a place to stay and playing boats. No DSLR cameras allowed. It is a man-made park, not a nature preserve, and patrons can plant mangrove trees there, if they obtain a ticket. Rp25,000. 

Do

Amusement parks

• 1 Ancol Dream Park (Taman Impian Jaya Ancol), Jl. Lodan No. 7 ( stop: Ancol). Southeast Asia's biggest playground! It is where the locals play for the weekend. Highlights include the Atlantis Water Park, the Dufan Amusement Park, Ocean Dream Animal Show, Ocean Ecopark, and the Jaya bowling alley. The only beach (albeit not a real beach and dirty) in Jakarta offers cottages and dining experience from seafood to chicken wings. Rp25,000 per adult, Rp15,000 per child Rp20,000 per car. Additional entry fee applies to most attractions. Dufan Amusement Park annual ticket is Rp260,000. One day visit maybe is not sufficient. But for who only has limited time maybe there are no choice due to practically there are no daily ticket anymore. Ocean Dream Animal Show ticket is Rp120,000.. 
• 2 Waterbom Jakarta, Jl. Pantai Indah Barat No. 1 (BKTB from Monas, Pluit, or Kota), ☏ +62 21 55966666. Weekdays 11:00-21:00. Weekends 08:00-21:00. Take your kids (and you should too!) to the 8 challenging water slides, the lazy river or the kids playing area. You can rent a gazebo if you do not want a splash. Weekday: Rp150,000 per adult, Rp100,000 per child. Weekend: Rp230,000 per adult, Rp180,000 per child. 

Cinema

Most malls have at least one cinema. For a rate of Rp50,000 you have a plush seat and a big silver screen. Other theaters though are willing to go beyond just watching movies.

• 3 Blitz Megaplex Mall of Indonesia, Mall of Indonesia 2nd Floor, Jl. Boulevard Barat Raya, Kelapa Gading., ☏ +62 21 4586 8100. This is one of the few theaters that screens non-Holywood movies alongside your typical blockbuster. The Satin Class has recliner seats, while the Velvet Class contains a bed fit for a couple night out at the movies. M-F Rp30,000; Sa-Su, public holiday: Rp50,000. Satin: M-Th Rp50,000; F-Weekend, Public holiday: Rp75,000. Velvet: M-Th Rp140,000; F Rp160,000; Sa-Su, public holiday: Rp200,000. Discounts apply for local movies, special fares for Hindi movies. 
• Emporium Pluit XXI The Premiere, Emporium Pluit Mall Unit 5-10, Jl. Pluit Selatan Raya, Jakarta, ☏ +62 21 666 76421. A movie theater experience taken to the next level. Table dining before the movie. Dedicated studio with plush pillows and bedding. 

Golf

• 4 Damai Indah Golf, Jl Marina Indah, Pantai Indah Kapuk, ☏ +62 21 588 2388. 

Buy

Shopping Malls

Shopping centers are concentrated on Pluit (west side), Mangga Dua (central side) and Kelapa Gading (east side)

Pluit

• 1 Baywalk Mall, Jl. Pluit Karang Ayu B1 Utara, ☏ +62 21 2962 8000. A newest addition to the area with premium eateries and chain department stores. Has a dedicated seating area with view of Jakarta's seas and a seaside seafood restaurant. 
• 2 Emporium Pluit Mall (locally abbreviated EP or Empo), Jl. Pluit Selatan Raya, ☏ +62 21 666 72 999. The first mall you'll typically see as you enter Pluit. A small but tall mall, with premium middle-upper class fashion. Food options are abundant, both premium and budget, the food court has cheap food and on par with chain brands. 
• 3 Pluit Junction (locally abbreviated PJ), Jl. Pluit Selatan Raya, ☏ +62 21 666 07 388. A sleepy and lonely mall across the Emporium Pluit with basic shops. Good only for a fitness, movies (the cheapest in the area) and watch a live football match at its center stage. 
• 4 Pluit Village (locally abbreviated PV), Jl. Pluit Indah Raya, ☏ +62 21 668 3888. The first mall built in Pluit, now sleepy with middle class shops. The best place to get a haircut around and eat at the food court that caters to authentic Indonesian and Chinese cuisine — no chain brands. Matahari department store and Carrefour also fill up the mall. 

Kelapa Gading

Kelapa Gading is a more well developed upscale center of North Jakarta, having been built since the 1970s. It's like a town of its own with malls that has basically everything!

• 5 Mal Artha Gading (sometimes abbreviated MAG), Jalan Artha Gading Selatan No. 1, ☏ +62 21 4585 8180. Huge middle class mall with more than 300 shops and many food options. A batik center filled with accessories of such motifs can be found at the 5th floor. 
• 6 Mal Kelapa Gading & La Piazza (sometimes abbreviated MKG), Jl. Bulevar Kelapa Gading, ☏ +62 21 453 1101. A series of 4 malls at one single street! A place for all rounders for all levels of budget. The best place to enjoy your meal with 5 food courts in different themes, and the best place to shop for fashion in the area. The adjacent La Piazza is a similar but much smaller place. 
• 7 Mall of Indonesia (abbreviated MOI), Jalan Bulevar Barat Kelapa Gading, Jakarta Utara. A middle-upper class style mall, a newest addition to the region. Has an indoor amusement park with a roller coaster. The best place for lounging with coffee shops and shophouses outside the mall. 

Mangga Dua

Mangga Dua area is evenly split between North and Central area so check out the respective district for sleeping and more shopping options.

• 8 ITC Mangga Dua, Jl. Arteri Mangga Dua, ☏ +62 21 601 1789. This is the cheapest place in Jakarta when it comes to clothing, even then haggle is still the norm. Thousands of Independent clothing lines in line with counterfeit brands. Very crowded on the weekends, watch out for pickpockets. 
• 9 Mangga Dua Square, Jl. Gunung Sahari No 1, ☏ +62 21 6231 3000. A more upscale option at Mangga Dua, but modest compared to elsewhere in Jakarta. Has a modest outdoor food court caters to Chinese tastes and a club upstairs. Houses many hotels that provide an optimum connection to Ancol. 

Markets

• 10 Ancol Art Market (Pasar Seni Ancol) (Within the Ancol Theme Park). Wondering where to buy art in Jakarta? Here is the typical place the locals go, especially Indonesian traditional arts. It's a collector's paradise! 

Eat

Dining areas

A particular feature in Jakarta's North area is the dedicated districts for delights. Head to Pantai Indah Kapuk and Muara Karang at the west side or Kelapa Gading on the east side for all the hype and dining with all levels of budget. There's definitely too much restaurant to be listed here, you'll be spoilt with choices! Most of these areas consists of East Asian restaurants (or Chinese Indonesian) though, so if you are looking for something else, the shopping malls usually has it.

Budget

• 1 Kwetiau Akang, Jl. Muara Karang Raya No. 21, ☏ +62 21 6610359. From Rp20,000. Parking is usually full because the restaurant does not provide one of its own, but it is worth the time! Famous in the area (even the whole Jakarta) for its rice vermicelli (kwetiau), a choice of fried (dry) or siram (wet with gravy). Toppings are usually shrimp, beef (or pork), scrambled eggs, and shallots. 
• 2 Le Bridge, Taman Impian Jaya Ancol, Jl. Pasir Putih Raya,. At the middle of the water, the tenant is connected by a man-made causeway that entices couples to hang out waiting for the sun to set. Its menus consists of western cuisine as well as finger bites. One of the cheapest non-chain brand options at Ancol. There are no restrooms due to the fact it is in the middle of "nowhere"! Snacks from Rp20,000; Mains from Rp35,000. 

Mid-range

• 3 B'Steak, Jl. Muara Karang Raya No.42, ☏ +62 21 6603045. Mains from Rp30,000. A Western style dining, specialties are its pancakes and steaks, but they also have fish & chips and pasta. You can choose your own sides (mashed potato, fries, or wedges) and gravy. 
• 4 Zenbu House of Mozaru, Jl. Pluit Karang Barat G6 No. 34, ☏ +62 21 6678020. This restaurant takes your typical Japanese cuisine to the next level. As its name suggests, its specialty is the mozaru, rice on the bottom layer, followed by meat and sauce, finally topped with mozzarella cheese — you can choose different kinds for the first three! There are other things too, especially salmon, pasta, and abundant vegetarian options. From Rp45,000. 

Splurge

Upper scale restaurants can usually be found at Ancol.

• 5 Bandar Djakarta, Taman Impian Jaya Ancol, Pintu Timur, Jl. Lodan Timur No. 7, ☏ +62 21 645 5472. This is the one of the favorite seafood options in Jakarta. It hosts what resembles a seafood market where you can pick your own fish and have them cook it, or you can order just by sitting at your table and let them do all the job, but the seating area is actually what makes everyone coming: it's panorama of the coastline and the sea breeze, notoriously hot by the afternoon, cool at night. Perfect for group dining as you will be overwhelmed by the size of your meal! From Rp60,000. 
• 6 Segarra, Pantai Carnaval - Jakarta Bay City, Jl. Lodan Timur No. 7, ☏ +62 21 64710101. A perfect place for a couple and a candlelit dinner under the open sky. Luxurious hotel-like dining experience with Indonesian, Japanese, Italian, and Western options. The sofa chairs on the beach facing the sea or near the pool are the best seats in the house, yet very often reserved in advance. A minimum order must be placed if you wish to seat there though. From Rp90,000. 

Ice cream and pastry

Ice cream:

• Ollino, Jl. Danau Sunter Utara Block C1/2A, Sunter, ☏ +62 21 6583 4565. Ice cream parlor. Great Tutti Fruti. 

Pastry:

• Manon Chocolatier & Patissier, Jl. Nias Raya GN no.6, Kelapa Gading., ☏ +62 21 4584 77 81. A French pastry and chocolate shop. Known for signature macaroons, delicious cakes, and chocolates. 

Drink

The North is where middle or high school kids tend to hang out, thus bars may not be obvious apart from signs that explicitly indicates so. The Pantai Indah Kapuk are has its fair share of pubs, cafés, bobba teas, and ice cold desserts. Be sure to come early in the meal time on the weekend as this area is instantly a huge blast! Moving over to Ancol, Mangga Besar, and Mangga Dua, this is where the passionate, yet shady nightlife of Jakarta is!

Sleep

Budget

• 1 Favehotel Kelapa Gading, Jl. Gading Indah Raya No.8 Blok C-32, ☏ +62 21 451 4048. Budget hotel at the Kelapa Gading area. Standard rooms with modern style & minimum design. From Rp300,000. 

• 2 Favehotel Pluit Junction, Jalan Pluit No. 1, Pluit Penjaringan (Attached to Pluit Junction Mall), ☏ +62 21 6670 000. From Rp350,000. Budget hotel at the Pluit area, attached to a quiet mall. Small rooms with modern facilities, small lobby and dining area. Conveniently located in front of the BRT station. 

Mid-range

• 3 Grand Asia Hotel, Jl. Bandengan Selatan No.88 (: Jembatan Tiga), ☏ +62 21 6660 6969. One of the best hotels at the Pluit area. Contemporary Asian minimalist interior. Executive lobby lounge,Cathay Chinese restaurant and The Cafe international cuisine. Dragon Phoenix lounge for a karaoke and bar. From Rp700,000. 
• 4 Harris Hotel & Conventions Kelapa Gading, Jl. Bulevar Kelapa Gading Blok M ( stop: Sunter Kelapa Gading), ☏ +62 21 4587 8200, fax: +62 21 4587 8222. The best hotel within the Kelapa Gading area. Modern and minimalist style interior with a sense of orange, in both the rooms and the public areas. Decent restaurant and swimming pool. Direct access to Mal Kelapa Gading. From Rp650,000. 
• 5 Mercure Ancol (formerly Hotel Horison), Jl. Pantai Indah, Ancol., ☏ +62 21 640 6000, fax: +62 21 640 6123. The former Horison Hotel has its exterior relatively unchanged, but the rooms are slowly being renovated. Ask for the newer rooms. Two restaurants and bars each, and a big pool for a swim. From Rp450,000. 
• 6 Novotel Mangga Dua, Jl. Gunung Sahari Raya No. 1. (stop: Gunung Sahari Mangga Dua), ☏ +62 21 6231 2800, fax: +62 21 6231 2900. Attached to Mangga Dua Square, convenient to Ancol. Nice and crisp rooms with parquet flooring, either face the pool or the city. An ordinary restaurant, but exceptional pool and cheap massage. From Rp500,000. 
• 7 Sanno Hotel, Jl. Pluit Selatan Raya No. 2 (in front of Pluit Hospital, Line  : Landmark), ☏ +62 21 660 6060, fax: +62 21 660-4944. In-room Wi-Fi provided at the more expensive rooms. Complimentary shuttle service to airport and shopping mall. From Rp750,000. 
• 8 Sunlake Hotel (formerly Hotel Danau Sunter), Jl.Danau Permai Raya Blok C.1 Sunter., ☏ +62 21 650 9969, fax: +62 21 650 9970. All suite hotel facing Lake Sunter. Some restaurants specializing in Korean, Japanese, and Indian. Big pool and bar. From Rp900,000. 

Splurge

All of the listed hotels here are at the Ancol area.

• 9 Aston Marina, Marina Mediterania,Tower A, Jl. Lodan Raya No. 2A,, ☏ +62 21 6983 7120. 358 units of 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments plus 2 exclusive penthouses. Apartment style hotel with kitchen, but you still can have breakfast downstairs. From Rp2,000,000. 

• 10 Pondok Putri Duyung, Jl. Lodan Timur No. 7, ☏ +62 21 260 1680, fax: +62 21 260 1691. This place to stay in Ancol that has cottages, bungalow and a secluded beautiful beach. From Rp1,300,000. 

Stay healthy

Emergency numbers

• Ambulance: ☎ 118.
• Police: ☎ 110..

Medical assistance

Hospitals with 24 hr emergency room, Unit Gawat Darurat (UGD) (ER)

• RS Pantai Indah Kapuk, Jl. Pantai Indah Utara 3, ☎ +62 21 588 0911, +62 21 588 5188, Fax:+62 21 588 0910, +62 21 588 1414.

• RS Atma Jaya, Jl. Pluit Raya No. 2 Jakarta Utara, ☎ +62 21 6606127, +62 21 6606130, +62 21 6690771, +62 21 669109. Fax: +62 21 6606122.

• RS Medika Griya, Jalan Danau Sunter Utara, Sunter Paradise Real Estate Jakarta-Utara, ☎ +62 21 689877, Fax:+62 21 686240.

• RS. Pluit, Jl. Raya Pluit Selatan No. 2, ☎ +62 21 668-5006, +62 21 668-5070, +62 21 669 8066.

• RSU Daerah Koja, Jl. Deli No. 4, Tanjung Priok, Jakarta Utara, ☎ +62 21 498 699, +62 21 496 132. Fax:+62 21 498699.

Connect

To the north: Thousand Islands National Park and tourist areas of thousand Island non National Park.