Choose from 13 Fun Things to Do in West Java
Fatahillah Square
- With its refurbished colonial buildings, Fatahillah Square is a must for fans of history and architecture.
- Wear comfortable shoes to cope with the cobbled square and streets.
- Save time navigating Kota’s confusing warren of streets by pre-booking an organized walking tour or a comprehensive Jakarta tour that includes hotel transport.
- Fatahillah Square takes its name from the Indonesian national hero Prince Fatahillah, who captured the port from the Portuguese in 1527.
Kawah Putih (White Crater)
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Gunung Mas Tea Plantation
- Gunung Mas is a must for tea tipplers.
- Java’s roads are overloaded, so don’t underestimate your travel time.
- Temperatures in Puncak can drop as low as 64℉ (18℃), so bring layers—and extra if you plan to paraglide.
- The Gunung Mas Tea Plantation is often rainy. You can pick up an inexpensive poncho at minimarts such as Indomaret, Alfamart, Coco Mart, or Circle K.
Taman Mini Indonesia Indah
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Jalan Surabaya Flea Market
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Bogor Botanical Gardens
A charming escape from downtown Jakarta, the Bogor Botanical Gardens (Kebun Raya) are some of southeast Asia’s oldest educational gardens, officially opening in 1817. More than 15,000 species of plants, including hundreds of palm species, deck 215 acres (87 hectares) of lush green grounds amid the cool, rainy highlands of West Java.
The Basics
There is a modest admission fee for the Bogor Botanical Gardens, which are big enough to merit spending at least half a day. Given their beauty and historical significance, they’re the highlight of any visit to Bogor and an essential stop on West Java highland tours, which also often include a trip to a tea plantation.
Bogor Botanical Gardens tours typically include highlights such as the Orchid House, the Water Garden, the Medicine Garden, and the orchidarium. History geeks will appreciate the cemetery, the Presidential Palace, and especially the memorial to Singapore founder Stamford Raffles’ first wife.
Things to Know Before You Go
- Bogor Botanical Gardens are a must for garden admirers and anyone seeking a verdant respite from Jakarta’s bustle.
- With its lily-pond views, the Grand Garden Café makes an excellent spot for lunch.
- Bogor sees hundreds of thunderstorms every year, so bring an umbrella or poncho (or buy one at a minimart).
- Do not underestimate the journey time from Jakarta—it can take well over two hours at busy times of day.
- The Bogor Botanical Gardens are mostly accessible to wheelchair users.
How to Get There
The Bogor Botanical Gardens are 36 miles (60 kilometers) south of Jakarta, about 1 mile (1.6 kilometers)—or a 20-minute walk—from Bogor train station. Slow trains run from Jakarta and Bandung but can be very crowded during rush hour. If you’d like to combine your trip to the Kebun Raya with other West Java attractions outside Bogor, book a tour or private driver (or experience gridlock while driving on the left).
When to Get There
The Bogor Botanical Gardens are open from morning to late afternoon seven days a week. They are hugely popular with locals on Sundays, so a visit on that day is best avoided. If you’re traveling from Jakarta, traffic on the roads and the trains is lighter on Saturdays than on weekdays.
Bogor Botanical Gardens Research
During the Dutch colonial era, key cash crops were developed here, including tea (the first instance of tea being grown by a colonial power), the quinine tree, tobacco, and cassava. Today, Kebun Raya Bogor remains a globally known center of botanical research: the Indonesian Institute of Sciences operates the gardens.
Jakarta Chinatown (Glodok)
- A visit to Chinatown is a must for foodies and history buffs—the latter often pair it with a trip to Kota, the old city.
- Tensions between ethnic Indonesians and the Chinese community still exist. Anti-Chinese racism last had a major impact on Jakarta Chinatown in 1998, when rioters swept through Glodok.
- Even in Chinatown, do not expect all Chinese Indonesians to speak Mandarin. Some speak Hokkien and other dialects; others speak only Indonesian.
Pelabuhan Sunda Kelapa
- A must-do for history buffs, Sunda Kelapa is one of Jakarta’s most authentic attractions—smells and all.
- You might see Sunda Kelapa signposted as “Pelabuhan Sunda Kelapa”: the word “pelabuhan” simply means port, or harbor, in Indonesian.
- Wear comfortable shoes to visit Old Batavia. The cobblestones can be hard on the feet.
- The 2-masted pinisi sailing ships are a traditional Indonesian craft. Generally made on the island of Sulawesi, they are still very much working vessels.