Jakarta

Monas and the old city

The National Monument, Istiqlal Mosque and Jakarta History Museum introduce the city through civic space, religious architecture and the older trading district of Kota Tua. The museum stands on Fatahillah Square, while Monas belongs to the central Merdeka Square area. A visit to the mosque should follow its current visitor arrangements; the interior image here documents the building rather than promising access at every time.

Greater Jakarta is not one venue district

Indonesia Arena is in the Gelora Bung Karno complex in Senayan. Jakarta International Stadium is in north Jakarta. Indonesia Convention Exhibition, usually called ICE BSD, is in BSD City, Tangerang, outside Jakarta's central urban area. Those are three different directions. A hotel marketed as 'Jakarta' may be poorly placed for ICE, so compare the actual venue address and the final journey before deciding where to stay.

Avoid a last-minute cross-metropolitan transfer

Choose Monas and the surrounding central area for one outing, or concentrate on Kota Tua and Fatahillah Square. For a Senayan show, keep enough time to return from the historic districts. For ICE BSD, an outing near the venue may be more practical than trying to finish a full Jakarta sightseeing circuit first. Check the exhibition hall number because ICE contains several spaces with separate approaches.