About
Welcome to my Jakarta travel guide — your starting point to explore one of Southeast Asia’s most vibrant cities. From historic districts and cultural landmarks to restaurants, and hidden gems, you’ll find curated recommendations to help you enjoy Jakarta like a local. Whether you’re a first-time visitor or returning for more, this city always has something new to discover.
Brief History of Jakarta
4th–7th century
Known as Sunda Kelapa, an important port for the Sunda Kingdom and a major trading hub for spices
1527
Fatahillah defeated the Portuguese and renamed the city Jayakarta, meaning “complete victory”
1619
The Dutch East India Company (VOC) captured Jayakarta and rebuilt it as Batavia, and made it the center of Dutch colonial rule
1800–1942
​​​1942–1945
​Present
Batavia grew under Dutch rule, becoming a major administrative and commercial city in the East Indies.​
During WWII, the Japanese occupied Batavia and renamed it Jakarta.​ After Indonesian independence in 1945, the name Jakarta was retained and developed into the country’s capital.
Jakarta is Indonesia’s political, economic, and cultural hub, though the capital is being relocated to Nusantara starting in 2024.