Planning on spending some time in Indonesia’s capitol? This bustling mega city has to loads to offer travelers regardless of their interests. Here are some recommendations on what to do while visiting Jakarta so you can make the most of your visit.

Eat on the Street
Jakarta is home to some of  Java’s best food and the best place to get great food is on the street. Start off with some of the staples like classic spiced chicken on a stick: satay, before moving onto some more adventurous treats such as the world renowned (or world feared) “King of Fruits,” the durian. Also make sure you try a plate of rendang, Indonesia’s curried beef dish that is considered one of the nations finest dishes. Also, be sure you eat nasi goreng, this Indonesian take on fried rice may be the most popular food in the country so you don’t want to miss out. If you are hesitant about eating out of street-side restaurants and vendors, we recommend only going to places that are noticeable busy with locals; if regulars eat there, chances are the food quality is good. While this method isn’t foolproof it tends to work for us.

Cool off at a Waterpark
Heat of Jakarta getting to you? Don’t fear! Jakarta is home to some awesome places to cool off.  Waterbom Jakarta is a great places to go with friends or family and features large water slides, tubing, lazy river, and speed slides. There is also the Snow Bay waterpark which while it doesn’t offer actual snow does have a very interesting mountain and ice theme. Taking a waterslide down an artificial snowy mountain while soaking in Jakarta’s legendary heat is definitely a once in a lifetime experience. That is why waterparks are at the top of our list of what to do while visiting Jakarta. If you prefer the convenience of swimming at your hotel many hotels in Jakarta have swimming pools, such as Le Meridien Jakarta with rooms available via Traveloka.com

Shop ’til You Drop
Another great way to beat the heat is to heat is to head to one of Jakarta’s 150 indoor malls. While the malls range in size and style they all seem to be very popular with locals and are great places to find unique and luxury goods. If you are on more of a budget or want to experience some true hustle and bustle, head to one of Jakarta’s many outdoor markets.  Both the Menteng and Tanah Abang markets are known for their massive size, variety of goods, and bargains (especially for those who like to barter.) So if you are looking for what to do while visiting Jakarta definitely put shopping on your list.

No one has ever called Jakarta a boring city but sometimes it can be overwhelming. We hope our list of what to do while visiting Jakarta will help you make some choices on your next visit to ensure you maximize the amount of fun you and your family have in this amazing city.