Jakarta's Colonial Buildings (Self Guided), Jakarta

Throughout the centuries, the European powers, particularly the Dutch who colonized Indonesia from the 1800s until 1945, left their mark on Jakarta. At one time known as Batavia, the de-facto capital of the Dutch East Indies, today Jakarta boasts a wealth of old-time structures, featuring a fascinating blend of European and Javanese design influences.

One of the most prominent areas to explore colonial-era architecture here is the Old Town (Kota Tua), with many buildings dating back to the 17th and 18th centuries. Taman Fatahillah, a historic square in Kota Tua, is surrounded by colonial-style buildings, including the Jakarta History Museum or Museum Fatahillah, formerly the Batavia City Hall.

Among other notable examples are the Wayang Museum (housing a collection of Javanese shadow puppets), the Bank Indonesia Museum (located in the former Dutch East Indies Bank building), and the Jakarta Kota Railway Station (remodeled in 1929 to fit the Art Deco fad of the day), to mention but a few.

"Jakarta's architecture tells the story of its past." Indeed, apart from their purely architectural value, these centuries-old landmarks offer a window into the city's history, showcasing its cultural heritage.

If you wish to get a glimpse into the colonial past of Jakarta, this self-guided tour is a good vehicle for that.

Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and CEphoto, Uwe Aranas.

How it works: Download the app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store to your mobile phone or tablet. The app turns your mobile device into a personal tour guide and its built-in GPS navigation functions guide you from one tour stop to next. The app works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Create Your Own Self-Guided Walks in Jakarta

Map Instructions: (1) Click the "Nearby Sights" button to view the nearby attractions; (2) click a map pin to see sight information.

Guide Name: Jakarta's Colonial Buildings
Guide Location: Indonesia » Jakarta (See other walking tours in Jakarta)
Guide Type: Self-guided Walking Tour (Sightseeing)
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.7 Km or 1.7 Miles

Sights Featured in This Walk

WalkBuilder (customize this walk or build your own)

Use the WalkBuilder tool below to customize this walk to suit your interests. Instructions: click

at the upper right corner in the map above to view other sights in the city. To learn more about a sight, click a map pin. Click the “+” or “–” to add or remove a sight from the walk. To reorder the selected sights, simply drag and move them up or down the list in the left column.

Click here to view route map

Enter a name for your custom walk, along with your email address, in the fields below. You will receive the instructions for retrieving your custom walk in the GPSmyCity app by email. The GPSmyCity app offers turn-by-turn travel directions to guide you from one attraction to the next.
Walk Name*:
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Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do I access my walking tour in Jakarta?
Save your walking tour on the website. Then download the GPSmyCity app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store and sign in to your GPSmyCity account. Next, download “Jakarta Map and Walking Tours” within the app. Your walk will appear on the Walks screen.

2. How do I view other attractions in Jakarta?
At the upper-right corner of the map above, click the “Nearby Sights” button to show or hide other sights in the city. Click a map pin to view details about a sight. To add a sight to your walk, find it in the right column of the WalkBuilder tool above and click the “+” button next to it.

3. How do I re-arrange the sight order?
In the left column of the WalkBuilder tool, drag a sight to move it up or down the list. Then click “Click here to view route map”. Repeat this process until the route meets your needs.

4. Can I add my hotel to a walking tour?
Yes. You can add your hotel as the starting point, the ending point, or both (creating a loop route). This feature is currently available only in the GPSmyCity app.

5. Can I add my own sights to a walking tour?
Yes. You can add sightss that are not in our database and include them in your walk. To do so, sign in to your GPSmyCity account on the website or use the GPSmyCity app.

6. How many sights can be included in a walking tour?
For technical reasons, the number of sights in a walking tour is currently capped at 20. This limit may be increased over time.

Walking Tours in Jakarta, Indonesia

Create Your Own Walk in Jakarta

Creating your own self-guided walk in Jakarta is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.

Jakarta Introduction Walking Tour

The capital of Indonesia, Jakarta, is a massive, fast-paced metropolis and a melting pot of cultures – Asian and European – that historically coexisted and imprinted their influence on the city's architecture, language, cuisine, and lifestyle. The local Istiqlal Mosque is the largest Islamic temple in Southeast Asia, while the Neo-Gothic Gereja Katedral, also known as the Jakarta... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.1 Km or 2.5 Miles

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