Its not every day that you get the chance to ride a rainbow bicycle around a place that has seen centuries of colonization, protests, riots and change. Kota Tua, which translates to Old Town, stands as a relic of Indonesias history and Jakartas colonial past. With something for everyone, Kota Tua is a place worth battling the traffic for. Here is a list of 4 must-do activities:
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- Immerse yourself in J-Towns history
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History seeps from each building in Kota Tua, the most famous of which is the Jakarta History Museum, or more popular as Museum Fatahillah. Built in 1710 as the Batavia city hall, the museum exhibits paintings, furniture, objects from the Dutch East Indies Company and ancient archaeological remains. It includes the richest collection of Betawi style furniture from the 17th to the 19th century. A good place to get your bearings, the Museums second floorprovides a view of the square and surrounding buildings from above.
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The museum is open on Tuesday to Sunday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m..
- Ride a colorful bike around Taman Fatahillah
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Named after an Jakarta's ownhero, Taman Fatahillah is the centre point of all activities in Kota Tua. Street vendors offer pimped up bicycles for two, an ideal mode of transport for exploring the square and capturing those winning Instagram photos. You can rent one only for Rp 20,000-30,000 per 30 minutes.
- Watch a free Wayang performance
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Museum Wayang offers free Wayang performances every Sunday at 10 a.m.. If you cant make it on the weekend, the collection of over 4,000 puppets from territories all across Indonesia is still worth a visit. Open since 1975, the museum provides visitors with a unique glimpse of Javanese cultural heritage over the years.
The museum is open on Tuesday to Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m..
- Have a drink at Caf Batavia
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Sipping on a cocktail and listening to live Jazz is the perfect way to end a day spent exploring Kota Tua.
Constructed in the 1830s, the interior of Caf Batavia was refurbished to give guests a taste of what it was like to live and dine during the colonial era. Vintage photographs of 1930s celebrities and royals deck the upper floor or Grand Salon. Constructed mainly of wood, the caf is blessed with an abundance of natural light thanks to large shuttered windows that look out overTaman Fatahillah and the colonial buildings surrounding it.
Quick tip: the Dim Sum set is perfect for a quick bite.
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Well folks, there you have it. 4 things to do in Kota Tua in one day. Itll be hot and crowded so be sure to bring a bottle of water while youre taking in the sights and venturing from one Dutch building to the next.