Getting there

Planes, trains, automobiles – we tell you the best way to go.

Planes

International and domestic flights | including Cathay Pacific | Qantas | and Emirates touch down in Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport. Metered taxis readily available for the 12-mile drive to the city | with an additional Rp 3 | 000 airport surcharge and Rp 8 | 000 road toll. On the subject of charges | it’s worth remembering that the departure tax (Rp 30 | 000 for domestic and Rp 100 | 000 international) has to be paid in cash.

Trains

While the city doesn’t have an internal subway system, Kota, Gambir and Jatinegara train stations, located within Central Jakarta, provide connections within Java to destinations such as Yogyakarta and Semarang.

Automobiles

Indonesia’s drivers often play fast and loose with the rules of the (frequently treacherous) roads | so hiring a chauffeured car is often the safest bet. The Blue Bird group | which runs the city’s most reliable and extensive network of taxis | offers limo rentals on an hourly or daily rate | with or without a driver (www.bluebirdgroup.com). Jakarta is notoriously congested | and there’s a three-person minimum requirement for cars on certain roads at peak times to minimise this.