One thing’s for sure – this place it hot in many respects. No matter when you book your flight to Jakarta, you’ll be welcomed by nearly unrelenting heat, and temperatures that range from a cool 24 to a boiling 32 degrees C. The most rain falls in the winter months of January and February, so if you’re booking Jakarta flights then, be sure to pack an umbrella and galoshes. The driest days land in July and August, but these are also the days of scorching summer afternoons and blistering heat waves.
There are a few ways to expand your Jakarta travel through public transportation. Four bus terminals (Kaliders, Kampung Rambutan, Pulo Gadung, and Lebak Bulus) run bus lines that trek throughout most of the city’s center. If you’re looking to get a little further from the city though, trains may be your best bet. At Gambir train station, near Merdeka Square, you can catch trains to Bogor, Bandung, Yogyakarta, Solo, Semarang and Surabaya. There are a few express trains, but you’ll need to buy your tickets in advance and show up early to make sure that you get a seat.
Metro mini buses also cruise the city limits, but are known for petty crime and pick pockets, so keep your valuables close, and travel in numbers if you can. If buses and trains don’t sound appealing, then there are plenty of car rental options to make your travel to Jakarta a little bit easier. Most agencies are relatively affordable and reliable.
You can also hail a taxi from the street, or wait in line at a stand. Most of them have meters, but some sneaky drivers “forget” to turn them on for tourists. If you notice that yours isn’t on, politely say the word “argo,” and the driver should remember. Tipping is always expected, and change is rarely given, so be sure to pay with small bills so you can spend only what you’re willing to part with.