Layover of 6 h 55 min in Jakarta
Jun 13, 2019, 11:38 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Melbourne, Florida, USA
Posts: 2,983
Layover of 6 h 55 min in Jakarta
I am traveling GA business class and have a layover of 6 h 55 minutes in Jakarta. I arrive in the afternoon when I can easily check into an airport hotel, but would prefer to take the train to the city. What do you guys think? If I do take the train, where can I go and what can I see around the train station downtown?
Jun 15, 2019, 12:41 am
#2
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,677
I am traveling GA business class and have a layover of 6 h 55 minutes in Jakarta. I arrive in the afternoon when I can easily check into an airport hotel, but would prefer to take the train to the city. What do you guys think? If I do take the train, where can I go and what can I see around the train station downtown?
Jun 15, 2019, 12:47 am
#3
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It depends on the day and time you’re there. Weekdays can have really horrible traffic. I haven’t ridden the train into town, but if it’s not working, you’d need to alot 1-2 hours each way for a taxi.
While Jakarta is pretty safe, there have been sporadic reports of thefts on public transport. Personally, I wouldn’t leave the airport on a less than 8-9 hour layover.
While Jakarta is pretty safe, there have been sporadic reports of thefts on public transport. Personally, I wouldn’t leave the airport on a less than 8-9 hour layover.
Jun 15, 2019, 1:23 am
#4
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I am traveling GA business class and have a layover of 6 h 55 minutes in Jakarta. I arrive in the afternoon when I can easily check into an airport hotel, but would prefer to take the train to the city. What do you guys think? If I do take the train, where can I go and what can I see around the train station downtown?
So not worth the hassle, unless you simply seek some inexpensive activity to fill your time.
Taxi or Damri bus opens you up to undependable timings, so not a good idea.
Jun 15, 2019, 3:10 am
#5
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Indonesia
Posts: 361
let's say you're taking airport train both ways, it easily takes 2 hrs off your layover. another 1 hr for buffer before boarding time. 30 mins for terminal/train station changes.
there's still 3 hrs and 25 mins you can use, depending what you would like to.
the airport train station in Jakarta is Sudirman Baru / BNI City (same place)
near the station, not much to see. you need to navigate further for some some sightseeing
you can go to National monument, Istiqlal mosque, Jakarta cathedral for sightseeing (all near each other)
you can go to Plaza Indonesia / Grand Indonesia for shopping, eating etc, sightseeing around the Bundaran HI
... I don't know ...
thing with Jakarta is, if you knew exactly you want to do, it's always doable to do anything. if you don't, you'll end up confused in the traffic and thinking "what have I done?"
there's still 3 hrs and 25 mins you can use, depending what you would like to.
the airport train station in Jakarta is Sudirman Baru / BNI City (same place)
near the station, not much to see. you need to navigate further for some some sightseeing
you can go to National monument, Istiqlal mosque, Jakarta cathedral for sightseeing (all near each other)
you can go to Plaza Indonesia / Grand Indonesia for shopping, eating etc, sightseeing around the Bundaran HI
... I don't know ...
thing with Jakarta is, if you knew exactly you want to do, it's always doable to do anything. if you don't, you'll end up confused in the traffic and thinking "what have I done?"
Jun 15, 2019, 9:39 pm
#8
Join Date: Feb 1999
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As one data point, here are some notes I kept from my last visit to Jakarta in January 2019:
3:25 Arrive into T3 terminal
3:35 Arrive SkyTrain
3:43 SkyTrain departs T3
3:54 SkyTrain arrives Stasiun Bandara
4:20 Train departs Stasiun Bandara
5:06 Train arrives Stasiun BNI City
5:15 Grab Car arrives
5:45 Arrive Aloft Hotel
10:43 leave aloft hotel in grab car
10:54 arrive BNI city
11:00 complete ticket purchase
11:21 train departs
12:06 Train arrives
12:10 arrive SkyTrain
12:19 SkyTrain departs for T2
12:21 arrive T2 SkyTrain
Xxxx Arrive CX check-in
I wasn't meticulous with my timings (I put a placeholder for my arrival at the check-in desk but forgot to fill it in). Regardless, you can see that it took me over 2 hours to get from the airport to my hotel in central Jakarta, and a little less than 2 hours to get back the next day. Unfortunately, a 7-hour layover does not guarantee enough time for a visit to central Jakarta unless there are 1-2 specific things you know that you want to do (visit a site, eat at a restaurant, or buy a gift) and are happy doing only those 1-2 things.
3:25 Arrive into T3 terminal
3:35 Arrive SkyTrain
3:43 SkyTrain departs T3
3:54 SkyTrain arrives Stasiun Bandara
4:20 Train departs Stasiun Bandara
5:06 Train arrives Stasiun BNI City
5:15 Grab Car arrives
5:45 Arrive Aloft Hotel
10:43 leave aloft hotel in grab car
10:54 arrive BNI city
11:00 complete ticket purchase
11:21 train departs
12:06 Train arrives
12:10 arrive SkyTrain
12:19 SkyTrain departs for T2
12:21 arrive T2 SkyTrain
Xxxx Arrive CX check-in
I wasn't meticulous with my timings (I put a placeholder for my arrival at the check-in desk but forgot to fill it in). Regardless, you can see that it took me over 2 hours to get from the airport to my hotel in central Jakarta, and a little less than 2 hours to get back the next day. Unfortunately, a 7-hour layover does not guarantee enough time for a visit to central Jakarta unless there are 1-2 specific things you know that you want to do (visit a site, eat at a restaurant, or buy a gift) and are happy doing only those 1-2 things.
Jun 20, 2019, 12:56 pm
#11
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Is the train above ground or underground? What about using the train simply as a sightseeing vehicle. When arriving at the last station simply turn around and head back to the airport.
Jun 20, 2019, 2:51 pm
#12
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 187
The train is above ground. You can use it to sight see, but other than a few main office buildings as you approach BNI City, you won't see much. You mostly see a lot of the poorer living conditions of those by the railway. I used the train when I was in Jakarta a few months ago, but would not really recommend it for sightseeing unless you really want to see some aspect of Jakarta.