£357+ Cheap flights to Jakarta, Indonesia

Jakarta climate

Jakarta has a tropical monsoon climate which is hot and humid all year round. Temperatures throughout the year are generally between 24 and 33 degrees Celsius and humidity levels are high, about 70 per cent during the whole year. The peak and low season is therefore related to the distinct wet and dry seasons.

Getting around Jakarta

Forget about renting a car to get around Jakarta. The traffic is so busy and the taxis so reasonably priced that you won’t need to think about driving. Choose licensed taxis and make sure the meter is turned on to avoid any disagreements later on.

There are more than 20 bus companies in Jakarta, but buses are busy at all times of the day.

Bajaj are orange, motorised tricycles, akin to the Thai tuk-tuk, with space for two passengers. They’re a popular choice in Jakarta, nimble enough to get through the heavy traffic. Motorcycle taxis are nimbler still. Again, set on a price before you set off.

Getting from the Airport to the City

From Soekarno Hatta International Airport (CGK), there are a couple of options for getting to the city centre. The Damry Bus runs from early morning till late evening.

There are official taxis at the airport. There’s a small charge for using the airport taxis – based on the destination. Ensure the metre is on before setting off.

Jakarta airport overview

Named after the first president, as well as the first vice president of Indonesia, Soekarno–Hatta International Airport is one of Indonesia’s main aerial hubs. It is located on the large and densely populated island of Java, approximately 20km (12.5 miles) west of Jakarta in the city of Tangerang.

Often referred to by locals as Cengkareng, a title originating from the name of a district to the north-west of the city, SHIA is recognised as being the second most punctual airport in the world. That’s a welcome trait as in 2010 it served just under 44 million passengers, making it the 16 busiest airport in the world.

SHIA consists of three terminal buildings. Terminals 1 and 3 handle domestic flights, while Terminal 2 tends to international flights and Garuda Airlines’ domestic flights. Terminals 1 and 2 have a selection of shops, restaurants and cafés, and parking lots are situated conveniently close to all three terminals. Current plans include the building of a fourth terminal building as well as complete refurbishment of the entire airport.

Overall, Soekarno–Hatta International Airport is efficient and well organised. Of course, like all major international airports, it can get chaotic during peak seasons. However, with new upgrades being made all the time, the airport is constantly undergoing development in order to successfully keep up with the ever-increasing number of tourists visiting it each year.