Jakarta Free Walking Tour: Old Town Route

This is one of the touristiest sites in Jakarta. Well, this area has a lot of stories. The ancient buildings still stand as evidences of the glorious days of Batavia, the name of the city before Jakarta. Why should you join this tour? We believe your visit to Jakarta will be more impressive if you know the history of each building, the stories of the area, because these buildings can’t talk.

Mandiri Museum (passing)
I always consider this building quite new because it was built in the early 20^th century. Well, it has to compete with some other more ancient buildings like the building next to it… Museum Bank Indonesia.

Bank Indonesia Museum (going in)
It’s been named the best museum in Jakarta. When we go inside it, we’ll know it deserves the title. The building itself is an impressive building, built in 19^th century as a hospital; it then became De Javasche Bank building, VOC’s central bank. Inside, we’ll see the journey of Indonesian economy from the 19^th century to the crisis in 1998.

De Groote Rivier / The Big River
Cover your nose, the river stinks! It is the river that divided the old town into 2 areas, the West and the East. Don’t forget to look under the bridge; you’ll be surprised with what you’ll see.
Toko Merah
This used to be one of the most luxurious buildings in the old town because it was once a residence for the Governor General of Batavia. It was then bought by a Chinese merchant who painted all the exterior and interior of the building, red. That’s how the building got the name. Merah means Red.
Dutch Drawbridge
This is a bridge with a lot of names. When it was first built, it was named the English bridge, then it became the Central Bridge, Chicken Market Bridge, Julianna Bridge, and now it is Jembatan Kota Intan. Ask our guide how each name was invented.
Fatahillah Square
It was once the City Square of Batavia. It has a dark history because this was the place where death penalty executed back in the 18^th – 19^th
Jakarta History Museum
This was the stadhuis or the city hall of Batavia.
Si Jagur Canon
This was a Portuguese canon that was brought by the Dutch when they conquered Malacca and brought the canon to Batavia. There’s an interesting myth about the canon. Our guide will tell you what it is.
Puppet Museum
One of the buildings in the square that looks like a typical building in Holland. This building too has a long history to tell.
Kota Train Station
One of the oldest train stations in Jakarta and has the best architecture.