Late Morning: Jakarta’s Religious Landmarks
Next stops on the tour are two of the city’s most important religious sites: Jakarta Cathedral and Istiqlal Mosque. A Grab or Bluebird taxi is easiest, although you may spot a bajaj (Jakarta’s version of a tuk-tuk) to take you on the twenty-minute journey between the two. It’s more fun this way but be aware of the extra pollution you’ll face as it’s all open-air travel!
Jakarta Cathedral is a beautiful building and a peaceful retreat from the non-stop energy of Jakarta, but make sure the kids conserve enough energy and enthusiasm for the real star of the show across the road: Istiqlal Mosque.
Indonesia’s largest mosque is also the biggest in Southeast Asia, and you need to spend some time inside to truly appreciate the scale of the building. Slightly formal tours are run for tourists every 30 minutes from 10am to 4.30pm, with breaks from 11.30am to 1.00pm and 3pm to 4pm. You should plan to spend an hour or two at the mosque. You’re free to wander around after the tour finishes and it’s a good place to find some shade in the middle of the day. Many local families visit during this time so it’s a lovely relaxed atmosphere and younger kids might find a few friends to play with.
The cathedral and mosque sit contentedly opposite each other, intentionally designed to show the harmony and tolerance between the two religions in Indonesia.
There are plenty of places nearby for lunch and we enjoyed some noodles at Terasultan Istiqlal in the grounds of the mosque.
