
Jakarta’s Old Batavia Trail
Jakarta’s Old
Batavia Trail
The name Batavia is unmistakably connected with the Dutch East India Trading Company and
Indonesia. Monuments and landmarks from an era where spice trading and naval export
thrived – it is all seamlessly captured during this full-day tour through Jakarta.
WHY THIS TOUR?
For generations, the name Jakarta is synonymously connected with trade and commerce. Formerly known as Batavia, the 13th-century colonial influences from the Dutch still resonate throughout in the Indonesian capital, meandering through the modern façade of today’s progressively thinking Jakarta.
It is those colonial eras that will be highlighted during this full-day exploration, following in the footsteps of the Dutch East India Trading Company, still abbreviated to VOC. Spices and wayang dolls, authentic vessels and captivating museums, a well-designed tour captures the historical look and feel of what remain tangible reminders of days gone by.



TRAIL ITINERARY
09:00 - 17:00
An English-speaking guide will warmly welcome you at your booked hotel in Jakarta’s Central Business District before driving off towards the older quarters of dazzling Jakarta. Shedding light on the ample examples of former Batavia has shaped the Jakarta of today.
Our day of exploration starts with a visit to the last remaining Dutch drawbridge in in the city, known as the Chicken Market Bridge. Following this stop, you head out to Fatahillah Square where a walk through the historical Kali Besar Barat is on the programme. This region of Jakarta is home to numerous Dutch architectural monuments, reminiscent to the Batavia trading times.
A highlight of the day is the Wayang Museum where a collection of Wayang Kulit (shadow puppets) are preserved and on display. A cultural treasure of immense value continues to play a part in Indonesia’s culture to date. The museum offers ample opportunities to admire the stunning shadow puppets from up close. Via the Toko Mehar, the home of the former Dutch Governor General, a stop at the Sudan Kelapa Harbour is seen as a permanent monument connected to the strong naval history of the Dutch using Batavia as an important port of call. The harbour is home to a few Buganese Phinisi Schooners that still bear unloaded goods from across the archipelago.
A stroll through the intriguing flea market of Jalan Surabaya – a favourite for many locals and visitors alike, this place forms the perfect grounds in putting your haggling skills to the test. Lined on both sides with curios and goods ranging from Chinese porcelain to colonial Dutch trinkets, spending some time here is marks the end of a great Batavia day.
On your way back to the hotel we will also be able to stop for nearby photos at the Presidential Palace and the National Monument.