Overview
Jakarta's public transport is a patchwork of rail, bus rapid transit, minivans and ferries that is gradually being stitched together under one integrated ticketing system. For a visitor, the practical upshot is simple: buy one stored-value card, tap in and tap out, and you can move across the main rail and bus networks without buying separate paper tickets for each leg.
Getting around the city is genuinely a challenge. Traffic slows to a crawl for most of the day, the heat and chaotic streets make long walks impractical, and the public transport system has not kept up with the city's explosive growth. Plan your day around the rail lines where you can, and treat road-based transport as a slower fallback.
An end-to-end ride works like this: decide your route, top up your card at a station or stop, tap in at the gate or on board, ride, then tap out. On the MRT and Commuter Line you tap at platform entrances; on TransJakarta you buy or use your card at the entrance windows; on MikroTrans minivans you must tap when boarding and again when alighting even though the ride is free.
The network
Jakarta's network spans a metro, a suburban commuter railway, a light rail, a bus rapid transit system, feeder minivans, and ferries to the Thousand Islands.
- Jakarta MRT (Moda Raya Terpadu Jakarta) — the city's rapid transit system, operated by PT Mass Rapid Transit Jakarta (Perseroda), a company owned by the Jakarta provincial government. Phase 1, the North–South Line from Lebak Bulus to Bundaran HI, opened on 24 March 2019 and runs about 15.7 km, mostly underground with some elevated sections. It is the newest rail transit in the city and faster than the Commuter Line. Construction of the second phase, extending north toward Kota Tua and eventually Ancol, is ongoing.
- KRL Commuterline (Kereta Rel Listrik) — the suburban commuter rail network connecting Jakarta with outlying suburbs and cities in Greater Jakarta such as Bekasi, Depok and Tangerang, as well as more distant places like Bogor and Rangkasbitung. Trains run daily from roughly 04:00 to 24:00, with trips taking 10–15 minutes. Cars are air-conditioned and include separate regular and women-only sections.
- Jabodebek LRT — a light rail system serving the Greater Jakarta area. High-speed trains terminate at Halim in East Jakarta, from where you can continue by Jabodebek LRT trains to the city centre.
- TransJakarta — the bus rapid transit (BRT) system, running on dedicated lanes from about 05:00 to 23:00. Buses are air-conditioned, staffed, and have women-only sections. Routes are referred to as corridors, and route and schedule screens and announcements are available at stops.
- MikroTrans — air-conditioned minivans with CCTV that run stop to stop and are integrated with the Commuter Line and TransJakarta. Route numbers are displayed on vehicle windows.
- Bajaj — three-wheeled motorised pedicabs carrying two passengers, in operation since the 1970s. Blue ones run on natural gas (CNG) and orange ones on regular gasoline. They are most common in Central Jakarta and rarer elsewhere.
- Ferries — national ferry companies ASDP Indonesia Ferry and Pelni operate passenger services from Tanjung Priok port in North Jakarta to destinations across the Indonesian archipelago. Smaller speedboats, particularly to and from the Thousand Islands (Pulau Seribu), depart from Ancol and Muara Angke on Jakarta's north shore.
Longer-term government plans envisage a much larger rail network, with a Jabodetabek master plan eventually forming ten MRT routes by 2035, but these are proposals rather than services you can use today.
Tickets & fares
Jakarta's public transport network features integrated ticketing: you only need one payment method to travel on all trains and buses. In practice this means an electronic money card, which is required on the MRT and used across KRL, TransJakarta and MikroTrans as well.
- MRT — fares range from about Rp3,000 to Rp14,000 depending on distance, and electronic money is required. The MRT-J app provides schedules, station maps, mobile ticket purchase and other services.
- KRL Commuterline — fares start at about Rp3,000 for the first 25 km, plus Rp1,000 for each additional 10 km. Buy an e-money card at station entrances and tap in at platform entrances. The KRL Access app gives schedules, routes, locations and fares.
- TransJakarta — a flat fare of about Rp3,500 regardless of distance. E-money cards are bought at entrance windows. The Moovit app is useful for routes and schedules.
- MikroTrans — free of charge, but you must tap a Jaklingko e-money card when boarding and alighting.
- Bajaj — no meter; fares are negotiated with the driver based on distance, so agree the price before you ride.
Across the network, fares generally range from about Rp2,000 to Rp20,000 depending on the mode and distance. All prices here are approximate and change over time, so check current fares with the operator or in the relevant app before you travel. The sources do not describe a dedicated tourist pass, so plan on a standard stored-value card rather than a visitor-specific product.
From the airport
Jakarta has two airports with scheduled flights. Soekarno-Hatta International Airport (CGK) is about 20 km northwest of the city in neighbouring Tangerang and handles most commercial flights. Halim Perdanakusuma Airport (HLP) is smaller and much closer to the city, in East Jakarta, and is served by a range of domestic scheduled flights.
From Soekarno-Hatta, your public-transport options include:
- Soekarno–Hatta Airport Commuter Line — run by KAI Commuter between the airport and downtown for about Rp70,000.
- DAMRI buses — operate routinely to various major transportation hubs, including train stations and other bus terminals.
- JAConnexion buses — serve a number of hotels and shopping malls within the metro area for up to about Rp50,000.
- Hotel shuttles — many hotels offer shuttles from the airport.
There is a dedicated tollway into the city, which should take 45 to 90 minutes. Avoid taking a conventional or online taxi in rush hour, as it may charge you more than Rp300,000.
From Halim Perdanakusuma, DAMRI operates bus services to Rawamangun Bus Terminal; to Pulogebang, Gambir Station and Bekasi; and to Depok, Bogor's Botany Square and Soekarno-Hatta Airport. Taxis also operate here, but avoid taking them inside the airport area.
Etiquette & customs
Jakarta's transit systems are busy and largely orderly, and a few local habits will make your journeys smoother.
- Queuing — queue for gates, platform entrances and bus doors rather than crowding forward. Stations and stops are staffed, and staff will direct the flow.
- Escalators — stand on one side and leave the other side clear for people walking past. The sources do not specify which side, so follow the signage and the behaviour of the people around you.
- Women-only sections — KRL Commuterline cars and TransJakarta buses have separate women-only sections. These are reserved, so respect them.
- Priority seating — priority seats are intended for older passengers, pregnant women and people with disabilities; give them up when needed.
- Eating and drinking — the sources do not state explicit rules, so keep food and drink to a minimum and avoid strong-smelling food in air-conditioned cars and on buses.
- Rush hour — the busiest times are roughly 06:00–10:00 and 16:00–21:00. Expect crowded trains and buses, and allow extra time. Trains may also run 10–15 minutes late.
- Bajaj fares — always agree the price with the driver before you set off.
Official links
Survival terms
- Subway/metro — Moda Raya Terpadu (MRT)
- Ticket — tiket
- Line — jalur
- Entrance — masuk
- Exit — keluar
- Transfer — transit
- Single fare — tarif sekali jalan
- Day pass — tiket harian
Before you set out each morning, top up your e-money card and check the operator app for your route, because fares and schedules change and a little planning saves a lot of time in Jakarta's traffic.