How to get from Jakarta Airport to the city centre

Jakarta Airport

Jakarta Airport (Soekarno–Hatta International Airport) is the main airport serving the capital of Indonesia. It is located in Tangerang, 20 km northwest of Central Jakarta.

Named after Indonesia’s first president, Seokarno, and vice president, Mohammad Hatta, Jakarta Airport has 3 terminals. A Skytrain connects these terminals, so you can move from one to the other for free.

There is another airport in Jakarta called Halim Perdanakusuma International Airport, located 15 km southeast of the city centre. However, this mostly caters to military, private, and presidential uses. It also operates commercial flights, not as many as Soekarno–Hatta, but it’s still worth double-checking your ticket.

There are 3 ways to travel the 20 kilometre (12 miles) distance from Jakarta Airport to the city centre. You can choose between the bus, taxi and train. The journey takes 50 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes and the quickest way is by train. If you're on a budget, the cheapest option is by train with tickets starting at 30,000 IDR ($1.80).

The train is the best way to skip the heavy traffic on the roads from Jakarta Airport to the city centre to the city centre. The train station is conveniently connected to the airport terminal.

Trains from Jakarta Airport to the city centre to the city centre depart every 30 minutes from 06:19 to 20:49 daily. If you’re travelling from the city centre to the airport, the trains are available from 05:16 to 19:46.

It takes about 50 minutes between the airport and the city centre, and fares start from 30,000 IDR ($1.80)

Departure and arrival station

To take the train, you first need to get to Soekarno-Hatta Airport Rail Link, which is located between Terminal 1 and Terminal 2.

If you’re heading to the city centre, it is best to get off at BNI City Railway Station (previously Sudirman Baru Station) in Central Jakarta. The last stop is Manggarai Station, about 6 minutes away from BNI Station.

From these stations, you can take another train, bus, or taxi to your destination in the city. Grab is also available in Jakarta if you want a cheaper transfer.

Another way to travel between Jakarta Airport to the city centre and the city centre is by bus. The bus makes several stops in Jakarta city centre, so it’s a good idea if your hotel or destination is quite far from the train stations.

The downside is that you’ll have to brace through heavy traffic in the city. The estimated travel time between Jakarta Airport to the city centre and the city centre is around 1 hour 30 minutes, but expect a longer journey, especially during rush hour.

You can choose from several bus companies on this route, such as DAMRI, Sinar Jaya, and Agri Mas. Tickets start from 40,000 IDR ($2.40), and there are bus departures every 15 to 30 minutes from 02:00 to 23:30.

Departure and arrival station

You can find the buses parked outside the arrivals halls of each of the airport’s three terminals.

The buses have several destinations in the city centre, but the last stop is Gambir Station beside the National Monument in Central Jakarta.

The taxi is a convenient way to travel between Jakarta Airport to the city centre and your hotel in the city. It’s also your only option if you arrive at the airport once the trains and buses have stopped running for the day.

With the taxi, you will still have to worry about getting stuck in traffic. If you’re pressed for time though, we suggest taking the train instead.

When travelling from Jakarta Airport to the city centre to the city centre, you can book with Klook or Grab. You can also find several taxi companies outside the airport.

Klook Taxi from Jakarta Airport to the city centre

Klook is our preferred taxi service from Jakarta Airport to the city centre to the city centre and vice versa. They offer better cars and reliable drivers with rates starting from 255,000 IDR ($15.10). You can book them up to a few hours before your trip and your driver will be waiting for you at the airport when you arrive!

Check Private Transfers with Klook

Grab Taxi from Jakarta Airport

Another good option for the taxi is to book them via the taxi-hailing app Grab. Luckily, Grab is allowed to operate at Jakarta Airport to the city centre.

You can book a ride using the airport Wi-Fi or using data (if you already bought a sim card at the airport).

Using your Grab App, pick the option “GrabCar Airport” to be able to book your ride. The car picking you up should have a GrabCar Airport special sticker.

Expect to pay around 150,000 IDR ($8.90) when taking a Grab Taxi from Jakarta Airport to the city centre to the city centre. Alternatively, you can also try out the popular taxi app GoJek.

Airport Taxi from Jakarta Airport to the city centre

As with many airports, scamming is not a foreign concept when taking a taxi from and to Jakarta Airport to the city centre. This is why we highly recommend taking a ride with one of the accredited airport taxis below:

• Blue Bird Taxis
• Silver Bird Taxi
• Tiara Express
• Borobudur
• Diamond
• Primajasa
• Green Line Taksi
• Gamya
• Gading

It’s important to note that even with these companies, there have been some reports of overpricing and unprofessional drivers.

There are different kinds of airport taxis available: budget, regular, special taxis, and executive. Whichever you plan to take, it’s better if they’re prepaid. This is your best defence against faulty meters and drivers trying to charge you so much more than you’re supposed to pay.

Airport taxi rates start from 180,000 IDR ($10.70).