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How to travel from and to 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.
3 ways to get from Jakarta Airport to Jakarta City Centre
If you’re arriving or departing from Jakarta and need to travel 20 km between Jakarta Airport and the city centre, then you have 3 options: a train for 40 minutes, a bus for 1.5 hours, or a taxi also for 1.5 hours. Rates range from $2 (30,000 IDR) to $10 (150,000 IDR).
The train is our preferred mode of transport from the airport to the city as it allows you to escape the usual city traffic. And trust us, Jakarta’s roads can get pretty crazy during rush hour! Once you get to BNI City or Manggarai Station in Central Jakarta, you can take a connecting train, bus, or taxi to your destination. A train ticket costs $2 (30,000 IDR).
The bus is another cheap option with fares from $2.70 (40,000 IDR). If your hotel is quite far from the train station, you can take the bus as it makes several stops in the city. However, travel time between Jakarta Airport and the city centre can take at least 1.5 hours.
The taxi is a convenient way to travel between Jakarta Airport and the city. It’s a door-to-door transfer, but like the bus, you will still face the city’s heavy traffic. Taxi fares start from $10 (150,000 IDR).
Throughout this post, we focus on travelling from the airport to the city centre. If you’re doing the opposite and heading to Jakarta airport, all you need to do is follow the information in reverse!
Jakarta Airport to city centre by Train
The train is the best way to skip the heavy traffic on the roads from Jakarta Airport to the city centre. The train station is conveniently connected to the airport terminal.
Trains from Jakarta Airport 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 $2 (30,000 IDR)
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.
Train schedule between Jakarta Airport and city centre
For the latest schedules and online booking, check the Railink website.
Jakarta Airport to city centre by Bus
Another way to travel between Jakarta Airport 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 and the city centre is around 1.5 hours, 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 $2.70 (40,000 IDR), 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.
Jakarta Airport to city centre by Taxi
The taxi is a convenient way to travel between Jakarta Airport 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, you can book with Klook or Grab. You can also find several taxi companies outside the airport.
Klook Taxi from Jakarta Airport
Klook is our preferred taxi service from Jakarta Airport to the city centre and vice versa. They offer better cars and reliable drivers with rates starting from $17 (255,000 IDR). 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.
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 $10 (150,000 IDR) when taking a Grab Taxi from Jakarta Airport to the city centre. Alternatively, you can also try out the popular taxi app GoJek.
Airport Taxi from Jakarta Airport
As with many airports, scamming is not a foreign concept when taking a taxi from and to Jakarta Airport. 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 $12 (180,000 IDR).
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Ela is a storyteller, content producer, solo traveller and a mermaid-in-training. When she’s not in front of her laptop, you will find her barefoot and living her best tan on some island in the Philippines… Or exploring the depths of its seas as a budding freediver. An island girl at heart, she’ll be happy anywhere there is sea, sand, sun and coffee.
Based in Bali, Maarten’s passion for travel is undeniable. In 2016, he decided to quit his job as a stock analyst and started doing what he always dreamed of: travelling through South East Asia and helping other people plan their trips. When he is not working on Gecko Routes, you’ll find him surfing in the ocean or exploring the best gems of Indonesia.
