Istana Merdeka

Merdeka Square & Central Jakarta

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The presidential palace (one of six in Indonesia) stands to the north of Merdeka Square. It was built in 1879 and was Sukarno's official residence during his reign, although Suharto spurned it. On 27 December 1949, the Dutch flag was lowered for the last time and the red-and-white flag of independent Indonesia was raised. Hundreds of thousands of Indonesians gathered to witness the event and chant merdeka (freedom).

Every 17 August, Independence Day is celebrated with a flag-raising ceremony in front of the palace with thousands of dignitaries present.

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

  • Museum Nasional

    Museum Nasional

    0.42 MILES

    The National Museum is the best of its kind in Indonesia and an essential visit. The enormous collection begins around an open courtyard of the 1862…

  • Indonesia, Jakarta, Merdeka Square, National Monument Monas

    Merdeka Square

    0.71 MILES

    It is here that Jakartans come to take a breather from the traffic. The figurative centre of Jakarta, Merdeka Square (merdeka means independence) is…

  • Taman Fatahillah

    Taman Fatahillah

    2.56 MILES

    Kota’s central cobblestone square, surrounded by imposing Dutch colonial buildings, is Jakarta's most attractive location and a popular gathering spot for…

  • Museum Layang-Layang

    Museum Layang-Layang

    9.74 MILES

    Families will love Jakarta's kite museum, located in a quiet backstreet in Pondok Labu, South Jakarta. Inside a traditional Indonesian house, complete…

  • Galeri Nasional

    Galeri Nasional

    0.8 MILES

    Over 1700 works of art by foreign and Indonesian artists are part of the National Gallery collection. While only a few works are on display at any time,…

  • Museum Bank Indonesia

    Museum Bank Indonesia

    2.41 MILES

    This museum presents an engaging and easily consumed history of Indonesia from a loosely financial perspective, in a grand, expertly restored,…

  • Museum Macan

    Museum Macan

    4.12 MILES

    Opened in late 2017, Museum Macan is Indonesia's first modern and contemporary art museum and an exciting cultural development for the city. It was built…

  • Jin De Yuan

    Jin De Yuan

    1.93 MILES

    This large Chinese Buddhist temple compound dates from 1755 and is one of the most atmospheric and important in the city. The main structure has an…

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Nearby Merdeka Square & Central Jakarta attractions

1. Monumen Nasional

0.41 MILES

Ingloriously dubbed ‘Sukarno’s final erection’, the 132m-high National Monument (aka Monas), which rises into the shroud of smog and towers over Merdeka…

2. Museum Nasional

0.42 MILES

The National Museum is the best of its kind in Indonesia and an essential visit. The enormous collection begins around an open courtyard of the 1862…

3. Masjid Istiqlal

0.45 MILES

The striking, modernist Masjid Istiqlal is adorned by patterned geometric grates on the windows. Completed in 1978, it's the largest mosque in Southeast…

4. Gereja Katedral Jakarta

0.61 MILES

This Roman Catholic cathedral is an impressive height, with lacy twin spires made from wrought iron, each 60m tall. It was built in 1901 to replace an…

5. Gedung Pancasila

0.68 MILES

Gedung Pancasila is an imposing neoclassical building built in 1830 as the Dutch army commander’s residence. It later became the meeting hall of the…

6. Arjuna Wijaya Statue

0.68 MILES

Built in 1987, this enormous statue near a major road junction depicts the Hindu hero Arjuna in his chariot pulled by eight horses.

7. Immanuel Church

0.71 MILES

This classic church dates from 1834. The interior is smaller than you'd think but it has an evocative round dome and an organ from 1843. Ask to see the…

8. Merdeka Square

0.71 MILES

It is here that Jakartans come to take a breather from the traffic. The figurative centre of Jakarta, Merdeka Square (merdeka means independence) is…