7 of the best beaches in Jakarta for sun, sand and surf

Jakarta is a busy metropolis offering a great selection of beaches to enjoy.

From towering skyscrapers in the business district, to the historic old town, this vast city offers a mix of cultures and delicious food.  Whether you’re a business traveller or taking a holiday with your family, it’s a true paradise for beach lovers.

Jakarta offers easy access to some great beaches. The proximity of Pulau Seribu, Thousand Islands that surrounds the capital city makes it easy to explore multiple beach destinations while island hopping. Every stretch of sand is different around Jakarta, and exploring its beaches puts you in touch with Indonesia’s beach culture. Here is a list of beautiful beaches you should explore when you are next in Jakarta. 

Why visit: Ancol city beach, close to the airport in North Jakarta, is popular with locals. It has a small stretch of white sand. It’s a great beach for locals to unwind

What to do:  You can enjoy the sun, take a dip in the warm water and enjoy beach activities like volleyball and kite flying. Visit Taman Impian Jaya Ancol, the nearby amusement park to ride the gondola and watch the dolphin show at the Oceanarium. The entire Ancol waterfront marina development is spread over sixty-thousand square metres. It includes a residential estate, hotels, a shopping centre, a golf club, a stadium and varied beachfront restaurants.

Where to eat: Encircled by the sea, Le Bridge offers panoramic ocean views. The menu offers a variety of dishes, including barbecue and vegetarian food. Try their Spaghetti Aglio e Olio. Kampoeng Maen offers a variety of traditional Indonesian dishes.

Insider Tip: There isn’t much shade on Ancol beach, so it’s better to go early in the morning or late afternoon, take a beach umbrella for shelter and ensure sunscream is applied regularly.

Why visit: Tanjung Pasir Beach at Teluknaga in the Banten district is a popular black sand beach. The water is crystal clear, and the beach offers scenic views. It’s a popular spot for local fishermen.

What to do:  This is a tranquil beach, great for snorkelling and fishing. Kids will enjoy playing in the soft sand. You can hire one of the local fishing boats to take you out if you want to explore other fishing areas.

Where you can eat: Bring your own picnic or enjoy local food found at the warungs. These beachside shacks offer a variety of Indonesian seafood dishes. Try the crab and fish head curry.

Insider Tip: There is an entrance fee to explore the beach.

Why visit: Pasir Putih boasts two beautiful white sand beaches in North Jakarta perfect for relaxing and seeking shells. PIK 1 is great for families. It features a long stretch of clean sand and a few restaurants, cafes, and playgrounds. PIK 2 is a soft white sand beach with surfer breaks and panoramic views.

What to do:  PIK 2 is a popular beach with Jakarta’s city residents who flock here to party at Dreamville Beach Club on the weekends. It’s the city’s first-ever beach club and offers local and international DJs, foam parties, cocktails, music festivals and great food.

Where you can eat: Head to Lands End PIK 2. There are several seaside restaurants to choose from. Lucy by the Sea is a stylish eatery right on the beach. Pier No. 12 offers amazing fresh seafood - from sashimi to oven-baked fish dishes.

Insider Tip:  Hire a sailboat with a guide to take you further out to sea so you can snorkel around pristine coral gardens. 

Why visit: Picturesque Anyer Beach, located three hours from Jakarta on the western tip of Java Island, offers scenic views of Mount Rakata and the beautiful Java Sea.  The pristine white sand beach is a popular swimming beach.

What to do:  Different adventure sports are available including parasailing, scuba diving, and snorkelling which can be found at different points off the beach. 

Where you can eat: Beach Point offers a range of international and Indonesian dishes. It’s a fun beach hangout with bean bags, local live music and drinks.

Insider Tip: Check out the old Cikoneng Lighthouse

Why visit: Escape the city and explore Pulau Seribu (Thousand Islands), an archipelago of stunning islands located along the bay of Jakarta. These islands offer pristine beaches and crystal-clear waters. If you want to go on a day trip, take a speedboat from Ancol Marina to Pulau Pelangi (Rainbow Island). A lush island shaded by massive coconut trees.

What to do: You can snorkel and dive or see coral gardens from a semi-submarine boat at Palau Pelangi. Enjoy exhilarating banana boat rides and unwind in thatched-roof bungalows.

Where you can eat: Taste local seafood delicacies, nasi goreng and satay meat skewers at the Peppermint Bistro & Terrace, a simple village cafe.

Insider Tip: Perfect beach to unplug. Go snorkelling straight off the beach.  

Why visit: Located in North Jakarta, Pantai Indah Kapuk is known for its tranquil beauty and sunset views. It is about thirty kilometres from Jakarta. The island’s best beach, Pantai Segara Indah, on the eastern side has long stretches of powdery white sand and is lined with coconut palms.

What to do:  Relax on the beach under a shaded gazebo, which you can hire from one of the local vendors who also sell fresh coconut water. This is a  tranquil beach for swimming, sunbathing and snorkelling.

Where you can eat: Beachside food stalls sell delicious Indonesian street food.

Insider Tip: Go to the beach during the week as it is much quieter. Over the weekends it is packed with families enjoying beach barbecues. 

Why visit: Surrounded by Mount Krakatau, this stunning white sand beach on Peucang Island offers clear blue water fringed by coral reefs. A three-hour drive from Jakarta, Carita Beach offers panoramic views of the Krakatau volcano. This is a popular beach attracting both locals and tourists in West Bantan.

What to do:  You can enjoy the sun, surf and swim. And if you are keen to snorkel or scuba dive, Peucang Island offers numerous coves and bays to explore the underwater marine life.

Where you can eat: Enjoy cool vibes, DJ playlists and freshly caught seafood at Pantai Pandan – a surfers club hangout on the beach.

Insider Tip: For the super fit and adventurous, there are opportunities to climb Krakatau. It’s about a three-hour trip from Carita Beach, including a choppy boat journey, to reach the foothills of Krakatau. 

First-time visitors to Jakarta may feel slightly overawed at first by the vast network of highways and byways, skyscrapers and traffic. Jakarta is fast paced, fun and captivating! You can use the MRT metro or Grab Taxi to get around. Take a Grab Taxi to Ancol Beach or stop off at the marina if you want to catch a boat to one of the island beaches.

There are several Mercure hotels dotted around the city. Mercure Jakarta Batavia, located in Jakarta’s historical Kota Tua Old Town, is a few kilometres from Ancol beach. The hotel is within walking distance of Fatahillah Square. Around the square and in the surrounding streets you will find cafes, restaurants and well-preserved colonial architecture.

Mercure Jakarta Kota is a cosy Indonesian-Chinese style hotel located in Glodok, Chinatown, close to Mangga Besar’s delicious street food, lively nightlife and the Pecenongan Night Market. Explore the winding Chinatown alleyways which are filled with cafes and restaurants, and shophouses. Depending on the traffic, North Jakarta’s beaches are about thirty-minute drive away.

The modern Mercure Jakarta Gatot Subroto  is located in south Jakarta in the golden business triangle.  Dine at the Grand Café on the seventh floor which serves an eclectic blend of Chinese Indonesian-inspired dishes. 

• The best time to enjoy Jakarta and Thousand Island beaches is during the dry season from the beginning of May until the end of September. Although Jakarta is hot and humid all year round and downpours only tend to occur for a short while. 
  
  
• You don’t have to take a boat to explore these top beaches: Anyer, Ancol and Tanjung Lesung and Pasir Putih.
  
  
• You can take day trips to Pulau Seribu (Thousand Islands) where you will find endless beaches, inlets and coves to explore.
  
  
• Indonesia is a conservative culture, and public nudity is strictly prohibited. 
  
  
• Purified water is available everywhere for consumption. 
  
  
• You should drink coconut water when you are feeling dehydrated. You can buy fresh coconut water from local beach vendors. It contains natural electrolytes and minerals.
  
  
• Take along beach footwear if you intend to go walking along any of Jakarta’s beaches. Some beaches have sections where the sand is quite gravely and there are also pebbles, which makes it uncomfortable to walk barefoot.
  
  
• It's hot and sunny on Jakarta’s beaches. We suggest bringing along a hat and reef-friendly sunscreen.  
  
  
• Most beach public toilets charge money to gain entrance so bring along some small change.

Being near city life while still having access to a range of beautiful beaches and stunning natural wonders is a luxury. From bustling Ancol to picturesque Anyer, there's a beach to suit every beach lover’s preference.  Explore Jakarta’s beaches on your next getaway to Jakarta.