How to Get to Jakarta City Center from Soekarno-Hatta International Airport

Soekarno-Hatta International Airport is the main airport serving Jakarta, Indonesia, and is located approximately 20 km northwest of the city center. If you are looking to get to the city center from the airport using public transportation, there are several options available to you.

1. Using Airport Railink Train Service

One of the most convenient and quickest ways to get to the city center from the airport is to take the Airport Railink train service. This is a premium train service that runs from the airport to the BNI City Train Station in the heart of Jakarta (Sudirman area).

The Airport Railink Train is located in the Soekarno-Hatta Integrated Airport Railway Station (SHIA), which is between Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 of the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport. You can access the SHIA via the Skytrain, which is a short rail line that connects the three terminals.

1.1 How to reach Airport Railink Train Station

Here are the directions to get to the Airport Railink Train from each terminal:

• Terminal 1 and Terminal 2: Take the Skytrain from Level 3 to Level 1. The Airport Railink Train station is located on Level 1
• Terminal 3: Take the Skytrain from Level 2 to Level 1. The Airport Railink Train station is located on Level 1.

The journey takes around 46-47 minutes and trains run every 15-30 minutes from 5:00 AM to 11:00 PM.

Once you arrive at the SHIA, you can purchase your ticket for the Airport Railink Train and board the train on the bottom floor.

1.2 Ticket Prices for Airport Railink Train

• Soekarno-Hatta Airport (SHIA) to BNI City Station: IDR 50,000 (adult) / IDR 25,000 (child) –> recommended destination if you’re going to the Jakarta city center
• Soekarno-Hatta Airport (SHIA) to Manggarai Station: IDR 40,000 (adult) / IDR 20,000 (child)
• Soekarno-Hatta Airport (SHIA) to Duri Station: IDR 30,000 (adult) / IDR 15,000 (child)

Children under the age of 2 years old can travel for free. You can purchase your tickets at the Airport Railink Train station, at the Railink ticket booth, or online.

Here are some of the promo fares offered by Airport Railink Train:

• Weekday Rush Hour Discount: Get a 25% discount on your ticket when you travel from the Soekarno-Hatta Airport (SHIA) to BNI City Station during the morning and evening rush hours (6:00 AM to 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM).
• Group Discount: Get a 10% discount on your ticket when you travel with a group of 10 or more people.
• Student Discount: Get a 50% discount on your ticket when you travel with a valid student ID.

You can find more information about the ticket prices and promos on the Airport Railink Train website or app.

1.3 Getting off the Airport Railink Train

Once you arrive at BNI City Train Station, you will have a number of options for getting to your final destination in the city center. If you have a lot of luggage or would prefer a more comfortable ride, you can take a taxi or a Gojek / Grab (local ride-hailing service) to your desired location. Taxis are readily available outside the train station, and you can use the Gojek / Grab app to book a ride.

Another option is to take the Transjakarta bus rapid transit system. This is a convenient and affordable way to get around Jakarta and has a number of different routes that run throughout the city. The bus stops for the Transjakarta system are located outside BNI City Train Station, so it is easy to find. To take the bus, you will need to purchase a smart card, known as an e-ticket/ e-money (screenshot below), from one of the kiosks located near the bus stop. You can then use the card to pay for your bus ride.

If you prefer to walk, BNI City Train Station is also located close to several major landmarks and attractions in Jakarta, such as the National Monument, the National Museum, and the Merdeka Palace. These are all within a 15-20 minute walk from the train station, making it easy to explore the city center on foot.

2. Using Public Taxi

There are several taxi companies in Indonesia, but we strongly recommend that you only use 1 brand: Blue Bird. It is by far the most reliable and safest taxi company in Indonesia.

To go to Jakarta city center from Soekarno-Hatta Airport using a Blue Bird taxi, you can follow these steps:

1. Once you have arrived at the airport, head to the designated Blue Bird taxi queue at the arrival terminal. Please be aware at peak times, the queue will be a little bit longer since Blue Bird is practically the only reliable taxi, and most people know it.
   • Blue Bird stand is available at Terminal 1, 2 and 3
   • Terminal 1: The Blue Bird taxi stand is located outside the Arrivals Hall, on the left side of the main door, between Arrival Hall T1A and T1B
   • Terminal 2: The Blue Bird taxi stand is located outside the Arrivals Hall, on the right side of the main door, between Arrival Hall T2D and T2F
   • Terminal 3: The Blue Bird taxi stand is located outside the Arrivals Hall, in front of the Skytrain station, between Arrival Hall T3 Domestic and T3 International
2. Inform the taxi attendant (usually using a Blue Bird vest) that you would like to go to Jakarta city center or your hotel.
3. The taxi attendant will direct you to the next available Blue Bird taxi.
4. Once you’re in the taxi, give the driver your destination address or the name of the location you’re heading to.
5. The driver will start the meter and begin the journey to your destination. It’s standard for Blue Bird to use the meter.
6. Pay the fare once you have reached your destination. The fare will be calculated based on the distance traveled and displayed on the taxi meter.

Tips for using a taxi at Soekarno-Hatta airport:

• On your way to Blue Bird taxi stands, there will be a lot of people approaching you and telling you things such as “come on Sir, cheap taxi”, “where do you want to go”, etc. Just be careful of them.
• It’s always a good idea to have cash in Indonesian Rupiah on hand to pay for the taxi fare.
• If the regular Blue Bird has a long queue and you have spare money for transportation, opt for its more premium service which is Silver Bird. The queue will be significantly shorter and you’ll get a premium car and driver as well

3. Using Ride-Hailing Services

There are several ride-hailing options available in Jakarta, including Grab and GOJEK.

Here’s how you can use these services to go to Jakarta city center from Soekarno-Hatta airport:

1. Download and install the ride-hailing app of your choice on your smartphone (Grab or GOJEK).
2. Open the app and set your pickup location as “Soekarno-Hatta International Airport”, and set which Terminal you’re at.
3. Enter your destination as “Jakarta city center” or the specific location you want to go to (most likely will be your hotel name).
4. Choose your preferred ride type (e.g., car or taxi) and confirm your booking.
5. Pick your preferred payment methods.
   • Cash
   • Credit Cards: both Grab and GOJEK should have this option
   • E-Wallet: Gopay (for GOJEK) and OVO (for Grab, you need to install a separate app for this)
6. Wait for your driver to arrive at the pickup location, which will be indicated in the app.
7. Once you have reached your destination, pay the fare using the payment method you chose before.

3.1 Location of GOJEK stands

• Terminal 1: The GoCar pick-up point is located near Solaria Restaurant, on the ground floor of the Arrivals Hall
• Terminal 2: The GoCar pick-up points are located at Terminal 2D and Terminal 2F, on the ground floor of the Arrivals Hall.
• Terminal 3: The GoCar pick-up points are located at the Domestic Parking Building (Lt. 1) and the International Parking Building (Lt. 1).

3.2 Location of GRAB stands

• Terminal 1: The GrabCar stand is located outside the Arrivals Hall, on the left side of the main door
• Terminal 2: The GrabCar stand is located outside the Arrivals Hall, on the right side of the main door
• Terminal 3: The GrabCar stand is located outside the Arrivals Hall, in front of the Skytrain station

There is also a dedicated GrabCar stand for GrabCar Elektrik, which is a fleet of electric cars. The GrabCar Elektrik stand is located at the following locations:

• Terminal 3 Arrival International: West Lobby, door 2.
• Terminal 3 Arrival Domestic: Exit the arrival terminal through the pick-up transportation service booth, and walk left to the pick-up point. Turn left towards the Grab sign.

Note that ride-hailing services in Jakarta may have different rules and regulations compared to other countries, so it’s always a good idea to check with the driver or the app for any additional information or advice.

4. Using Airport DAMRI Bus

This option can be categorized as the cheapest option among the other options above.

4.1 DAMRI Bus Fare

The Damri Bus fare from Soekarno-Hatta Airport to Jakarta city center varies depending on the destination. Here are some estimated fares based on the most popular destinations:

• Soekarno-Hatta Airport – Gambir Station: IDR 40,000 (adult) / IDR 20,000 (child)
• Soekarno-Hatta Airport – Blok M: IDR 40,000 (adult) / IDR 20,000 (child)
• Soekarno-Hatta Airport – Kota: IDR 35,000 (adult) / IDR 17,500 (child)
• Soekarno-Hatta Airport – Bogor: IDR 55,000 (adult) / IDR 27,500 (child)
• Soekarno-Hatta Airport – Merak: IDR 80,000 (adult) / IDR 40,000 (child)

There are also discounts available for students, seniors, and people with disabilities. You can purchase your tickets at the DAMRI bus counter at the airport or directly on board the bus.

Here are some of the promo fares offered by DAMRI:

• Student Discount: Get a 50% discount on your ticket when you travel with a valid student ID.
• Senior Discount: Get a 30% discount on your ticket when you are 60 years of age or older.
• People with Disabilities Discount: Get a 50% discount on your ticket when you have a valid disability card.

Note that the fares are subject to change, so it’s always a good idea to check the latest fare information before you travel. You can find the latest fare information at the Damri Bus counter at the airport or on the official Damri website (sadly it’s only in Indonesian).

4.2 DAMRI Bus Stand Locations

The location of the Damri Bus counter in Soekarno-Hatta Airport depends on the terminal you are arriving at. Here are the locations of the Damri Bus counters in each terminal:

• Terminal 1: The DAMRI bus stand is located outside the Arrivals Hall, on the left side of the main door.
• Terminal 2: The DAMRI bus stand is located outside the Arrivals Hall, on the right side of the main door.
• Terminal 3: The DAMRI bus stand is located outside the Arrivals Hall, in front of the Skytrain station.

The Damri Bus counter is usually marked with a sign and is easily identifiable. If you have any trouble finding the counter, you can ask the airport staff for assistance.

In conclusion, getting from Soekarno-Hatta International Airport to the city center of Jakarta using public transportation is relatively straightforward and convenient. Whether you prefer the comfort of a taxi or the affordability of the DAMRI bus, there are a number of options available to suit your needs. With a journey time of around 30 minutes on the Airport Railink train and a range of transportation options available at BNI City Train Station, you can be in the heart of Jakarta in no time.