New world’s biggest city is home to famous beach islands, award-winning hotels and ‘indoor living planet’
TOKYO had held the title of world’s biggest city for decades – but it’s lost its title.
Now, another spot in Asia has claimed top spot and there’s plenty you can do there, from exploring traditional areas to staying in luxury hotels and taking a look around the enormous aquarium.
Until this year, Tokyo had held the title of the biggest city in the world from around 1955.
However, according to a UN report, Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, has overtaken it.
The city is now home to 42million people, Tokyo in comparison is home to 22million.
Shockingly, the amount of people living in Jakarta is more than the entire population of Australia, which is 27million.
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Jakarta is found on the Indonesian island of Java, and there you’ll find huge skyscrapers, but also enormous green spaces and very traditional buildings.
One of those is Kota Tua Jakarta is the original downtown area of the city, which has Dutch influence and even canals – it was the capital of the Dutch East Indies in the 17th century.
The city is home to the largest mosque in Southeast Asia called the Istiqlal Mosque.
When it comes to staying in the city, it has a number of award-winning hotels like The Langham.
Rooms have cityscape views which you can see through the floor-to-ceiling windows, multiple dining options and even a rooftop bar on the 65th floor.
It received two MICHELIN Keys and recognition from the Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Awards 2025.
However while it’s a five-star award-winning hotels, room rates aren’t as high as you’d expect – a one-night stay in a Deluxe King Room in January costs £96pp.
Other award-winning hotels include the Mandarin Oriental, ATANA Midplaza Jakarta and The Ritz-Carlton.
Travelling slightly further afield, one of Java’s neighbouring islands is one that Brits will be familiar with, Bali.
Known for its very relaxed vibe, beautiful beaches and temples, the island is under two hours away.
There are flight offerings between the two destinations which take under two hours, or you can get there by train which takes travellers across Java.
Other popular islands close to Jakarta is Thousand Islands of which there are hundreds with resorts and activities – it’s popular to take a boat trip around them, snorkel and dive.
One very popular attraction in the city is the Jakarta Aquarium & Safari which is called ‘the largest indoor Living Planet in Indonesia’.
Inside are 3,500 species across the aquarium, and there are non-aquatic animals too.
In terms of creatures there’s everything from penguins to sharks, sea lions, plenty of tropical fish, jellyfish and rays.
On land, there are capybaras, binturongs, meerkats, and exotic reptiles and insects.
Other top-rated activities on Tripadvisor include popping into the Grand Indonesia Mall which is the biggest in the city.
Sadly, from the UK, Brits can’t fly directly to Jakarta. However there are options from London that require just one layover in the likes of Dubai.
Flying from other UK airports will require a stopover in Amsterdam and Malaysia.
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