National Monument

National Monument (Monas) is a powerful symbol of Indonesia’s fight for independence. Standing tall at 132 meters, it features a golden flame at its peak and Italian marble cladding, designed to evoke national pride. Inside, the museum brings history to life with 50+ dioramas highlighting key moments like the colonial era, the declaration of independence, and early struggles. Climbing to the observation deck rewards visitors with sweeping 360° views of Jakarta’s skyline, while the spacious Merdeka Square surrounding Monas invites a peaceful stroll. A visit to Monas offers both a tangible link to Indonesia’s past and a fresh perspective on the modern city.

To start my driver told me this was free to enter. I thought you only pay to go to the top, but no you pay for entry regardless of if you go to the top. I also thought I would be dropped off at the monument, but the way it is set up you have quite a walk from drop off to entry. Even getting to the monument I had to walk to the other side to find the entrance across the street and take stairs leading to a tunnel that finally got me to the monument. The diorama inside are fine very well. I loved looking at all the detail and there are a lot of them. However, when you finish that then there's nothing else to do but go to the top and overlook the city. Then you take a long walk in the heat to leave the monument. I am happy I saw it, but it was not a great experience. I wouldn't go back. If I had a person with me who hasn't been is rather tell them to go alone and meet back with me later.

A must-visit for anyone in Jakarta! Monas is an incredible monument commemorating Indonesia's struggle for independence. The museum at the base is very informative, filled with engaging dioramas that walk you through the country's history. Climbing to the top offers a fantastic panoramic view of the entire city. Truly a powerful symbol of national pride and resilience.

The iconic landmark of Jakarta. I visited it during the weekends and it can get pretty crowded. To access the observation deck, foreigners will have to pay 55k, which includes a Jakarta city card that will be used when accessing the elevator. The card can later be used in various facilities in Jakarta too. They limit the number of visitors that can access the observation deck each hour, so you will have to queue for it when it's busy. Apparently you cannot pre-book the slots of the next few hours, I tried it and they won't allow me, they will automatic queue you in to the latest available slot. I had to wait for 1.5 hours until my session begins on a Saturday afternoon. Expect to queue at the elevator (both going up & down) for some time as it can only carry 7-10 people per time, and it's very slow. The observation deck is very small and crowded, but the views are pretty nice, a 10 minute stay will suffice. There's also an interesting diorama at the ground floor of the monument that showcases the history of Indonesia. Definitely a good read if you're interested.

Place is well maintained, with on spacious park surrounding the monument. I liked that they have a lot of trash bins and those in the parks are elevated. They have a nice museum with dioramas of historical highlights of the country. They also have underground passages as a respite from the heat if you arrive midday. Signs are all on the local language and very few locals speak English. Accessibility for PWD and elderly is quite difficult