Travel Etiquette and Customs in Jakarta
Part of the Jakarta travel guide — see every topic in All Jakarta Guides.
Jakarta is a Muslim-majority city in the world's largest Muslim-majority country, and it is also a cosmopolitan capital where a great deal of behaviour passes without comment. The gap between those two facts confuses visitors who arrive from Bali, which is Hindu and geared entirely to tourism. The practical guidance is straightforward: dress and behave a step more conservatively than you would in Bali, use your right hand, and never raise your voice.
Hands, feet and greetings
Use your right hand to give, receive, eat and gesture — the left is considered unclean. Point with the thumb of a closed right fist rather than an index finger. Do not touch anyone's head. Do not show the soles of your feet or point them at a person. Handshakes are common, often light, sometimes followed by touching the hand to the chest; many Muslim men and women do not shake hands with the opposite sex, so wait to see whether a hand is offered rather than extending yours first.
Dress and religion
Jakarta is relaxed in malls, offices and the southern districts, where Western dress is normal. Cover shoulders and knees in markets, older neighbourhoods, government buildings and mosques. The Istiqlal Mosque welcomes non-Muslim visitors outside prayer times and lends robes. Remove shoes before entering a mosque or a home. During Ramadan, refrain from eating, drinking and smoking in public during daylight — restaurants stay open, often screened — and be aware that traffic before the fast breaks is genuinely dangerous.
Communication
Raised voices and public confrontation cause a serious loss of face and will not get you what you want; a calm smile achieves far more. Direct refusal is avoided, so a hesitant "maybe" or "perhaps later" frequently means no — do not push. Terima kasih (thank you), permisi (excuse me) and maaf (sorry) cover most needs, and any attempt at Indonesian is received warmly. Address strangers as pak (sir) or bu (madam) before a request.
Practical customs
Tipping is not traditional but is now expected in tourism: round up a taxi fare, 10 per cent where no service charge is added, and a small note for a porter or driver. Bargaining is normal in markets and street stalls and rude in malls, restaurants and shops with printed prices. Alcohol is legal but not served everywhere; do not bring it to a halal establishment. Public displays of affection are best kept minimal. And politics, religion and race are subjects to listen to rather than opine on.
Travel Etiquette and Customs at a glance
| Hands | Right hand to give, receive, eat and gesture |
|---|---|
| Greeting | Wait to see if a hand is offered |
| Dress | Relaxed in malls; cover shoulders and knees elsewhere |
| Mosques | Istiqlal welcomes visitors outside prayer times; robes lent |
| Ramadan | No eating, drinking or smoking in public in daylight |
| Communication | Never raise your voice; "maybe" often means no |