Jakarta Weather in January

January weather

January feels hot, sticky and very wet in Jakarta. Highs reach 29°C, and the humidity can make even a short walk feel tiring. Rain falls on 29 days, and thick cloud keeps daily sunshine low. Sudden downpours can slow traffic and leave streets flooded, so it helps to expect a wet day at any point.

That's why it pays to plan around the weather. Keep indoor stops such as the National Museum or Grand Indonesia mall in your back pocket, and don't count on a dry afternoon at Kota Tua. Its old buildings are lovely to wander, but long walks between them are less fun when the sky is grey and the pavements are wet.

What to do

If you're travelling with kids, pick an indoor activity for the middle of the day, then head to Taman Mini Indonesia Indah when the weather clears. For food, try soto Betawi, a local beef soup, at a covered restaurant. You'll get a good meal without spending your day dodging showers on a long street-food crawl.

New Year's Day is a public holiday, and Jakarta often marks the occasion around Bundaran HI. Chinese New Year can also fall in January, though its date changes each year, so check the calendar for your travel year before you book around it.

Crowds and costs

Once the Christmas and New Year rush is over, crowds usually ease and hotel prices tend to drop from December's holiday levels. That quieter stretch is the main upside of visiting now. If you'd rather have drier skies for sightseeing, though, August and September are the months to aim for.

If you hate crowds, the post-holiday lull may suit you, as long as you're happy to work around the rain. A useful local tip: take the MRT between Bundaran HI and Kota to skip road traffic, but leave extra time for the last leg to Kota Tua when heavy rain causes delays.