Tangerang
Tangerang is a city in the province of Banten, and part of the Jabodetabek Greater Jakarta metropolitan area, just west of the Indonesian capital Jakarta. With a population of over 2 million, Tangerang is mainly a commuter city for Jakarta. Although the city has a long history dating back to a 17th-century Dutch colonial fortress, the vast majority of the city consists of extensive new housing developments. Jakarta's main international airport, Soekarno-Hatta, is in Tangerang. Just south of the city is the independent city of South Tangerang.
Understand
Like most parts of the Jakarta metropolitan area, the area is heavily traffic congested and disorderly, except in some modern housing developments that are maintained by private companies, such as Lippo Karawaci. While such areas have not been designed for tourism, but specifically for the residents, they include attractions such as shopping malls, restaurants, and golf courses. Similar developments, including the major BSD City, are in the neighbouring city of South Tangerang.
Get in
By plane
Jakarta's main international airport is located in Tangerang. 🌍 Soekarno-Hatta International Airport (CGK IATA) is in the northern part of the city.
By taxi
You can use a metered taxi to reach Tangerang from Jakarta. The cost for a taxi from Central Jakarta to Tangerang is approximately Rp150,000. The trip will take 1 hour without traffic, but commonly up to 2 hours. It is recommended to order the taxi from one of the reputable taxi companies, such as Blue Bird or Express, because taxis hailed on the street may refuse to exit Jakarta and go to Tangerang. Taxis from Jakarta are not allowed to take any passengers from Tangerang to Jakarta.
By bus
The largest bus terminal in the city of Tangerang is 🌍 Poris Plawad bus terminal, east of the city centre opposite Batuceper railway station. The terminal serves a wide range of highly frequent local buses and minibuses to and from destinations throughout Tangerang, Jakarta, and South Tangerang. Many of these buses nowadays have air conditioning, but they are far from comfortable. From Tangerang to Jakarta, the ticket price is about Rp7,000 to Rp10,000. Tangerang is also served by Transjakarta bus rapid transit services. From the Poris Plawad bus terminal, two lines are operated to Pasar Baru in Central Jakarta and to Senayan in South Jakarta, both via Kebon Jeruk (West Jakarta). The ticket price is Rp3,500.
In addition, there are regular buses to cities such as Bandung and Merak and daily long-distance buses to Central and East Java. There is also a wide range of bus routes available from the bus terminal at the airport.
By train
Tangerang is served by the brown line of Jakarta's commuter train network (KA Commuter Jabodetabek). 🌍 Tangerang railway station in the city centre is the western terminus of this line. Other stations served within the city of Tangerang include Tanah Tinggi, Batuceper, and Poris. The eastern terminus of the brown line is Duri station in West Jakarta, where you can change to and from the yellow line to other parts of Jakarta as well as Bogor, and to long-distance trains to Merak. From the stations in Tangerang, long-distance trains are no longer operated.
Get around
The cheapest way to get around in Tangerang is, as in the other major Indonesian cities, by minibus (angkot). Angkots follow a fixed route (there are various routes throughout the city), but there is no fixed schedule and there are no fixed stops. To get on, simply raise your hand. To get off, simply shout "Kiri!" to the driver, so he will pull over on the left (Indonesian: kiri) side of the road. The price of an angkot ride within the city is usually about Rp2,000 to 5,000. It is best to ask a local which angkot route to take, and how to recognise the location you want to get off.
The easiest way to get around in Tangerang is by taxi. Taxi ranks are available outside the shopping malls and hotels. The main reputable taxi companies of Jakarta, including Blue Bird and Express, also have a branch in Tangerang. Premium taxis like Silverbird will offer you with better comfort and safety, but price is around 50% more expensive than regular taxis.
See
- 🌍 Benteng Heritage Museum, Jalan Cilame No. 18-20, Pasar Lama, Tangerang, ☏ +62 21 55791139. Closed on Mondays. Museum on the history of Chinese settlement in Tangerang and Indonesia, and the he importance of the voyages of Chinese admiral Zheng He in spreading Chinese heritage across (Southeast) Asia. The collection of the museum includes an ivory Mahyong game desk, opium weighing scale, Chinese-Indonesian batik, historic photos, etc. The museum building is an old house of Chinese immigrants in the old market district near the river. In Indonesia, the Chinese community of Tangerang is also called Tionghoa Benteng or "Fortress Chinese". In the 17th century, the Chinese settled in a fishing village near the Dutch colonial fortress of Tangerang. Hence also the name of the museum.
Do
Golf
- 🌍 Cengkareng Golf Club (Soewarna), Taman Niaga Soewarna, Blok G, ☏ +62 21 5591 1111. 18-hole course next to the airport, famed for the miniskirted Tangerang girls who go around offering refreshments, and with more of a focus on business schmoozing than playing. The green and caddy fee package will set you back Rp688,000 on weekdays, more during weekends and public holidays. There are discounted rates for members and guests of members.
- 🌍 Modern Golf and Country Club (Padang Golf Modern), Jl. Modern Golf Raya, Cikokol, ☏ +62 21 552 9228.
- An additional golf course is in the planned community of Karawaci, and more are in neighbouring South Tangerang.
Buy
Many of the newest huge modern shopping malls have been built in the new planned communities such as Karawaci, and BSD City in South Tangerang. Duty free shopping is available at Soekarno-Hatta airport.
- 🌍 Tang City, Jalan Jenderal Sudirman No.1, Cikokol. Daily 10:00-22:00. Shopping mall in Tangerang's city centre with a wide range of shops, cafés, and restaurants, as well as a Carrefour supermarket and XXI cinema.
- 🌍 IKEA, Jl. Jalur Sutera Boulevard Kav. 45, Alam Sutera, ☏ +62 21 29853900. M-F 10:00-22:00, Sa Su 10:00-23:00. One of two IKEA stores in Indonesia.
Eat
A wide range of restaurants is available in the various shopping malls and at the airport. This includes Indonesian fare, Western-style fast food, Chinese and Japanese food.
- 🌍 Restoran Istana Nelayan ("Fisherman's Palace"), Komplek Serpong Town Square, Jalan MH. Thamrin KM 7, Serpong, ☏ +62 21 5542913. Daily 11:00-21:00. Seafood, steak, and Sundanese specialties. Chic garden, pony ride, mini zoo. The main building took the form of a yacht.
- 🌍 Pondok Kemangi, Jl. Raya Serpong km.4 Ruko Pondok Kemangi No. 2E-2F (after Alam Sutra housing complex), ☏ +62 21-53127102. Various Indonesian food (mainly fusion between Sundanese and Javanese food) can be found here with vast choice of sambal. approx. Rp75,000 per person.
- Sarang Kepiting (literally translates to Crab Lair), Jl. Raya Serpong (approx. 500 Metres to the south of Alam Sutera Real Estate entrance). approx. Rp100,000 per person.
- 🌍 Salsa Food City, Next to Summarecon Mal Serpong. A lot of restaurants here, ranging from Sundanese, Chinese, Makassar, and Western. Entertainment: Live music almost everyday, full bands perform on weekends.
Sleep
| This guide uses the following price ranges for a standard double room: | |
| Budget | Less than Rp500,000 |
| Mid-range | Rp500,000-1,000,000 |
| Splurge | More than Rp1,000,000 |
There are many hotels at and around the airport, see the article on Soekarno-Hatta International Airport for an overview. In addition, there are also some hotels in the new town development of Karawaci. The hotels listed below are in the city of Tangerang proper.
Budget
- 🌍 Yellow Bee Hotel Tangerang, Jl. Daan Mogot No.5, Sukarasa (inside Ramayana Kodin), ☏ +62 21 55770872. Check-in: 14:00. Budget hotel near the Tangerang railway station. Convenient location.
Mid-range
- 🌍 Hotel Istana Nelayan, Jl. Gatot Subroto No. 21 Km. 5, ☏ +62 21 5565 4377. Double rooms from Rp600,000 per night.
- 🌍 Novotel Tangerang, Tangcity Superblock, Jl. Jend Sudirman No. 1, ☏ +62 21 29679999. In the building of the Tang City mall, four-star hotel with rooftop swimming pool.
- 🌍 Narita Hotel Tangerang, Jl. KH Hasyim Ashari 63-65, Cipondoh, Kota Tangerang, Banten 15157, ☏ +62 21 55701111, reservation@naritahotel.co.id. A Javanese-styled hotel close to government center of Tangerang City, Airport, and Lake Cipondoh. Swimming pool, gym, and karaoke included.
Stay safe
Local law enforcement is unreliable, so you may want to be even more cautious than you do in your hometown. If you are planning to draw your money in the ATM nearby (even in the mall) on Saturday, Sunday, and public holidays, look around to make sure there's nobody wearing civilian uniforms welcomes you and pretends he will guard you. If you are trapped by his 'artificial' kindness, once you finished your banking activities, he will call his crime-partners outside to come in and pressure you to hand over your belongings. Some of them may murder you, even after you have done what they asked. Make sure that the ATM you visit is monitored by a camera.
- 🌍 Polres Tangerang (Tangerang city police station), Jl. Raya Daan Mogot No.52, ☏ +62 21 5523003.
Hospitals
List of hospital with 24 hours emergency room:
- 🌍 RS Sari Asih Karawaci, Jl. Imam Bonjol No.38, Sukajadi, Karawaci, ☏ +62 21 5522794.
- 🌍 RS Bethsaida, Jl. Boulevard Raya Gading Serpong Kav.29, Gading Serpong, Curug Sangereng, Klp. Dua, ☏ +62 21 2930 9999.
- 🌍 Siloam Hospitals Lippo Village (RS Siloam Gleneagles), Jl. Siloam 1600, Lippo Karawaci, ☏ +62 21 546 0055, +62 21 546 0054.
- 🌍 RS Umum Daerah Kabupaten Tangerang, Jl. A. Yani No.9, ☏ +62 21 552 3507, +62 21 552 6686.
- RS Awal Bros, Jl. MH. Thamrin, Kebon Nanas, Cikokol Tangerang, fax: +62 21 5578 1520. Previously known as Rumah Sakit Global Medika, the hospital rebrand itself to a new name.
Go next
- Anyer — beautiful beach and resort, west of Tangerang. Driving time: up to 3 hours.
- Ujung Kulon — beautiful national park, southwest of Tangerang. Driving time: up to 5 hours.
- Tanjung Pasir — beach swarming with seafood stalls. Be careful of local hustlers and gangs. North of Tangerang. Driving time: up to 2 hr.
| Routes through Tangerang |
| Anyer ← Serang ← | W E | → West Jakarta → Panarukan |