Visiting the Museum of National Awakening is one of the top things to do in Jakarta, Indonesia.
This museum is locally referred to as ‘Museum Kebangkitan Nasional’ in Bahasa Indonesia. The Museum of National Awakening is located only about 1.5 km away from the Monas in Central Jakarta.
In case you are wondering what ‘Indonesian National Awakening’ actually means, this is the term used to describe the period of time during the first half of the 20th century where people from across the islands began to create a national consciousness that they are ‘Indonesians’.
Thus, the Museum of the National Awakening (Museum Kebangkitan Nasional) highlights developments during this time period.
When you walk into the Museum of National Awakening, you will have the choice of either turning right or left to see the exhibits on display. To the right, there is a strong emphasis on the development of the medical sector in Indonesia.
This museum was actually the site of previous medical schools. There are various medical instruments on display which are interesting to check out because they remind us of the growth and innovation of medical technologies over the last 50 years.
Aside from medical related instruments, you will also find weapons, paintings, sculptures, dioramas, sketches, maps and miniatures at the Museum of National Awakening.
The layout of museum is quite unique because the exhibits are located along the outer edges of various courtyards. This is a colonial building and you can see the emphasis that was placed on maintaining green space.
What to Expect When Visiting the Museum of National Awakening Jakarta
During your trip to the Museum of National Awakening you may want to consider doing a complete loop of the building. This will make sure that you don’t miss any of the exhibits or ‘themed’ rooms.
Some of the exhibits are more clearly marked than others. Even if you don’t find the exhibits interesting, the building itself is a nice example of Dutch colonial architecture.
The courtyard areas are a pleasant place to relax for a while especially during the morning hours when it still isn’t too hot outside.
The Museum of National Awakening Jakarta Essential Visitor Information
Operation Times
Monday – closed
Tuesday to Thursdays – 8 am to 4 pm
Fridays – 8 am to 4:30 pm
Saturdays to Sundays – 8 am to 4 pm
Entrance Fee:
Visit Duration: 1 to 2 hours
Address: Jln. Abdulrahman Saleh no. 26, Jakarta 10410, Indonesia
What is Around the Museum of National Awakening Jakarta?
The Museum of National Awakening (Museum Kebangkitan Nasional) is located in Senen, an area of Central Jakarta.
This is a convenient area for Jakarta top attraction sightseeing because it is only 1-2 km away from the Monas and the other noteworthy tourist sites in Central Jakarta. This is one of the densest areas for checking out Jakarta’s museum district as many of them are located in Dutch colonial buildings.
There are many other museums to explore that are within a few kilometers of the Museum of National Awakening. Joang ’45 Museum, for instance, is another museum that focuses on Indonesia’s movement towards independence. It is about 1.3 km south of the Museum of National Awakening.
As you walk from the Museum of National Awakening to Joang ’45 Museum you will pass by Taman Gunung Agung, Tugu Tani and two of the best hotels in this area of Jakarta: Aryaduta Jakarta and Fraser Residence Menteng Jakarta.
Other points of interest in the vicinity of the Museum of National Awakening include LCBI Heritage Museum (a colonial building), Plaza Atrium (a shopping mall), Pasar Senen (a large market area near Pasar Senen Station), and Museum Sumpah Pemuda.
Since the Museum of National Awakening is also close to the Monas, you can also walk to other attractions, especially in the morning when it still isn’t too hot outside.
Some of the most popular points of interest near the Museum of National Awakening include the National Gallery, Jakarta Cathedral, Masjid Istiqlal and Pasar Baru.
Gambir Station is located directly to the east of the Monas. Therefore, you can easily get to Gambir to access intercity trains to Badung and other destinations in Java.
Staying close to the Museum of National Awakening can be a wise decision if you’re visiting Jakarta. The streets in this area tend to have sidewalks and many of them are lined with trees. Thus walking between attractions is more convenient.
Some of the closest and most popular hotels relative to the Museum of National Awakening include Lumire Hotel and Convention Center, Aryaduta Jakarta, Fraser Residence Menteng and Oasis Amir Hotel.
Of these properties, Fraser Residence Menteng tends to receive the most positive guest reviews. It’s one of the best hotels for the ‘price’ in all of Jakarta.
If you are looking for higher service standards, then travel about 3 km southwest of the Museum of National Awakening to Bundaran HI. Around Bundaran HI you will find some of the best 5-star hotels in all Jakarta such as the Mandarin Oriental, Kempinski Hotel Indonesia, and the Grand Hyatt.
For museum and history lovers, visiting the Museum of National Awakening in Jakarta is a worthwhile travel experience. This can make your visit to the capital of Indonesia more meaningful.