The complete guide to reach the Monas from Bundaran HI MRT Station in Central Jakarta.
Getting to the Monas in Jakarta
This article is designed to provide you with a step-by-step guide on how to get to the Monas using the MRT in Jakarta. The information that you read in this article is based on our personal travel experiences getting to the Monas on multiple occasions using the MRT.
One of the first questions that you may ask yourself is why you should go to the Monas in first place?
The Monas is National Monument of Indonesia that recognizes the country’s Independence. It is one of, if not, the most iconic structure in the entire country. It is safe to say that very few tourists visit Jakarta leave the city without visiting or at least seeing the Monas.
The National Monument is also situated right in the heart of central Jakarta which makes it very accessible for tourists that are sightseeing downtown. A very popular activity is to take the elevator up to the top of the Monas to the viewing platform. This recommended activity offers Visitors with the opportunity to get super panoramic views of Jakarta’s city skyline.
You can capture views of surrounding attractions, hotels and cultural sites from the Monas.
Why should you consider using the MRT to get to Monas?
Once you have made the decision to visit the Monas in Jakarta, you have to consider how you are actually going to get there!
There is no denying the fact that you Jakarta struggles with serious traffic issues. Therefore, if you plan on driving to the Monas in Jakarta you really have to consider what time you are going to leave and where your hotel is relative to the monument.
For a lot of visitors to the city staying in central Jakarta or South Jakarta, the MRT has become the most practical option for getting to specific areas of the city. This is particularly true if you are trying to get to popular areas such as Thamrin, Senayan and Blok M.
The MRT completely bypasses notorious traffic jams in Jakarta and enables passengers to walk, or arrange alternative transportation from stations. Even if you take the MRT in Jakarta and the station is not directly beside your intended destination, it is still faster than driving all the way to where you want to go.
This is especially true when you are trying to get to the Monas using the MRT in Jakarta. The closest MRT Station to the Monas is not directly decided, but either a short drive or walk away. Despite this, it is still much faster than spending a couple of hours in a terrible traffic jam in central Jakarta.
Here is a step-by-step guide on how to get to the Monas using the MRT in Jakarta:
#1: Leave your hotel and access the closest MRT Station in Jakarta.
The first thing you have to consider when you are getting to the Monas using the MRT system is to figure out where your hotel or accommodation is relative to the nearest MRT Station. You will have to refer to some useful resources in order to find out where your location is relative to the stations.
These are some extremely helpful resources that many of our readers have used over the last few years:
A smart idea is to use these resources to actually plan your trip to Jakarta. This will make sure that you are staying close to the MRT line and City and will allow you to access the the Monas stress-free.
#2: Navigate MRT Jakarta to the Monas using the MRT
Once you have booked a hotel that is close to the MRT line in Jakarta, you have to travel to the station and make sure you are traveling in the right direction towards the Monas.
At the moment, the only MRT line in Jakarta consists of 13 stations. The southernmost station is Lebak Bulus, whereas the northernmost station is Bundaran HI.
Every MRT Station in Jakarta has clear route maps to help you navigate your trip.
#3: Take the MRT to Bundaran HI MRT Station
Plan to use MRT Jakarta to access Bundaran HI MRT Station.
Bundaran HI Station is the northernmost station on the current MRT Line in Jakarta. It is also the closest station to the Monas. This is the most practical station to go to if you want to visit the Monas using the MRT.
#4: Purchase your MRT Ticket
Once you are in the station closest to your hotel in Jakarta, the next step is actually purchasing a ticket to make it near the Monas.
Fortunately, Jakarta MRT system is similar to other major cities such as Hong Kong and Tokyo, in that there are various options for paying for tickets.
You can either purchase single journey trip tickets right at the station or you can alternatively pre-purchase a top-up card from Indomaret, Alphamart and other convenience stores in Jakarta. If you plan on being in Jakarta for more than a few days, it makes sense to get a Top-Up card. These are cashless and can be easily tapped to access the MRT system as well as TransJakarta Buses and the commuter system.
Refer to this comprehensive guide that outlines how to buy tickets for Jakarta MRT. It is a pretty straightforward process that shouldn’t the too stressful during your.
This has all the information that you are required to make it to the Monas.
#5: Exit from Bundaran HI MRT Station and Go to the Monas
You have arrived at Bundaran HI MRT Station in Central Jakarta, it is really straightforward to reach the Monas.
Typically, you have a few options from the station that you should consider.
Bundaran HI Station is about 2 km south of the Monas. This means that you can walk North from the station and reach the Monas grounds in about 20 to 25 minutes. Although many tourists may be able to complete this walk, in the middle of the afternoon it is quite hot in Jakarta so this is probably not the most popular option for most tourists.
You may also consider taking a bus from the station or arranging a taxi or private vehicle. Both GoJek and Grab are very popular ride-sharing apps both locals and foreigners use in the city.
Under most circumstances the drive from Bundaran HI to the Monas should take between 5-10 minutes. Expect it to exceed 10 minutes if traffic is very heavy in central Jakarta.
The Monas is actually located in the middle of Monument Park. Therefore, if you plan on just taking photos of the Mones from a distance you actually don’t have to walk inside the park to do so. Most tourists, however, actually walk-in to capture better photos.
How long does it take to travel to the Monas using the MRT?
The travel time to reach the Monas using the MRT system depends on where you begin your trip. If you begin your trip at Lebak Bulus MRT Stationyou can expect it to take about 40 minutes of total travel time to reach the Monas.
Keep in mind that Lebak Bulus Station is the other terminal station on the line and the farthest from the Monas. If you are in Senayan staying near Pacific Place, at the Ritz-Carlton for instance, you can expect it to take about 10 minutes on the MRT plus an additional 10 to 15 minutes of travel time from the Bundaran HI station to the Monas.
You may want to consider reading the articles to learn how to get from the airport to central Jakarta using the airport train. Both articles include information on how you can transfer from the airport train to the MRT system.
Read More:
$$$ How much does it cost to take the MRT to the Monas in Jakarta?
The price to use the MRT to get to the Monas also depends on where you’re beginning your journey. You can expect it to be very affordable journey based on international standards.
At the time of writing, the maximum cost for any 1-way MRT ride in Jakarta is 14,000 IDR (roughly equivalent to $1 USD). This is from one end of the line to the other. Lebak Bulus to Bundaran HI and vice versa.
You can expect a less than this if you are at any other station other than Lebak Bulus when you start your journey.
Read More: Jakarta MRT Price Guide: Find out how much trips cost.
Selecting the Best Hotel near the Monas
Since the Monas is located right in the heart of central Jakarta, it comes as no surprise that there are many hotels within a five kilometer radius of this important Monument.
You can expect to find at least 30 hotels within walking distance of the Monas. Consequently, it really comes down to the budget you have for your trip and what kind of accommodation that you are looking for.
Some of the most popular hotels within walking distance of the Monas include the following properties:
Where have we stayed near the Monas in Jakarta?
Fortunately, we have had the opportunity to stay at multiple hotels within the Monas area.
Some of the properties we have stayed at include:
To be completely honest, we found all of these properties to be pretty good value for the price. None of them in particular disappointed us. Hotel Borobudur is probably the most famous of these properties and it was one of the first hotels established within the city. It has great outdoor facilities including a massive pool and outdoor running track.
We would stay at any of these properties again, but overall Hotel Borobudur and Fraser Residence offered the best service standards and amenities of these choices during our stay.
Keep in mind that these properties have not paid us anything to share this information.
10 Closest Hotels to Monas in Jakarta
***Organized according to Star Rating
| Name of Property | Star Rating/Distance/Travel Time to Station | Average Guest Review Score |
|---|---|---|
| Hotel Borobudur Jakarta | 5-Star (1.2 km/15 minute walk) (2.2 km/6 minute drive) | 8.3/10 3121+ reviews |
| Fraser Residence Menteng Jakarta | 5-Star (1.5 km/ 3 minute drive) (1.8 km/23 minute walk) | 8.8/10 932+ reviews |
| HARRIS Vertu Hotel Harmoni | 5-Star (1.6 km/ 20 minute walk) (3.5 km/ 9 minute drive) | 8.7/10 1323+ reviews |
| Mercure Jakarta Sabang | 4-Star (1.2 km/16 minute walk) (2.3 km/8 minute drive) | 8.1/10 410+ reviews |
| Alila Jakarta Hotel | 4-Star (1.6 km/20 minute walk) (3.1 km/8 minute drive) | 8.1/10 1769+ reviews |
| Sriwijaya Hotel | 3-Star (1.2 km/14 minute walk) (3.2 km/ 7 minute drive) | 7.2/10 236+ reviews |
| Citi M Hotel | 3-Star (1.2 km/ 15 minute walk) (3.9 km/10 minute drive) | 7.9/10 785+ reviews |
| MaxOneHotels at Sabang | 3-Star (1.5 km/ 19 minute walk) (2.3 km/8 minute drive) | 7.4/10 1531+ reviews |
| Amaris Hotel Juanda | 2-Star (1.5 km/19 minute walk) (2.6 km/ 5 minute drive) | 7.6/10 451+ reviews |
| Shakti Hotel Jakarta | (1.6 km/20 minute walk) (4.1 km/9 minute drive) | 7.4/10 30+ reviews |
Any more Questions about your trip to the Monas using the MRT?
This has been a step-by-step guide on how to get to the Monas using the MRT in Jakarta. We do understand that this article may not cover all the information that you need. Therefore, please do not hesitate to send an email if you have additional questions that you would like to ask.
Visiting the Monas is one of the must-do experiences while you are in Jakarta. Keep in mind that the National Museum, and the National Gallery, are both within walking distance of the Monas as well.
It makes sense to combine these attractions with visits to Jakarta Cathedral, Mesjid Istiqlal and Taman Lapangan Banteng during the same day if possible. This should how to make your trip more efficient and avoid unnecessary time in Jakarta’s traffic jams.