Weekend Spots in Jakarta: Revisiting the JPI 2021 Survey

In 2021, JPI conducted an online survey, City After the Pandemic: How Will We Live, Work, and Play?

The survey aimed to find out respondents' expectations and hopes about life after the pandemic. In January 2021, this survey was answered by 408 respondents spread across Jabodetabek and its surroundings.

One of the results of this survey shows that 66.8% of respondents would like to visit natural attractions, such as beaches, parks or urban forests, once the pandemic has passed. This data can be said to be in line with the wishes of other big city residents in the world. The reason is, big city residents basically tend to miss the natural atmosphere more.

In addition, according to the Mental Health Foundation (United Kingdom), contact with nature has proven to be crucial for human mental health during a pandemic. Not surprisingly, residents of Jabodetabek and its surroundings who participated in the JPI survey also miss going on vacation or just enjoying the beauty of nature in a weekend place in Jakarta.

Now that the pandemic has passed, have you visited one by one post-pandemic vacation destinations as expected? If you haven't traveled far, there's nothing wrong with visiting some weekend spots in Jakarta first.

Since the pandemic, Jakarta has also presented a number of new must-visit destinations and faces. Let's take a look at some weekend spots in Jakarta that are suitable for refreshing in the middle of nature.

1. Tebet Eco Park

Located in Tebet Timur Raya, Tebet Eco Park presents a refreshing 7-hectare urban park in the heart of bustling South Jakarta. Tebet Eco Park offers a beautiful and shady area that is ideal for picnicking, exercising, playing, or just relaxing. Since its official opening during the pandemic, on April 24, 2022, Tebet Eco Park has quickly become a very popular weekend spot in Jakarta.

The number of visitors to Tebet Eco Park is limited to 4000 visitors from Monday to Friday, and 5000 visitors on Saturday and Sunday. For that, visitors must schedule a visit through the JAKI application, free of charge.

For more information, you can visit Tebet Eco Park's official Instagram account.

2. Urban Forest Cipete

Urban Forest Cipete opened on August 12, 2022, and has become a popular picnic spot in South Jakarta. Although it has been around for a long time, this green open space was not previously open to the public. So, Urban Forest Cipete is also a weekend spot in Jakarta that only arrived after the pandemic.

Urban Forest Cipete spans 1.8 hectares and offers a green and serene environment. This shady area offers a chance to escape the hustle and bustle of Jakarta, without having to leave the city.

This city park is also equipped with various facilities, including various food and coffee outlets with interesting menu variations. This spot is also often referred to as a stylish and Instagrammable Jakarta tourist destination so it has become one of the favorite choices.

Urban Forest Cipete is open every day from 07.00-22.00 WIB and can be visited for free.

3. Urban Forest by Plataran

Hutan Kota by Plataran is a tourist spot in Jakarta that presents a green and shady atmosphere alongside the magnificent skyscrapers. The urban forest, which is also often called GBK Urban Forest, has an area of 4.5 hectares, and was formerly the Senayan Golf Driving Range area.

Reporting from the official Plataran website, the GBK Urban Forest was first introduced to the public during the 2018 Asian Games, when Indonesia hosted the event.

In 2019, the Urban Forest by Plataran underwent revitalization. And after the pandemic, this area has become more lush and ideal for the urban forest function. So, the GBK area is now no longer just a weekend destination in Jakarta for sports, but also as a picnic spot in Jakarta.

GBK City Forest is open every Tuesday to Sunday from 06.00-10.00 WIB and 15.00-18.00 WIB. Visitors can visit for free through door 5 and door 7 GBK.

4. Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (TMII)

Following the reopening of TMII through a limited trial in November 2022, TMII's revitalization was inaugurated in September 2023. This inauguration moment took place in the same month the pandemic status ended in Indonesia.

Reporting from the official website of the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing, TMII has an area of 26.56 hectares, of which 70% is green open space.

The large area and updated facilities and rides after revitalization make TMII a very attractive weekend spot in Jakarta.

TMII is open every day from 06.00 - 20.00 WIB. And to check the price of admission and parking, please visit TMII's official website.

So, when will you visit Jakarta's new favorite post-pandemic weekend spot? Enjoy the addition and new face of Jakarta's green open spaces that are free to be visited by the public! And hopefully in the future there will be more and more Jakarta tourist destinations that allow us to enjoy the beauty of nature without leaving the city.