National Museum of Indonesia
Museum Nasional (Gedung Gajah)
Indonesia's oldest museum, the Gedung Gajah on Merdeka Square, reopened in October 2024 after the 2023 fire.
- Address
- Jl. Medan Merdeka Barat No. 12, Gambir
- Price
- Adults Rp50k (from Jan 2026)
- Area
- Gambir, Jakarta Pusat (Central)
About
Opened in 1868 for the Batavian Society of Arts and Sciences, the museum is nicknamed Gedung Gajah after the bronze elephant given by King Chulalongkorn of Siam in 1871. A fire on 16 September 2023 destroyed several rooms of pre-colonial artefacts; the museum reopened on 15 October 2024 with an exhibition about it, and the damaged rooms are still being restored. Adult tickets rose from Rp25k to Rp50k on 1 January 2026, with reduced rates for seniors and visitors with disabilities.
- Opened 1868
- Bronze elephant from Siam (1871)
- Reopened October 2024
- On Merdeka Square
In history: 1868 — The Batavian Society's museum opens
Nearby
National Monument (Monas)
Jakarta's 132-metre independence obelisk, crowned with a gold-leaf flame, rising from the vast lawns of Merdeka Square.
National libraryPerpustakaan Nasional Republik Indonesia
Indonesia's 24-storey national library on the south side of Medan Merdeka, open seven days a week with free Wi-Fi, power outlets and big reading rooms.
Train stationStasiun Gambir
Jakarta's main station for executive-class intercity trains, on the east side of Monas, with services to Bandung, Central Java, Yogyakarta and East Java.
Nasi gorengNasi Goreng Kambing Kebon Sirih
Jakarta's best-known goat fried rice, cooked in giant woks on Jalan Kebon Sirih every evening since 1958.
Heritage listing. Hours and prices change — check before you go.