Indonesia National Monument (Monas)

While entering Merdeka Square and looking at the monument is free, you’ll need a ticket to enter the Indonesia National Monument and ride the elevator to the top of the structure, which entails buying a Jakcard pass. There’s no need for a guide to visit the monument, although a guide will help point out Jakarta landmarks should you visit the viewing platform.

Merdeka Square and the National Monument are a popular stop on Jakarta sightseeing tours, although most Jakarta tours merely stop at the square rather than ascend to the viewing platform.

• Designed as a rival to the Eiffel Tower, Monas is a must for landmark fans.

• It’s a 15-minute walk from the entrance to Merdeka Square to the monument, so wear practical shoes.

• Lines for the elevator can be very long and the elevator only departs once per hour. Bring water.

• Monas is short for the monument's Indonesian name: Monumen Nasional.

The Indonesia National Monument stands on Merdeka Square at the geographical center of Jakarta, around 4 miles (6 kilometers) south of Fatahillah Square. It’s conveniently located by Gambir train station, or you can ride any of a plethora of buses—although many prefer to endure Jakarta’s gridlock in the comfort of a private vehicle.

The Indonesia National Monument elevator is open seven days a week, morning to afternoon and then again in the evenings. It departs hourly. Even at quiet times—during the day, Mondays to Thursdays—the lines for the elevator can last an hour. Don’t even think about taking the elevator on weekends or Indonesian public holidays, and be aware that the monument closes on the last Monday of the month.

The monument’s dimensions are based, in metric, on the date of Indonesian independence: 8/17/45. The museum is 80 meters (262 feet) square; the flame extends 17 meters (56 feet) from the viewing platform and is coated in 45 kilograms (99 pounds) of gold leaf; and the base is 45 meters (148 feet) square.