A $1 train for a 2-hour journey with brilliant air conditioning, what more could you want? The KRL Jakarta is perfect for budget travellers. It’s also surprisingly easy once you know how, and we have one very important tip that made buying tickets as foreigners much easier.
Watch Our Full Experience On The KRL Jakarta
Why We Decided To Take The KRL Jakarta
When we told our subscribers we were planning another adventure from Jakarta, one recommendation kept coming up.
“Take the KRL Jakarta.”
At the same time, loads of people had also been telling us to visit Bogor. Between the famous street food, beautiful parks and cooler climate, it sounded like the perfect day trip from Jakarta.
The only problem? As foreigners, it wasn’t immediately obvious how we were actually supposed to buy tickets.
Most locals simply tap in with commuter cards, but after a bit of research (and some help from the station staff), we discovered a surprisingly easy way to do so with the Gojek app. Once we’d figured that out, we were ready for our very first journey on Jakarta’s KRL Commuter Line.
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How Foreigners Can Buy KRL Tickets
This was easily the biggest question we had before travelling, so if you’re planning to use the KRL yourself, here’s the method that worked for us.
First, head into an Indomaret and ask the cashier to top up your GoPay balance using cash. Once the money has been added to your GoPay wallet inside the Gojek app, you can purchase KRL tickets directly through the app.
At the station, simply scan the QR code generated in Gojek to enter through the ticket gates. When you arrive at your destination, you’ll scan another QR code to leave the station.
It sounds slightly confusing beforehand, but once you’ve done it once, it’s actually very straightforward.
If you get stuck, don’t worry. The station staff at Cikini were incredibly friendly and happily showed us exactly what to do.
An Early Morning Start
Like most of our adventures…
The day started with coffee.
After grabbing our morning caffeine fix, we made our way to Cikini Station, phones already loaded with our tickets and ready for our first KRL journey.
While waiting for the train, one thing immediately stood out.
The station was spotless.
There were even charging points where you could top up your phone while waiting, something we definitely don’t see very often back home in the UK.
Only around twelve minutes later, our train rolled in.
We Predicted Chaos…
Everyone had warned us that Jakarta’s commuter trains could get incredibly busy.
So, boarding at around 8:30 on a Monday morning, we were expecting to squeeze ourselves on board.
Instead… There were loads of seats, but we realised why.
We were travelling from Jakarta to Bogor during the morning rush hour, while most commuters were heading into the city.
Looking across the platform at trains heading towards central Jakarta made everything click. Those trains were absolutely packed.
So if you can, it’s worth thinking about the direction you’re travelling as well as the time of day.
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Surprisingly Comfortable
One thing we absolutely loved was the air conditioning.
If you’ve ever travelled on public transport in the UK during summer, you’ll understand why.
The KRL felt wonderfully cool, making the journey genuinely comfortable despite the tropical heat of Jakarta.
As the train rolled further out of Jakarta, the views gradually changed too.
The skyscrapers slowly gave way to greener scenery, and the views from the elevated train track were awesome.
The Most Relatable Part Of The Journey
One thing that made us laugh… Everyone was asleep.
Morning naps seemed completely normal on the KRL Jakarta.
If you’ve watched our videos before, you’ll know we absolutely love finding an opportunity for a quick nap, so Beth fully embraced the local culture and managed to squeeze one in too.
We also spotted one of our favourite signs of the trip… Please note that durian is prohibited on the train – Tell us you’re in Asia without telling us you’re in Asia aha.
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Arriving In Bogor
Around 1.5 hours later, we rolled into Bogor railway station.
Exiting was just as easy as entering. Simply scan the QR code again at the barriers before leaving the station.
Inside, we were impressed to find clean toilet facilities next to dedicated prayer rooms for both men and women, another thoughtful feature that made the station feel welcoming and well organised.
Stepping outside, we were greeted by huge trees and beautiful green spaces, which made Bogor feel completely different from central Jakarta almost immediately.
Ironically, despite Bogor’s nickname as the “City of Rain”, we arrived under glorious blue skies.
Later that day… We discovered exactly why it has that nickname.
Is The KRL Better Than Driving?
In our opinion… Absolutely.
Traffic between Jakarta and Bogor can become incredibly congested, mainly during peak hours.
The KRL completely avoids traffic jams, making it not only significantly cheaper but also often considerably faster.
For travellers looking for an affordable day trip from Jakarta, it’s hard to beat.
Useful Tips
Journey time
The journey between Jakarta and Bogor takes roughly an hour and a half depending on which station you depart from.
Ticket tip
Top up your GoPay balance at Indomaret before arriving at the station. It makes buying your ticket much quicker.
Don’t worry if it’s your first time
The station staff were extremely helpful and happy to point us in the right direction.
Travel outside peak crowds if possible
The trains can become very busy, particularly during commuter hours. Travelling against the main flow of commuters, as we did, made the journey much quieter.
Bring your phone charged
Your ticket is stored digitally, so you’ll need your phone to scan through the ticket barriers.
Combine The KRL Jakarta With A Bogor Day Trip
If you’re comfortable using public transport, we’d highly recommend taking the KRL to Bogor and then exploring from there.
Not only is it incredibly affordable, but you’ll also avoid Jakarta’s notorious traffic.
Once you’ve arrived, you can easily join a local Bogor city tour or explore independently, depending on your travel style. If you’d rather not organise transport yourself, there are also organised day tours from Jakarta that include transfers.
Great Bogor Tours
Where We Stayed
During our time in Jakarta, we stayed at My Capsule Jakarta.
It’s budget-friendly, centrally located and has a great atmosphere for travellers. We loved our time there if you want to check it out.
Related Experiences
Here are some of our other adventures from our time in Jakarta. There are so many amazing things to do, so feel free to check them out!
National Library Indonesia: Best View In Jakarta For FREE?!
Grand Indonesia Mall Review: We Crashed A Movie Premiere?!
Is The KRL Jakarta Worth Taking?
Without hesitation.
Not only is it a practical way to get to Bogor, but it’s also clean, efficient, affordable, air-conditioned, and surprisingly easy to use once we’d figured out the ticket system.
More than anything, it gave us another little look into everyday life in Indonesia.
Sometimes the journey really is part of the experience.
And for less than the price of a coffee back home, we’d happily do it all again.
Big Love
Beth and Denz