7 Lunar New Year Spots in Jakarta

Lunar New Year in Jakarta is no longer confined to the storied alleyways of Glodok. Each year, the capital unfurls its own constellation of celebrations, including centuries-old temple rituals steeped in incense and devotion, as well as contemporary festivals illuminated by towering lantern installations.

When does Jakarta gleam brightest for the Lunar New Year?

The crescendo typically arrives on Lunar New Year’s Eve until 1 AM, when temples brim with worshippers welcoming the turn of the year. The first morning of Lunar New Year is equally resonant, as devotees gather in ceremonial dress for early prayers.

Meanwhile, lifestyle districts such as Pantai Indah Kapuk and Kelapa Gading reach their fashionable peak in the late afternoons and evenings of the surrounding weekends, when celebration becomes as much about atmosphere as it is about ancestry.

In Jakarta, Lunar New Year is not merely observed; it's staged, styled, and lived.

For those seeking more than a mere list of destinations, consider this your curated edit: seven verified Lunar New Year spots across the capital, complete with the most coveted visiting hours and seamless access.

Central Park Mall

Elevated family festivities can be experienced here! Situated in Podomoro City, Tanjung Duren, Central Park Mall delivers lion dance attractions and oversized lantern decor with a spirited, family-forward energy. Plus, the mall is particularly animated in the early evening hours.

Getting there: Reachable via TransJakarta Corridor 9 or through the Grogol area.

Grand Indonesia

Don't miss the spectacle in the city’s heart! Along Jalan MH Thamrin, Grand Indonesia transforms into a grand stage of cultural pageantry. Lavish installations, choreographed performances, and gilded decor elevate the mall into a visual crescendo. Late afternoons on weekends promise the most pulsing ambiance, when the city’s style set converges.

Getting there: Access is effortless via MRT Jakarta (Bundaran HI Station) or TransJakarta Corridor 1.

Hian Thian Shang Tee Temple

A serene alternative is found in Ancol, perfect for those seeking reverence without the swell of Glodok’s crowds. Morning visits are especially poetic, when soft daylight filters through temple courtyards and prayer rituals unfold unhurriedly.

Getting there: Accessible via TransJakarta to Ancol, followed by a short taxi or ride-hailing trip to the temple.

Old Shanghai, Sedayu City

Kelapa Gading has long been synonymous with Jakarta’s Chinese-Indonesian community, and Old Shanghai at Sedayu City heightens that narrative with theatrical architecture and immersive décor. It’s almost as if a photographic fantasy here because during the Lunar New Year, its stylised facades glow beneath lantern canopies, while weekend lion dance performances — before and after the holiday — draw an impeccably dressed crowd.

Getting there: Arrive via TransJakarta toward Kelapa Gading or the LRT Jakarta, alighting at Boulevard Utara Station.

Pantai Indah Kapuk

Lunar New Year is reimagined in Penjaringan, North Jakarta, Pantai Indah Kapuk (PIK) with its distinctly modern tableau. Think monumental lantern sculptures, lion dance performances staged against lifestyle-driven backdrops, and curated retail moments that blur culture and contemporary glamour. The district pulses from three days before to three days after Lunar New Year, especially from late afternoon into evening.

Getting there: Accessible via TransJakarta PIK routes or private car.

Vihara Dharma Bhakti

As Jakarta’s Lunar icon since 1650, this historic temple remains the spiritual epicentre of the festivities. This is where devotion and heritage converge, precisely Nestled along Jalan Kemenangan III in the Petak Sembilan enclave. The most electric moment unfolds on New Year’s Eve from 10 PM past midnight, when prayer chants rise above a sea of crimson lanterns and swirling incense.For a more contemplative experience, visit at dawn, when the first prayers begin and the atmosphere feels hushed, almost cinematic.

Getting there: Arrive via KRL and disembark at Stasiun Jakarta Kota or take TransJakarta to Kota, followed by a refined five-to-ten-minute walk.

Vihara Dharma Jaya Toa Se Bio

The Old Chinatown in the east, in Pasar Lama Jatinegara, stands this quietly charismatic temple, the beating heart of Lunar New Year in East Jakarta. More intimate than Glodok yet no less spirited, it oozes a celebration that feels personal — almost familial. Evening and early morning remain the most evocative hours, when lantern light softens the edges of the old quarter.

Getting there: Reach it via KRL to Stasiun Jatinegara, then stroll approximately ten minutes through the nostalgic Pasar Lama quarter.