When it comes to kid-friendly destinations, Jakarta might not be the first place to pop into your mind. But the reality is that Indonesia's sprawling capital city is brimming with family-friendly attractions that kids of all ages will love. You just need to know where to look.

If you're searching for the best things to do in Jakarta with kids, you'll be spoilt for choice. Ride roller coasters at the Dunia Fantasi theme park, splash around in wave pools and water slides at Atlantis Water Adventure, picnic with local families in Old Town's Fatahillah Square, and learn about different Indonesian destinations at Taman Mini Indonesia Indah, to name just a few options.

Whether you're travelling with little kids or teenagers, you're sure to find plenty of fun things to do in Jakarta to keep your whole family entertained. But if you're not sure where to start, this family-friendly Jakarta travel guide has got you covered.

One of the most fun things to do in Jakarta, Indonesia, is to visit Museum Layang-Layang (Kite Museum).

Kite flying is a popular pastime in Jakarta, but it is also deeply ingrained in the culture and spirituality of the Indonesian people. On windy days in Jakarta, you'll see families flocking to the city's parks, filling the sky with colourful kites of all shapes and sizes.

Museum Layang-Layang is set in a traditional Joglo-style house in South Jakarta. Inside, you'll watch a short video about the history of kite culture before browsing the museum's collection of over 600 kites.

From tiny-kites measuring just two centimetres, to 26-metre-long mega-kites, to one fashioned entirely from dried leaves, the collection is fascinating for visitors of all ages. But the real hit with kids is always the kite-making workshop.

Older kids and adults will be taught how to make a kite completely from scratch, while little kids can decorate a pre-made kite. As an added bonus, you get to take your creations home with you.

If you're visiting Jakarta with kids, a trip to Kota Tua, the former capital of the Dutch East Indies, is a must. Go on a weekend and you'll be joined by local families and teens, who cluster around the Old Town's main Fatahillah Square to picnic with street food, play games, people-watch, and cheer on the many street performers.

It's always a festive scene, but there are also plenty of hidden gems within Kota Tua's colonial-era buildings. A few kid-friendly options include seeing the puppets in the Wayang Museum, learning about local history at the Jakarta History Museum, grabbing lunch at Café Batavia, and riding bikes around Fatahillah Square.

If you're struggling to find fun things to do in Jakarta, Indonesia, a family trip to Ancol is the perfect solution. Ancol is a hub for family-friendly entertainment. Located in North Jakarta, this seaside complex features so many different thrilling attractions that you'll have a tough time choosing.

For example, you can spend the morning relaxing at Ancol Beach before riding roller coasters at Dunia Fantasi and marvelling at marine life at SeaWorld or Ocean Dream Samudra.

You can also cool off with the water slides and wave pools at Atlantis Water Adventure, get out in nature in EcoPark, spot parrots and flamingos in Jakarta Bird Land, and have close encounters with animals at Faunaland, to name just a few more options.

Spending a few hours at KidZania is easily one of the best things to do in Jakarta with kids. Located in South Jakarta's Pacific Place Mall, KidZania is kind of like a mini-city where kids can learn what it's like to get a "real" job.

Dentists can treat patients in a real dentist's chair, firefighters can work together to save a burning building, journalists can research, write, and publish timely news stories, and chefs can learn the art of making pizza and noodles.

From flight simulators to acting lessons and science labs, this is a fun way for kids to learn all sorts of new skills. Plus, they'll even get paid for all of their hard work with kidzos money.

Travelling to Jakarta with tweens or teens? Then take a trip to the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MACAN) in West Jakarta.

This isn't just any museum. This 4,000-square-metre space is home to all sorts of Instagrammable and interactive art installations, including the famous "Infinity Mirrored Room — Brilliance of the Souls" exhibit by Yayoi Kusama.

Exhibitions change every few months, but there are always cool new art installations to check out (and pose with), as well as funky collections of paintings and sculptures by both Indonesian and international artists.

Want to travel all around Indonesia without ever leaving Jakarta? Then visit Taman Mini Indonesia Indah. Located in East Jakarta, the Mini Indonesia cultural theme park is absolutely massive and features 34 regional pavilions highlighting the architecture, flora, fauna, and culture of these diverse Indonesian destinations.

For example, you can see full-scale replicas of the traditional stilted houses in Sumatra, the Joglo houses of Java, and the longhouses of Kalimantan. Other activities include visiting one of the many museums, enjoying cultural performances, dining on authentic dishes from around the country, riding the cable car, and so much more.

Whether you're visiting with little kids or teens, you'll find plenty of activities in Taman Mini Indonesia Indah to keep your family entertained all day long.

It might sound odd, but mall culture is a real thing in Jakarta. The malls here are massive, world-class affairs with hundreds of shops and a wide range of family-friendly entertainment options. Most malls in Jakarta will have elaborate kid-friendly play areas, luxury movie theatres, and endless dining options, but some go even further.

Pacific Place Mall is home to the KidZania children's edutainment centre, Pondok Indah Mall features the sporty SuperPark activity centre, Taman Anggrek has a huge ice skating rink, and Mall of Indonesia offers rides in the Moiland indoor amusement park and a roller skating rink in the artsy MOJA Museum.

And that's just scratching the surface when it comes to fun things to do in Jakarta's malls.

If you're searching for a convenient home base in Jakarta for you and your family, Novotel Jakarta Mangga Dua Square might just be the perfect pick. Located in North Jakarta, not only is this hotel a short drive from Kota Tua (Old Town) and all the theme parks and eco-attractions in Ancol, but this place makes travel easy with all the family-friendly amenities.

You can fuel up for the day with the lavish buffet breakfast. With international and Indonesian options, there's something for all tastes.

After that, kids will love splashing around in both the Olympic-size outdoor pool and the kids' pool, making new friends at the kids' club, and clambering around the playground.

Adults, on the other hand, can fit in daily workouts in the 24/7 fitness centre, get massages at the spa, and grab drinks and balanced meals in the on-site bar and restaurant.

Opt for one of the family-friendly suites. You'll appreciate the spacious layout, the separate living room and bedroom, the 55-inch flat-screen TVs with children's channels, and the bathtub in the bathroom.

Yes, Jakarta is a family-friendly travel destination. You'll find all sorts of activities and attractions that are geared toward families. From theme parks and water parks to kid-friendly edutainment centres, interactive museums, cultural curiosities, and family-focused hotels, travelling to Jakarta with kids is easier than you think.

The best family-friendly things to do in Jakarta are to spend the day at one of the theme parks or eco-parks in Ancol, travel to Indonesia's far-flung destinations at the Taman Mini Indonesia Indah cultural theme park, and hang out with local families in Old Town's Fatahillah Square, to name just a few activities.

Some of the best things to do in Jakarta with young kids can be found in the city's mega-malls. From elaborate play areas to indoor theme parks, kid-focused educational centres, and family-friendly restaurants, you'll find endless entertainment at Jakarta shopping malls like Mall of Indonesia and Pacific Place Mall.

The best things to do in Jakarta with teens range from checking out the photogenic art installations at the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art to going museum hopping in Kota Tua (Old Town) or spending the day in Ancol. Of course, you'll also find loads of teen-friendly activities in the city's massive malls.