Jakarta Aquarium — Attraction in Jakarta

PLEASE read this before visiting — what looks like a family-friendly aquarium is actually one of the most disturbing and disappointing experiences I’ve had.

I recently visited Jakarta Aquarium and left feeling deeply disturbed and disappointed. While the venue may seem appealing on the surface, if you love animals or care at all about ethical treatment — DO NOT come here. This place clearly does not care about animal welfare and seems far more interested in making money than actually supporting conservation.

Animal Enclosure Concerns Some animals are kept in extremely limited spaces that don’t resemble their natural habitats at all. Just to name a few: Capybaras need wide open areas with access to water for swimming and grazing. They were stuck in a small dry space with barely any room to roam or soak. Serval cats, which are wild African felines, are meant to roam, climb, and hunt in large territories — not be confined to a tiny, barren room with minimal stimulation. Binturongs are arboreal and nocturnal animals that need complex climbing structures and dark, quiet areas to rest. Their enclosure was small and not suitable. Seals, which are naturally energetic swimmers, need large pools with enrichment opportunities — the tank they were in was worryingly cramped and lacked depth.

These animals deserve much better. This is NOT conservation. These are display cases, not habitats. A truly ethical conservation space would prioritize space, enrichment, and naturalistic environments — not just aesthetics or visitor convenience.

Concerning Snake Display One of the most disturbing parts was a live snake being used as a passive attraction. The staff claimed it was “asleep,” but dozens of people were touching and handling it nonstop, and it didn’t react at all.

Snakes do sleep, but if they are touched repeatedly and show zero response, it could mean they’re either overstressed, unhealthy, or heavily desensitized — which is not natural or humane. It felt incredibly exploitative, and no responsible wildlife center would allow this.

Misleading Photo System On top of all that, the photo system feels like a money trap: You’re given a QR code card at the entrance to collect your pictures from different stations. When we saw our photo at one of the spots, we liked it and paid for the package, under the impression we could still take photos at other spots afterward. BUT once a transaction is made, you can’t take new photos without paying extra. This was not explained beforehand, and the staff didn’t warn us that completing a purchase would limit future photos.

This felt misleading and purely profit-driven. Had the rules been communicated clearly, we would have waited and taken photos at all spots before paying. But the lack of transparency and upselling tactics made it feel very capitalist and dishonest.

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Overall, the visit gave the impression that the aquarium is more focused on maximizing profit than truly caring for the animals or guest satisfaction. The conservation message felt like a cover, while the actual practices — from small enclosures to monetized guest interactions — suggested otherwise.

I deeply regret ever coming here and spending my money to support this kind of exploitation. This place does not care about animals — it only cares about profit. I would never recommend this to anyone who genuinely loves or respects animals.

For the question ‘Do you recommend buying tickets in advance?’ — I chose No, because I don’t recommend buying...

We’ve visited Jakarta Aquarium Safari several times (about once or twice a year) and it has become our go-to spot in the city to entertain our kids. The attraction is fully indoor inside Neo Soho Mall, which makes it a reliable choice no matter the weather, and it’s stroller-friendly with elevators connecting the two levels. Our children love it because beyond the aquarium displays, there are so many activities throughout the day — animal feedings, penguin shows, mermaid shows, sea lion feedings, and even a penguin parade that’s especially cute and worth waiting for if the timing allows. The activities are spread across different areas every hour, so it helps to wait at least 15 minutes before the scheduled show to get a good spot, as it does get crowded.

We usually buy tickets in advance through Tiket.com since it’s often cheaper with promotions and faster at entry thanks to the special line for online bookings; buying onsite usually means long queues. Weekdays are the best time to visit because the crowd is manageable and you can enjoy more shows, while weekends are often too crowded to fully appreciate the experience.

The visit typically lasts one to two hours, and there’s even a restaurant on site — Pingoo — where you can dine next to the penguin habitat. The food itself is very average and on the pricey side (around IDR 100–150k per person), but dining there gives you the option to feed the penguins and have your photo taken. Do note that photos, whether from feeding activities or restaurant sessions, come with extra charges, which can make the day more expensive than expected. Inside the aquarium there are also snack stalls selling popcorn, cotton candy, and ice cream, but outside food is not allowed. Facilities include bathrooms that are functional though not spotless, and staff stationed around the touch-animal zones to maintain safety.

Overall, Jakarta Aquarium Safari offers good value for the ticket price itself, with plenty of animal shows and feeding opportunities to keep kids engaged. The hidden costs come mainly from photos and add-on activities, but if you manage expectations, it’s a fun and memorable outing. Our kids especially loved the penguin feeding and the photo spot tunnel in the lower level, which changes monthly with creative decorations. It’s best for families with children aged three and up, though toddlers can still enjoy parts of it. We’ll definitely return, but we always aim for weekday mornings to get the best experience with...

We had BAD EXPERIENCE coming to Jakarta Aquarium on 1st April 2025.

They lied about the closing time. We came shortly before 6pm. We asked the customer service about the closing time once we arrived, then we asked the same thing again at the cashier, and they all said it's close at 9pm. Since we thought we should have enough time to explore, we did buy the ticket and explored the nice animal varieties they have inside. However, at 7:50pm a staff approached us and telling that we should be already leaving the place at 8pm. We were surprised and utterly disappointed. In the remaining 10 minutes we rushed to see the rest and couldn't enjoy/comprehend anything in those short time. We feel scammed.

We were looking forward to see their capybaras, since it's one of the animals they advertised. Before purchasing the ticket, we asked the customer service whether we could see them, and they confirmed that we can. However once we rushed to see them at 7:55pm (after the ugly surprise knowing that they're close at 8pm), we found that there are no such capybaras to see! When I asked one of the staffs, he said that they are already taken out at 6:30pm. We really wondered how can such an important information not being informed to us as we queried about it, or announced anywhere at all? Who would have expected that they will clear out some of the animals earlier?! We did query about the capybaras before purchasing the ticket, and nobody cared to inform us about the clearing time. Not the customer service, nor the cashier, nor the usher who checked our tickets. This is another scam.

We feel they dont care about the customers and only cared about getting money from them. Even when we asked to see the manager at the end, around 8:15pm, the only staff left at the cashier said that we couldn't, because they're already closed.

Jakarta Aquarium could have been a major attraction in Jakarta, but given that it's not managed properly, we are not dare to recommend it to anyone. We give one star in this review because in the beginning we enjoyed seeing the animals varieties and the good explanation they put at almost each one of them. But unfortunately, overall, it was a...