South Tangerang

South Tangerang (Tangerang Selatan) is a city in the province of Banten, and part of the Jabodetabek Greater Jakarta metropolitan area. South Tangerang is not a city in the traditional sense, but is a densely populated urban area consisting of several towns and Jakarta suburbs, that together became an independent city in 2008, when it was separated from the regency of Tangerang. The independent city of Tangerang is just north of South Tangerang. The total population of South Tangerang is about 1.5 million, with key population centres including Serpong, Ciputat, and Pamulang. Also the large privately-operated planned community BSD City is in the city.

Understand

As housing in Jakarta becomes unaffordable and a rare commodity due to limited spaces to even build one proper house, South Tangerang becomes a good alternative for those who are working in the capital city without spending too much on housing and don't mind a longer commute than those who live in the centre. Several shopping malls, restaurants, and working spaces, mostly maintained by private companies, are built to accommodate and fulfil the needs of its residents without commuting far to Jakarta and also as the answer to reduce traffic jam, especially during rush hours and weekends.

Get in

South Tangerang is a collection of several towns, planned communities and Jakarta suburbs, and therefore there is not one clear city centre or transportation hub. The main road into the city is the Jakarta-Serpong toll road, which connects the Jakarta Outer Ring Road in South Jakarta to among others the Bintaro Jaya new town and BSD City. The Jakarta-Tangerang toll road passes just north of South Tangerang, and is a good way to get to the North Serpong district. To get to the southern part of the city, a trunk road leads from the Jakarta Outer Ring Road at Lebak Bulus to the districts of Ciputat and Pamulang (this road is numbered as National Road 12, but there are no signposts indicating this).

By plane

There is a small airport in the southeast of South Tangerang, in Pamulang district: 🌍 Pondok Cabe Airport (PCB  ^IATA). The airport is only served by a few charter flights, but that is expected to change by the end of 2016. Garuda Indonesia plans to start flights to cities in Central Java, Sumatra, and Kalimantan. No exact start date has been announced yet.

The main international airport of Jakarta, Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, is about 25 km north of South Tangerang. The driving time is less than an hour if there is no traffic congestion, but it is not uncommon that this takes much longer (more than 2 hours).

By bus

There are various bus lines from and to locations throughout Tangerang and Jakarta. In addition, many long distance bus services to destinations throughout Java and beyond are available to and from the nearby Lebak Bulus bus terminal in South Jakarta.

Since 2016 South Tangerang is also served by two Transjakarta bus rapid transit routes. One of them runs from Tosari in Central Jakarta to BSD City, the other one from Central Jakarta via South Jakarta and Lebak Bulus terminal to Ciputat.

By train

There are five railway stations in South Tangerang along the railway between Jakarta and Merak, which runs parallel to the Jakarta-Serpong toll road. All five stations are served by the green line of Jakarta's commuter train network (KA Commuter Jabodetabek), which runs from Tanah Abang in Central Jakarta via South Tangerang to Rangkasbitung station in Lebak regency of Banten province. The largest station in the city is 🌍 Serpong railway station.

Get around

There are dozens of minibus (angkot) routes throughout South Tangerang, with many of them connecting to Tangerang, Jakarta, or Depok. Angkots follow a fixed route, but there is no fixed schedule and there are no fixed stops. To get on, simply raise your hand. To get off, simply shout "Kiri!" to the driver, so he will pull over on the left (Indonesian: kiri) side of the road. The price of an angkot ride within the city is usually about Rp2,000 to 5,000. It is best to ask a local which angkot route to take, and how to recognise the location you want to get off.

The easiest way to get around in South Tangerang is by taxi. Taxi ranks are available outside the shopping malls and hotels. The main reputable taxi companies of Jakarta, including Blue Bird and Express, also have a branch in South Tangerang.

See

Do

• 🌍 Taman Kota 1 ("1st City Park"), Jalan Letnan Sutopo, BSD City (near Al Azhar School). 5:30-18:00. Nice public park with a fair jogging track, well lit and safe. (updated Sep 2016)
• 🌍 Pondok Cabe Golf & Country Club, Jl. Cabe Raya,Pamulang, ☎ [phone]. Tue-Sun 5:00-17:30. Green and caddy fee Rp.250,000 weekdays, Rp.575,000 weekends, for 18 holes. (updated Sep 2016)
• 🌍 Gading Raya Padang Golf & Club, Jl. Bulevar Gading Golf, Gading Serpong, ☎ [phone]. Open to visitors only Tue-Fri. 75 hectares private 18 holes golf course, tennis, and a swimming pool. Visitor fee Rp.685,000. (updated Sep 2016)
• 🌍 Ocean Park BSD, Jl. Pahlawan Seribu, BSD City, ☎ [phone]. Mon-Fri 11:00-19:00, Sat-Sun 8:00-19:00. Huge water adventure park with various water slides. weekdays Rp.50,000, weekends Rp.90,000. (updated Sep 2016)

Buy

There are several shopping malls in South Tangerang. Most of them are in the new town of BSD City.

• 🌍 Bintaro Jaya Xchange Mall, Boulevard Bintaro Jaya Blok. O-2, Bintaro Jaya Sektor VII, Pondok Jaya, Pondok Aren, Tangerang, 15227, ☎ [phone]. Daily 10AM-10PM. One of the best malls the region can offer. Has a spacious green area, jogging track, ice ring and fish pond. 
• 🌍 BSD Junction, Jl. Pahlawan Seribu, BSD City. Daily 8:00-21:00. Shopping mall in the centre of BSD City. (updated Sep 2016)
• 🌍 ITC BSD, Jl. Pahlawan Seribu, BSD City (opposite BSD Junction). Shopping mall with among others a Carrefour supermarket, boutique shops, and a food court. (updated Sep 2016)
• 🌍 Summarecon Mal Serpong (SMS), Jl. Boulevard Gading Serpong. Daily 10:00-22:00. A farmer's market, "downtown walk" outdoor food outlets, XXI cinema, and a variety of shops. (updated Sep 2016)

Eat

• Bakmi Bebe, Pasar Modern BSD, Ruko R73, ☎ [phone]. Open Daily. Mon-Fri: 06.00-15.00. Sat-Sun: 06.00-17.00. Chinese Noodle Restaurant. Menu: BBQ Pork Ribs Noodle, Various Pork Noodle, Chicken Noodle. approx. Rp50,000. 

Drink

Sleep

• 🌍 Hotel Mercure Serpong Alam Sutera, Jalan Alam Sutera Boulevard Kav. 23, Serpong, ☎ [phone]. (updated Sep 2016)
• 🌍 Hotel Santika Premiere Bintaro, Jl. Prof. Dr. Satrio Blok B7/A3-01, ☎ [phone]. Luxury hotel in the centre of the Bintaro town. Double rooms from Rp.660,000 per night. (updated Sep 2016)
• 🌍 Kinari Residence, Jalan Pare Raya 1 blok G1 no.12, BSD City, ☎ [phone]. Check-in: 12PM, check-out: 12PM. Kinari Residence is the only furnished apartment which can be rented daily in BSD City. The one bedroom apartment has a bathroom and kitchen. A cable TV, free Wi-Fi, AC, water heater, refrigerator, gas stove, and kitchen utensils are available inside the apartment. Double rooms from Rp.398,000 per night. (updated Sep 2016)

Connect

Go next

• Tangerang — Nearby city with more shopping malls and golf courses.
• Anyer — Beach resort at the western coast of Java.
• Ujung Kulon — National park on the southwestern tip of Java.