Tangerang

Spreading out from buzzing Jakarta on its western side, the suburb metropolis of Tangerang reigns as one of the most populated places in the whole of Indonesia. It's perhaps best known as a major business and enterprise hub, with a patchwork of light industry, loads of modern hotels, golf courses, and the sprawling terminals of Soekarno–Hatta International Airport – Jakarta's main air hub – all within its limits.

While Tangerang mostly bustles with the energy of modern commerce, it's also anchored on a historic core that dates back to the Dutch colonial era. You can delve into that with your Tangerang tour guide to visit leaf-strewn Chinese temples and the Benteng Heritage museum that traces the history of Chinese settlement. It's also there that the vibrant promenades extend past cafes and satay houses by the edge of the slow-flowing, snaking Cisadane River. Other sites here include the colossal Al-A'zhom Grand Mosque, topped with a bulbous blue dome that's considered one of the largest in the country.