Pelabuhan Sunda Kelapa or Port of Sunda Kelapa is an old port located on Jl. Maritim No. 8, Penjaringan, Jakarta Utara/North Jakarta. This historic port is a forerunner of the city that has been known since the 12th century. The port was formerly an important port of Sunda kingdom. Many foreign vessels that transit and trade with local merchants and carry a variety of items, such as porcelain, coffee, silk, linen, fragrances, horses, wine, and dyes to be exchanged with the spices, the wealth of the country at that time.

Portuguese were the first Europeans who arrived in Sunda Kelapa in 1512 to look for spices that very popular western world. Their presence did not last long. Sunan Gunung Jati or known as Fatahillah led an army from Sultanate Demak and Sultanate Banten and then mastered Sunda Kelapa and renamed it into Jayakarta or real victory on June 22, 1527.

Sunda Kelapa only have a short moment of interruption from the western. Dutch arrived in 1596 with the same goal, which is looking for spice. Spices are main commodity in Europe. Dutch traders initially received a warm welcome from the Prince Wijayakrama. However, the intimate relationship fell apart when the Dutch established the fort in the southern port of Sunda Kelapa. Gradually, the relationship turned into occupation.

The fort was built in 1613, approximately 200 meters to the south of the Port of Sunda Kelapa. In 1839, at the site was established Syahbandar Tower (Lighthouse Tower) that serves as the customs office, or collection of taxes of goods unloaded at the port. Location tower occupies one bastion (corner fortress), also marks the trade monopoly in the archipelago.

Port Sunda Kelapa currently only serves inter-island trade in Indonesia, on the dock there are a lot of pinisi ships or bugis schooner with a distinctive shape, tapered at one end and colorful on the hull.

How to get here (see the route map):

From Juanda/Gondangdia /Cikini go to platform 1 and take the Red Line or Blue Line to Jakarta Kota. Go to the north exit and take a 28 minutes walk to the north

From Tanah Abang go to platform 3 and take the Yellow Line heading to Depok/Nambo/Bogor and stop at Manggarai go to platform 3/5 and take the Red Line or Blue Line to Jakarta Kota. Go to the north exit and take a 28 minutes walk to the north

From Sudirman go to platform 2 and take the Yellow Line heading to Depok/Nambo/Bogor and stop at Manggarai go to platform 3/5 and take the Red Line or Blue Line to Jakarta Kota. Go to the north exit and take a 28 minutes walk to the north

see the link map or the map below