Dufan, an amusement park in Ancol – What to do in Jakarta
Dufan is an amusement park located in Ancol, North Jakarta, Indonesia. It is similar to Disneyland or Universal Studio. It has many fun attractions and rides that you can enjoy if you have a day to spend in Jakarta. Dufan is the abbreviation of “Dunia Fantasi” or in English: “Fantasy World”
The great coincidence of the name Dufan is that it is pronounced as “Do Fun”. So you can say that you are going to Dufan to “have fun”.
Dufan is located within the large recreation and entertainment complex in Ancol, an area along the coast of North Jakarta. The complex is known as “Taman Impian Jaya Ancol” or in English: “Jaya Ancol Dream Park”. In the recreational complex, in addition to Dufan, they have several hotels and a cabin by the sea, a golf course, Atlantis water park, SeaWorld, Samudra Dolphin Attraction and many more.
Now, back to Dufan. Dufan Amusement Park has many rides and attractions for young and old. Kids can enjoy safe rides like the big carousel, while teens and adults can enjoy more exciting rides like the roller coaster. Attractions you can find in Dufan:
- Bianglala: It is a big Ferris wheel where you can sit at the end of one of the giant spokes, and as it takes you to the top, you can see the beautiful view of the sea to the north and the land to the south.
- Kora-Kora – This ride is a giant ship that swings you back and forth, up and down. Some of the riders reach a position perpendicular to the ground. It is commonly known as “The Pirate Ship”. As you’re lifted up and the swing changes direction, you’re sure to feel weightless.
- Hysteria: In this ride, you sit down and are carried high up in a big column, then the ride drops you like you’re falling fast.
- Istana Boneka: it is the Palace of the Dolls, where there are hundreds of large animatronic dolls. This is the equivalent of “It’s a Small World” at Disneyland. It is suitable for children.
- Tornado: The Top Spin, as it is more widely known, induces very high accelerations of gravity. You will get the thrill of your life here.
- …and many more rides and attractions.
Admission to Dufan costs 180,000 rupees (about US$21) on weekends or 150,000 rupees (about US$18) on weekdays. If you are a fun-loving person and never get tired of fun rides, you can always buy an annual pass which would be a great saver if you plan on going there very frequently.
If you are in Jakarta, with around US$45, you can take a taxi, go to Ancol and spend a whole day in Dufan. When you’re done, there will be plenty of taxis waiting at the Dufan exit, so you won’t have to worry about getting back to your hotel. With that amount, you should have enough to cover entrance fees to Ancol and Dufan and taxi fares plus meals.
