Located on the island of Sumatra, the city is a busy port on the Batang Hari River and an oil- and rubber-producing centre.

The total land area of Jambi city is 169.887 km2 (66 sq mi).

Jambi City is located in the southwestern portion of the Sumatran Basin, a low-lying area in Eastern Sumatra with an altitude of 0 to 60m above sea level.

The dry season lasts from April to September with an average of 16 rainy days a month.

The city is served by Sultan Thaha Airport, which has connections to Jakarta, Batam, Palembang, Medan, Bengkulu, Bandar Lampung, and Pekanbaru.

Jambi City is twinned with: The city was the birth place of sex offender Reynhard Sinaga (born 19 February 1983), described by the UK Crown Prosecution Service as "the most prolific rapist in British legal history".