Bandung Travel Guide

Bandung is a large West Java town to the southeast of Jakarta, known for its appealing cityscape and lush surroundings. It is prettier than Jakarta, although still somewhat chaotic, but has much more charm.

Worth It?: Yes, more refined, less chaotic and cheaper than Jakarta.
What to Do: check out old Bandung, see Villa Isola, buy denim jeans on Jalan Cihampelas, hike and fish in Juanda Forest Park.
Best Time to Go: May through September has the coolest and driest weather in Bandung.
How Long?: Two days minimum for Bandung.
Trivia: Bandung's official nickname is Flower City, or Kota Kembang.

The town is around 180kms southeast of the capital and has lots of European flavor in its streets and buildings. It is known as the Paris of the East, the Flower City, and Jeans City (owing to its many denims stores). Major attractions to see in Bandung include the beautiful Villa Isola, Cipaganti Mosque, and Juanda Forest Park.

Much of old Bandung has been cleared for glitzy shopping malls and hotels, although visitors can still see old art deco-style buildings here and there. Jalan Asia-Afrika (formerly Grote Postweg) is the main part of town, linking the city square (alun-alun) with many old landmarks.

For shopping, Bandung does really well and prices are cheaper than in Jakarta. The city's many denim stores can mainly be found along Jalan Cihampelas. A slew of local markets and handicrafts stores are also on offer. Eating options in Bandung are also extensive with local and international foodstuff available in the myriad of cafés and restaurants.

Those who fancy getting active while in Bandung have many options, with the nearby mountains featuring many resorts and good hiking options.

Travel to Bandung - Getting There

You can fly to Bandung (Hussein Sastranegara Airport) from Jakarta in around 30 minutes, as well as from Yogyakarta in Central Java, and from Bali. Trains and buses also serve Bandung from Jakarta and you can be here within a few hours from the capital. The Sadang toll road links Bandung in 3 hours.

Bandung Things to Do

Bandung Attractions

Villa Isola

Bandung's most important landmark was built in 1932 and is a huge art deco-style villa offering great views of Tangkuban Perahu Mountain and the city.

Gedung Sate

even older than Villa Isola, this Italian Renaissance building was constructed in 1921 in a mixture of styles - it has Moorish windows and a Balinese pagoda.

Savoy Homann Hotel

one of the oldest hotels in Bandung (1880) was renovated back in 1938 and has hosted the likes of The King and Queen of Thailand and the Duchess of Westminster.

Juanda Forest Park

this large park above town feeds Bandung with water and also comes with caves and picnic spots.

Side trips from Bandung

Mount Tangkuban Perahu: located just north of Bandung near Lembang, this park is a popular family spot and has great hiking and fishing options. Ciater Hot Springs Resort is nearby.

Events

Braga Festival: a fun three-day festival in Bandung that showcases the city's art and cultural with street parades and dancing.