Bogor Travel Guide

Bogor is one of the most pleasant large cities in Java. It lies just to the south of Jakarta at a slight altitude and features the amazing Bogor Botanical Gardens (Kebun Raya Bogor) as its main sight.

Worth It?: Yes, for the botanical gardens and a break from Jakarta.
What to Do: wandering the gardens, shopping at a traditional market.
Best Time to Go: May through September for the coolest temperatures and less rain.
How Long?: One or two days in Bogor should suffice.
Trivia: Bogor is also known as Kota Hujan, which means city of rain due to its being the rainiest city in Java.

The city is around an hour south of Jakarta and has grown massively of late, with around three million people. Central Bogor looks like any other chaotic Indonesian city, but is noticeably cooler than Jakarta and has interesting nearby attractions. Horse and carts (delman) are a form of transport in Bogor.

Bogor Botanical Gardens (Kebun Raya Bogor) is the main highlight of Bogor without a doubt. The gardens were established in 1811 by Sir Stamford Raffles during the Brits' short tenure of Indonesia and are supremely beautiful. The Presidential Palace (Istana Bogor) is a residence here of the Indonesian president.

Elsewhere in Bogor is the Kujang statue at Triangle Park in town. Certain parts of town are nice for a wander, with pedestrian only streets, riverside walks and many traditional markets.

Travel to Bogor - Getting There

Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta Airport is the gateway airport to Bogor, from where buses go direct to town via tolled highway. Bus travel times outside of rush hours are about an hour. If you have a car and driver, it is best to take one of the minor roads during rush hour.

Bogor Things to Do

Bogor Attractions

Bogor Botanical Gardens

Kebun Raya Bogor is among the most beautiful gardens in Indonesia.

Side trips from Bogor

Puncak: heading southeast toward the town of Bandung, Puncak is one of mountains and tea plantations.

Events

Bogor Cultural Festival: a fun annual event in Bogor in February showcasing the city's long history, with loads of cultural events such as Chinese Barongsai dancing.