Bandung

Bandung is the capital of West Java province and Indonesia's third-largest city, situated in a highland plateau at approximately 768 metres above sea level on the island of Java. Surrounded by volcanic mountains and fertile tea plantations, the city enjoys a cooler climate than Jakarta, just 150 kilometres to the northwest, which has long made it a favourite weekend escape for the capital's residents.

Historically, Bandung holds significance as the site of the 1955 Asian-African Conference, a landmark gathering of newly independent nations that laid the groundwork for the Non-Aligned Movement during the Cold War. The former conference venue, the Gedung Merdeka (Independence Building), stands as a museum on Asia Afrika Street, which is itself lined with handsome Dutch colonial buildings from the early twentieth century. Bandung was once nicknamed the Paris of Java for its elegant colonial architecture, and the Art Deco buildings that characterise its historic centre remain an attraction for architecture enthusiasts.

Today, Bandung is renowned throughout Indonesia as a centre for fashion, creativity, and food. The city has produced a significant share of Indonesia's indie music scene and is celebrated for its local clothing brands, whose factory outlet stores draw weekend shoppers from across the country. The Jalan Cihampelas area is famous for themed retail units shaped like giant jeans and Western icons, a quirky example of Bandung's playful commercial culture.

The surrounding highlands offer several outstanding natural attractions. Kawah Putih (White Crater), a milky turquoise sulfuric lake in the Ciwidey caldera to the south, is one of Java's most photographed landscapes. Tangkuban Perahu, a broad saddle-shaped volcano to the north, can be explored on foot to the rim of its steaming craters. The Lembang highlands beyond Tangkuban Perahu offer strawberry farms, dairy estates, and cool highland air.

Bandung's food scene is one of its strongest draws. The city is famous for locally invented snacks and dishes including batagor (fried fish dumpling and tofu), siomay (steamed fish dumpling), cuanki (meatball soup), and bandros (coconut waffle). The Dago and Riau Street areas are lined with cafes, restaurants, and creative dining venues that reflect the city's young and inventive population.