Indonesia
Bandung
May to September (dry season)
$30-80 USD
Indonesian (Bahasa Indonesia); Sundanese widely spoken; English in tourist areas
UTC+7 (WIB)
About
Discover 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.
Where to Stay
Best Hotels in Bandung
Luxury Hotels
Padma Hotel Bandung
A celebrated resort perched on a hillside in the Dago area, Padma Hotel Bandung offers sweeping views over the valley and mountains from its famous infinity pool. Elegant rooms and villas, a full-service spa, and a strong culinary programme make it consistently one of Bandung's highest-rated luxury properties.
Hilton Bandung
A contemporary five-star hotel in the Dago business and leisure corridor, Hilton Bandung provides spacious rooms, a rooftop pool with mountain views, multiple restaurants, and meeting facilities. Its reliable international standards and central location make it the preferred choice for both corporate and leisure travellers.
Mason Pine Hotel Bandung
A five-star resort in the Padalarang/Bandung Barat area set within pine forest surroundings, Mason Pine offers villas, suites, and rooms with a serene natural setting. An extensive spa, outdoor pools, and multiple dining outlets cater to guests seeking luxury away from the city centre's bustle.
Sheraton Bandung Hotel & Towers
A prominent five-star hotel on Jalan Ir. H. Juanda in the Dago area, Sheraton Bandung combines city-hotel amenities with mountain scenery. The hotel's pool terrace, Club Lounge, and well-appointed rooms make it a strong choice for business travellers and families who want reliable luxury in a convenient location.
Grand Hotel Preanger
One of Bandung's most iconic landmarks, the Grand Hotel Preanger is a beautifully restored Art Deco building on Asia Afrika Street dating to 1929. The hotel's elegant colonial facade, heritage suites, and central location adjacent to Bandung's most historically significant street make it an atmospheric choice with genuine character.
GH Universal Hotel
A distinctive five-star hotel built in European castle style on the Dago hillside, GH Universal is one of Bandung's most visually striking properties. Ornate interiors, a ballroom, pool, and multiple restaurants cater to weddings and events as well as leisure guests seeking an unusual and memorable stay.
Boutique Hotels
Savoy Homann Bidakara Hotel
Another of Bandung's historic gems, the Savoy Homann is an Art Deco masterpiece on Asia Afrika Street that hosted delegates to the 1955 Asian-African Conference. Recently restored to its original streamlined elegance, the hotel offers heritage suites, a rooftop bar, and an unmatched sense of living history in the heart of Bandung.
Sensa Hotel Bandung
A stylish four-star hotel in the Cihampelas area known for its creative themed rooms and vibrant social atmosphere. Sensa Hotel is popular with Indonesian domestic travellers for its Instagram-worthy interiors, rooftop pool, and proximity to the Cihampelas Walk shopping complex and factory outlet stores.
Geulis Boutique Hotel
A well-regarded boutique hotel in the Ciumbuleuit hillside area offering tasteful rooms with mountain views and a rooftop dining terrace. Geulis Boutique Hotel balances Sundanese-influenced design with modern comfort, and its attentive service and consistent high guest ratings make it a standout mid-range option in the Dago corridor.
ARTOTEL Suites Aquila - Bandung
Part of Indonesia's creative ARTOTEL brand, ARTOTEL Suites Aquila near the Pasteur area is designed around Indonesian contemporary art, with guest rooms doubling as gallery spaces. A rooftop pool, art-focused social events, and design-conscious interiors attract creative travellers and those looking for a culturally engaging stay.
Mid-Range Hotels
Novotel Bandung Hotel
A reliable four-star hotel centrally located in the heart of Bandung's business district, Novotel offers contemporary rooms, a swimming pool, fitness centre, and multiple dining options. Its consistent international standard, accessible pricing, and proximity to the Braga cultural district make it popular with business and leisure visitors.
Aston Tropicana Hotel Bandung
A four-star city hotel in the Cipaganti area offering contemporary rooms, a rooftop pool, and a restaurant. Aston Tropicana's central location, consistent Indonesian hospitality, and value pricing attract both domestic business travellers and tourists using Bandung as a base for exploring West Java.
Hotel Santika Bandung
A well-located three-star hotel on Jalan Sumatra near the Braga area, Hotel Santika provides clean, comfortable rooms, a pool, and a restaurant at mid-budget prices. Part of the Santika Indonesia group, it delivers consistent service and amenities suited to travellers seeking reliable value in central Bandung.
Budget Options
Amaris Hotel Cihampelas Bandung
A clean and modern two-star budget hotel on Cihampelas Street, Amaris is part of Santika Indonesia's reliable budget brand and provides air-conditioned rooms with Wi-Fi at affordable prices. Its location steps from the Cihampelas Walk mall and factory outlet stores makes it a practical base for shoppers.
Amaris Hotel Cimanuk Bandung
A no-frills two-star hotel on Cimanuk Street offering simple, functional rooms with air conditioning and reliable Wi-Fi at budget prices. Amaris Cimanuk's central location makes it convenient for visiting Braga Street, the Asia Afrika historic district, and the main Bandung train station on a tight travel budget.
Experiences
Things to Do in Bandung
Kawah Putih White Crater
A visit to the milky white-green sulfuric crater lake of Kawah Putih in the Ciwidey area south of Bandung, one of Java's most surreal and visually striking landscapes. The pale volcanic rock, the colour-shifting lake, and the sulfuric mist rising from the water create an otherworldly atmosphere that rewards an early morning visit.
Tangkuban Perahu Volcano
A trip to the broad saddle-shaped Tangkuban Perahu volcano north of Bandung, where visitors can walk along the rim of the steaming Kawah Ratu (Queen's Crater) and smaller secondary craters without a strenuous trek. The drive up through pine forest and tea plantations is scenic, and the landscape at the top is dramatically volcanic.
Asia Afrika Street and Gedung Merdeka Museum
A walk along Bandung's most historically significant street, lined with restored colonial and Art Deco buildings, culminating at Gedung Merdeka (Freedom Building), the venue of the 1955 Asian-African Conference. The museum inside documents this pivotal moment in post-colonial history and contains original conference photographs and artefacts.
Factory Outlet Shopping Tour
A guided or self-directed tour of Bandung's famous factory outlet stores, concentrated along Cihampelas Street, Riau Street, and the Dago area. Bandung's factory outlets sell local clothing brands, denim, sportswear, and accessories at discounted prices, making the city one of Java's premier shopping destinations for Indonesian and regional visitors.
Braga Street and Bandung Art Deco Walk
A self-guided or guided heritage walk along Braga Street, once Bandung's most fashionable European boulevard, past restored colonial shophouses, vintage cafes, and galleries. The surrounding streets contain some of Indonesia's finest Art Deco architecture, including buildings designed by Dutch architects Wolf Schoemaker and Albert Aalbers.
Ciwidey Tea Plantation and Situ Patengan Lake
A day trip to the Ciwidey highlands south of Bandung, combining a walk through the Rancabali tea plantation with a visit to Situ Patengan, a romantic crater lake surrounded by tea estates. The area is also the starting point for Kawah Putih, making it an efficient full-day natural itinerary from the city.
Bandung Sundanese Cooking Class
A hands-on cooking class focused on Sundanese cuisine, the traditional food culture of West Java and the indigenous culture of the Bandung region. Participants learn to prepare dishes such as nasi timbel, karedok (raw vegetable salad with peanut sauce), and pepes ikan (fish steamed in banana leaf) under the guidance of a local home cook.
Geological Museum of Bandung
A visit to Indonesia's national geological museum on Jalan Diponegoro, housing an impressive collection of fossils, minerals, volcanic specimens, and a large skeleton of Homo erectus. The museum provides an informative overview of Java's volcanic geography and prehistoric life, and is a free attraction suitable for all ages.
Lembang Highland Farm Visits
A half-day tour of the Lembang agricultural highlands north of Bandung, visiting strawberry farms for pick-your-own experiences, flower gardens, and dairy farms producing fresh milk products. The Lembang area has developed a string of family-friendly agro-tourism attractions that are particularly popular with domestic visitors at weekends.
Saung Angklung Udjo Cultural Performance
A traditional Sundanese performing arts experience at Saung Angklung Udjo in East Bandung, a cultural centre and school dedicated to the angklung — a bamboo musical instrument recognised by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage. Performances include angklung ensemble playing, traditional puppet shows, and batik demonstrations.
Bandung Street Food Tour
A guided evening walk through Bandung's most popular street food areas — including the stalls near Alun-Alun (City Square), Jalan Cibadak, and the Gasibu market zone — sampling batagor, siomay, nasi goreng, sate, cendol, and other iconic Sundanese and Indonesian street foods with a local guide.
Dago Pakar Nature Reserve Hike
A forest hike in the Dago Pakar nature reserve on the northern edge of Bandung, passing through secondary rainforest, past cascading waterfalls and the Curug Omas waterfall, with views over the city below. The reserve is accessible by angkot (minibus) from the Dago area and suits casual hikers looking for greenery close to the city.
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