Bandung Hotels

For all of Jakarta’s sway over life and politics in the archipelago nation, however, Bandung exerts a critical and singular cultural identity. The capital of West Java is the indubitable focal point of Sundanese culture - a fact spectacularly apparent in Bandung’s culinary scene, markets, architectural landscape and arts calendar.

Yet it takes some acumen to dig down to the marrow of a city like Bandung, which, like the rest of Indonesia, has been beset by rampant sprawl and lawless overdevelopment in recent decades. The result - incessant urban congestion - is a source of perpetual chagrin with conservationists and more than a few tourists. Still, Bandung is well worth the effort. Enjoy the old heritage charms of the city and, like so many Jakartans on the weekend, make the most of Bandung’s hilly environs and cooler tropical weather.

Bandung’s Top 10

Bandung Local

Bandung’s urban drift is a testament to Indonesia’s growth and endemic, pervasive rural flight over the past several decades. The city extends over a Java-wide highway and rail transport web that ostensibly unites metro Bandung with metro Jakarta in one leviathan megalopolis. Bandung’s urban area now spans close to 200 km² and includes 26 subdistricts (kecamatan) and 139 villages (kelurahan). For tourists, however, the compact core of the city, from the small central business district to the few commercial streets, is where the chief points of interest reside.

The north side of Bandung evinces more affluence than the rest of the city and, as such, is home to numerous academic institutions, malls, museums, restaurants, hotels and parks.

Downriver, the south side of the city is the base of Bandung’s eminent textile industry. A modest Chinatown close to Pasar (Market) Baru is a pocket of rich diversity amid the Sundanese majority.

Anchor and linchpin heritage streets to visit in Bandung include the colonial-era promenades of Jalan Braga and Jalan Asia-Afrika (formerly De Grote Postweg under Dutch rule).

Dago refers to a vital and somewhat fashionable commercial area of Bandung that teems with outlet shops, more upmarket boutiques, restaurants, cafés and old Dutch villas. Important thoroughfares in the popular district include Jalan H. Juanda and Jalan Merdeka.

Avid bargain hunters can find solace at innumerable factory outlets on streets such as Cihampelas, Riau and Setiabudi. Ever-popular with day trip visitors from Jakarta, the trio envelops a wide variety of clothes shops.

Bandung Eat & Drink

Sundanese cultural immersion is the name of the game in Bandung, most notably in the food department. A few dietary staples in the regional arsenal emerge above the rest, from omnipresent lalab with sambal to the delectable rice flour pancake surabi. Sample it all in Bandung: the Sundanese penchant for concurrent tangy, sour, spicy and sweet mouthfeels is crazily addictive.

Bandung Events

Bandung marks a variety of civic, Islamic and Sundanese holidays and festivals throughout the year. From Indonesian Independence Day on August 17 to Maulid Nabi (observance of the Birth of the Prophet Muhammad in late January to March), the city has ample reason to celebrate no matter what the season.

The Braga Festival takes place over three days in late December and features a spectacular parade of street food stalls on Jalan Braga and myriad performances at the Asia Africa Cultural Centre.

The Kawin Tebu Ceremony commemorates the all-important sugar cane industry in West Java with numerous special events in Majalengka, 100 km from Bandung, throughout the month of April.

The Bandung + Performance Art Community is a beacon of creative expression in the capital of West Java. The collective puts on and supports shows and performances on a regular basis.

Nu-Substance Bandung is a rarity in Indonesia: a digital music and media technology festival.

Festival Jajanan Bango di Bandung is a massive food festival that takes over Stadion Tegalega every October.

The Bandung Biennale is a prominent showcase for a vibrant city and provincial arts scene.

The multi-purpose Siliwangi Stadium is the home pitch for both Persib and Bandung F.C.

The hot springs, plantations and volcanic peaks that surround Bandung provide a supreme base for a wide variety of recreational pursuits.

When To Go

Though Bandung experiences cooler temperatures than Jakarta, for example, the city still resides well within a tropical wet and dry climate zone. The wet season typically lasts from October to April, with peak precipitation in January, February and March.

Temperatures in Bandung waver between 63°F (17°C) and 84°F (29°C) for the year, which is several degrees less than Jakarta’s maximum.

The crux of the dry season in Bandung spans the months of July, August and September.

What To Miss

Dodgy trishaw and angkot (minibus) operators can be a bit of a persistent problem in Bandung. Avoid the trishaws altogether and be sure to flag down official angkots, which have uniform paint-jobs and signage. Opportunistic pickpockets have been known to ply their nefarious trade within the confines of the minibus fleets, which have specific routes and can hold up to a dozen passengers or more at a time. With that in mind, stash your stuff safely and be wary of thievery wherever you travel in the city.

In the same vein, traffic is chaotic in Bandung and, much like Jakarta and Surabaya, a monumental problem for city officials to overcome. The Dago area is particularly bad on Saturdays.

Scenic treks outside the city lure hordes of tourists to the slopes of Tangkuban Perahu. While the volcano is a wonderful, worthwhile attraction, beware of rapacious vendors of trinkets and useless junk. The best tactic is to dismiss unwelcome advances with calm, declarative authority.

Getting Around

Husein Sastranegara International Airport is 5 km outside of Bandung proper, 3 km from the central train station and provides service to destinations like Kuala Lumpur, Johor Bahru, Singapore, Bali, Jakarta and Yogyakarta.

Shuttle bus service from Jakarta is the most popular mode of transport to Bandung. The West Java city is 140 km southeast of Indonesia’s capital. Rail access is another option, from both Jakarta and Surabaya, but service can be slow and unreliable.

In Bandung proper, ubiquitous angkots and cabs (with meter) are the best hassle-free transport alternatives. Again, however, when possible, be vigilant in your choice of company.

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