Bandung: Paris van Java

Bandung may not be the first place you think of when planning your trip on Indonesia's largest island of Java. You would naturally rather think of visiting the Borobudur, Prambanan, Mount Bromo or Java's cultural heart Yogyakarta. Bandung is therefore skipped in the average itinerary on Java, which is also reflected in the number of tourists visiting the city.

Still, Bandung is a destination you can absolutely consider for your trip on Java! Why, and what you can do there you can read in this blog.

Where is Bandung located?

Bandung is the capital of West Java province and is located about 150 KM from the Indonesian capital of Jakarta. Bandung's nickname is "Paris of Java," due to the resort of numerous prosperous Dutch settlers in the early 20th century. Bandung has an airport (national), but the most common will be to travel to Bandung either from Yogyakarta or Jakarta.

 

    A wonderful train journey!
    Are you traveling from Yogyakarta to Bandung (or will you make the reverse trip)? Then perhaps Java's most beautiful train ride awaits you. Enjoy the view of the beautiful rice fields and cute villages you pass during the train journey of about 7-8 hours. Do you opt for Eksekutif? Then you might have just a little more travel comfort, but I found Ekonomi just fine. Nice to be the only tourist among the locals, and I had a nice seat (where I could stretch my legs).

    You pay about € 16.00 (IDR 240,000) for Ekonomi class, Eksekutif is a lot higher (around IDR 420,000, € 28.00). Moreover, you often need to be there a bit earlier, since this class is a bit more popular and has a limited number of seats. By the way, you can easily buy a ticket on Tiket.com, after which you have to exchange your E-ticket for a paper ticket at one of the counters at the station.

    Attempted to take a picture in moving train, succeeded?

    For a long train ride you need some good food. Traveling from Yogyakarta? Then score a delicious bowl of Gudeg!

    Jakarta - Bandung

    Are you traveling from Jakarta? Then the trip will take about 2.5 - 3 hours, depending on which station you board in Jakarta. In any case, from Gambir station, which is practically next to the National Monument and near the Iztiqlal Mosque, you will take about 3 hours. An Ekonomi ticket costs just under ten euros (IDR 140,000).

     

    Once in Bandung you will find that it is a lot quieter than Jakarta in terms of traffic, but it can still feel relatively busy. I personally found the traffic in Bali more chaotic, especially because in some places the roads were a lot narrower.

    7x Why Bandung?

    1. Discover authentic Java

    Bandung is not only the ideal place to escape the hustle and bustle of Jakarta, but also to discover a piece of authentic Java. Being anything but a tourist destination with, for example, countless resorts (and the rest that comes with it), it is without a doubt an untouched piece of Java. Learn more about the Javanese way of life by engaging in conversation with the locals.

    I found the locals very friendly and open to engage in conversation with you. Both local fellow tourists and warung owners. The English level is definitely very high among the younger population groups, although of course you always impress if you speak a few words of Bahasa (Indonesian).

     

    For example, find a local Nasi Padang Warung, enjoy a delicious plate of food and engage in conversation with the locals! I myself stayed up to 2 times for about an hour in conversation with the owner of the Warung in question, very interesting to learn more about their way of life!

    2. Discover the Dutch influence

    Bandung would become the capital during Dutch colonization, so there is certainly still a bit of Dutch influence visible here and there. An impressive example of this is the Sate building. During Colonial times, this building housed the Department of Transport and Water Management, but after independence, the building was transformed for the Governorate of West Java Province.

    How this building got its name? The pinnacle above the main entrance, along with the flagpole, resembles a satay stick.

     

    3. Visit the beautiful tea plantations

    Another piece of Dutch influence: tea! While driving through Ciwidey, located south of Bandung, you will be amazed by endless green strips. Ciwidey is about 1 hour and 35 minutes away from Bandung center, and the easiest way to get there is by scooter, day tour or private driver.

    Stop along the way (or ask if you can stop along the way) to see the tea plantations up close and take some photos. By the way, I haven't seen anywhere in Bandung itself that offers tours or tea tastings.

    On the way to Ciwidey, you will not only encounter tea plantations, but also numerous strawberry plantations. Along the road are also numerous sales stalls to score a nice fresh bowl of strawberries, and that for only about € 0.30 per bowl.

     

    4. Discover a crater lake

    Kawah Putih is one of Mount Patuha's two craters, located near Ciwidey about a 2-hour drive from Bandung. It is a crater lake with acidic water that, depending on the sulfur content and temperature, regularly changes from powder blue to white-green (and sometimes to brown). Exposure to the acidic water makes the landscape around the lake look barren.

    Because of the sulfur, there is a strong smell, while you can still see sulfur fumes around or on the lake. Due to the presence of these sulfur fumes, it is recommended that you stay at the lake for no longer than 15-30 minutes.

     

    To be on the safe side, you can wear a mouth mask, as I personally found the smell quite strong. I find it clever how photographers can stay here daily longer than the recommended time, it doesn't seem healthy to me. I did not find the lake so photogenic that you need a photographer, but that is perhaps too personal an opinion.

    By the way, the crater is 2,400 meters above sea level, so after buying a ticket you will be taken up the mountain by a van. You may have to wait a while until there are enough people to ride up.

    Cost: IDR 110,000 (75,000 Ticket & 35,000 Taxi)

    Optional: Hot Springs near Kawah Putih

    Despite the fact that the entrance fee was only IDR 18,000, I found the Hot Springs of Kawah Rengganis not worth the effort. There is still a strong sulfur smell and sulfur vapor is still coming out of the ground in some places. Really "relaxing" at a hot spring in one of the 2 pools is therefore not applicable in my opinion. I saw some local tourists going for a mud bath, but the (too strong) presence of the sulfur smell made me quickly turn around.

     

    5. Tangkuban Perahu: volcanic crater

    Besides Kawah Putih, Bandung is known for a second volcano: the Tangkuban Perahu. Personally, I thought a Volcanic visit was enough and chose the Kawah Putih. The volcano is located about 1.5 hours north of Bandung, after which you can either hike or drive to the edge of the crater. Here you can see the hot springs and boiling mud up close.

    Highly recommended according to the locals, although I personally don't expect it would top my experience of Mount Bromo.

     

    6. Discover Bandung's local specialties!

    Delicious and more than affordable!

    • Batagor 

    Not the first dish you would think of as a local specialty: a dumpling made of fish paste. The name of this specialty? Batagor! The dumpling, made with fish paste, stuffed into a wonton or tofu which is then fried and served with a sweet and sour peanut sauce.

     

    Tip: Batagor Kingsley (€2.75 for a serving)

    • Nasi Liwet

    Rice cooked in coconut milk, chicken broth and spices: Nasi Liwet. The toppings with this fragrant rice vary by restaurant, but often include chicken, tofu and/or tempeh. I did order an extra serving of vegetables, since I can't make ends meet with vitamins from 2 pieces of cucumber!

     

    Tip: Saung Injuk Resto Gandasari (near Ciwidey)

      • Martabak Manis

      Indonesians love sweet (Manis). Perhaps it is partly because the Dutch introduced them to sprinkles? Martabak Manis is a traditional (sweet) dessert popular under various names in Indonesia, as well as in other Asian countries such as Malaysia, Brunei and Singapore. The folded pancake is baked on a cast iron pan and is traditionally filled with peanuts, cheese (even more Dutch influence) and sprinkles.

      Tip: Martabak San Francisco. Order a medium portion (€3.50 - IDR 52,000) if you want to enjoy this sweet treat again the following day, as they are hearty portions.

        • Bubur Ayam

        Bubur Ayam is a rice porridge dish with chicken. It is usually eaten for breakfast in Bandung and is a favorite among locals (although some also consider it more for when you have a cold). The rice porridge is prepared with chicken broth, coconut milk and various spices and is served with chicken, egg, fried onions and sambal.

         

        Tip: Bubur Ayam H. Amid is a popular restaurant among locals. A bowl (including drinks) will cost you IDR 30,000 (€2.00).

          • Indonesian Oxtail Soup

          Sop Buntut is a hearty soup made from pieces of oxtail served in a spicy beef broth with potatoes, carrots, tomatoes, leeks and other ingredients. Sop Buntut is often served with rice and sambal and is a popular dish among locals in Bandung.

           

          Tip: Dapur Dahapati is a traditional Indonesian restaurant known for serving a delicious bowl of sop buntut. A bowl costs about IDR 85,000 (€5.50)

          7. For a moment in Paris!

          To experience why Bandung is now called the Paris van Java, take a stroll down Jalan Braga. The street is lined with plenty of beautiful green trees on both sides, and has countless stores and cafes. It is Bandung's nicest place to stroll, shop and enjoy a nice atmosphere while enjoying a snack and drink.

          Even more Paris van Java?
          Then go shopping at the equally named mall! You will find mostly the bigger brands, but also numerous restaurants and smaller food stalls. The mall is very modern and the design is a bit like the European style!

           

          Accommodations in Bandung

          Even though Bandung is less touristy than other places in Java, you will no doubt find plenty of accommodation options. Backpackers certainly haven't found Bandung yet, as the list of hostels on Booking.com / Hostelworld is quite small.

          Ostel by OstiC
          I myself stayed at the Ostel by OstiC hostel. I spent 1 day in the hostel with about 2 other backpackers, the other 2 days only locals stayed there. In contrast to the Wonderloft Hostel in Jogjakarta, for example, there is no real backpacker atmosphere, but that in itself also has something. It is especially good to keep in mind, so you know what to expect.

          How many nights in Bandung?

          I traveled from Yogyakarta and only arrived at my Hostel around 4:30pm, but found 2 full days in Bandung more than fine. 1 day for the southern part of Bandung, the other day to relax a bit more. After all, it was the penultimate destination of my 3-month Backpack adventure.

           

          From Bandung to?

          • Jakarta: +/- 3 hours by train (Gambir | IDR 140,000 - Ekonomi)
          • Yogyakarta: 7-8 hours by train