Bandung
Bandung sits in a wide green basin about 700 metres above sea level, and the air feels fresh after hot, busy Jakarta. Volcanoes and hills ring the city on every side. To the north is Lembang, with dairy farms, strawberry fields, pine forest and the steaming craters of Tangkuban Perahu. To the south is Ciwidey, with rolling tea plantations and Kawah Putih, a pale green crater lake high on a mountain. The city itself is young and creative. It has a big university crowd, a strong design and music scene, and hundreds of cafes, from hillside coffee bars in Dago to restored art deco buildings on Braga street. People from Jakarta come for the weekend to shop in factory outlets and eat Sundanese snacks like batagor and surabi. Since 2023 the Whoosh high-speed train has made the trip from Jakarta short and easy. Go on a weekday if you can, because weekend traffic in the hills can be very slow.
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All Bandung Guides
7 in-depth guides to Bandung — food, nightlife, beaches, transport, money and the practical detail that is hard to find.