Planning A Trip To Bandung Indonesia

So, you are thinking of going on a trip to Bandung, Indonesia. Sometimes planning a trip can feel overwhelming, especially when you're going somewhere new. What we'll see and do there, how to get there, where we'll stay, etc., etc... and on and on... Where would you start?

Don't worry, here's a simple list to help you plan a trip to Bandung, Indonesia:

Click/tap any of the items on the list above to go directly to that section of the page, or keep scrolling to read the sections in sequence.

1. Location, Time Zone, and Weather in Bandung

Bandung is the capital of West Java and sits in the highlands, about 768 metres above sea level. The city is surrounded by mountains, forming what is known as the Bandung Basin.

Being up in the highlands, Bandung is generally cooler than coastal cities such as Jakarta and Surabaya. So, if you are coming from a warmer part of Indonesia, you might find the weather here quite pleasant.

As for time, Bandung follows Waktu Indonesia Barat (WIB) – West Indonesia Time, which is GMT+7.

If you need the exact location, kilometer zero in downtown Bandung is at GPS coordinates 6°55'16.6"S 107°36'40.3"E (-6.9212796793237965, 107.61119958592317).

Learn more about Bandung's location, time zone, and weather here…

2. Things to do in Bandung

Bandung is one of the top vacation destinations in Indonesia. But you might still wonder: Why do travelers love Bandung? What makes the city feel different? Find out the answer in Why Visit Bandung, Indonesia.

Located in the highlands and surrounded by mountains, Greater Bandung has a pleasant tropical climate with lots of cool breezes. As a result, many of the favorite places in Bandung are outdoors, such as volcanoes and their craters, forests, parks, gardens, lakes, and zoos. Bandung is also the third-largest city in Indonesia and is famous as a shopping paradise. Many people visit Bandung to shop at factory outlets, Pasar Baru Trade Center, and shopping malls. So, let's find out more about things to do in Bandung based on your interests, or check out the top 12 things to do in Bandung.

I hope you now have a pretty good idea of what you want to do during your trip to Bandung, Indonesia. The next step is to decide how you will get to Bandung.

From shopping to exploring mountains, craters, museums, and parks, Bandung offers plenty of things to do.

3. Trip to Bandung Indonesia: How to Get There

Take a plane, train, or bus, or rent a car for your trip to Bandung.

Located on Java Island and quite close to Jakarta, Bandung is well connected. As a result, it is easy to get to Bandung, Indonesia. There are several options you can choose from:

Book a flight to one of the four international airports in or near Bandung: Husein Sastranegara International Airport, West Java International Airport (Kertajati Airport), Soekarno Hatta International Airport (Cengkareng Airport), and Halim Perdana Kusuma.
Catch a train to Bandung. Learn more about why people choose trains to go to Bandung and which trains you should choose.
Take a bus/shuttle bus.
Rent a car and go on a road trip. You can either go directly to Bandung via the Cikampek and Purbaleunyi toll road or take a longer route and go sightseeing along the way.

Each mode of transportation has its advantages and disadvantages. An airplane is much faster than a train or car, but a plane ticket is more expensive, and many airports are outside the city. On the other hand, train stations are downtown, which might be closer to your destinations.

Many people choose to take a bus/shuttle bus or drive, especially since the toll road stretches the whole distance between Jakarta and Bandung. Another perk of driving to Bandung is that you can leave whenever you want and take a break anytime you want. However, travel time is quite unpredictable. You might be able to cover the 130 kilometers (the approximate distance between Jakarta and Bandung via the Cikampek and Purbaleunyi toll road) in less than three hours when the traffic is light. On the other hand, you might be stuck on the road for more than six hours during the long weekend or the holiday season.

You might even combine different modes of transportation to reach Bandung. For example, if you come from abroad, you’ll arrive at Soekarno Hatta International Airport and then go directly to Bandung by bus or shuttle bus.

Often, my decision to drive or take public transportation depends on how I will get around at my destination. So, let's take a look at how easy it is to get around Bandung!

4. Getting around Bandung

How do we get around Bandung? That's a simple question with a rather long answer.

In short, whenever you have a trip to Bandung, Indonesia, you have several options for getting around the city:

Drive –– you could easily rent a car with a driver in this city.
Call a taxi. Whenever possible, use BlueBird taxi. It’s well known for its safety, and the drivers always turn on the argometer.
Use ride-hailing apps (Grab or Gojek) to request either a motorcycle or a car.
Ride Bandros (Bandung Tour on Bus).
Take a city bus (Trans-Metro Bandung).
Use Angkot (small public vans with many routes within the city).
Rent a bicycle.

Click the links to read about each option in detail, or read the full page on getting around Bandung here ...

Taxis and ride-hailing apps make it easy to get around Bandung.

5. Accommodations in Bandung

So far, our plan for a trip to Bandung, Indonesia, has covered things to do in Bandung, how to get to Bandung, and how to get around the city. Depending on how long you are going to stay in the city, you might need a place to stay.

Don't worry, as one of the top destinations in Indonesia, Bandung has a full range of accommodations:

luxury hotels (five-stars hotels) with all of their facilities and amenities ready to spoil you!
hotels for business,
hotels for family,
budget hotels, and
guest houses.

Perhaps ordinary hotels bore you. Then you might want to try something different, such as:

stay in a resort,
rent a villa,
glamping (glamour camping), where you can enjoy the outdoors without leaving the comfort of a hotel. There are two favorite areas for glamping in Bandung: northern Bandung (near Lembang) and southern Bandung (Ciwidey and Pangalengan).

Plenty of hotels to choose from for your trip to Bandung.

Another way to find the best hotel for you is to first decide which area of Bandung you want to stay in. Many hotels in Bandung are clustered together. This means that once you have chosen the area you want to stay in, you have several hotel options. You might choose a particular area because it is close to shopping areas, has plenty of food vendors, offers short rides to many tourist attractions, etc. Favorite areas for hotels in Bandung are:

Pasir Kaliki (Paskal) – H.O.S. Cokroaminoto Street.
Kebon Kawung Street, near Bandung train station.
Downtown, around Asia Afrika Street and Braga Street
Dago – Ir. H. Djuanda Street
Ciumbuleuit Street
Riau – L.L.R.E. Martadinata Street

In this digital age, it is easy to book a room in any of these hotels through your favorite travel app or through a travel agent. You can even call the hotels directly. Often, you could get a deep discount during the low season.

6. Best Food in Bandung Indonesia

Sundanese food you might want to try during your trip to Bandung.

Last on our plan for a trip to Bandung, but very important, is food. What is the best food in Bandung, and where can you find it?

Bandung is famous as one of the best cities for food hunting. Many people visit this city not for its rich culture or beautiful nature, but for its distinctive food.

Today, you can find food from all over the world in Bandung. For example, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Mongolian restaurants, as well as American franchises such as Mc Donald, KFC, Burger King, Pizza Hut, and Domino Pizza. But I don't think that's what you are looking for if you are a foreigner in Bandung :)

Sundanese cuisine includes chicken or gourami fish (seasoned, then fried or grilled), gepuk (seasoned, tenderized, and fried beef), served with rice wrapped in banana leaves, fried tempeh, and tofu, raw vegetables called lalaban, and lots of chili shrimp sauce.

While you are in Bandung, you might want to try classic European and Indonesian dishes. The restaurants on Braga Street have been open since the 1920s, surviving Dutch and Japanese occupations as well as several economic recessions. They serve authentic dishes because they have never changed their menus and recipes!

Continue reading about the best food in Bandung ...

Planning Your Trip to Bandung

You now have the basics for planning a trip to Bandung—from checking the weather and what to pack, to choosing what to see and do, figuring out how to get there and get around, and deciding where to stay and what to eat. Explore the parts of your trip you want to plan in more detail and start putting your Bandung itinerary together.

Continue exploring Bandung: discover more things to do, transportation options, places to stay, and food in Bandung.