Bandung

Bandung is the national capital of Western Java province and the third largest city in Indonesia after Jakarta and Surabaya. Nicknamed Parijs van Java (Paris of Java) by the Dutch for its resemblance to Paris and European atmosphere back at the colonial times, it is locally called as Kota Kembang, literally meaning the Flowery City because Bandung had a lot of flowers in the colonial perioid and republic perioid up to the early 1960s.

A city sitting in a former lake with an altitude of 768 m above sea level and the surroundings of lush and beautiful Parahyangan mountains makes the climate cooler than most major city's in Indonesia. If you are into the city situation, look for its universities to study, apparel products to try on and wonderful places for gastronomic adventure. Nowadays, Bandung has become a very popular weekend escape for visitors of Jakarta because of its close proximity, During holiday periods it gets heavy traffic jams (need at least a half hour to travel 3 kilometers).

Bandung Districts

Administratively and the city of Bandung (Kota Bandung) is divided in 30 neighborhoods (kecamatan), however for this travel guide the city has been divided in the following five neighborhoods, that are more useful for Muslim travellers. Central Bandung, North Bandung, Northwest Bandung, South Bandung, East Bandung. The Greater Bandung Metropolitan Area (Bandung Raya) has a population presence of more than 8 million and extends well beyond the city of Bandung. The city of Cimahi in the west is Bandung's largest suburb. For travellers and the surroundings of Lembang in the north and Ciwidey in the south are among the highlights of Greater Bandung.

Introduction to Bandung

History of Bandung

Although the oldest written reference to the city dates back to 1488 and there were numerous archaeological finds of "Java Man" that lived on the banks of Cikapundung river and the shores of Bandung's Great Lake.

In the 17th-18th century and the Dutch East Indies Company (VOC) created small plantations in Bandung, with a road to Batavia (today's Jakarta) completed in 1786.In 1809, Louis Bonaparte and the ruler of the Netherlands and its colonies, ordered the Dutch Indies Governor H.W. Daendels to improve Java's defenses against the threat of the English, who occupied the nearby (Malay) peninsula. Daendels responded by building the Great Post Road (De Groote Postweg) that stretched about 1000 km between the west and the east coasts of Java.Because north coast was in the form of impassable swamps and marshes at the time and the road was diverted through Bandung along what is now Jalan Asia-Afrika.

Daendels liked Bandung's strategic location so much that he ordered the capital to be moved there. Military barracks were built and Bupati Wiranatakusumah II and the chief administrator of that area, built his dalem (palace), Masjid Agung (The Grand Mosque) and pendopo (meeting place) in the classical Javan alun-alun (city square) near a pair of holy city wells (Sumur Bandung) and facing the mystical mountain of Tangkuban Perahu (near Lembang).

Powered by its cinchona (for malaria drug quinine), tea and coffee plantations, Bandung prospered and developed into an exclusive European style resort with hotels, cafes and retail outlets. Many of Bandung monuments, including the Preanger and Savoy Homann hotels, as well as the shopping street of Jalan Braga, are still available today. The Concordia Society building, now Gedung Merdeka, was built with a large ball room as a club for rich Europeans to spend their weekends.

In 1880 and the first major railroad between Jakarta to Bandung opened, boosting small industries and bringing in Chinese workers. The first of Bandung universities and the Technische Hogeschool (TH) was established on July 3, 1920. One of the its alumni members is President Soekarno himself. That university is now known as the Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB)

In 1942, after Japanese soldiers landed in coastal areas of Java and the Dutch retreated from Jakarta to Bandung, but were driven out from there as well and surrendered soon after. After the end of the war, first the British and later the Dutch came back trying to reestablish the pre-war colonial situation, but on March 24, 1946, during the struggle for Indonesian independence and the city of Bandung was burned down by retreating forces of the TRI, because they would not comply with the order given by the British forces to move out of Bandung to the south (Bandung Sea of Fire/Bandung Lautan Api). For the TRI this act was a sign of refusal to surrender. Over 200,000 people fled the city during the incident.

In 1955 and the Asia Africa Conference (Konferensi Asia Afrika) was held in Bandung, paving the way for the creation of the Non-Aligned Movement in 1961. The Indonesian parliament was located in Bandung from 1955 to 1966, but was moved back to Jakarta in 1966.

Orientation

Today's Bandung is a sprawling city of 2.7 million people and suffers from many of the same problems as other Indonesian city's. Traffic is congested, old buildings have been torn down and once idyllic residences have turned into business premises, fortunately the facades are still same.

There are primary streets that roughly split the city into three parts and the north and the central and the south. The Pasupati overpass splits the north and the central. Dago or H Juanda and Merdeka are the primary streets from north to south. The Jenderal Sudirman, Asia Afrika, Kosambi and Jenderal Ahmad Yani cuts the central and the south. If you enter using the toll road, you will start from the outskirts first and then make your way into the town center.

Road in bahasa Indonesia is translated into Jalan and abbreviated into Jl.; this applies to all kind of road from small road to major road. You will see a lot of Jl. in front of the road name in this guide. Very small road that cannot by passed by vehicle is called Gang and abbreviated into Gg.

Travel to Bandung

Bandung is in the central highlands of Parahyangan. It can be visited from Jakarta via the toll road or by train. Many buses and minivans connect Jakarta and Bandung. An alternative to the toll road is the winding road via the Puncak mountain pass. The route through Puncak is quite scenic but on weekends and public holidays the traffic is congested.

What is the best way to fly to Bandung

Bandung's Husein Sastranegara Airport has a difficult location among the mountains and relatively limited services with narrow-body airplanes. The airport is located in Northwest Bandung, about 4 km from the downtown. All of Indonesia's major airlines are present at Bandung Airport, offering frequent connections with most of Indonesia's major city's, with at least daily Flights to 13 destinations including Surabaya (East Java), Medan (Sumatra), Makassar (Sulawesi) and Bali. There is no scheduled flight connection with Indonesia's capital Jakarta, as the distance between the city's is only 125 km. In addition to the wide range of domestic destinations, AirAsia connects Bandung with multiple daily Flights to Malaysia (Johor Bahru and Kuala Lumpur) and Singapore. Also Malindo Air has daily flights from/to Kuala Lumpur and Silk-Air five weekly from/to Singapore.

No metered taxis are available in Bandung Airport. The official taxi of the airport (a monopoly) doesn't use a meter and will only drive with a taxi ticket (the ticket showing the amount you have to pay to the driver) which can be purchased at the taxi booth near the international arrival exit gate for a minimum of Rp60,000. Most hotels provide free airport transfer services.

Grab Online Hailing Service can be ordered at the airport:

• Grab Bike, bike taxi.
• Grab Car Airport BDO, not the same as Grab Car or Grab Taxi. The Grab Car Airport tariff is about 3 times greater than the regular Grab Car tariff and about 2 times greater than that of Grab Taxi.

If you want to leave the airport on foot, because the Bandung airport is relatively small, walk about 300 meters and then you can order Grab Car or Grab Taxi more cheaply.

Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta International Airport airport is 2½ hours away (plus any, often significant, traffic jams) from Bandung. A number of companies offer direct shuttle bus services to Bandung, including a convenient Primajasa coach service; see the 'By bus' section for details.

Travel by Bus to Bandung

Bus services connect Bandung and smaller surrounding city's. Several long-route buses are also available from major big city's. The most convenient way is the air-conditioned bus with the express or non-stop tag. The main bus terminals in Bandung are Leuwi Panjang GPS -6.94639,107.59417 in South Bandung, serving buses from the west (Greater Jakarta, Bogor Raya (from Bogor: frequent direct buses till 9 PM from Baranangsiang Terminal, Rp 85,000, 4-5 hours depends on traffic) and Banten including the port of Merak) and Cicaheum GPS -6.9026125,107.6567526 in East Bandung, serving buses from the east (Cirebon, Garut, East Parahyangan and destinations in Central and East Java and Bali). Many buses on routes between Jakarta and destinations to the east pass via Bandung, but they do not stop at Bandung's terminals, however many of them allow passengers to get off or on at the Cileunyi toll gate just east of the city.

By shuttle bus

With 7-10 seater minivans leaving every few minutes and the shuttle bus market between Jakarta and Bandung is fiercely competitive. Roughly speaking, services can be categorised as either door to door in a chartered vehicle or van that takes your group exactly where you want to go, for around US$50–75, or point to point from its pools to another, for under US$10. Many companies offer both.

• 4848 Taxi. Jl Prapatan 34, Jakarta. ☎ +62 21 381 4488, +62 21 386 4848. The service is great, reliable and safe. Price: approx. US$25/car (4 persons). One destination only in a small area in Jakarta, so you have to ask which area in Jakarta they serve.
• Arnes Shuttle. Hourly from Superindo Pancoran Statue, in the hook of North-East intersection from 04:00 to 21:00, except from 09:00 to 15:00, when they run every two hours. Jakarta: ☎ 0822-1669-1117, 0878-2260-1009, Bandung at Balubur Town Plaza (Baltos): ☎ 0858.6000.3868 (indosat), 0821.2112.12.93 (telkomsel), 0878.2439.8501 (xl). Passengers can 'transit' at Baltos, RS Hermina, BTC and Rest Area of Pasteur Toll Gate and take Arnes Shuttle to Jatinangor, a place with many big universities, every 15 minutes for additional Rp40,000 from 05:30 to 18:00 and then every 30 minutes from 18:30 to 23:00, except for Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, when it runs every 30 minutes. Jatinangor at Jl. Raya Jatinangor 190 Desa Cikeruh, next to Bank Tabungan Negara, before Sayang intersection, if coming from Sumedang. ☎ +62 22 933.636.97, 0858.6000.3686 (indosat), 0821.2112.12.39 (telkomsel).
• DayTrans (Indonesian-language only) Jakarta (Blora, Sarinah, Fatmawati, Karet, Mall Senayan City, FX Plaza, Meruya-Intercon, Kebon Jeruk-Binus, Grogol, Atrium Plaza, Hotel Acacia, Cempaka Putih Pulomas, Tebet/Pancoran and Jatiwaringin), ☎ +62 21 7063 6868 or 6386 4005. Bandung (Cihampelas and Pasteur), ☎ +62 22 7063 6868. They have the best pilot seats amongst all shuttle providers. Price between Rp90,000 to Rp310,000 per passenger depends on seat location.
• Baraya — The ticket fee is Rp95,000 per passenger for a shared ride with abundant routes. ☎ +62 21 7244 999 and +62 22 753 1415.
• Primajasa Bus, ☎ +62 22 607 3992 (Bandung), ☎ +62 21 800 9545 (Jakarta). They provide a direct shuttle service from Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta airport to Batununggal, with no stop at Bandung Super Mall or anywhere else along the route anymore. The trip takes approx. 3 hours and the cost is Rp315,000. Schedule: once every half hour from 0:30-16:00 and the rest is every hour. Their buses feature a smoking room and toilet at the back. Primajasa also has shuttle shuttle vanes from Soekarno-Hatta airport to Diponegro street (Gedung Sate) near intersection with Cisangkuy street with cost Rp355,000. Mention whether you want a bus or shuttle van when you contact them.
• Silver Bird Van Taxi (Blue Bird Group), Jl. Mampang Prapatan Raya 60, South Jakarta. ☎ +62 21 798 1234. Price: Rp850,000 door to door, plus toll fee Rp70,000.
• X-Trans, Jl. Blora 1 AB, Central Jakarta, ☎ +62 21 315 0555. Price: approx. US$55/car maximum 10 persons for point-to-point charter. Price Rp300,000 per passenger.
• CitiTrans, Jakarta (Fatmawati, Bintaro, Sudirman, Kelapa Gading, Pasar Pagi, Central Park), ☎ 08041111000. Bandung (Dipati Ukur, Cihampelas Walk, Pasteur), ☎ 08041111000. 7 or 10-person (depends on the point) shuttles with separate seats.

Due to competition, all shuttles now only have 2 prices, for 8-11 seats Rp90,000 (Star Shuttle) to Rp95,000 (Baraya) and for 6-7 seats Rp90,000 to Rp310,000 in a shuttle van.

How to travel to Bandung by car

Bandung is two hours away from Jakarta by vehicle if the traffic conditions are favourable, but because of traffic congestion if often takes longer, however thanks to the Jakarta-Bandung toll road (via Cikampek) travelling by road is faster than by train. However during the rainy season, parts of the road may be closed because of landslides and bewildering because of feasible high winds or blinding fog and downpours. While most cars would exit the system at Pasteur the first exit to Bandung with excellent connections to Lembang, it is very congested during the weekends so it is highly encouraged to enter the city at the less congested toll road exits on the southern side of the city instead: try Pasir Koja, Kopo, Moh. Toha and Buah Batu. If you still wish to exit at Pasteur, note that on Saturdays from 09:00 to 13:00 this exit is only allowed for cars with at least 4 passengers.

One alternative route is by the slower, but enjoyable, route via the Puncak area. If you travel by vehicle using this route, be sure to stop at the Puncak Pass the tip of the highland just on the outskirts of Jakarta, for a view of tea plantation and fresh air. There are plenty of good restaurants and hotels out there.

Travel by train to Bandung

State operator PT Kereta Api Indonesia offers frequent services between Jakarta and Bandung with Argo Parahyangan, as well as other towns on the southern rail route. Though even the fastest services take more than three hours from Jakarta. The time passes so quickly during the journey because of the comfortable trains, scenic mountains and paddy fields you could find along the way. There are 3 classes for each train journey: Executive class, slightly over Rp335,000 per ticket for air conditioning, reclining seats and a footrest; Economy Premium class, Rp300,000 and Economy class from Rp90,000 offers air conditioning and comfortable seats, though without recliners or footrests. Booking at least 24 hours in advance is a must and can be made through travel booking services such as Traveloka, PegiPegi, etc. and through the minimarkets such as Alfamart and Indomaret. Under 24 hours until 10 minutes before departure, tickets only can be purchased in the departure station. But if you have a KAI Access application and the ticket can be purchased up to 1 minutes before departure.

The state operator offers its newest class - The Priority Class - on Argo Parahyangan that runs only twice daily in each direction. It has 28 luxury seats in a single vehicle with onboard-entertainment on every seat, wireless connection and toilets for the disabled person. Costs about Rp 650,000 and must be booked in advance at least one week before the desired journey due to high demand for the service.

If you do travel by train, get off at theBandung train station GPS -6.91426,107.60235 (commonly called Hall station) in Central Bandung. It is right in the downtown and offers excellent transport connections to the city's places of interest. The station has two faces — the old entrance (south of the tracks) and the newer entrance (north). Taxis are outside the north entrance, but the market is monopolised by AA taxi whose tariff is about 15 per cent higher than Blue Bird, although their cars are generally in better condition than those of Blue Bird. Outside of train station parking area there are abundant other taxis. Angkots are found at a smal terminal about 100 from the south entrance.

Get Around in Bandung

• Usually an angkot is a modified ordinary shuttle van. The 10-seat shuttle van becomes an 18-seater. Thit is feasible by lining passengers side by side. It might be a bit awkward for first-time users.
• Don't be nervous about touching other passengers; the cramped seating often makes it unavoidable. Do be aware that some pickpockets operate on angkots. Be very careful if you see someone acting sick or odd.
• To stop the angkot, just raise your hand and when you need to get off, just shout kiri! (pronounced "kee-ree") and the Indonesian word for "left." Thit is a request for the driver to pull aside to the left.
• The most comfortable and safest seat is the front window, next to the driver, but you still share one seat for two.
• Payment is by cash only, but preferably in small denominations. An average single trip fare costs Rp4,000-5,000.
• The door is typically removed, so don't be scared if it is missing. Tall people will need to bend over to get in and the bench seats are really small.

Angkot Bandung Sadang Serang-Caringin - Angkot in Bandung. The blue-yellow-green colour scheme identifies it is an angkot on the Sadang Serang-Caringin route.

Travelling around in Bandung can be quite complex and frustrating, especially to newcomers, because there is no mass rapid transit system. Locals travel using small public shuttle vanes, known as angkot from angkutan transport and kota city.

By angkot

This option has only origin and destination names on top, sometimes with a description of which street they pass if there is more than one angkot route for a certain origin-destination route.

Although there is an official price for angkot from Organda (the local regulator of these private city transport), it is based on how far you travel. It's better to ask the driver or kernet (driver assistance) about the price to go to a location. To ask for an angkot to stop and pick you up, just raise your hand. When you're inside and want to stop, just ask the kernet to stop or say 'kiri' (kee-ree) or simply 'stop'. It used to be easy to find a bell that you could press to stop, but not anymore. Most angkot fares about Rp5,000-5,000. For very short distances below 1½ kilometers, Rp4,000 is enough, while for taking an angkot into the suburbs the price may be slightly higher.

The official angkot routes are listed on Bandung's City Government website.

Some angkot have the same destination, but different routes, such as Angkot No. 01, which runs from Cicaheum to Kebon Kelapa via Trans Studio Mall, whereas Angkot No. 02 goes through Aceh street.

Best way to travel in Bandung by a Taxi

If you don't know which angkot routes to take, you're much better off taking a taxi. Metered taxis may take you out of your way to get more money or run the meter first before you enter the taxi, in case of phone orders. The fare for trips within the city is Rp45,000-75,000. At most big streets, taxis can be hailed at malls and big hotels, but as in most cases, ordering by phone is the safest bet, although there is a minimum payment for phone orders.

Allow plenty of time for the journey, as traffic congestion is common, especially in weekends. Short trips of under 10 kilometers may take over an hour in the rush hour and in weekends.

Almost all taxis in Bandung require a minimum payment of Rp45,000 except for Blue Bird, which requires none. Besides the flagfall for the first kilometers and the tariff for next kilometers is Rp6,500 and waiting time is Rp65,000/hour (is also charge when the taxi trap in traffic jam or stop behind the red light).

By online ride hailing apps

Online taxis such as Grab and GoCar (from Gojek) are abundant and they can pick you up in less than 10 minutes after booking. Available 24 hours, mainly in Dago area and Trans Studio Mall area. They also offer services for a ride to outer Bandung areas (up to 70 kilometres). Waiting time typically costs around Rp60,000/hour or less depending on the negotiation with the driver. The service is needed in outside Bandung area due to the difficulty to get online taxis, except in Central Lembang#Online taxi|Lembang area.

Travel by Bus to Bandung

There are a number of bus companies but they don't cover the whole city due to many narrow streets in Bandung. City buses, called Damri, cover long routes across the city from end-to-end; for example, from the north to the south (Dago or Setiabudi to Leuwi Panjang Central Terminal) and from the west to the east (from Cibeureum to Cicaheum and then to Cibiru). The intersection of north-south routes and east-west routes is Alun-alun Central Park and intersection of Astana Anyar and Asia Afrika.

Buses can be stopped anywhere, not just at the bus stops. The ticket price for all routes in the city is Rp4,000 for without air-con and Rp5,500 with air-com.

Damri buses also serve outer Bandung to areas such as Alun-alun Central Park Bandung to Ciburuy (near Padalarang) and Elang to Jatinangor. All buses use air conditioning. The additional buses to serve Dago to Leuwi Panjang Central Terminal also use air-conditioned buses.

How to travel to Bandung by car

Using a vehicle is probably the easiest and the most convenient way to travel around Bandung and surrounds, but daily severe traffic jams should be considered. If you don't have a valid driving licence and then you can also hire a vehicle with a chauffeur, which is very common for Western travellers. Perhaps it is even better to hire a vehicle from Jakarta. Rental cars are available from numerous outlets, including major international brands. Renting a vehicle is about Rp700,000 per day (12 hr), or Rp600,000 (12 hr) excluding gasoline, parking and toll for travel outside Bandung, such as to the Tangkuban Perahu volcanic area.

While it is generally required to travel by car, especially to the outskirt mountains and the horrendous weekend and rush hour traffic jams can put your trip up to an hour behind schedule, so be sure to plan ahead by starting early and look for alternate routes! The major roads that are often crowded are the roads leading up to Lembang (Jalan Sukajadi), Dago, Cihampelas and the corridor from Pasteur toll exit to Pasupati overpass that connects these streets. On the weekends, especially long holidays, hoards of cars from Jakarta head over to this part of the city for a getaway, resulting in even uglier drive times. Be aware that many streets, especially the small ones, typically go one-way but sometimes poorly indicated!

A local rule requires that every vehicle must have a trash bin and the law is strictly implemented. Failure to obey this rule could result in paying Rp450,000 on the spot or via an ATM/Bank payment. Police are also stricter in enforcing seatbelt laws in Bandung than in the other city's, so everyone in a front seat should make sure to wear one.

By motorcycle

Motorcycle rental is relatively new in Bandung, so the rental price is higher than in Bali#By_car_or_motorbike|Bali and these services are still limited due to relatively high motorcycle thefts in Bandung, so the rentals provide some extra locks for added safety. The rental tariff is Rp70.000-Rp55.000 for 12 hours in weekdays/weekend or Rp85.000-Rp85.000 for 24 hours in weekdays, Rp90.000-Rp90.000 for 24 hours in weekend or Rp650.000-Rp500.000 for a week.

For renting, domestic tourists have to have at least 3 of driving license, electronic identity card, family card, tax identity (NPWP), or passport. Foreign tourists must have international driving license and passport.

By ojek

There are two types of motorcycle taxis (or ojek) in Bandung, conventional ojek, where ojek drivers flock/stay at certain place, wait for passengers and sometimes the tariff isn't fixed. Unlike online ojek/ride-hailing apps such as Grab or GoJek, where the fare is stated in advance and much cheaper than conventional ojek. Many ojek drivers in Bandung under these companies rarely wear their uniform to avoid frictions with conventional ojek drivers. It is advisable to order from the lobby of hotels/malls or at least 100 meters from conventional ojek shelters/stations.

Walk in Bandung

Bandung has nice pavements, newly-renovated as of 2022, with tactile paving or truncated domes for the visually impaired, from Dago/Jalan Ir. H. Juanda area to the south and along Jalan Riau/R.E. Martadinata. Green Spaces in Bandung are quite abundant, with the biggest one at The Grand Mosque of Bandung (Masjid Raya Bandung) in Central Bandung.

Sightseeing in Bandung

Colonial architecture

With Bandung being one of the main city's of the Dutch East Indies, many colonial buildings were built in the city in the second half of the 19th century and especially the first half of the 20th century. Most of the colonial buildings can be found in the Bandung/Central|downtown]], as well as in the Bandung/North|Dago area where extensive expansions of the city took place in the early 20th century.

A key architectural style used in the Dutch East Indies in the 19th century was the Indies Empire style. A key example of this style in Bandung is Gedung Pakuan in Central Bandung, built in the 1860s as the new residence of the resident of the residency of Parahyangan, as its capital was moved from Cianjur to Bandung. The most famous colonial buildings of Bandung are however not those with classical styles, but those with modernist architecture. The city has one of the world's largest number of buildings in Art Deco architecture|Art Deco style. The key architects of this period (mainly 1920-1940) include C.P.W. (Wolff) Schoemaker, A.F. (Albert) Aalbers and Henri Maclaine Pont. All of them were known for combining modernist European architecture (including Art Deco) with style elements from Indonesian cultures.

Born in Central Java in 1882 and educated in the Netherlands, Wolff Schoemaker has been famous as the father of Bandung Art Deco architectural style. He is well known for adapting modern European architecture to the tropical surroundings. This blending of ancient decorative elements and modern architectural features has made him the best Indonesian architect of his time. He later became a professor at the Bandung Institute of Technology in North Bandung. Among his students was Soekarno and the first president of the Republic of Indonesia. Schoemaker was a very productive architect, with dozens of buildings in Bandung being designed by him. Some of his most famous buildings include the Gedung Merdeka, Grand Hotel Preanger and the Bandung Gothic Church, New Majestic cinema building (all in Central Bandung), Villa Isola and the Pasteur Institute (both in Northwest Bandung) and the Kologdam Building (East Bandung).

Albert Aalbers's main claim to fame was the DENIS Bank building, based on which he also received the contract to design the new building of Bandung's Grand old hotels|grand old hotel and the Savoy Homann. Shortly thereafter, he designed the renovation of one of Schoemaker's works and the Gedung Merdeka. These three buldings are all in Central Bandung. The most famous buildings designed by Henri Maclaine Pont are the main buildings of the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) in North Bandung.Gedung Sate - backside - Gedung Sate in North Bandung.

The most well-known colonial buildings that were not designed by these three architects are government buildings of the Dutch East Indies, which were designed by the Government Buildings Service (Landsgebouwendienst). The main example of thit is the Gedung Sate in North Bandung, built in the 1920s for Department of Public Works of the Dutch East Indies and now used by Western Java's provincial government.

Museums

There are various museums in the city. Right in the downtown and there is the Museum of the Asian-African Conference in the Gedung Merdeka. The building was the location of the 1955 Bandung Conference (the first meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement) and the museum tells the history of this conference, that was attended by among others presidents Soekarno (Indonesia), Gamal Abdel Nasser (Egypt) and Tito (Yugoslavia) and prime minister Ho Chi Minh (Vietnam).

Other well-known museums in Bandung include the Geological Museum (with 250,000 rocks, a mineral collection and 60,000 fossils) and the Postal Museum (covering the postal history of Indonesia and the Dutch East Indies), both in North Bandung. Lesser-known museums include Museum Barli (paintings and vintage toys) in Northwest Bandung, Museum Mandala Wangsit Siliwangi (weapons and the history of Bandung in the War of Independence) in Central Bandung and the Sri Baduga Museum (archeological and geological exhibitions on Western Java province) in South Bandung.

Other sights

Apart from the colonial buildings and museums and the key sights of Bandung's downtown are the Alun-alun central lawn square and the adjoining Grand Mosque. The provincial mosque was initially built in the 19th century, but it has been renovated and expanded many times, so most original elements are no longer visible. The latest major renovation took place in 2003, when also the two iconic minarets (81 metres high each) were added. During weekends, one of the minarets is open to visitors and from the top you will have a great view across the city. Nearby is also the Kilometre Zero monument, which indicates the location of Bandung's establishment (at the location where the Great Post Road crosses the Cikapundung river).

In the Dago area in the North of the city and there are various natural sights, of which the main one is the Djuanda Forest Park, a conservation area and botanical garden in the mountains. Within the park there are also two man-made caves that were important locations during the Second World War and Indonesian War of Independence (among others for shelter and ammunition storage).

Top Muslim Travel Tips in Bandung

There are many activities that you can do in the city or outside the city. As Bandung highland is neighbored by a string of mountains, activities in the outskirts of the city are centred about the mountain resorts, adventure activities and outdoor sports. In the city, you can obtain savor the culinary diversity (see the Eat section), shop at the affordable outlets and distros (see the Buy section) or just hang around.

Every Sunday is Car-Free Day in Dago street from Cikapayang to the north to Simpang-Siliwangi 06:00-10:00. Come as early as feasible, because it can become hectic, as it is only a small street.

Outdoor activities

• Puncrut-Lembang walking trail - Begins at Puncrut, Jl. Kiputih, North Bandung. For beginners or who save the stamina, it is better to go to Ledeng first and continue to Lembang by angkot and ask people to go down to Puncrut.
• The Tangkuban Perahu volcano is about 20 kilometers north of Bandung, near Lembang.
• The Kawah Putih (White Crater) lake is about 40 kilometers south of Bandung, near Ciwidey.

Shopping in Bandung

Shopping for clothing and accessories is one of the main reasons that, every weekend, many Muslim from Greater Jakarta visit Bandung. Many items are less expensive than in Jakarta. There are shopping malls scattered across the city. Many of them have a combination of Indonesian and international shops, cafés and restaurants and most of them also have a family karaoke venue (KTV) and a cinema. The largest and most modern shopping malls in Bandung are the Trans Studio Mall (South Bandung) and Paris Van Java (Bandung/Northwest|Northwest Bandung). A few malls are known for their affordable clothing, including the BTC Fashion Mall in Northwest Bandung and the Pasar Baru Trade Centre in the Bandung/Central|downtown]] (which is a favorite for Malaysian tourists).

Denim (jeans) stores can be found along Jalan Cihampelas in Northwest Bandung. These became very popular in the 1990s with unique facades built to attract people. Some of the stores also sell factory outlet garments, but the quality is rather inferior to factory outlets in Jl Setiabudhi, Jl Dago and Jl Riau. The new 450 skywalk over the north part of Jl Cihampelas offers good views of the surrounding area. It has an elevator and small booths that sell food and accessories.

On the other side of the city, in Cibaduyut (South Bandung), leather shoes and other leather products are produced and sold in numerous stores. It is paradise for those who like long boots, which can be made to order at relatively affordable prices. They take between three and seven days to be ready.

Local handicrafts and souvenirs

Angklung is a (Sundanese) musical instrument. They are sold in handicraft shops in shopping malls, souvenir shops and the dedicated Saung Angklung Udjo angklung centre in East Bandung. Wayang golek are (Sundanese) puppets. Unlike the (Javanese) wayang puppets and the (Sundanese) wayang golek are made from wood. There are various shops that sell them across the city, of which the main is the Cupumanik centre in Central Bandung.

Factory outlet stores

Fashion items for some of the world's top brands are made in Indonesia. Even slight defects such as a missing or incorrectly-inserted button are enough for the item to be rejected, or there might have production overruns that need to be discarded. These unwanted items are sold with sisa export tags, because they were made for export. Some of are Grade A (best quality, overrun product) or Grade B (export quality, slight defect) quality. Don't be surprised to see Made in Korea or Made in Singapore on the tags! While you will still see a bag priced at $65 for sale at New York City and they will sell for only Rp65,000 ($5), a dramatically small fraction of the listed price in the destination market! Enjoy bargain hunting but make a careful inspection yourself. Check for below-standard or damaged items and counterfeit branded products. The shops often have a wide range of modern contemporary styles and accessories.

Most factory outlet stores are concentrated in North Bandung (specifically Jl Riau and Jl Dago) and Northwest Bandung (Jl Cihampelas and Jl Setiabudhi). Bandung's most well-known factory outlet store, Rumah Mode, can be found in Jl Setiabudhi in the Northwest.

Independent designers

The phenomenon of distros ('distribution outlets') began in Bandung in the 1990s. Originally, indie bands and record labels started selling their merchandising (CDs but also clothing, stickers, etc.) in their own shops. Nowadays and there are more than 300 distros in Bandung that sell stylish products that were made by local designers and the phenomenon extends well beyond the original indie music scene. One thing that makes distros stand out from the factory outlet stores is that distros sell products from individual designers and young entrepreneurs, while factory outlet products come from a garment factory. Many of the designers that started distros have become famous, launching country-wide clothing brands and therefore price levels have increased in recent years. Distros can be found throughout the city, but many of the most famous among them are concentrated in and around Jl Trunojoyo in North Bandung.

Eat Halal Food in Bandung

Bandung is a heaven for Halal food lovers who enjoy new experiences. There is a huge variety of places to eat, ranging from thousands of travelling Halal hawkers and warung food stalls to high-end restaurants. Prices vary equally, but are generally lower than in Jakarta. A good meal from a warung or simple restaurant is likely to cost less than Rp60,000, but in high-end restaurants and in luxurious hotels you can easily spend 10 times this.

Budget eateries, including street food, are abundant throughout the city. Most of the higher-end Halal restaurants can be found in the downtown and towards the north of the city, mainly in the Bandung/North|Dago area. In addition and there is a huge range of Halal restaurants (from affordable fast-food to high-end international cuisine) in the shopping malls, with the Paris Van Java mall in Northwest Bandung and the Trans Studio Mall in South Bandung standing out.

Although vegetarian restaurants are not common, many Indonesian (and Sundanese) dishes are Vegetarian and Halal. It is therefore relatively easy to find Vegetarian food, such as lotek (spicy vegetable salad) and dishes with tahu (tofu) and tempe. Be aware, however, that many dishes are served with sambal (chili sauce) that may contain terasi (shrimp paste), or with krupuk udang (shrimp crackers).

Your culinary Halal tour in Bandung does not end at the restaurants and cafés. There are plenty of bakeries in the city where exotic pastries entices you to bring one home a legacy of the brutal Dutch colonial time. Some of them have a high popularity, that you may have to be in a queue even before the shop opens!

Halal Street Food

Halal Street food in Bandung can be found everywhere throughout the city. Travelling vendors carrying a basket roam through the neighbourhoods selling pre-prepared food. Kaki lima food stalls (mobile kitchens) may also travel around, or stand on the same street corner every day. The same applies to warung, which are slightly less mobile stalls that often have some shelter and a few tables and plastic stools. Some of the warung, that are being rebuilt at the same location every day, have grown to become very popular establishments with hundreds of guests per day (for example and the Bebek Ali Borromeus Halal food stall in North Bandung). In general and the number of clients is a good indication of the level of hygiene of the place, with busy warung being very safe.

Popular Halal Street food options include Sate (satay skewers), Nasi Goreng and Mie Goreng (fried Rice and fried noodles) and Ayam Goreng (fried Chicken, served with chilli Sauce and rice). Specifically for breakfast, popular options are bubur ayam (chicken porridge), kupat tahu (rice dumplings, tofu and bean sprouts with peanut sauce) and Lotek (vegetable salad with peanut sauce).

Many temporary food stalls can be found along Jalan Cisangkuy from Diponegoro intersection down to Jalan Citarum. Every Sunday morning till noon the street food stalls can also be found behind of Gedung Sate.

Ethnic Halal cuisine

The local cuisine is Sundanese food, as covered in the guide on the wider Parahyangan region. An example of a local delicacy is bakso tahu (commonly called siomay), a steamed Halal Meat with or without tofu. It is served with peanut paste, sweet soy Sauce and a lime. It is suitable for a Snacks to eat at anytime. In almost all streets you can find somebody selling this food with a wheeled stall (gerobak). Batagor is similar to bakso tahu/siomay but it is fried instead of being steamed. Basreng is a spicy Snacks made ​​from fried meatballs, with the addition of the spicy and savory seasonings suitable for you. Soto Bandung is a Halal soup with [ beef Meat, soy beans and some vegetables. Lotek is a mixed boiled vegetables, served with peanut paste and some chillies, similar to gado gado. The hotter the better. Laksa Bandung is the famous old traditional Halal dish. This dish is kind of Chicken soup using coconut milk with turmeric for the stock and in side it contains sliced Rice cake (cooked inside a banana leaf), bean sprout, vermicelli, shredded Chicken and for the finishing is garnished with holly basil and Oncom Bandung the traditional fermented soy bean cake.

Throughout the city, cuisines from other regions of Indonesia can be found, with Padang Halal restaurants from West Sumatra especially ubiquitous, as well as local food from Jakarta and Central Java. The Chinese Indonesian minority operates a large number of Chinese restaurants which might not be halal and also Japanese food (mainly sushi and ramen) is common. Asian-style Halal restaurants (such as Steaks houses and pancake places) are also common, although the quality varies. The better Western restaurants can be found in the major shopping malls and in the Bandung/North|Dago area but you need to double check the Halal status.

Cafés and coffee houses

Similar in other big city's like Jakarta and Surabaya, nowadays, coffee houses are a popular place to hang out and also are always packed after working hours or on the weekends. Most coffee places in Bandung are amping up their appearances as well to attract many more clients.

• Kopi Aroma Bandun - This traditional coffee factory uses a rubber wood fire to dry the coffee beans. Their warehouse has been in use since the 1930s. They offer group tours of both and individuals who buy a lot might also ask for a tour. The barrista can mix coffee blends to your preference.
• Kopi Ireng - Jalan Bukit Pakar Timur No.1, Cimenyana 40198 ☎ +62 22 2531074Hours: 1PM Monday - 2AM. A Joglo-styled coffee house to see Bandung from above with great city view. Their signature drink is a "Zigzag Cappucino"
• Kudu Ngopi - Jalan Aceh No.66, 40117At the same place as Siliwangi Bowling Centre☎ +62 816-4864-009Hours: 11AM Monday - 11PM - Lacamera Coffee - Jalan Naripan No. 79, Asia Afrika 40112 ☎ +62 22 4210200Hours: 7.30AM Monday - 11PM
• Noah's Barn - Jalan Dayang Sumbi No. 2, Coblong, Bandung, Western Java 40132 Hours: 8AM Monday - 11PM - Starts at Rp35,000 - Rp 235,000. Specialised in local variety of coffees such as Java, Bali, Toraja and Papua.
• Two Cents - Brew Believer - Jl. Cimanuk No.2 40115 Located on Jalan Riau (or Jalan L.L.R.E. Martadinata), well known for some top factory outlets ☎ Hours: 7AM Monday - 11PM. Specialised in coffees from Bali, Dampit, Bajawa Flores and Malabar. They also have their house blends such as Bewitched Blend and Awakening Blend.

• Two Hands Full - Try the "Eggs in Hell" with chorizo, or a smoothie bowl. Some clients found the WiFi hard to connect or the signal quality is mediocre.
• Wiki Koffie - Probably the most crowded, jam-packed and the most popular coffee house in Braga vicinity. It is advisable to come as early as feasible.

• One Eighty Coffee and Music - Spacious café on two floors. Shallow swimmingpool you can cool your feet in. Regular live music. Western and Asian brunch items.

eHalal Group Launches Halal Guide to Bandung

Bandung - eHalal Travel Group, a leading provider of innovative Halal travel solutions for Muslim travelers to Bandung, is thrilled to announce the official launch of its comprehensive Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide for Bandung. This groundbreaking initiative aims to cater to the diverse needs of Muslim travelers, offering them a seamless and enriching travel experience in Bandung and its surrounding regions.

With the steady growth of Muslim tourism worldwide, eHalal Travel Group recognizes the importance of providing Muslim travelers with accessible, accurate, and up-to-date information to support their travel aspirations to Bandung. The Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide is designed to be a one-stop resource, offering an array of invaluable information on various travel aspects, all carefully curated to align with Islamic principles and values.

The Travel Guide encompasses a wide range of features that will undoubtedly enhance the travel experience for Muslim visitors to Bandung. Key components include:

Halal-Friendly Accommodations in Bandung: A carefully selected list of hotels, lodges, and vacation rentals that cater to halal requirements, ensuring a comfortable and welcoming stay for Muslim travelers in Bandung.

Halal Food, Restaurants and Dining in Bandung: A comprehensive directory of restaurants, eateries, and food outlets offering halal-certified or halal-friendly options in Bandung, allowing Muslim travelers to savor local cuisines without compromising their dietary preferences in Bandung.

Prayer Facilities: Information on masjids, prayer rooms, and suitable locations for daily prayers in Bandung, ensuring ease and convenience for Muslim visitors in fulfilling their religious obligations.

Local Attractions: An engaging compilation of Muslim-friendly attractions, cultural sites such as Museums, and points of interest in Bandung, enabling travelers to explore the city's rich heritage while adhering to their values.

Transport and Logistics: Practical guidance on transportation options that accommodate Muslim travel needs, ensuring seamless movement within Bandung and beyond.

Speaking about the launch, Irwan Shah, Chief Technology Officer of eHalal Travel Group in Bandung, stated, "We are thrilled to introduce our Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide in Bandung, a Muslim friendly destination known for its cultural richness and historical significance. Our goal is to empower Muslim travelers with accurate information and resources, enabling them to experience the wonders of Bandung without any concerns about their faith-based requirements. This initiative reaffirms our commitment to creating inclusive and memorable travel experiences for all our clients."

The eHalal Travel Group's Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide for Bandung is now accessible on this page. The guide will be regularly updated to ensure that Muslim travelers have access to the latest information, thus reinforcing its status as a reliable companion for Muslim travelers exploring Bandung.

About eHalal Travel Group:

eHalal Travel Group Bandung is a prominent name in the global Muslim travel industry, dedicated to providing innovative and all-inclusive travel solutions tailored to the needs of Muslim travelers worldwide. With a commitment to excellence and inclusivity, eHalal Travel Group aims to foster a seamless travel experience for its clients while respecting their religious and cultural values.

For Halal business inquiries in Bandung, please contact:

eHalal Travel Group Bandung Media: info@ehalal.io

Muslim Friendly hotels in Bandung

Bandung has a vast range of lodging, being an important destination for domestic business travellers, a citytrip destination mainly for Indonesians, Singaporeans and Malaysians and foremost the main place for people from Greater Jakarta to go for a weekend break. Occupancy rates are therefore high during weekends and especially long weekends and holidays and so are lodging prices. Broadly speaking, most lodgings are in the central and northern parts of the city. All major domestic (favehotel, Santika, Aston) and many international (ibis, Novotel, Holiday In, Hilton, Sheraton) hotel chains are present with one or more hotels in the city.

Central Bandung is home to the city's grand old hotels and the Savoy Homann and the Grand Preanger, but also a very wide range of business hotels of various price and quality levels. Business hotels can also be found in abundance around the Pasteur toll gate in Northwest Bandung. Many tourist-oriented hotels, including some luxurious hotels such as the Sheraton, can be found in the Dago area, including the northern hillsides. In the Ciumbeleuit and Setiabudhi areas of Northwest Bandung there is also a growing number of hotels, including the large and luxurious Padma Hotel with stunning hill views. More to the north and the mountain town of Lembang also has many lodging options, including private villas.

The extensive residential areas of East Bandung|East and South Bandung have fewer lodging options, although there are still various hotels. A notable exception is the Trans Studio complex in South Bandung, which in addition to the large indoor theme park and high-end shopping mall also include Asia's largest Ibis hotel and a very luxurious hotel that brands itself as 'the first hotel with 6 stars in the nation'.

• Amaris Hotel Cihampelas
• Arion Swiss-Belhotel Bandung
• Aston Braga Hotel & Residence Bandung
• Aston Primera Pasteur Hotel & Conference Center Bandung
• Aston Tropicana Hotel & Plaza Bandung
• Favehotel Braga Bandung
• Favehotel Premier Cihampelas
• Grand Aquila Bandung
• Grand Royal Panghegar Hotel Bandung
• Hilton Bandung Hotel
• Holiday Inn Bandung
• Marbella Suites Bandung
• Mitra Hotel Bandung
• Mutiara Hotel Bandung
• Sheraton Bandung Hotel & Towers
• Sukajadi Hotel Bandung
• The Radiant Villas & Function Hall Hotel Bandung

Stay Safe

The emergency phone number for police is 110, while the fire brigade can be visited via (022)113. There are numerous police stations in the city, with the largest ones being the provincial police headquarters (Polda) in East Bandung and the city police headquarters (Polrestabes) in Central Bandung. There are 28 local police stations (Polsek) scattered throughout the city.

Stay healthy

Tap water in Bandung is not potable, although it is generally fine for a bath or a toothbrush session. Bottled water (generally known as 'aqua' after the most common brand) is cheap. Check if the tamper proof seal is intact.

There are numerous hospitals and health clinics in Bandung. Although the standards of healthcare remain below what most visitors would be accustomed to in their home country, some of Bandung's major hospitals have among the highest standards of the nation. Hospitals with 24-hour emergency units can be found throughout the city (see the neighborhood articles for listings of the major hospitals). In any case, it is advisable to have insurance coverage for emergency medical evacuation as a precaution. If a medical evacuation is required then patients are normally moved to Singapore.

The emergency phone number for ambulances is (022)118, however the service level of both the phone number and the ambulance services is highly variable. Rather than waiting for an ambulance to come, it is quicker to hail a taxi to bring you to the nearest hospital.

Travel Next from Bandung

Kawah Putih from the bottom, Bandung Regency, 2014-08-21 - The Kawah Putih crater lake near Ciwidey.

There are various city's, towns and mountainous areas surrounding Bandung, that are suitable for day trips.

• Cimahi — Bandung's largest suburb, known as the 'city of soldiers' for its many military institutions, as well as a large Dutch war cemetery.
• Central Bandung
• Lembang — mountain town just north of Bandung, at the base of the Tangkuban Perahu volcano and home to Indonesia's only observatory.
• Ciater — at the other side of the Tangkuban Perahu volcano, a small town known for its volcanic hot spring resorts.
• Ciwidey — an area of tea and strawberry plantations south of Bandung, with the Kawah Putih crater lake as its highlight. Via the Soroja (Soreang Pasirkoja) Toll Road and the drive to Kawah Putih lasts about one and half hours.
• Central Bandung[Garut]] — about one and half hours from Bandung to the southeast, resort city neighbored by several volcanoes.

Next destinations

• Central Bandung
• Bogor Raya — mountainous area west of Bandung, with among others the Mount Gede Pangrango National Park and the city of Bogor.
• Central Bandung - East Parahyangan — the southeast of the province, about 4-6 hours from Bandung, including Pangandaran beach at the Indian Ocean coast.
• North Coast of Western Java — the northern plains of the province, including the port city of Cirebon at the Java Sea coast, about 2-3 hours from Bandung.

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