Bandung in 7 days

Java's cool highland escape: volcanic craters, tea plantations, colonial architecture and Indonesia's most creative food scene. Best time to visit: May-September. Average daily budget: $25 to $60 USD.

Day 1, Land & wander

Base: Braga Street (Jalan Braga), The historic Art Deco strip: cafés, galleries and colonial-era shopfronts.

Morning: Tea plantation sunrise at Ciwidey or Pangalengan. Rolling emerald tea fields in cool morning mist.

Afternoon: Explore Braga Street (Jalan Braga), The historic Art Deco strip: cafés, galleries and colonial-era shopfronts.

Evening: Kawah Putih crater lake. A surreal milky-turquoise volcanic lake in the southern highlands.

Eat: Batagor and siomay: Bandung's fried fish dumplings with peanut sauce

Day 2, Iconic sights

Base: Dago & Dago Pakar, Hillside north district with factory outlets, restaurants and city views.

Morning: Tangkuban Perahu volcano. Drive right up to the rim of an active crater north of the city.

Afternoon: Explore Dago & Dago Pakar, Hillside north district with factory outlets, restaurants and city views.

Evening: Braga Street café crawl. Art Deco architecture, old-school bakeries and Bandung's famous coffee culture.

Eat: Nasi timbel, rice wrapped in banana leaf with fried chicken and sambal

Day 3, Food & markets

Base: Lembang, The northern highland resort area: floating market, farms and Tangkuban Perahu volcano.

Morning: Orchid Forest Cikole in Lembang: pine forest walks, suspension bridges and orchid gardens.. A local favourite most visitors miss, worth the detour.

Afternoon: Explore Lembang, The northern highland resort area: floating market, farms and Tangkuban Perahu volcano.

Evening: Gedung Sate, the Indo-European governor's building with its satay-skewer spire.. A local favourite most visitors miss, worth the detour.

Eat: Surabi (serabi), coconut-rice pancakes from wood-fired stalls

Day 4, Local neighbourhoods

Base: Ciwidey (South Bandung), The southern circuit: Kawah Putih crater lake, tea plantations and strawberry farms.

Morning: Kampung Daun or one of Lembang's forest restaurants for dinner in the pines.. A local favourite most visitors miss, worth the detour.

Afternoon: Explore Ciwidey (South Bandung), The southern circuit: Kawah Putih crater lake, tea plantations and strawberry farms.

Evening: The Saung Angklung Udjo bamboo-music performance, a Sundanese cultural institution.. A local favourite most visitors miss, worth the detour.

Eat: Sundanese feast at a kampung-style restaurant with live music

Day 5, Day trip

Base: Riau Street (Jalan R.E. Martadinata), The main factory-outlet shopping corridor.

Morning: Slow start: coffee in Riau Street (Jalan R.E. Martadinata), then an unhurried walk before the heat or the crowds.

Afternoon: Explore Riau Street (Jalan R.E. Martadinata), The main factory-outlet shopping corridor.

Evening: Dinner at Batagor and siomay: Bandung's fried fish dumplings with peanut sauce, then a quiet drink wherever the locals are in Riau Street (Jalan R.E. Martadinata).

Eat: Batagor and siomay: Bandung's fried fish dumplings with peanut sauce

Day 6, Hidden gems

Base: Braga Street (Jalan Braga), The historic Art Deco strip: cafés, galleries and colonial-era shopfronts.

Morning: Slow start: coffee in Braga Street (Jalan Braga), then an unhurried walk before the heat or the crowds.

Afternoon: Explore Braga Street (Jalan Braga), The historic Art Deco strip: cafés, galleries and colonial-era shopfronts.

Evening: Dinner at Nasi timbel, rice wrapped in banana leaf with fried chicken and sambal, then a quiet drink wherever the locals are in Braga Street (Jalan Braga).

Eat: Nasi timbel, rice wrapped in banana leaf with fried chicken and sambal

Day 7, Slow finish

Base: Dago & Dago Pakar, Hillside north district with factory outlets, restaurants and city views.

Morning: Slow start: coffee in Dago & Dago Pakar, then an unhurried walk before the heat or the crowds.

Afternoon: Explore Dago & Dago Pakar, Hillside north district with factory outlets, restaurants and city views.

Evening: Dinner at Surabi (serabi), coconut-rice pancakes from wood-fired stalls, then a quiet drink wherever the locals are in Dago & Dago Pakar.

Eat: Surabi (serabi), coconut-rice pancakes from wood-fired stalls

Hidden gems

Orchid Forest Cikole in Lembang: pine forest walks, suspension bridges and orchid gardens.
Gedung Sate, the Indo-European governor's building with its satay-skewer spire.
Kampung Daun or one of Lembang's forest restaurants for dinner in the pines.
The Saung Angklung Udjo bamboo-music performance, a Sundanese cultural institution.

Getting around

The Whoosh high-speed train links Jakarta to Bandung (Padalarang) in about 45 minutes, with a feeder train into the city; shuttle vans and the toll road take 2 to 4 hours depending on traffic. Within Bandung, use Grab/Gojek cars or motorbikes; angkot minibuses cover local routes. For the mountain circuits, hire a car with driver for the day. Most nationalities get an Indonesian visa on arrival or e-VOA.

Safety

Bandung is safe and friendly, with petty theft the main concern in crowded markets. Volcanic areas occasionally close for elevated activity, so check status before heading up. The crater lakes have strong sulphur fumes, fine for most, but mask up if sensitive. Weekend traffic from Jakarta is extreme; travel midweek or leave before dawn.

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