Top 16 Things to Do and Places to Visit in Bandung 2023

Bandung is a popular place in Indonesia and for travelers in Java especially. There are many things to do in Bandung, and it is not short of attractions to see. Many locals recommend going there for shopping, food, and a refreshing respite. It is a popular weekend destination for those who want to escape the hustle and bustle of Jakarta. Many travelers would say they have their best Indonesian experience here.

Here, the food is cheap and delicious, the products are competitive and in a wide variety, and most importantly, there are many exciting things to see and do. Therefore, it is no surprise that the whole place evolved around the tourism industry, so do come and explore Bandung! For the convenience of your trip, I recommend renting a car * in advance because it can take a very long time to move from one place to another.

Here’s our take on the Top 10 Things to Do and Must See in Bandung:

Top Things To Do in Bandung

Rest and recreation at Dusun Bambu

Dusun Bambu, known as a family leisure park, is located at the foot of a mountain. It is one of the top things to do in Bandung with family. Imagine walking on bamboo bridges across paddy fields surrounded by lush, picturesque mountain views. If walking is not your thing, you can hop onto Wara Wira, a floral-decorated transport that will take you around Dusun Bambu.

Enjoy a meal on a treetop in their hanging nests, the Lutung Kasarung, while soaking in the mountain breeze. Or you can move up higher to Cafe Burangang for a cup of coffee or tea while you drink in an even more incredible view of the Burangang mountain. But if a variety of food is essential to you, you can head to Pasar Khatulistiwa, a food court.

You can also do many activities here, such as archery, flying hammock, canoeing, paintball, ATV, etc. Some may require additional fees.

Many people choose to also stay in Dusun Bambu to experience the place fully. For comfort, you can stay in Kampung Layung, where there are various villas to choose from. There is a camping ground for those who want to stay close to nature, but this is more of a glamping equipped with facilities.

This place is arguably one of the best places to visit in Bandung, solo traveling, as a couple, or with your family. With its vast area of nature and various things to do, you will surely leave this place with a smile.

Enjoy the musical performance at Saung Angklung Udjo

The next must-go destination is Saung Angklung Udjo! From the heart of Bandung, you can drive around 20 minutes to Saung Angklung Udjo, a place for West Java’s cultural performances. Angklung is a traditional musical instrument made of bamboo from the land of Sundanese. It is a 2-hour show of several parts, including a puppet show, mask dance, Angklung performance, and dances with little kids.

Watch the performance and maybe also participate in an Angklung workshop; you may be delighted by learning this long-standing craft. This traditional musical performance is one of the best ways to explore Indonesian culture.

You can also explore and experience their culture through this Bandung Chinatown heritage walking tour *.

Shopping

I am not exaggerating here; nobody goes back from Bandung empty-handed. Especially if you go to the factory outlets at Jl Riau or Jl Dago, you will find all the hidden gems of quality clothes, shoes, bags, and all else in various famous brands. All the items you discover here are in good condition, brand new but at half the price!

Bandung is the home to the local Indonesian clothing line. Along Sultan Agung Street, you can explore many distros that sell original pieces you won’t find anywhere. Most of them sell streetwear. These self-produced items are purported to be as good as big-brand clothing!

Explore Bandung’s culinary heaven

Bandung has a reputation for being a culinary heaven. When in Bandung, you will see many cafes around the city. That’s right, Bandung has TONS of cafes, and there’s probably one new cafe opening every week.

Not only cafes, but Bandung also has many delicious local foods. We recommend trying the legendary Kupat Tahu Gempol for your breakfast. It is a dish of savory tofu and compressed rice cake, served with peanut sauce and Indonesian crackers. Make sure to come early in the morning, as the place is always crowded.

Want to try Bandung’s authentic street food experience? Head over to Cibadak Culinary Night, which opens every day from 6 PM – 11 PM. This place offers a wide range of dishes, from Indonesian, Chinese, Western, to Japanese fusion. These eye-catching food stalls will make you want to shop & try each of their food!

If you’re more into local Sundanese food, try Pandan Wangi resto. They have the best of both worlds—good food & excellent experience! Oh, and don’t miss their signature Terong Raos: We’re sure it will be the best crispy & tasty eggplant you’ll ever eat! (Yes, trust us, it tastes so good that you won’t believe it is an eggplant).

You can also visit the feels-like home cafe Miss Bee Providore for outdoor seating. The cafe itself is located in the upper area of Bandung, Ciumbuleuit. They provide tasty western & Indonesian dishes, with scrumptious desserts too. While eating their food, enjoy the breezy air & the view of green trees that will calm your mind.

Catch a sunset at The Valley

Want something fancier? Visit The Valley * Cafe in the upper hills of Dago area, and be amazed by their first-class steak and stunning sunset city views.

The food is good too, so enjoy your meal while watching the sunset over Bandung city. They also have a choice of rooms and villas * if you can’t have enough of the view.

Swing on a hammock in Tebing Gunung Hawu

Tebing Gunung Hawu is a cliff from limestone mountains and is one of the off-the-beaten-track in Bandung. For the adventurous, get a hold of a hammock operator and swing from one between the rocks overlooking the cliff. A tip is to book early for it before going, as they can all be taken, especially during peak season. The lush green scenery here is well worth your time, even if not from a swinging hammock. 

How to get there: Tebing Gunung Hawu is located in Padalarang, West Bandung. 

Visit The Great Asia Afrika

The Great Asia Afrika is a family recreation place on the main road between Bandung and Lembang. It offers visitors the experience of seeing eight iconic landmarks from Asian, African, and Middle Eastern countries. India’s Pink City, Thailand”s Grand Palace, Japan’s Fushimi Inari-Taisha, China’s Great Wall, and Africa’s traditional house are among the many miniature versions of landmarks scattered around the hilly landscape. 

The hilly terrain helps by giving fresh air and breathtaking views making your trip more enjoyable. Apart from taking pictures and exploring landmarks, you can rent and wear traditional clothes from different countries, buy food and souvenirs, have a picnic, and ride a mini-train. The entrance fee for all the entertainment is IDR 50.000, which you can exchange for a welcome drink. 

Capture your experience in Dago Dream Park

Dago Dream Park is an amusement park in the upper Dago area, which is relatively more reachable than Lembang if you stay in downtown Bandung. It has become a must-visit spot since its establishment in 2016 because it has various activities designed for all ages. 

The main attraction is its selfie spots where you can have your pictures taken on top of a ‘flying’ carpet, a giant bicycle, a Vespa, Carl Grandpa Up house, a love seat, and in front of a sakura tree. The staff will edit your picture to make you look like you are genuinely flying and become united with the background. For adrenaline, you can try thrilling activities like paintball, ATV and boogie rides, motocross, sky gliding, archery, and pirate ship. 

Those who come with their family can choose leisure activities: Uncle’s, Barn farm-themed children’s playground, batik and clay-making, boat rides in Row a Boat, horseback riding, or fishing. Every attraction has a fee on top of the upfront base fee. The base fee is IDR 30,000 per person, allowing only some attractions. The individual fee ranges from IDR 20.000 to 30.000. Preparing your money and energy in advance is advisable as you need to play, queue, and walk around in a sloped area.

Top Places to Visit in Bandung

Braga Street and Asia-Afrika Street

For the first destination, we recommend you to visit Braga street. In the colonial era, Braga was the most prestigious street in the city. It was the first shopping arcade in Bandung. Now, it has become a tourist destination with many cafes and shops.

Explore Braga by walking or taking the Bandros (Bandung Tour on Bus), a bus dedicated to tourists. Along the road, you can find many artists selling their unique paintings. If you want to experience Braga in the Dutch era, try dining at Braga Permai, a resto owned by a Dutch. It offers many authentic European & western dishes that will bring you the old Braga vibe.

Not too far from Braga is Asia Afrika Street, one of Bandung’s most iconic streets. The street name was adopted to show respect for the Asian–African Conference held in 1955 in Bandung.

While strolling down the street, you can explore the Merdeka Building, a museum displaying collections and photographs of the Asian–African Conference. Along the road, you can also find some unique sightseeing; locals cosplay as Iron Man, Dora The Explorer, or even a pocong (one of the Indonesian ghosts). Dare to take a picture with them, perhaps?

Kawah Putih

Kawah Putih is at the top of Bandung’s list of tourist attractions for its stunningly beautiful lake. It is 2 hours away from Bandung city center and in the highland, but it is worth doing. The place is cooling but beware of sunburn as it is still sunny without feeling it. It is a sulphuric lake as it comes from a volcano. The entire area can be explored in 30 minutes.

Many people come here by car hire and get a ticket here in advance.

Enjoy the volcano Tangkuban Perahu

One of the most popular spots you can visit is Mount Tangkuban Perahu, which translates as an overturned boat. It is an active volcano located 30 km from the heart of Bandung. Enjoy the mystical yet enchanting views of the sulfur crater after a hike while sipping hot beverages & eating some fritters.

About 1.5 hours from Bandung, it is yet another crater from a volcano in Indonesia that is worth the visit for the sheer awe of the view from the top. It may be the second-best next to Kawah Putih, but it is still worth a visit.

Villa Isola

Built by an Italian millionaire and perched at the northern part of Bandung, Villa Isola overlooks a breathtaking view of the city to the south. This villa is one tourist attraction not to be missed. There are also cool places to stay nearby Villa Isola *

Gedung Sate and Gedung Merdeka

You might like to check out two iconic buildings in Bandung city. Gedung Sate is built and used by Dutch companies, it is also famous for its satay food decoration. It has six ornaments symbolizing 6 million guldens. Now it is used as the office of the West Java governor. The place is open to the public, and don’t forget to have a good chill and drink on the top floor while overlooking the city. Gedung Merdeka is another architectural wonder. It was built for the rich and then made famous for hosting the first Asian-African conference. Though not much of an attraction but worth taking a look if you are nearby.

Lembang Park and Zoo

Though Bandung and Lembang are home to several zoos, Lembang Park and Zoo became popular instantly. It combines the park and zoo concept with a large area of 25 hectares, lush plantations, diverse animals, and 5-star services from the staff. You can have fun and educational activities related to the animal kingdom, starting from Aves, Mammalia, Primata, Reptilia, and Megatank. 

Some animals are Indonesian natives, and some are non-native, which is suitable for learning new knowledge. Big, harmful, or endangered animals are being put in cages, and human-friendly animals are being released in the yard to enable visitors to play, feed, and take pictures with them. Check the feeding time and performance schedule on Lembang Park and Zoo’s website and social media accounts. 

The service level given by the staff makes Lembang Park and Zoo stand out, from providing scooters to prevent your leg from sore, building a Muslim praying room at several points, to covering you with an umbrella when the rain starts to pour. They will make sure your trip is unforgettable! 

The regular entrance fee, for now, is IDR 50.000 for the weekdays and IDR 70.000 for the weekends. Many visitors recommend you to come on the weekdays as it is less crowded. 

Now you know the best things to do and attractions to see in Bandung. You will be amazed how you can enjoy yourself so much without spending a lot, especially suitable for budget travelers backpacking in Indonesia. However, carrying a lot of things after shopping is another story altogether!

Sanghyang Heuleut

Let us introduce you to this hidden gem: Sanghyang Heuleut. Immerse yourself in this exotic blue lagoon, surrounded by astonishing big rocks & stones. 

You can swim and relax in this cold, refreshing lagoon. If you’re up to the challenge, you can even jump from a 7-meter-high rock straight into the lagoon! 

Wot Batu

While the previous three destinations are suitable for families, this destination is ideal for individual visitors. Wot Batu: an open-space art installation created by Sunaryo, a famous artist from Bandung. His other art installations are displayed around Bandung, but this Wot Batu is his newest. 

In ancient Javanese, Wot means bridge, and Batu means stone, so the stone bridge is the main idea behind the creation of Wot Batu. As many as 136 stones are laid out in harmony in 2000 m2 of Dago Pakar’s land. Every stone has meaning to Sunaryo, and he shows it through a poetic description. For example, the A Trace of Space installation tells a story of two stones filling up the space between two eucalyptus trees. When the trees are gone, the stones will remain to remark the trees’ existence. 

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Travel Tips:

1. Book the best accommodations – Booking.com* or Agoda.com *

2. Find the cheapest flight options that suit you – Skyscanner * or 12Go.asia *

3. Rent a car in advance and make your trip more convenient – Rentalcars *

4. Make the most of the time that you have! Exciting excursions, professional guides, and more – Klook *

5. Book your train tickets online easily – Tiket.com * or bus tickets at Easybook.com *

6. Order ahead Indonesian Rupiah with the best exchange rate – Wise Travel Card *

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Versi Bahasa Indonesia – 10 Tempat Wisata yang Wajib Dikunjungi di Bandung