A milky-green crater lake, a volcano shaped like an upturned boat, tea hills in the mist and art deco streets in a cool highland city - plan Bandung with a map and a free trip planner on WhatsApp.
Tap a number to see the place. Distances are rough driving times from the city centre.
Chosen for first-time and returning visitors. Add the ones you like to your trip - we turn them into a plan.
#01Crater lakeCiwideyA striking crater lake on Mount Patuha whose water shifts from milky white to turquoise-green, with steam and a faint smell of sulphur drifting over the shore.
#02VolcanoLembangA volcano named after a Sundanese legend of an upturned boat, with a road to the rim and a walk around huge craters, steam vents and a hot spring where visitors boil eggs.
#03Tea hillsCiwideyRolling tea bushes in the cool hills south of Bandung, with Patenggang Lake at about 1,600 metres where you can take a small boat to the island of the legendary Love Rock.
A bamboo-themed leisure park in the Lembang hills with a lake, gardens, walking paths and restaurants - an easy, cool stop for families and a good base for the highlands.
Bandung's colonial-era promenade with art deco facades, old bakeries and cafes, a short walk from Asia-Africa Street and the museum of the 1955 conference of Asian and African leaders.
#06LandmarkCity centreBandung's best-known landmark, an early 20th-century government building topped by a spire shaped like a satay skewer, with a museum about West Java inside.
#07Bamboo musicPadasukaA cultural centre founded in 1966 where children and artists play the angklung, the bamboo instrument UNESCO recognised in 2010, in a lively show where the audience joins in.
Bandung's famous shopping streets: Cihampelas for jeans and clothes and Cihampelas Walk, plus clothing outlets along Jalan Riau, and many snack stops for local favourites such as batagor.
A forested park on Bandung's northern edge with waterfalls, walking trails and old wartime caves, near highland viewpoints and cafes with views over the city lights.
Starting points we adjust to your dates, budget and hotel choice. Prices depend on the hotel and season, so we quote them for you.
👥 First visit, families, weekend breaks
🏨 4-star hotel in the city centre
👥 Couples, friends, photographers
🏨 4-star hotel, city or highlands
👥 Honeymoons, special occasions
🏨 5-star hotel or highland resort
Pick the places, your dates and the kind of hotel you like. We reply on WhatsApp with a suggested plan and today's prices - no obligation.
The easiest way from Jakarta is the Whoosh high-speed train to Padalarang, then a short feeder train into Bandung, or a regular train or the toll road (about 2.5-3 hours by car). Flights have moved between Husein Sastranegara in the city and Kertajati farther out - check which one your flight uses.
The dry season (roughly May to September) gives the clearest views at the craters and tea hills. Bandung is cooler than the coast all year, and the rainy season (about November to April) brings frequent afternoon showers and mist, so do outdoor sights in the morning.
West Java is mostly Muslim and Sundanese people are known for soft-spoken politeness: dress modestly, especially in mosques, and use your right hand to give and receive. Halal food is easy to find, and mosques and prayer rooms are common, including near the central square. Bring a jacket for the highlands.
The main sights are spread north (Lembang) and south (Ciwidey) of the city, so a car with driver is the easiest option. Weekend traffic, especially on the Lembang road and from Jakarta, is heavy - weekdays are much calmer. In town, ride-hailing apps work well.
Opening hours, tickets, access and rules change (for example visitor quotas, volcano or sea conditions and closures) - we check them for your dates. Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each picture; map: OpenStreetMap. Last checked 10 October 2026.