Bandung City Guide
Image by F1fans via wikipedia

Indonesia

Bandung City Guide

West Java

Bandung, Indonesia's fashion and art hub, combines European-style architecture with volcanic terrain. The city enjoys a mild climate, making it a perfect retreat from the usual tropical heat. It's known for a thriving creative culture, delicious food, and plenty of work-friendly cafes.

Lifestyle🍽️

🍽️
Food Scene
Excellent
9

You'll find a mix of vibrant street food and international options. Try Batagor or Mie Kocok for sure.

Local Dishes:
Batagor, Siomay, Mie Kocok
International Cuisine:
Japanese, Korean, Western
Vegan FriendlyVegetarian Friendly
🌙
Nightlife
Good
6

Dago and Braga areas are lively with bars and pubs, but the scene is generally modest.

Coffee Culture
Excellent
9

Bandung has a strong coffee scene with many specialty roasters and cafes experimenting with beans and styles.

💰
Tipping
Not Required

Tipping is appreciated but not compulsory. A small amount is often enough.

Top Attractions
Gedung Sate
cultural
Explore colonial architecture and local heritage.
Braga Street
cultural
A lively street dotted with cafés and art shops.
Trans Studio Bandung
entertainment
A huge indoor theme park fit for all ages.
Bandung Geological Museum
educational
Discover geological wonders and Indonesian natural history.
Tangkuban Perahu
nature
Visit this active volcano for a unique hiking experience.
SIM Cards

Buy SIM cards at the airport or in malls. Telkomsel is the most reliable, but XL and Indosat are good too. Register with your passport.

Available at:
Telkomsel outlets
XL Axiata
Indosat Ooredoo
Recommended Apps
Gojek(transportation)
Grab(transportation)
Traveloka(travel)
Google Maps(navigation)
WhatsApp(communication)
Tokopedia/Shopee(e-commerce)
PeduliLindungi(health)

Services & Infrastructure

Street Cleanliness
Good
6

Main areas are clean, but side streets vary. Waste is a challenge.

24/7 Services
Good
7

Late-night food, 24/7 minis and some pharmacies.

Groceries
Transmart
Carrefour
Giant
Borma
Yogya
Pasar Baru Trade Center
Pasar Kordon

You'll find most of what you need. International products are more common in bigger stores like Setiabudhi Supermarket.

Cashless Payments
Widely accepted

You'll find cards are accepted in most big shops and hotels. But you'll still want cash for local markets and street vendors.

ATMs

ATMs are found everywhere, especially from major banks like BCA, Mandiri, and BRI. Stick to those in malls and banks for safety; watch for ATM fees with international cards.

Schools
International

There are several international schools, mainly English-speaking, which vary in admission timelines.

Available Schools:
Bandung Independent School
Bandung Alliance Intercultural School
Trimulia International School

Work & Digital💻

Coworking Spaces
Available
8
Available Spaces:
Co & Co Space
Vibrant, event-focused space.
Bandung Digital Valley
Great for tech startups.
24/7 Access
Workroom Coffee
Cafe-style working space.
Ruang Kolaborasi
Flexible plans and comfy environment.
Work-Friendly Cafés
Excellent
Sejiwa Coffee
Popular for work and coffee lovers.
Kopi Anjis
Comfortable with good Wi-Fi.
Noah's Barn Coffeenery
Creative atmosphere, perfect for working.
Alternatives:
Bandung Public Library
Quiet with Wi-Fi.
Hotel lobbies
Flexible, quiet spots with Wi-Fi.
Digital Nomad Community
Good
7

Bandung's growing digital nomad scene is supported by numerous cafes and co-working spaces, perfect for remote work.

Nature & Activities🌿

Green Spaces
Good
7

Good parks like Dago Pakar and Alun-Alun offer great escapes.

Running
Good
6

Gasibu Field and Dago hills are popular. Air can be a concern, especially in dry season.

Gyms
Available

Plenty of gyms, including well-known chains and local options. You'll find what you need to stay fit.

Available Gyms:
Fitness First
Celebrity Fitness
Gold's Gym
Tennis
Limited
4

Tennis is common in clubs and hotel facilities, but padel is still new.

Padel
Poor
2

A few places offer padel, but it's still growing.

Yoga
Good
7

Plenty of yoga studios, often with English-speaking instructors.

Martial Arts
Excellent
8

You can find BJJ, Muay Thai, Boxing, and traditional Pencak Silat. Plenty of gyms with classes and drop-in options.

Skiing
Poor
0

No skiing in Indonesia.

Water Sports
Poor
2

Options are limited. Nearby resorts offer river rafting instead.

Surfing
Poor
1

There's no surfing here, but beach breaks south take 4-6 hours to reach.

Diving
Poor
1

Not a diving spot. You'd need to travel to islands closer to the ocean for diving.

Health & Safety🏥

Healthcare
Good
6

Private hospitals like Santosa and Borromeus have better facilities and English speakers. Stick to private clinics for higher standards.

Hospitals:
Santosa Hospital Bandung Kopo
Borromeus Hospital
Pharmacies:
Kimia Farma
Guardian
K24
Tap Water Safety
Not recommended

Tap water isn't safe to drink. Stick to bottled or filtered water.

Common Scams
Taxi overcharging, use apps., Street vendor prices, confirm before buying., Fake tour guides.

Community & Family

Family Friendly
Excellent
8

Great for families with plenty of parks and kid-friendly cafes. Attractions like Trans Studio and Farmhouse Lembang keep it fun.

LGBTQ+ Friendly
Poor
3

Generally conservative. Being discreet is advisable.

Pet Friendly
Limited
5

Policies vary. Some cafes welcome pets, but it's not widespread. Veterinary clinics are available.

Communities
Bandung Expats (social)
Bandung Digital Nomads (work)
Bandung Foodies (social)

Quick Facts

Population
2,875,673
Power Reliability
Excellent
8/10

The power is generally good. Expect the occasional short outage during heavy rains, but many places have backup generators.

Mountains
Available

Surrounded by mountains with quick access to trails for hikes.

Languages
Indonesian(100%)
Sundanese(80%)
English(25%)
Emergency
110
Police
113
Fire
118
Ambulance

⚠️Natural Disasters Risk

🌊
Tsunami
Very Low Risk
0
🏔️
Earthquake
High Risk
7

🌦️Seasonal Issues

Smoke/haze
July, August
Less common but can occur due to distant forest fires.
Flooding
November, December, January, February, March, April
Heavy rain can cause flooding in some areas.
Extreme heat
May, June
Despite being cooler, can feel hot with highs in the upper 20s°C.

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