A Two-Day Trip to Bandung: Indonesia's Karuizawa by Train
This time, we visited Bandung, often referred to as Indonesia's Karuizawa, a popular summer retreat for locals due to its cooler climate compared to Jakarta. 🍃
🚃 How to Get There:
- Jakarta to Padalarang Station: 30 minutes by Woosh train
- Padalarang Station to Bandung Station: About 30 minutes by local train
🎡 Tourist Attractions:
- Kawah Putih
A volcanic lake with sulfuric water located about 1.5 hours by car from Bandung city. You can get up close to the sulfuric lake, a unique experience in Indonesia 🇮🇩. However, due to the harmful effects of sulfur, it’s recommended to limit your stay to around 15 minutes.
- Rengganis Suspension Bridge
Located about 15 minutes by car from Kawah Putih, this local tourist spot features a long, swaying suspension bridge. On the other side, you’ll find sulfuric hot springs with a temperature of around 40°C, perfect for a relaxing foot bath.♨️
- Asia-Africa Conference Museum
Situated on the popular Braga Street in Bandung, this museum is the site of the famous Asia-Africa Conference. Held in 1955, the conference aimed to strengthen ties among third-world countries and offers insights into the diplomatic history of ASEAN nations.📚 Admission was free!
🏨 Hotel: Sheraton Bandung Hotel & Towers
Located about 15 minutes by car from Braga Street, this hotel exudes a resort-like atmosphere, making it an ideal place for a relaxing stay in a summer retreat. The hotel offers various activities, including pony rides, badminton, and a playground for small children, making it a popular choice for families.
🥘 Food & Restaurants:
- Braga Permai
A retro-style restaurant that retains the ambiance of the Dutch colonial era. You can enjoy Dutch cuisine, as well as Western dishes like pasta and pizza. Alcoholic beverages, including beer, are also available.🍻 Live band performances are held in the evenings.
- Kopi Toko Djawa (Braga)
A café with retro decor. Note that seating is limited, so plan accordingly.⚠️
- Sweet Cantina
The most popular gelato shop on Braga Street.🍨 It’s famous for its long lines throughout the day. I opted for a refreshing mango ice cream this time!
- Braga Art Cafe
True to its name, this café features stylish interiors and is relatively easy to enter. Since Braga Street is crowded and many cafés are busy, this is a great spot to take a break!
🛍️ Shopping:
- Fortuna Shoes
Located about 10 minutes by car from Braga Street, this store specializes in Indonesian leather shoes.👞 Known in Japan under the brand name Jalan Sriwijaya, you can find items here for about 10,000 yen less than in Japan. If you have time, it’s worth a visit!✨
That concludes our highly satisfying two-day trip to Bandung! Note that Kawah Putih is quite far from Bandung, and taxis can be hard to find, so it’s better to hire a car. I hope this helps with your travel planning!☺️