Bandung: Java’s City That’s Becoming More Than A Stopover

Bandung is not the city in Java that most tourists would plan their trip around. That distinction easily goes to Yogyakarta further east, which is home to three UNESCO World Heritage Sites — including Borobudur, the largest Buddhist temple in the world. Between Yogyakarta’s ancient temples and the volcano sunrises and waterfall hikes around Malang, there is so much to cover in Java — so I get why Bandung is often overlooked. However, if you have at least a night or two to spare, Bandung can be a highly rewarding stop. It’s much more approachable than Jakarta while having several solid day trips to volcanoes, jungles, and tea fields. And the best part is that you’re exploring a little off the usual path. Most sights around Bandung aren’t as often visited by international travellers, so I felt like I was seeing a part of Java that isn’t in the typical highlight reels. Several times I was approached by strangers who were just curious to talk to a foreign visitor. (This is common throughout Indonesia, but much less so in the typical tourist hotspots.) The logistics used to push travellers straight past Bandung on to Yogyakarta. But in recent years, the backpacker trail seems to be rout...