Overview
Set on a plateau ringed by volcanoes, Bandung is milder and greener than the lowland cities, and it kept a wealth of art deco buildings from its Dutch colonial heyday. A large university and student city, it is also known for shopping, cafes and a lively food scene, and for the tea plantations and hot springs in the hills around it. It is reached by a fast train from Jakarta, which makes it an easy break from the capital.
Highlights
The city centre keeps landmark art deco buildings such as Gedung Sate and the Villa Isola, and the old Braga street its cafes and colonial fronts. In the highlands, the Tangkuban Perahu volcano lets visitors look into a steaming crater, with hot springs and strawberry farms nearby. Tea plantations, factory-outlet shopping and the cool climate fill out a weekend in the hills.