Planning a short escape from Singapore? Catch the sunrise at volcanic craters or try other epic things to do in Bandung — a hidden gem in Indonesia you’ve probably never heard of!
Most people tend to think of places like Bali, Batam, and Jakarta when it comes to Indonesia. However, there’s an underrated destination called Bandung, with stunning natural landscapes like crater lakes, tranquil forests and even an active volcano.
If you’re looking for a mix of nature, culture, and great food — or just somewhere to escape the crowds — it’s definitely worth adding to your list! Here are some of the best things you can do in this city.
How to get to Bandung
Scoot has recently launched direct flights to Kertajati International Airport from Singapore every Tuesday and Saturday. One-way sale fares from S$89* and it only takes 2 hours, making it perfect for a short vacation.
Plus, it’s on Scoot’s new E190-E2 aircraft, which has a comfy 2×2 configuration — no more squeezing in the middle seat! This new aircraft also features larger windows, so everyone can enjoy the view, whether you’re by the window or in the aisle seat!
1) Catch the sunrise at Upas Hill
Tangkuban Perahu is an active volcano located 30km north of Bandung City. A good place to view the volcano is from the vantage point up Upas Hill. From the entrance, it is either a 1-hour drive or a 2.5-hour hike up.
We booked a tour with Wisata Offroad Adventure, which includes hotel pickup, transport and breakfast. The vehicle takes you up the hill, and we only had to do a short 5 minute trek to the edge.
Once there, the guide set up a mini-campsite with portable tables and chairs. They also prepared hot tea, bread, and cup noodles while we soaked in the stunning views of nature.
Around 4:40AM, the sky transformed into a beautiful red. From there, you could gaze down into the volcanic crater and view the distant mountains.
Wisata Offroad Adventure Tour
Cost: Rp2,500,000 for 2 pax (~S$209)
Tour timings: 2AM – 8AM
Pick-up point: Included for accommodation within Lembang
2) Have a fancy picnic at Jungle Milk
Looking to escape the distractions of modern technology? Jungle Milk is a camping ground and picnic spot situated in the middle of the Lembang’s forest. The moment you step into Jungle Milk’s territory, you’ll lose your telecom signal.
For day trips, have a picnic in their open area surrounded by horses, cows, and loads of greenery. Food service starts at 12PM, and you can choose from a variety of sets like BBQ or steamboat.
There are also options to stay in their premises overnight. Book a tent, a glamping site, or even a camper van with prices starting from Rp190,000 (~S$16). They also have activities like horse riding, ATV rides, and trekking to keep you entertained.
*Pro-tip: Secure your picnic spot by booking a set meal in advance via WhatsApp!
Opening hours: 9AM – 5PM
How to get there: 4min drive from Orchid Forest Cikole (Google Maps)
3) Live out your fairytale dreams at Orchid Forest
Orchid Forest Cikole is a park nestled in the middle of a pine forest on the slopes of Tangkuban Perahu. There’s plenty to do here, from admiring the plentiful orchids to zipping across the park on a flying fox.
There’s even a cafe, Golden Pine Cafe, where you can enjoy a selection of pastries and drinks. It’s the perfect spot for a tea break surrounded by flowers and greenery. We treated ourselves to some hot chocolate (Rp40,000) and a twisted cheese croissant (Rp39,000) for a tasty snack.
The park also features a play area for children to run around and slide, plus a rabbit forest with various small animals like parrots, lambs, and ponies that you can feed and play with.
Opening hours: 9AM – 6PM
Entrance fee: ~S$8/pax
How to get there: 19min drive from Tangkuban Perahu (Google Maps)
4) Cross Indonesia’s longest suspension bridge, Rengganis Suspension Bridge
Rengganis Suspension Bridge is the longest suspension bridge in Indonesia, stretching an impressive 370m. As someone slightly afraid of height, the swaying on the bridge sent goosebumps down my spine.
At times, it felt like I was about to topple over, so I ended up having to squat-walk my way across.
On the other side of the bridge, there are small hot springs with cold and hot water baths. They even have a mud bath where you can slather it on yourself for smoother skin and detoxifying benefits… allegedly.
We bought the VIP ticket (Rp100,000) which included admission to the suspension bridge and the hot spring. It also comes with a welcome drink that you can enjoy while viewing the tea plantation below.
Opening hours: 7AM – 5PM
Cost: From ~Rp30,000 (~S$3)
How to get there: 32min drive from White Crater (Google Maps)
5) Reflect on the existence of life at Sudut Cerita
An interactive art installation, Sudut Cerita, is themed around a journey in which all elements on Earth have been damaged and contaminated due to human actions.
Take on a journey through seven different installations to make you think about your existence on Earth and the role you can play in keeping it liveable for future generations.
This room is titled Candy.
Although the brochures are in Bahasa Indonesia, I’d suggest translating the text for a deeper understanding of the creator’s intent. Without the added context, I thought the “Candy” room was a sweet treat, but upon reading, I discovered it represented a future Earth contaminated by waste. It truly enhances the experience!
Opening hours: 10AM – 9PM (Mon – Fri), 9PM – 9PM (Sat – Sun)
Cost: From ~Rp50,000 (~S$5)
How to get there: 18min drive from Dago Dreampark (Google Maps)
6) Admire the impressive scenery at White Crater
White Crater, also known as Kawah Putih, is a volcanic crater lake, one of two lakes that make up Mount Patuha — the “dry Kawah Patuha” being the other. It’s only a 90-minute drive from the city centre.
The white crater features a nice turquoise lake surrounded by dense forest and hills, with a strong smell of sulfur coming from the steam and sulfurous gas bubbling up from the water.
For a better view with fewer crowds, pay Rp25,000 to access a short boardwalk that brings you closer to the lake.
*Pro-tip: Since this is a volcanic crater, it’s best to spend only ~30 minutes here, as the smell of sulfur gas is bad for your health. Bring drinking water and a face mask for protection.
Opening hours: 7AM – 5PM
Entrance fee: From ~S$7/pax via Klook
How to get there: 38min drive from Rengganis Suspension Bridge (Google Maps)
7) Feast in the middle of a pond at Gubug Makan Mang Engking
Fancy eating fish while surrounded by fish?
Gubug Makan Mang Engking is a unique dining experience where you can enjoy your meal in traditional bamboo huts built over fish ponds. The atmosphere is relaxing, with a private space just for you and company.
This place serves traditional Indonesian cuisine with a good variety of seafood dishes. To keep it simple, we went for the set meal for two (~Rp340,000), which included a fried fish paired with their traditional sauce, prawns, kangkong, tempeh, and tofu. It also came with rice and two bottles of teh botol (bottled tea drink).
*Pro-tip: Be sure to ask for the sauce on the side so you can control your spice level. Indonesians definitely love their spice!
Opening hours: 10AM – 9PM
Cost: From ~Rp50,000 (~S$4)
How to get there: 8min drive from Floating Market Lembang (Google Maps)
8) Take Instagrammable photos at Dago Dreampark
Photo credit: Klook
Dago Dreampark is a 13-hectare eco-tourism park with over 30 different attractions and 20 photo spots. Some of them include Aladdin’s carpet and Pixar’s UP house.
Photo credit: Klook
Besides taking pictures, there are other exciting activities to try here too, like shooting, archery, or even an ATV ride with your friends and family.
Opening hours: 9AM – 3PM (Mon – Fri), 8PM – 4PM (Sat – Sun)
Entrance fee: From ~S$3/pax via Klook
How to get there: 25min drive from Floating Market Lembang (Google Maps)
9) Go on a stroll along Braga Street
Fun fact: Bandung is often called the “Paris of Java” as it was once colonised by the Dutch and became a fashion hub. Its stylish architecture still reflects traces of that colonial period.
Braga Street is the perfect spot to catch a glimpse of “Paris of Java”. In the 1900s, a shop named Aud opened here, and popularised Parisian fashion with avant-garde trends.
Photo credit: @pambudiyoga vis Instagram
The street is lively at night, with many food stalls along the streets for a quick meal while you explore! I recommend starting at OCBC Nisp and continuing your journey down the street for a feel of “Paris”.
Opening hours: 24 hours; varies per store
How to get there: 2min walk from Asian African Conference Museum (Google Maps)
10) Watch a traditional Angklung show at Saung Angklung Udjo
Wayang Golek is a traditional Sudanese puppet art that originated in West Java, Indonesia.
It is the starting show sequence at Saung Angklung Udjo where puppets play, fight and talk in engaging performances. The puppetry is accompanied by sound effects made using the angklung, a traditional Sudanese instrument made of bamboo tubes carved to resonate a certain pitch.
They also host daily shows packed with short performances, including helaran rites (an agricultural harvesting celebration), traditional dances, and angklung performances.
During the show, they also hand out angklungs to the audience so we got to be a part of the performance — playing nursery rhymes and popular songs like Can’t Help Falling In Love by Elvis Presley.
There are fun interactive bits where you’ll pair up with a local and dance together. It’s a really heartwarming experience that helps you connect with their culture.
Cost: From ~S$11/pax
Showtimes: 3:30PM – 5PM
11) Eat authentic bakso at Bakso Bintang Asia
Bakso Bintang Asia serves up tasty bakso — an Indonesian meatball dish in Bandung — and other traditional food like Bugis Mandi, a traditional Indonesian dessert made from steamed glutinous rice filled with palm sugar paste and served with coconut milk.
We tried the bakso with Nasi Daging Bakar Telur Ceplok (grilled meat rice, ~Rp40,000), and thick kway teow noodles (Rp36,000). Their kway teow are handmade, and tasted similar to Vietnamese pho — light and refreshing.
Cost: from ~Rp30,000 (~S$3)
Opening hours: 7AM – 10PM
How to get there: 4min drive from Gedung Sate (Google Maps)
Getting around Bandung
The drive from Kertajati International Airport to Bandung City Centre takes approximately 2 hours.
Private Taxi
Photo credit: Grab
Bandung city can be easily explored on your own using local private taxis like Bluebird or ride-hailing apps like Grab. Both options are pretty convenient and affordable. A 10-minute ride costs around Rp30,000 (~S$3), while a longer 30 minute ride costs about Rp80,000 (~S$8).
I recommend using taxis or Grab to explore areas in the city since they’re convenient and affordable. However, to visit places like Kawah Putih and the Orchid Forest, consider hiring a driver, as they’re at least 90 minutes away from the city centre.
Private Charter
For a fuss-free and comfortable trip, hire a private charter. With a driver, you’ll also have some help taking with locals.
We booked a private charter through Klook and had Steven as our guide. He took us to all the places we wanted to see and shared with us the history of the attractions. He also navigated through traffic like a pro, using shortcuts to keep us on schedule.
*Pro-tip: Redeem 5% OFF car rental for use later, up to 5x. Just enter code <THETRAVELINTERNKLOOK> at checkout. New users get 10% OFF their first booking. T&C’s apply!
Public transport
Photo credit: Naufal Farras via Wikimedia Commons
There are a few different types of public transport in Bandung and the fare starts from Rp4,000 (~S$3) per ride. The most recommended one is the Trans Metro Pasundan (TMP) as its route covers most areas of the Bandung city. There is also the Trans Metro Bandung (TMB) and Trans Bandung Raya (DAMRI) that have differing routes.
So, be sure to check with the driver before you board the bus!
If you are looking for other places to explore in Indonesia, check out these guides and itineraries:
– 7 Exciting Things to Do in Batam Other Than Eating and Shopping
– 4D3N Bali Itinerary — The Ultimate Ubud Getaway Guide
– 5D4N Yogyakarta Itinerary — The Most Underrated City of Indonesia For the Adventurous
If you have any other recommendations on things to do in Greater Bandung, let us know in the comments below!
This post was brought to you by Scoot and Changi Airport Group.
