Bandung

Gedung Sate

One of the most well-known Dutch colonial buildings in Indonesia, the Gedung Sate was built in 1920-1924 to a design by Dutch architect J. Gerber. The building's name (literally 'Satay Building') refers to the ornament on the roof, that looks like a satay skewer. The building uses a combination of style elements, including European neoclassical architecture and Indonesian aspects. The building was built for the Department of Public Works of the Dutch East Indies. Nowadays, it is used as the provincial government building (for the governor and the provincial parliament) of West Java. On Sundays, the surrounding gardens are also open for public.

Closed · opens 9:30 am·Free entrance · Wheelchair accessible

Museum of the Asian-African Conference

Museum Konferensi Asia Afrika; Gedung Merdeka

The Merdeka Building was built in 1895, but completely refurbished in 1920 to a design by Dutch architect Charles P. Wolff Schoemaker, as a club house for the Concordia Society of rich colonials. The building was renovated in 1940 by A.F. Aalbers, the architect of the Savoy Homann hotel across the street. The building was renamed Gedung Merdeka ('Independence Building') after Indonesian independence, and was the venue of the 1955 Bandung Conference, the first meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement (the Asian-African Conference). Now, the building houses a museum on that conference.

Tue, Thu, Sat, Sun 09:00-16:00·Free entrance

Geological Museum

Museum Geologi Bandung

Houses 250,000 rocks, a mineral collection, and 60,000 fossils. There are 3 major rooms in the museum: the geology of Indonesia, the history of life and the geology of human life. The building itself has an art-deco style, built in 1928 by a Dutch architect H. Menalda van Schouwenburg. Recommended museum by locals. Part of museum fully Indonesian and English texts but part with almost none.

Tue-Thu 09:00-15:00; Mon Fri closed; Sat Sun 09:00-14:00·Ticket student Rp 2,000, public Rp 3,000, foreigner Rp 10,000 and pre-register on https://museum.geologi.esdm.go.id/tiket (can be done at entrance) · Wheelchair accessible

Sri Baduga Museum

Museum Negeri Sri Baduga

Archeological and geological exhibitions related to the province of West Java, such as Sundanese crafts, furnishings, geologic history, and natural diversity.

Tue-Sun 08:00-16:00 (closed Mondays)

Bandung Institute of Technology

Institut Teknologi Bandung; ITB

The Technische Hoogeschool te Bandoeng was established by the Dutch colonial administration, and its campus was built 1918-1920 on the north side of Bandung, to a design by architect Henri Maclaine Pont. The most prominent examples of Dutch East Indies architecture include the entrance gate and the two assembly halls (Aula Barat and Aula Timur), which incorporate West Sumatran style elements. The entire campus of the university (after independence renamed ITB) is a nice green oasis in the bustling city. Indonesia's first president, Soekarno, studied architecture at the university.

Free entrance

Bandung Zoo

Kebun Binatang Bandung

Zoo of 14 hectares next to the ITB university campus. The zoo was established during the colonial time, in 1933. It is a popular attraction for domestic tourists, but the zoo is not well maintained and therefore not recommended.

Daily 07:00-17:00

Post-, Telegraaf- en Telefoondienst

Pos Indonesia headquarters

Built by the Dutch East Indies government in 1920-1931 as the headquarters of the postal, telegraph and telephone service. The building is now used as the headquarters of Indonesia's postal service, and for the Postal Museum.

Closed · opens 8 am·Free entry

Museum Mandala Wangsit Siliwangi

Military Museum

Arms museum. The building was constructed around 1910 in Romanticist style, and was the house of Dutch army major general H. ter Poorten. The collection consists mainly of weapons used during the Japanese invasion and the Indonesian War of Independence, as well as items related to certain events that happened during these wars, such as the Bandung Lautan Api incident of 1946, when Indonesian nationalists on purpose burned down large parts of South Bandung, clothes, painting and photos. No photo/video allowed. Limited English description (~20%).

Mon-Sat 08:00-14:00·No fixed price, request maintenance contribution, recommended Rp 10,000 · Wheelchair accessible

Museum Barli

Art museum established by and named after Indonesian painter Barli Sasmitawinata (1921-2007). The collection consists of paintings of Barli himself and other Indonesian painters, as well as vintage toys and comic books. Children are invited to follow comic drawing classes.

Sat-Thu 09:00-17:00; Fri closed·Wheelchair accessible

Bandung Cathedral

Gereja Katedral Santo Petrus

Church building designed by Wolff Schoemaker in Neogothic style, built in 1921.

Grand Mosque

Masjid Raya Bandung

The provincial mosque of West Java. The first 'Great Mosque' (Masjid Agung) of Bandung was constructed in 1812, shortly after the founding of the city. Throughout the 19th century, it was gradually expanded and renovated, and in 1930 the front porch was refurbished with a design by Henri Maclaine Pont, who also designed the ITB campus in North Bandung. However, during the renovation and expansion of 1955, the year of the Bandung Conference, most of the mosque's features from before Indonesian independence were demolished. The latest major renovation took place in 2001-2003, when the main circular dome was built, and the two iconic minarets were added. The minarets were planned to be 99 metres high each, but this would result in restrictions for the airport in Northwest Bandung, so it was reduced to 81 metres. After this renovation, the mosque became the official provincial mosque, and its name was changed from Great Mosque to Grand Mosque. During weekends, one of the minarets is open to visitors. A quick elevator brings visitors to the top floor, which gives a great view across the city.

Mosque open daily 24 hr (but non-Muslims should respect praying times); minaret open Sat Sun 10:00-17:00·Mosque free entrance; minaret Rp3,000

Savoy Homann Hotel

The Savoy Homann is the true grand old hotel of Bandung. The current building was designed by Dutch architect A.F. Aalbers in Art Deco style, and built in 1939. One of the famous guests of the hotel during the colonial era was Charlie Chaplin. After Indonesian independence, the Savoy Homann hosted the delegations of the 1955 Asian-African conference, which was held across the street in Gedung Merdeka. Some of the guests included Soekarno, Ho Chi Minh, and Tito. It is still one of the most famous hotels of Bandung. In addition to staying in one of its rooms (see the Sleep section below), you can also visit the building to admire its Art Deco architecture and the classic interior decoration.

Postal Museum

Museum Pos

The Postal Museum was established upon the completion of the building, in 1931. Initially, the collection mainly consisted of postal stamps from the Dutch East Indies. Nowadays, it is a complete museum, covering Indonesia's postal history from the beginning of colonial times in the 17th century, until the present. An audio tour guide is available in Indonesian and English.

Mon-Fri 09:00-16:00, Sat 09:00-13:00·Free entrance

Grand Hotel Preanger

Although less well-known than the Savoy Homann, the Preanger hotel has a history dating back to the 19th century. The current building dates from 1925 and is based on a design by Dutch architect C.P.W. Schoemaker. The facade combines Art Deco style with local cultural elements, which was controversial when it was constructed.

Kologdam Building

Jaarbeurs

Built in 1920 as the main building of the Jaarbeurs Bandung (annual trade fair), to a design by architect Wolff Schoemaker combining New Indies Style, influences of Frank Lloyd Wright and Amsterdam School architecture. The building is now used as a meeting and training location for the Western Java division of the Indonesian army.

Alun-alun

The alun-alun is the large central open lawn square, as most Indonesian cities, towns, and villages have. Bandung's alun-alun is just west of the Kilometre Zero, on the southside of the Jalan Asia Afrika. Bandung's alun-alun has been renovated in 2015 using synthetic grass, and it is a popular place for locals to get together. Hawkers sell many types of snacks and toys for children. There is an underground parking garage below the square. On the northern side (Jl. Asia Africa), most days there'll be some youngsters hanging out dressed up in fancy costumes (cosplay) that are happy for a donation when you take pictures with them.

Djuanda Forest Park

Taman Hutan Raya Ir. H. Djuanda

The forest park is a conservation area and botanical garden in the mountains on the north side of the city, and serves as a water catchment area for the city. There are some interesting parks for children or to have a picnic. Some people walk through the forest to reach Maribaya park in Lembang. There are two caves in the park that can be visited. You will need to rent a torch, because there is no light in the caves.

Daily 08:00-16:00·Entrance Rp75,000

West Java People's Struggle Monument

Monumen Perjuangan Rakyat Jawa Barat; "Monju"

Monument established in 1995.

Bethel Protestant Church

GPIB Bethel; Pieterskerk

Another church designed by Wolff Schoemaker, this Protestant church was built in 1924.

Tue-Sat 08:00-17:00

Cipaganti Mosque

Masjid Besar Cipaganti

Mosque designed by Dutch architect C.P.W. Schoemaker, built in 1933. It was the only mosque that was built in the European residential area in the northern part of Bandung. The central facade, using a mix of European and Javanese style elements, still has the original design, but the mosque has been expanded on both sides.

Bala Keselamatan

Salvation Army headquarters

The headquarters of the Salvation Army of the Dutch East Indies was built in 1920. The building is still in use as the headquarters of the Indonesian Salvation Army.

DENIS Bank Building

Headquarters Bank BJB

The headquarter of De Eerste Nederlandsch-Indische Spaarkas ('The First Dutch East Indies Savings Bank', DENIS) was built in 1935 to a design by Dutch architect A.F. Aalbers in art-deco style, with a horizontal side with smooth curves, and a lift tower that is higher than the six floors of the rest of the building. The design was much appreciated, and therefore Aalbers also received the contract to design the new Savoy Homann hotel building. After Indonesian independence, DENIS Bank was nationalised, and nowadays the building is the headquarters of the BJB Bank (the regional bank for Western Java).

De Driekleur

Dutch Colonial house built in 1937 to a design by A.F. Albers, in modernist/Art Deco style. The building's name, De Driekleur, is Dutch for 'the tricolour' and refers to the Dutch flag. The building is now a branch of a bank.

Dutch Cave

Gua Belanda

Cave built in 1918 as a water tunnel. During the Second World War and Indonesian War of Independence, it was used as an arms and ammunition storage, prison, communications centre, and shelter.

Gedung Pakuan

Huis van de Resident

Built 1864-1867 as the new residence of the resident of the residency of Parahyangan, as its capital was moved from Cianjur to Bandung. The Indies Empire style building is nowadays used as the official residence of the governor of West Java province.

Insulinde

Headquarters Bank BJB Syariah

A design by architect Wolff Schoemaker. Built as the headquarters of the Insulinde oil factory. Nowadays in use as the headquarters of the BJB Syariah bank.

Japanese Cave

Gua Jepang

Second cave, built during the Japanese occupation in 1942. The cave was built by using a forced-labour system, as a defence shelter for the Japanese.

Kilometre Zero

Titik Kilometer Nol

In 1808, the Great Post Road across Java was built (the section in Bandung's city centre is now called Jalan Asia Afrika). It is said that when Governor-General H.W. Daendels of the Dutch East Indies travelled along the route, he said at the place where the road crosses the Cikapundung river: "Make sure that a city has been built here, when I return." At that location, a 'Kilometre Zero' milestone was placed, and until today this is used as the zero-point of Bandung and the wider region. Apart from the milestone, there is a commemorative plaque.

Kodam III/Siliwangi

Departement van Oorlog; Gedung Sabahu

Built in 1910-1915 as the Departement van Oorlog (Department of War) of the Dutch East Indies. The New Indies Style building is now used as the headquarters of the Kodam III/Siliwangi military district formation, covering the provinces of West Java and Banten.

Maranatha Protestant Church

GPIB Maranatha; Oosterkerk

Protestant church designed by F. W. Brinkman, opened in 1926 as Oosterkerk (Dutch for East Church).