Bandung

Bandung is the provincial capital of West Java and sits in a highland basin surrounded by several volcanoes that form a natural barrier between different regions. The city extends across densely built neighborhoods with residential blocks, commercial streets, and green spaces that stretch toward the slopes of the surrounding mountains.

In the early 20th century, Dutch colonial administrators built villas and promenades here to create a summer retreat for European officials escaping the heat of coastal cities. After Indonesian independence, Bandung grew rapidly and attracted universities and industry that overlaid the colonial heritage with modern development.

The city has developed into a center for fashion and creativity, where local designers show their collections in boutiques and market halls while local musicians perform regularly in cafés and small venues. Families gather on weekends in parks and food areas to enjoy grilled corn and traditional snacks, while students browse through the many bookshops and secondhand stores.

The city is best reached via Husein Sastranegara Airport or by train from Jakarta, with the journey passing through mountainous terrain and taking several hours. Local transport relies on motorbike taxis, shared vans, and ridesharing apps, all of which help navigate the frequent congestion in central streets.

In the 1920s, Art Deco architects designed several buildings with tropical adaptations that combined wide roofs and open galleries to allow a cooler indoor climate without air conditioning. Some of these structures still stand along older streets and show how colonial planners tried to adapt European styles to the Indonesian climate.