
Calling all weekend travelers! A perfect choice for just a few days’ visit, the city of Bandung is just 2 hours away from Jakarta by car, or if you are going with a larger group, the 3-hour train ride would be a great choice. There are many fun outdoor and indoor activities for kids and families in Bandung, and Little Steps has picked the best ones to make your planning a little easier. Indoor theme parks, leisure strawberry picking, volcanoes and craters, you name it!
Looking for a place to stay in Bandung? See our guide to Family-Friendly Hotel At Padma Hotel Bandung, Indonesia.
Come to Saung Angklung Mang Udjo, where Sundanese art and culture thrive! Mang Udjo is a place where people from all around the world get together to watch a spectacular performance including dances, music, plays, and traditional puppet (wayang) shows. The main performance is an Angklung concert, a traditional musical instrument made purely from bamboo and is played by shaking the instrument. They play traditional songs as well as world-famous tunes with the angklung. Don’t forget to visit the gift shop afterwards! To get there, we recommend taking a taxi from your original location to stay comfortable before the exciting show, and to keep cool from the heat. Ticket prices are quite reasonable, and you get a free mini angklung necklace as a souvenir with it.
Saung Angklung Mang Udjo, Jl. Padasuka No.118, Pasirlayung, Bandung, +62227271714, angklung-udjo.co.id
Come to the Ciwidey area just outside Bandung and see the breathtaking scenery known as the White Crater or Kawah Putih. The name White Crater comes from its white soil and the striking whitish mint green lake water. The view of the crater is picture-perfect and the government has recently built bamboo 'skywalks' so you can get even closer to the crater than before. The weather could get a little chilly and the sulfur smell can be strong sometimes, so make sure to bring a jacket and a mask. The crater is open every day from 8 am to 5 pm. Tickets are between IDR 10k and IDR 35k. After a visit to the White Crater, spend some time seeing the nearby Rancabali Tea Plantation.
Kawah Putih, Jl. Raya Soreang Ciwidey, Ciwidey, Bandung, +628562112116
Gunung (Mt.) Tangkuban Perahu is a tall mountain located near Bandung that boasts fresh cool air and lovely scenery! As its name suggests, the mountain looks like an upturned boat. There is a famous legend amongst Sundanese people that tells of how this mountain came to be called the Legend of Sangkuriang. Aside from the lore, there are tons of activities for you and your family to enjoy! Adventure-loving families can enjoy outbound activities on the volcano. Alternatively, you can go to Ratu Crater and enjoy the view while eating some local treats from the snack huts nearby. You can also get a mud massage at Domas Crater, or relax at Ciater Hot Spring!
The Bandung Geological Museum is the best place to learn about fossils and extinct species. The museum is categorized into three rooms; History of Life, Indonesian Geology, and Geology for Human Life. Kids will be amazed to see the replicas of T-rex fossils, prints of a Tyrannosaurus paw, huge skeletons of elephants and hippos, and rock crystals. To top it off, they also have numerous displays of rocks, old transportation, dinosaur, human bones, and other animal bones. It’s one of the oldest geological museums in Bandung that retains its colonial Dutch architectural structure! They are open Saturdays and Sundays 10 am - 1 pm, Tuesdays to Thursdays 10 am - 1 pm. Tickets are IDR 2k - IDR 10k.
Museum Geologi Bandung, Jl. Diponegoro No.57, Bandung,+62227213822, www.geology.esdm.go.id, Instagram
Are you a fan of teas and herbs? Just a few minutes away by car from the White Crater, the tea plantation in Rancabali is a great destination for everyone! The winding roads, tall tea bushes, and breathtaking scenery all make a great learning experience, as well as a nice photo spot. You can also eat at the unique Pinisi Resto nearby, which is a restaurant made out of a ship on top of a hill. There is a glamping option if you want to spend the night there. The Glamping Lakeside Rancabali has different tents for you to choose from. When you go, don’t forget to be prepared for some insect friends as well!
Glamping Lakeside Rancabali, Jl. Raya Ciwidey - Patengan No.Km, RW.39, Situ, Patengan, Kec. Rancabali, Kabupaten Bandung, +62081224146441, www.glampinglakesiderancabali.com
When it comes to fun and activities, Trans Studio is one of the best! Being a unique combination of amusement park, shopping mall, and hotel, there are countless things for you and the family to do. You and the little ones can have fun with 20 different rides at the theme park, or spend as much time as you want to browse through the mall. If you wish, you can also stay the night there and enjoy the delicious food inside as well as around the hotel.
Trans Studio Bandung, Jl. Gatot Subroto No.214, Bandung, +628118118244, www.transstudiobandung.com
For a fun place for adventure and to explore mother nature, try going to The Lodge Maribaya where most activities will give you the experience of a lifetime! If you’ve ever tried searching The Lodge Maribaya, you’ll see that it is most famous for its bike park. But not only that, but it also has many rides such as the hot air balloon, sky swing, zip bike, and much more. It’s the most perfect place for adventurous family members who want to give new things a try. For others not so daring, try the exquisite culinary options they offer at the two Sundanese restaurants within the complex. Stay the night at one of their glamping tents, or if you prefer a cottage they have Rumah Pohon available for rent, The Lodge Maribaya is open daily from 9 am to 5 pm.
The Lodge Maribaya, Jalan Maribaya No. 149/252, Lembang, Bandung Barat, +6281110588333, www.thelodgemaribaya.com
Take your kids somewhere special and go to Dusun Bambu where families are sure to enjoy the leisure activities they provide! It is free to enter the complex, and you can enjoy the e-bikes, crazy cart drift, and canoe rides which costs from IDR 25k to IDR 40k. Don’t forget to visit the WE playground, which boasts a giant trampoline, a sandpit, and archery perfectly safe for children, and fun for parents as well. And that’s just a fraction of it! If you want to stay for a bit longer, you can stay overnight at the Dusun Bambu Resort for IDR 2,500k per night. They also have delicious Sundanese meals which you can find at the Purbasari restaurant.
Dusun Bambu, Jl. Kolonel Masturi No.KM. 11, Cisarua, Bandung Barat, +6282110006094, Instagram
At La Fresa Farm, kids can experience the joy of picking strawberries right from the bushes while learning about strawberry farming at the same time. They take pride in the sweetness of their strawberries, as they farm one of the Japanese varieties called Milky Sweet Strawberry. Do enjoy a leisurely walk in their flower garden or sit and relax in one of their gazebos. Once you're done with your adventures, buy some of their fresh strawberry milk, yogurt, and other strawberry products. Located in the Lembang area, they are open daily from 8 am to 5 pm.
La Fresa Farm (Wisata Petik Strawberry), Jl. Raya Lembang No.175d, Lembang, Bandung , +6287890977733, lafresalembang.com, Instagram
Note: currently closed due to the pandemic but do join their virtual classes and stay tuned for their opening dates!
If you or your little one is fascinated by the great outer space, look no further than the great Bosscha observatory in Bandung! Not only do they have educational videos and posters to see, but they also boast the Zeiss double refractor, the Schmidt telescope, and the Bamberg refractor. Bosscha is the oldest modern observatory in Indonesia. Another noteworthy thing, though minor, is the lush hills surrounding the observatory, making it a lovely relaxing place to visit.
Bosscha Observatory, Jl. Peneropongan Bintang No.45, Lembang, Kec. Lembang, Bandung Barat, +62222786001, bosscha.itb.ac.id/id
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