Banda Aceh



Banda Aceh is the capital of the Indonesian province of Aceh on the island of Sumatra. It was also the capital for the Sultanate of Aceh upon its foundation in the late 15th century. Banda Aceh, at the tip of Sumatra, has long been a strategic, transportation and trading hub in the eastern Indian Ocean, and was a major port in trade between the region, India and Arabia.

Understand
Around 150,000 people were killed in Banda Aceh in the Tsunami of 26 December 2004. Some parts of the city became permanently submerged. Many aid agencies have been present since then to help rebuild.

The long conflict between the Acehnese independence movement (GAM) and the Indonesian army (TNI) has been solved for the time being by the peace agreement on 15 August 2005. The peace process has been quite smooth since. In 2006 the province held its first direct and democratic local elections. In 2007 the first democratically elected Governor, Irwandi Yusuf, was inaugurated.

Climate
Banda Aceh has a tropical rainforest climate, with near constant average temperatures. The city's annual average temperature is 27 °C. However, the city experiences wetter and drier seasons, with June through August being the driest months of the year. Banda Aceh does not have a true dry season month where an average of less than 60 mm of precipitation falls. On average, the city experiences a little less than 2000 mm of precipitation annually.

Get in
Foreigners no longer require a travel permit (Surat Jalan) to enter Aceh, but an Indonesian visa is required. It is possible to get a 30-day Visa-on-Arrival at Banda Aceh Airport. The embassy in Kuala Lumpur can sometimes process the visa in the same day if you complete all the paperwork before noon, though this is supposed to apply only to Malaysian residents.

By bus
There are non-stop night buses, with travel times ranging from 9–13 hours - from Medan to Banda Aceh. Major bus companies such as PMTOH, Pelangi, Kurnia and Pusaka have offices on Jl. Gajah Mada, Medan. Price ranges from Rp 110,000 in a regular-sized-seat bus to Rp 200,000 in a wide-seat bus.

Mini-buses can also take you to Banda Aceh from the Medan area, but journeys are generally longer. Prices are a bit cheaper than the coaches. It is also possible to travel over from Medan to Banda Aceh via Kutacane and Takengon. This will be 20 hr in total.

By plane


Airlines fly daily between Banda Aceh and either Medan, a 1-hr trip, Jakarta, a 2-hr-40-min trip, or Singapore, nearly 4 hr.


 * AirAsia, Kuala Lumpur. Daily flights.
 * Firefly, Penang, Malaysia's community airline now flies from Penang to Banda Aceh every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday
 * Garuda Indonesia, Jakarta-Soekarno-Hatta, Medan, 3 daily flights from Jakarta and two daily flights from Medan. The Jakarta-Banda Aceh direct flight on Garuda takes 2 hr 40 min on a Boeing 737, although it is often changed to stopover at Medan without warning. Seasonal to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia during the Hajj season
 * Lion Air, Jakarta-Soekarno-Hatta, Medan. They have two daily flights from Jakarta and one from Medan.
 * SMAC, Blang Pidie, Meulaboh, Simelue, Takengon, Tapaktuan. Flies daily from Medan to Nias Island and Simeulue Island.
 * Sriwijaya Air, Medan
 * Susi Air, Meulaboh

There is no longer a bus serving the airport. The only way to town area is by airport taxi, which is fixed at Rp 100,000 (2019). The taxi counter is on the extreme left once you exit the arrival gate.

Visa
Visa formalities at this airport are similar to those of other Indonesian immigration gateways.
 * Visa On Arrival (VOA) service is available at Sultan Iskandar Muda Airport.

By boat
The closest big (international) ferry terminal is Belawan Port, close to Medan. It receives vessels originating from Batam, Indonesia (a common route when coming from Singapore). The ferry from Penang is no longer operating. From Ulhee-lhee, the port of Banda Aceh you can go to Pulau Weh and to Pulau Aceh.

Get around
The main methods of getting around are becak (motorbike taxis) and labi-labi (public minibus). Due to the sudden influx of money post-tsunami, locals have gotten used to overcharging, but now stabilisation has returned. Example becak fares are: Airport - Grand Mosque: Rp 50,000; Bus Terminal - Grand Mosque: Rp 8,000; Grand Mosque - Penayong: Rp 5,000. Inside the city, generally Rp 10,000 should do it. One knowledgeable and friendly local becak driver is Little John. He speaks good English (and Japanese), asks for fair prices and can arrange motorbike rent for you beforehand if you're heading to Sabang island (asking price is Rp. 100000 / 24 hours). Contact him before your trip on Whatsapp - +6281360231339.

Tsunami tour
It is possible to go on a "Tsunami Tour" as there are many boats still inland and other monuments devoted to the devastating day in 2004.


 * Apung 1 ship, a 2,600-ton vessel that was swept 2 km inland. Now it is a tourist attraction.
 * Apung 1 ship, a 2,600-ton vessel that was swept 2 km inland. Now it is a tourist attraction.
 * Apung 1 ship, a 2,600-ton vessel that was swept 2 km inland. Now it is a tourist attraction.
 * Apung 1 ship, a 2,600-ton vessel that was swept 2 km inland. Now it is a tourist attraction.

Work
There are approximately 65 NGOs operating in Banda Aceh; however, they generally do not recruit non-Indonesians locally. These NGOs include various UN and EU agencies, USNS, Care, Americare, Islamic Relief, International Federation Of Red Cross and Red Crescent, Australian Red Cross, Turkish Red Crescent, Kuwaiti Red Crescent, French Red Cross, IMC, IOM, WHO, Japan International Cooperation System, Habitat, Medecins sans frontières, Japan Platform, USAID. AT the peak of the post-Tsunami aid effort there were 850 NGOs, but many of these were non-Muslim religious organisations and their permits were not extended by the Indonesian government.

Markets

 * Suzuya Supermarket complete supermarket available in several areas in banda aceh
 * Pasar Atjeh shopping center located beside the Baiturrahman Great Mosque

There are interesting fish, meat and vegetable markets in the centre of town. There are also some small souvenir shops selling various local items.

Mall
The Plaza Aceh mall is in the city centre of Banda Aceh. The mall has over 100 stores with foodcourt, supermarket and clothing stores.

Eat
The Acehnese breakfast staple is nasi gurih, rice cooked in coconut milk, sold in coffee shops everywhere. Food stalls and Padang restaurants are open across the undamaged part of town, and fruit carts are ubiquitous.


 * Shidqi Cafe, Jl. Malikul Saleh, Lamlagang, (on the left side of the Red Crescent Hospital), . Naturalis Cafe.
 * Imperial Kitchen, Jl Teuku Umar. High quality Chinese restaurant.
 * Country Steakhouse, Jl Sri Ratu Safiatuddin 46D. Steaks, hamburgers, salads; western style food.
 * Banda Seafood Restaurant, Jl Panglima Polem 125, (near the Kartika Hotel). Fine chicken, meat and vegetable dishes.
 * Big Top, (across the road from Warung Ibu Pocut). Chinese and Indonesian dishes.
 * Tower Coffee, (previously Putra Jaya), Jl Tgk Haji Abdullah Ujung Rimba No 14, (off Jl Muhammad near Masjid Baiturrahman). Panang style dining in nice A/C atmosphere with some English-speaking waiters.
 * Niagara Cafe, Jl Hasandek 8-9. Has every fruit juice imaginable and a satay stand outside.
 * Sultan Hotel, has a popular cafe, while the chef at the hotel’s Koetaradja Restaurant boldly tries his hand at a Sultan Burger.
 * Niagara Cafe, Jl Hasandek 8-9. Has every fruit juice imaginable and a satay stand outside.
 * Sultan Hotel, has a popular cafe, while the chef at the hotel’s Koetaradja Restaurant boldly tries his hand at a Sultan Burger.
 * Sultan Hotel, has a popular cafe, while the chef at the hotel’s Koetaradja Restaurant boldly tries his hand at a Sultan Burger.
 * Sultan Hotel, has a popular cafe, while the chef at the hotel’s Koetaradja Restaurant boldly tries his hand at a Sultan Burger.

There are some nice coffee houses with soothing rice paddy views around Ulee Kareng, along Jl Tengku Iskander on the town’s western outskirts.

Three fast food chain restaurants may be found in the centre, A&W, KFC and Pizza Hut.

Drink
Drinking alcohol is not allowed. Coffee-drinking is the main activity.



Stay safe
As with all travelling common sense and a good attitude is all you need to get along in this small city. However there are some points to keep in mind. Although Banda Aceh is nowadays safer than most European cities it is still best to not go out alone after 22:00. Because Sharia law is enforced, drinking alcohol is not permitted, although it is still possible. Infractions upon the locally perceived interpretations of Sharia law may result in arrest by the Sharia police with physical punishment and public ridicule imposed upon an offending Muslim. Muslim women should normally wear headscarves in public areas. Western-style swimsuits are not advisable except in Sabang. Pick-pocket activity is rare but do be aware and observant in crowded places.

Go next

 * Lhoknga and Lampuuk, beautiful beaches 17 km west of the city, great for surfing or just relaxing on the beach.
 * Pulau Weh is a neighbouring island, with the city of Sabang and some of Indonesia's finest diving.