Bandung/Central

Central Bandung forms the city centre (pusat kota) of the city of Bandung. Although the area had been inhabited before, it was here that the city of Bandung was founded in the year 1810, at the place where the Great Post Road crosses the Cikapundung river. This place, known as the Kilometre Zero, is still the centre of the city.

By car
Many roads in the city centre of Bandung have one-way traffic, and driving to your destination may therefore require careful planning. Some of the main roads into Central Bandung include ''Jl. Pajajaran from the airport in Northwest Bandung and Jl. Ir. H. Juanda (Dago Road) from North Bandung, as well as the original Great Post Road, which is now known as Jl. Jendral Sudirman in the west, Jl. Asia Afrika in the centre, and Jl. Jendral Gatot Subroto'' in the east.

On-street parking is not allowed on major roads. There is a parking garage under the Alun-alun square, and the various shopping centres also have their own parking facilities. In Jalan Braga and a few other streets, prepaid parking meters have been installed.

By train
Bandung is served by long-distance trains to and from for example Jakarta and Yogyakarta. There are also local trains from suburbs such as Cimahi. However, for a tourist it's often easier to use buses and angkots (public minivans) for travelling within the city.





By bus
For getting around in Bandung by public transport, you can take a bus or angkot (public minivan). Angkots follow a fixed route (there are various routes throughout the city), but there is no fixed schedule and there are no fixed stops. To get on, simply raise your hand. To get off, shout "Kiri!" to the driver, so he will pull over on the left (Indonesian: kiri) side of the road. The price of an angkot ride within the city is usually about Rp2,000 to 5,000. It is best to ask a local which angkot route to take, and how to recognise the location you want to get off.

The main bus and angkot stops in Central Bandung are Stasiun Hall (behind the main railway station), Terminal Ciroyom (next to Ciroyom railway station), and (southside of the city centre, also known as Abdul Muis). From all of these locations, there are angkot in all directions to destinations throughout the city. From Stasiun Hall there are also angkot to the suburbs of Cimahi (24 hours per day) and Lembang. There are also buses, operated by DAMRI, that run to Cimahi from the Alun-alun square.

Landmarks and monuments

 * Mesjid Agung Bandung.JPG
 * Alun - Alun Bandung Masjid Raya Bandung.jpg

Museums

 * Conference Hall Gedung Merdeka.jpg

Colonial architecture
There are many colonial buildings in Central Bandung, especially in Jalan Braga and its vicinity (Jl. Asia Afrika to the south and Jl. Merdeka to the north). Some of the colonial buildings are very famous, while others are relatively unknown. A walk in this area will lead you along dozens of colonial buildings.
 * Savoy Homann Hotel Front.JPG

Buy
Central Bandung has become the center of electronics in the city of Bandung.

Drink
Mostly in Central Bandung, the bars start to get busy at 11PM.

Stay safe
Avoid places with minimal lighting on the side of the road, because it can trigger crimes such as muggings.

Connect
There are various copy shops and internet cafés in the area. Many cafés and restaurants offer free Wi-Fi access, including the branches of McDonald's and Starbucks at the Bandung Indah Plaza shopping mall, and there is also a free public Wi-Fi at the central Alun-alun square. The city's main post office can be found at ''Jl. Asia Afrika No. 49'', opposite the Grand Mosque.