Bandung – the ‘Paris of Java’ – is Indonesia’s capital of cool
There’s so much more to Indonesia than Bali; Bandung offers a cooler climate and a side to the archipelago you’ve never seen before
Bandung is set 750 metres (2,460 feet) above sea level; surrounded by verdant, dormant volcanoes; and dotted about with art deco buildings that are a legacy of Dutch colonial times.
This fascinating destination is also given a certain amount of fizz by the thousands of youngsters who come to study here.
The climate has been described as the best in Indonesia, and there is plenty of shopping, from upmarket malls to down-to-earth street markets – Jalan Cihampelas is a non-stop orgy of denim – where visitors can pick up souvenirs and hone their bargaining skills.
Given Bandung's thriving textile industry, the city has more than a few factory outlets.
One of the most popular is Rumah Mode, which is more like a park than a mall, housing familiar names such as Zara, Abercrombie & Fitch, Mango, Billabong, H&M and Gap.
There is even a reflexology centre for shoppers who feel ready to drop, as well as a clutch of restaurants.
Bandung’s other alternative shopping experience is at Lembang Floating Market; as the name suggests, some of the goods are sold from boats, but there are also souvenir shops on land.
The market also offers entertainment, with canoes, rowing boats and a Flying Fox.