Best Time to Visit Bandung

Two seasons, and the dry one is short

Bandung sits in the hills, so it's cooler than Jakarta. Days stay mild all year, and nights are fresh. The real split is wet and dry.

From November to April it rains almost every day. February is the wettest month, with 388 mm. Skies are grey, the sun barely shows, and the rain often arrives in the afternoon as a heavy downpour. Roads like the one to Lembang can jam up and flood in places.

The dry season runs roughly June to September. August is the best month, with the least rain and the most sun. July and September are also fair. Even then, it's not bone dry, so keep a small umbrella.

Which month for which trip

Want hiking? Aim for July to September. The trails around Tangkuban Parahu, the volcano north of the city, are less muddy, and you're more likely to see the crater without cloud. Tea plantation walks near Ciwidey, south of town, are easier too. Kawah Putih, the pale crater lake there, looks best on a clear morning.

City breaks work in any month if you plan around the rain. Spend wet afternoons in cafés on Jalan Braga, in the Art Deco buildings of the old centre, or at the Gedung Sate museum. Hunting for bargains at the factory outlets on Jalan Riau is a good rainy-day plan too.

May, June and October are in between. You'll get some sunny spells and some storms. They're a fair pick if you want fewer crowds and can live with a wet evening.

Crowds and events

Bandung is a favourite weekend escape for people from Jakarta. Weekends are busy all year, and the roads from the capital get slow. Midweek is far calmer.

Indonesian school holidays in late June and July, and again in December, bring the biggest crowds. Eid al-Fitr, the end of Ramadan, is the busiest stretch of all. Hotels fill up, and traffic crawls. The date moves each year, so check it before you book.

August has a cheerful side. Around 17 August, Indonesian Independence Day, neighbourhoods hang flags and hold street games and parades. It falls in the best weather of the year, which makes August a good pick if you want both.

December and January are the quietest for sightseeing, and often the cheapest. You'll trade sunshine for that.