Malang Indonesia – Your Quick Travel Guide
In a nutshell
A popular destination with both local and international travellers, Malang, the second largest city in East Java, is the ideal destination for everyone from cultural enthusiasts, landscape photographers all the way to the adventurous and daring at heart.
Why go to Malang
Melang has a range of delights from cultural treasures, adventurous experiences and splendid scenery and there are an array of wonderful reasons to visit this attractive city in Java. Most travellers visit Malang with the intention of conquering the mighty and majestic Mount Bromo but aside from the unmissable trek up the active volcano, the city is home to an assortment of treasures. Cultural enthusiasts will delight in the opportunities to stroll around and explore several stunning temples and churches, and those who enjoy breaktaking landscape should head to the Kebun Wonasari Tea Estate for a delicious cup of tea and even a game of tennis.
The city is filled to bursting with cultural and historically significance and those who enjoy submerging themselves in new and exciting cultures will relish the treats on offer here in Malang. For those who enjoy festivals and celebrations, be sure to plan your trip around the annual Kesodo Festival where the age-old ritual and ceremony is conducted to honour and thank Sang Hyang Widhi, God Almighty for the harvest and to show gratitude the god of Mount Bromo. The festival occurs in July and is celebrated with the villagers praying on top of the volcano and throwing offerings into the crater. Kesodo promises participants a truly unique, memorable and special experience but be sure to book accommodation well in advance. Nature lovers will also have there fair share of natural wonders while in Malang. These wonders take the form of beaches, waterfalls and a gorgeous botanical garden.
When to go to Malang
The climate in Malang is separated into two seasons, wet and dry with the rainy season occurring from November until around March with most of the rain showers occurring in the late afternoon. The dry season is definitely a more recommended travelling time with the most ideal months being between April and October.
Where to stay in Malang
The accommodation options in Malang range from cheap and cheerful homestays, all the way to star-rated top-notch hotels; and all budgets will have no problem finding a bed for the night. Most of the decent accommodations can be found in the quieter northern part of town, known as alun-alun, however there are several idyllic spots in the south that are preferred by Javanese locals.
Although the south does offer some wonderful gems, the alun-alun area is probably a better spot for travellers as this is where the train station is located as well as a lot of shops and warungs (local restaurants). Accommodations vary from dormitories, homestays, guest houses and hotels with the vast majority being very well priced and affordable for most. Amenities and facilities are mostly decent across the board with Wi-Fi, comfortable and clean beds, and okay-ish English speaking hosts being the norm. Travellers looking to splash out should book a room at the swish and swanky Tugu Hotel that is furnished with an assortment of fine Javanese antiquities and has an unmistakable air of grace and nobility.
Where and what to eat in Malang
Food is a massive part of daily life here in Malay and the culinary specialities are one of the big reasons that local and international travellers visit this part of Java. In our humble opinion the tastiest food in Malang can be easily sourced from one of the many friendly street carts, at the Saturday Malay Night Market or devoured at one of the many warungs. Mostly very inexpensive and of decent potions, there’s no reason why even the pickiest of eaters won’t be satisfied and content with the meals, snacks and dishes on offer.
Be sure to look out for Malang specialities which include, fried tempe (tofu) served with a dipping sauce and added to pretty much any and all dishes; Bakso Malang (the city’s unique recipe based on the famous Indonesian meatball soup); and Jangung Bakar (charcoal-grilled corn on the cob). Malang is also the apple growing centre of the country and travellers should not miss sampling the green apples that are grown in the highlands. Eat them fresh off a tree, from a fruit stand and be sure to try and any dish with apples inside that you might see on a menu.
How to get around Malang
With its good climate year round and large, scenic colonial streets; walking the streets of Melang is not only possible, but enjoyable too. Alternatively, getting around in Malang is fairly easy to do and can be done by using one of the many becaks (cycle rickshaw) that are scattered throughout the city centre. These are a great and inexpensive means for travelling short, easy distances.
There are also unmarked metered taxis that are available in the city but rather than driving around Malang, they tend to park in taxi ranks and wait for passengers to call them via the phone or find them at the ranks. They will then arrive at your destination in 15 minutes or so. Taxi fares are regulated by city laws and the legally begin at IDR 5,000 for the first kilometre, IDR 3,00 for every 100 meters and a non-negotiable minimum fare of IDR 20,000. Malang has four registered taxi companies (Citra, Argo Perdana, Argo Mandala and Bima) all available for telephonic bookings.
Lastly travellers can also opt to rent a car while exploring Melang’s sights or you can simply hail a blue, local angkot (minivan) from pretty much all main streets and hop in for a ride. A trip within the city should cost between IDR 3,000 and IDR 5,000 depending on distance and amount of luggage.
How to get to and from Malang
Getting yourself and all your luggage to and from Malang is possible via plane, bus or train.
By air
For those who wish to arrive or depart via air, Malang’s Abdul Rachman Saleh Airport is a small domestic airport that serves only a handful of Jakarta; East Java; Denpasar, Bali; and Makassar flights each day. For those wishing to travel to or from the bustling capital of Jakarta, you can book a flight on Garuda Indonesia or Sriwijaya Air; those travelling between Denpassar, Bali or East Java, be sure to look for flights on Wings Air; and lastly, those wanting a direct connection with Makassar, should book a seat on Batik Air.
Sadly, public transport from the airport itself and the city is non-existent and the only way to get to the heart of Malang is via a taxi. Travellers can arrange a ride in the arrival hall where the prices are fixed and non-negotiable. A ride should cost you around IDR 70,000 to IDR 100,00 depending on where you wish to go.
Over land
Fortunately for travellers looking to make use of public transport via land, travel to and from Malang is pretty easy to do. The city is well connected to the various regions in Java by both trains and buses. For those travellers wishing to arrive or leave Jakarta via railway, Malang’s train station can be found at the east end of the Tuga round-about, at the end of Jalan Kertanegara. The trip to from Yogyakarta should take around 7 hours and will cost roughly IDR 95,000 for a one-way ticket. Another popular train route is the very long journey from Bandung and Malang which will take approximately 15 hours and cost IDR 115,000.
For visitors wishing to commute via bus, the main bus terminal in Malang can be located at Arjosari and fortunately is easily accessible to other major tourist spots within the country. To give you an idea of trip duration and fares, we’ve compiled a list of the most popular bus routes. A bus from Yogyakarta, while a fair bit longer than the train, will offer travellers a cheaper ticket price. This trip will take around 12 hours and cost IDR 60,000. Those wishing to visit the golden, sandy shores of Bali can hop aboard a 7-hour bus bound for Banyuwangi for around IDR 40,000.
The short and sweet journey to and from nearby Surabaya will only set you back around IDR 12,000 and take a speedy two hours. Those wishing to visit the smouldering crater of Mont Ijen should grab a 7-hour bus bound for Bondowoso for around IDR 32,000. Lastly, one of the most popular journeys is the trip between Malang and Gunung Bromo for those who wish to conquer the mighty summit of the famous Mount Bromo. Those wishing to head to Probolingo where Mount Bromo is situated, should take the 3-hour bus headed in this direction. A ticket will set you back around IDR 13,500.
Is Malang a safe place to visit?
Well-known for its good year-round weather and its peaceful atmosphere, crime in Malang is not really an issue that travellers need to be worried about. While, the city is generally relatively safe, it still pays to be careful and cautious and to not flash any expensive jewellery or walk around with large sums of cash on your person as petty theft has been known to occur. As with all tourist areas in Indonesia, touts and scam artists do exist and it’s best to be aware of this and avoid unsafe situations entirely.
