15 Best Things to Visit in Bogor (Indonesia)

Locals of Bogor, Indonesia’s Java province, appreciate its pleasant climate and laid-back appeal. As a result, a lot of domestic tourists travel here, although it hasn’t drawn much interest from tourists from other countries. However, those who do make the trip here gush about Bogor as a picturesque substitute for congested Jakarta. Because it is situated on the outskirts of the city, it is conveniently reachable as part of a day trip since you can take a train to Bogor from the capital in just under an hour. The city is well-known for its many historical treasures, and you can also spend a lot of time outside, taking in the best of Indonesia’s natural beauty. Although Puncak is a little beyond the city limits, Bogor and Puncak are regarded as being in the same general area. Bogor in Java is a fantastic choice if you are going through Jakarta or simply wish to travel to a less-traveled area of Indonesia. Let’s examine the top activities in Bogor:

Have a cup of tea at the Gunung Mas Tea Estate

Visit the Gunung Mas Tea Estate to learn about the production of one of Bogor’s main exports while taking in the emerald hues of the stunning tea gardens. One of the estate’s highlights, which is located in the mountains, is that you may tour the area on horseback while getting an incredible view of the plantation slopes. You can even spend the night in one of the picturesque lodges and have a guided tour of the tea factory’s interior.

Go shopping at Pasar Baru

The Bogor main market, Pasar Baru, is close to the Botanical Gardens and is situated on Jalan Suryakencana. A portion of the market is housed inside byzantine-inspired concrete halls. Expect to find a wide variety of goods, including fish, meat, and flowers, if you travel here. You can also get clothes and accessories here, both new and secondhand, and if you are looking for some cheap goods, then this is a great place to come. Although it is incredibly hot and busy, this is one of Bogor’s most iconic shopping experiences.

Tour Istana Bogor

Istana Bogor, another name for the Summer Palace of the President of Indonesia, is situated on the northwest side of the Botanical Gardens. It would have belonged to former Dutch governors during the colonial period from 1870 until the 1940s, and nowadays some of the highlights here include large lawns that are covered in graceful deer and a small museum of art that is made up of the personal collection of the former president of Indonesia, Sukarno. One of the most important historical sites in Bogor, the palace may only be visited if you are in a group of ten or more, and you must make an appointment.

Visit the Ah Poong Floating Market

Like many Indonesian cities, Bogor is well-known for its cuisine. Soto Bogor, a type of soup, and a variety of street snacks like Tauge Goreng, which are fried bean sprouts, are just a few of the delights available. However, if you want to check out one of the top dining spots in Bogor, go to the Ah Poong Floating Market, which is a sort of street food market that just so happens to be located on a river. If you want a special dining experience, this is the place to find it. There are many options, including restaurants and smaller cafés, as well as people in wooden boats offering bowls of noodles and rice meals.

Sample the Chinese food at Kentjana

There are several Chinese restaurants in Bogor thanks to the town’s sizable Indonesian-Chinese population. One of the most well-known is Kentjana, which serves some distinctive Chinese foods like mapo tofu and is adorned in the traditional Chinese manner with lovely paper lanterns and a wall of ancient pictures of Bogor.

Go on Safari

One of the most popular sights in Bogor, and possibly all of Indonesia, is Taman Safari Indonesian. Taman Safari Indonesia, which is situated near Cisarua in Puncak, was initially constructed on a tea plantation that covered 50 hectares of land, but it has since expanded in size and popularity to cover 168 hectares of land. Day and night safaris are available in the park, where a large variety of animals can be seen roaming the gently rolling terrain in a semi-wild environment. You can even spend the night in the Safari Lodge if you want to stay a little longer.

Visit a gong workshop

One of the few gongsmiths still working in Java may be found on Jalan Pancasan 17 in the center of Bogor, producing gongs the old-fashioned way. The gongs produced here are smelted over a charcoal fire to form the gamelan, a well-known Indonesian musical instrument. You are welcome to stop by the workshop to observe the gongs being created and to purchase one as a memento of your visit to Bogor.

Hike up Gunung Batu

Gunung Batu, which translates as “Rock Mountain” in Indonesian, is tucked away in Jonggol to the west of Bogor and provides you with the opportunity to get outside and spend time in nature while also pushing yourself to trek up a beautiful mountain. If you’re searching for something to do as part of a day trip, this mountain provides a faster walk because it is smaller than the nearby Gunung Gede and Gunung Salak. Although some of the slopes here are at a 90-degree inclination and you will need to climb over a stone wall around halfway to the peak, you can climb with a guide who will bring a variety of equipment, including climbing ropes, to help you rise to the top.

Enjoy a feast at De’Leuit

The most well-known restaurant in Bogor is perhaps De’Leuit, which is renowned for its spectacular three levels that form a sort of pyramid-shaped tower and are covered in a thatched roof. Traditional Sundanese food is served here, and you can expect mouthwatering sate, fried chicken, and a wide variety of vegetarian side dishes.

Get lost in the Botanical Garden

One of the top attractions in the city is the Botanical Garden of Bogor, or Taman Bunga Nusantara in Indonesian. You may take in the sights while enjoying the cool breeze on the beautifully maintained lawns of the gardens. The Secret Labyrinth, a sizable maze based on the Maze Garden, and the Wall of Troy, which would have existed centuries ago, are a couple of the attractions of the gardens in Bogor. The challenge of trying to find your way out can be the highlight of a visit to the gardens, or you can meander through several themed regions like a French garden, a Japanese Zen garden, or a Balinese garden.

Visit Pura Parahyangan Agung Jagatkartta Temple

One of Indonesia’s largest Hindu temples, Pura Parahyangan Agung Jagakartta, is a significant center of worship for the Hindu population. A visit to the temple complex is a master class in Hindu traditions, and as you approach Pura Jagatkartta, you will first have to pass Pura Melanting and Pura Pasar Agung, where you can worship and purify any offerings before presenting them to the gods in Pura Jagatkartta. The main temple is accessible to anyone who wishes to worship, but non-Hindu tourists are not allowed inside. Therefore, if you are not Hindu, you can only enter the outside courtyard of the temple complex, which has stunning views of Gunung Salak.

Stay in a Mongolian Tent

You might not expect to find standard Mongolian accommodations in Indonesia, but if you head to Kota Bunga Estate in the Highland Resort in Puncak, you will. You can choose from a wide variety of residences and motels in this area, including English-style homes, Japanese cottages, and even a Mongolian camp. Instead of roughing it in the wilderness, this is more akin to posh camping, or “glamping,” and tents are equipped with beds, sofas, even toilets, and air conditioning to make your stay as pleasant as possible.

Go paragliding

The paragliding station at Bukit Paralayang Bogor is the place to go if you’re looking for an exhilarating ride in Bogor. From here, you can soar up to 1.3 kilometers above sea level to take in the picturesque surroundings. You will be paired with an instructor on the flight, and the trip will typically last 15 minutes. The teacher will be strapped into the paraglider with you. You can take pictures while flying, but be sure to dress appropriately, such as with long pants. The elegant Mount Salak, which towers in the distance, is one notable location to keep an eye out for.

Go for a swim at Nymph Waterfall

Making the most of the picturesque surroundings that surround Bogor, visit the Nymph Waterfall, also known as Curug Bidadari Cikoneng in Indonesian. The word “Cikoneng” comes from the Sundanese word “Cai,” which means “water.” “Koneng” is the abbreviation of “Bojong Koneng,” the name of the village on the outskirts of Bogor where the waterfall is located. One of the waterfall’s highlights is that you can swim in the sizable pool that forms at its base. The pool’s margins are also ringed by a tiny, family-friendly sandy beach.

Take a gondola ride

You shouldn’t be shocked to see a little Venice in Indonesia if you travel to Puncak. Little Venice, which is also in Kota Bunga, is composed of a man-made lake that is based on the canal networks in Venice, Italy. Once you arrive at the water, you can either take a gondola trip and row if you feel like working out on your own, or you can hire a skilled gondolier to perform the labor-intensive task for you. If a ride on a Venetian gondola isn’t your thing, you can also try the Mississippi Boat Attraction or another ride.