Malang is the second largest city in East Java with a rapidly growing population of about 1.2 million.
This is a city of great historical significance. The oldest existing record of Malang as a regency is from the 8th century when it was the seat of government of the ancient Kanjuruhan and Singhasari kingdoms. The city officially became part of the all encompassing Javanese Mataram kingdom in the 17th century which by that time was controlled by the Dutch colonialists. Unsurprisingly given that history, there are several interesting Hindu relics in this area. The city quickly became very popular with the Dutch due to its cool climate, very attractive rural surrounds and easy reach from the main trading port city of Surabaya.
Modern day Malang, although significantly urbanised, has retained much of its historical character, remains vibrant and is regarded as by far the most attractive large city in the East Java region.
Malang Regency is located between two groups of mountains with Mount Semeru, the highest mountain on Java, and Bromo-Tengger-Semeru National Park to the east. The biggest attraction here must be the beautiful landscape, in addition to which there are some temples not far away.
Tourist information Centres
- Malang Visitor Center, Jl Husni Thamrin 6A. ☎ +62 341 3031997.
- East Java Tourist Office, Jl Jendral Basuki Rachmat 6. ☎ +62 341 323966.
- Indonesian Guides Association, Jl Semeru 4. ☎ +62 341 366852.
- Malang City Tourist Office, Jl Tugu 1. ☎ +62 341 327661.
- Malang Tourism Center, Jl Jenderal Basuki Rachmad 11 ☎ +62 341 7570999
- Bromo Tourims Center, Jl Panglima Sudirman 92. ☎ +62 8564 910 0851
Get in
By plane
Malang's Abdul Rachman Saleh Airport (MLG) is a small airport with a few flights everyday from Jakarta on Garuda Indonesia [1], Sriwijaya Air [2]. Regional airline Wings Air [ have launched a new route, serving Malang, East Java, and Denpasar, Bali. Batik Air also provides a direct connection with Makassar (May 2015).
Unfortunately, there is no public transport connecting the airport with the city and the only way how to get there is by taxi (May 2015). A taxi can be arranged from a booth in the arrival hall, for fixed prices according to their list. Depending on the exact location, the prices vary between 70-90 000 (May 2015). Only little English is spoken here.
In addition to MLG Airport,Malang can also be reached through Surabaya Juanda Airport (SUB),and take a train or bus service to Malang.
By car
Malang is about 100 km south of Surabaya; 2-3 hr via the Surabaya-Gempol highway.
You can also catch some local travel from Juanda Airport of Surabaya (1 MPV car shared with other 4-5 people) for around 75,000 IDR one way (as of 2012) picked up from airport and dropped to your address in Malang.
By bus
There are frequent bus services into Malang's Arjosari bus station from Bungarasih bus terminal in Surabaya. Non-AC from Probolinggo 14,000; AC bus from Probolinggo 30,000 (Sept. 2013). There are night buses leaving Yogyakarta at 20:00 and arriving at Malang at 6:00. The price is 135.000 Rp including dinner (Aug 2015).
By train
Overnight train services link Jakarta and Bandung, to Malang. There are several train services a day from Surabaya. One advantage to arriving in Malang by train is that the station is much more central than the long-distance bus terminals. There are two daily trains (day or night journey) from Yogyakarta to Malang. The ride lasts about 7 hours. Executive class (A/C, toilet, reclining seats) costs 145,000 IDR per person.
Get around
Becaks (pedicabs) are a great way to see the city and are easy to find around the city centre.
While not particularly visible, metered taxis are also available in the city. Unlike many other cities in Indonesia, taxis do not drive around looking for passengers but sit in ranks waiting for phone orders. Unless it is raining heavily or a large number of visitors are in town for university graduation ceremonies, wait times will generally be less than 15 minutes. Malang has four official taxi firms, all offering phone booking:
Citra: ☎ +62 341 490555/☎ +62 341 404040; Argo Perdana: ☎+62 341 488888; Argo Mandala: ☎+62 341 474747; Bima: ☎+62 341 364026.
The above taxi firms are all equipped with working meters (Argo). Fares start at Rp 5000 for the first kilometer and Rp 300 for every subsequent 100 meters. A non-negotiable minimum fare of Rp 20,000 applies. This is written into city laws and hence perfectly legitimate. Amazingly it is possible to get a metered taxi (generally with an unofficial Rp 30,000 minimum fare) from the rank at Arjosari bus terminal, ignore the touts and walk to the parking lot out the front. You should easily spot the taxi rank. Always politely insist on the meter (if it is not turned on as a matter of course).
Local mini van in Malang which is called "mikrolet" or "angkot" by locals tend to be blue and can be hailed at random. All journeys within the city are priced at Rp 3,000 (as of early 2014), but if you have a lot of luggage you might have to pay extra. Some of the useful routes are the following:
- MM – between the Madyapuro (Eastern part of the city) and Dieng plaza mall. Goes via the train station, city square (alun alun) and the MOG mall.
- AL – between the Arjosari (to Surabaya) and Landungsari (to Batu) bus terminals
- LG – between the Landungsari and the Gadang bus terminals. If continuing southwards to Blitar or Kepanjen, get of at the Kacuk intersection.
With its relatively cool climate and wide colonial streets, Malang is a great walking city. The tree-lined small boulevards around the busy throughfare of jalan Ijen make for great walks.
See
In a city of such great cultural and historical significance there are lots of cultural attractions and any visitor to Malang should dedicate some time to exploring these.
There are also a number of beautiful sights in the rural areas surrounding the city.
- Balekambang Beaches, (about 60 km south of Malang). There are actually three beaches here: Balekambang, Ngliyep and Sendang Biru. All three are quite beautiful, are close by to each other and locals most often refer to all 3 as just Balekambang. It is best to visit on weekdays as this is a very popular weekend escape and it can get get crowded. It is not safe to swim here but these are great relaxation beaches which offer some stunning coastal scenery. There is an offshore island called Pulau Sempu which can be visited by chartering a boat from Sedang Biru beach. At Balekambang beach there are three little islets just offshore which are attached to the beach by walkways. Of the three beaches, Balekambang itself is perhaps the most attractive but all three are worth visiting. The beaches are easily day-tripped from Malang in a car but for the adventurous there are basic places to stay at and around all three. Rp 10,000.
- h well tended bougainvillea against a backdrop of old colonial structures. The street houses a number of interesting buildings including the Brawijaya Army Museum, Catholic Church and the city library. You should take in this area as part of a becak or walking tour of the historic downtown area.
- Padepokan Seni Mangun Dharma (Mangun Dharma Art Center), Desa Tulus Besar Tumpang, (psmd@indo.net.id). Arts centre dedicated to the research, promotion and performance of traditional East Javanese artforms including dance, batik, shadow puppetry and carving. Superb place. Dance performances can be arranged on demand and are of excellent quality as the dancers are trained from childhood. Their motto is Rescuing the Arts of East Java.
- Purwodadi Botanical Gardens (Kebun Raya Purwodadi, Pasuruan), Jl Raya Purwodadi (about 20 km north of Malang), (kriblipi@bogor.wasantara.net.id), [4]. Opened in 1941, This is one of the four official botanical gardens in Indonesia (the others being the headquarters at Bogor, Bedugul in Bali and Cibodas in West Java. The 85 hectares of gardens house an impressive collection and the splendid Baung waterfall.
- Singosari Temple (Candi Singosari), Singosari, Malang (about 12km north from Malang). This well preserved Hindu temple dates from 1300AD and is a reminder of the great Hindu kingdoms that ruled East Java before the arrival of Islam. A visit to the nearby bathing pools at Ken Dedes combines perfectly with Singosari Temple. Ken Dedes was the wife of the first King of Singhasari (later Singosari) and these bathing pools are believed to have been part of the royal court. There are some quite wonderful statues here. The whole area has some other fine relics from the early Hindu kingdoms including Candi Jago and Candi Kidal. Ask your guide or at Singosari Temple for further directions.
- Taman Rekreasi Senaputra (Senaputra Park), Jalan Brawijaya, Malang. Traditional East Java dances every Sunday morning at 10AM in the park during the dry season only. Every last Wednesday of the month there is a Wayang Kulit shadow puppet show starting at 10PM.
- Brawijaya Military Museum, Jalan Ijen. M-Th 08.00-14.30 / F 08.00-11.30 / Sat-Sun 08.00-13.00. Museum of East Java's famous Brawijaya garrison of the Indonesian military. Interesting relics of Indonesia's revolutionary war of the late 1940s, as well as the communist purges of the late 1960s. An insight into the country's turbulent and violent past. Worth at least 45 minutes to an hour when walking through the Jalan Ijen area.
- Sempu Island, Sumber Manjing Wetan. M-Th 08.00-14.30 / F 08.00-11.30 / Sat-Sun 08.00-13.00. Sempu Island is one of most beautiful island in East Java. Sempu Island is an island located 800 meters from the southern coast of the province of East Java, Indonesia. The island is 3.9 km long and 3.6 km wide. Its topography is largely rolling hills whose altitude ranges from 50 to 100 meters above sea level. The coastline consists mainly of limestone cliffs characteristics of the façade of the island of the Java. Point of interested in Sempu Island is Segara Anakan.
- Museum Tempo Doeloe [read tempo dulu] - literally means "olden days museum".
Do
- Go to the Brawijaya Military Museum after 9pm. There are a lot of youngsters hanging outside and there is food. This is the perfect place to meet new people
- Take a tour of this fine old city by pedicab.
- Take a walking tour of the beautiful Dutch colonial-style houses in the neighbourhoods around Jalan Ijen
- Visit the Alun-Alun - the central town square - to the south of one of the city's main thoroughfares of Jalan Basuki Rahmat. Particularly busy on a Sunday evening.
- Volunteering, [5]. ProFauna Indonesia gives the wonderful opportunity for anyone to volunteer in the organization. The activities in these projects will be decided based on your skills and experiences. By becoming ProFauna's volunteer, you will experience to be part of the wildlife conservation works in Indonesia while learning Indonesian cultures and witness its beautiful nature. 375 USD.
- Visit the local bird market and flower market - you can see lots of unique birds and pets, as well as get a glimpse into local culture here.
- Malang has a small military museum located near Jalan Ijen.
- Mount Bromo -. There are many "sunrise" tours available to Mount Bromo that can be booked at Helios Hotel (see "Sleep" section) and other locations. This is the "safe" (yet arguably dull) way to get there. If you are feeling more adventurous, you can rent a motorbike and go see the park by yourself. The ride takes about 2-3 hours each way. This ride is also not suggested for inexperienced motorbike drivers and it is not suggested that you do the ride when it is dark, so seeing the sunrise may not be an option unless you want to stay there over night. However, going later in the day guarantees that you will be at the main sights at a time when it is not swarming with tourists and you will have the freedom to chose when to stop, where to eat and where to go. Driving through the "Sea of Sand" on your own bike can be particularly exhilarating, though somewhat challenging. Many of the people working at the hotels will tell you that the roads are too dangerous and that you can't rent motorbikes in Malang. Neither of these things are true. You can rent 125cc automatic motorbikes for 70,000 rupiah a day from "Sunday Holiday" ([0341] 5023943) and they will drop off/pick up the bike from your hotel for no additional charge. The roads heading there and back are usually in pretty good condition after recent repaving that was completed in early 2016, though they are very steep. Riding with 2 people on one bike may require that the passenger gets off and walks for a few short distances during the steep inclines, but it is by no means not doable. If you head to Cemoro Lawang using a map or GPS, you should have no problem figuring out where to go from there.
Buy
Malang has some large shopping malls but you are better off in Surabaya for those.
Local textiles and handicrafts can be found at Batik Keris, Jl Merdeka Timur 2d.
- Fabulous Spa & Salon, Jl Panderman 1A Malang, ☎ +62 341 9600080. Offers professional massage and spa treatments in clean and relaxing ambience including body spa, body scrub, balinese touch massage, manicure and pedicure spa. There is also a hair salon which offers haircuts and styling. Supplies are ordered in small and selected batches to ensure freshness when they are used, fresh new towels are provided for each guest.
- Khayangan - Premium Reflexology and Relaxation, Jl Welirang 2, ☎ 0341 325552, [6]. 10.00-22.00. This is the newest addition of modern reflexology and massages centre in Malang. The place is located just walking distance from Jalan Semeru/Ijen. You can get variety of massages including foot reflexy, traditional massage, thai massage and others in good and relaxing place. Price is from 40k IDR.
Eat
Eating is a highly rated experience here. Local specialities are best sought out at street stalls and simple warungs and include:
- Ayam Goreng Kampung (fried village chicken).
- Tempe
- Bakso Malang. The city's own unique and delicious take on the Indonesian meat ball soup staple. Try Bakso Bakar, literally means "grilled meat ball". The famous one will be the one in Jl Pahlawan Trip, in the corner of the junction with Jl Ijen
- Jagung Bakar (grilled young corn on the cob) is everywhere. Best eaten at a streetside stalls fresh from the coals. Some of them congegrate in Pulosari Stalls.
- Apples (Apel). The highlands around Malang are the apple growing centre of Indonesia and the small green beauties (manalagi) are very highly prized. Eat them here and they are sure to be fresh from the tree.
- Malang's night market on Jalan Merdeka operates every Saturday. A riot of flavours and smells will assault your senses. A must do for any visitor to Malang.
- Depot Lima Satu, Jl Letjen S. Parman 51. Tiny, hole-in-the-wall eatery serving East Javanese noodle dishes at their very best.
- Inggil, Jl Gajah Mada no4, ☎ +62 341 332110. Highly rated restaurant specialising in Javanese cuisine.
- Warung Pojok, Jl Pejajeran 25. Very well known for rujak (salad with spicy sweet peanut sauce).
- Martabak Cairo. The kopi jahe is infused with cloves for a powerful and simply decadent taste. Serving martabak, sate kambing and nasi goreng cairo.
- Warung Subuh. Dizzying array of foods, incredibly cheap, fresh and delicious. This place is booming with locals, so you know it's good. A great place to try some new and interesting food and drink.
- Bunga Bali Restaurant & Cafe, Jl. Ungaran 20, ☎ +62 (341) 341788. European food with a nice atmosphere for dining.
- Van Oosten Coffee Shop, Jalan BS Riadi (Oro-Oro Dowo) No. 137, ☎ 0341 344 237, [7]. Cool coffee shop frequented by young Malang residents, mainly students studying in the city's universities. High quality coffee, great atmosphere, good food. Highly recommended for a short detour to recharge after a walking tour of the Jalan Ijen area.
- Bakso President, Behind the Mitra II building (Close to Statsiun Malang). Outdoor cafe serving Malang's famous grilled Bakso meatballs. Highly recommended by several local residents. Situated next to a train track, so watch where you sit-- trains will literally be chugging along several feet from you as you indulge in the bakso!
- Toko Oen, Jalan Jenderal Basuki Rahmat (Opposite the Catholic Church on Jalan Basuki Rahmat), ☎ 0341 364052. "A Colonial Landmark since 1930" so proclaims the sign above Toko Oen's entrance. Very interesting Dutch-styled cafe with throwback furniture and Western food favorites. Ice cream is a highlight. Best when combined with a walking tour of the Alun2 (town square area) off of Jalan Basuki Rahmat. A nice place, but incredibly slow service.
- Warung Kelir on Jalan Panglima Sudirman 92. Special menu is steak. You can ask about information of Malang and Bromo Tour also.
