A former capital of the ancient Sunda Kingdom, Bogor offers a cool retreat from the bustling streets of Jakarta. It’s renowned for its Botanical Gardens and opulent Istana Bogor palace, as well as being home to vibrant markets and family-friendly theme parks.

Things to do

Explore the 19th-century Botanical Gardens, which were founded as a private oasis by Sir Stamford Raffles. They sprawl across 87 hectares of meticulously landscaped beds of wild jungle, rivers and lakes. A highlight of the region is the blooming giant arums, which are the world’s tallest inflorescence collected from across Sumatra.

In the north-west corner of the Botanical Gardens stands the Istana Bogor Presidential Palace, which originally served as a summer residence for Java’s Governor General. Admire its neoclassical architecture and spot the deer grazing on the lawns outside, then wander through opulent rooms decorated with Indonesian artworks, Persian carpets and Bohemian crystal candles.

Experience the sights, sounds and smells of Bogor’s traditional markets where everything from live animals to fresh produce and homewares is for sale. If you’re visiting the Botanical Gardens, head to Pasar Baru that’s been trading since 1770, with its market stalls clustered in a Byzantine-inspired concrete hall.

Travelling with kids? Spend a day at Jungle Water Adventure, a colourful amusement park packed with slides, a wave pool and other water-themed attractions. If you prefer to stay dry, experience the thrilling roller coasters, bumper cars and Ferris wheel of the JungleLand Adventure Theme Park.

Getting around

Bogor is a one-hour drive south of Jakarta and 1.5 hours from Soekarno-Hatta International Airport. Both trains and buses connect the two cities while minibuses, horse carts and motor taxis are widely available for getting around Bogor.