West Java, or Jawa Barat in the local dialect, is located on Java Island and is the most populous of Indonesia’s provinces, having nearly 36 million residents. The provincial capital of Bandung is easily reached from the country’s capital, Jakarta, which is just a short flight or scenic train ride away.

West Java’s rolling countryside makes it ideal for enjoying outdoor family activities, with pursuits on offer ranging from bird watching to cave exploring. A trip to the beach, to a water park or to an animal safari park will be a hit with the kids.

The wonders of nature take centre stage in West Java. You can venture close to the awesome power of the Krakatoa volcano, explore the nature reserve at Ujung Kulon on Java’s southwestern tip, and thrill at the variety of species in the Pulau Dua bird sanctuary off the Banten coast. The provincial capital, Bandung, is an attractive retreat that offers a pleasant, cool respite from low-land exploration.

The airport in Bandung services West Java. More officially known as Husein Sastranegara International Airport, the facility is located 1.5 miles (2.5kms) from Bandung centre. Currently the only direct international flight available is the daily AirAsia service from Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia. If you’re planning to visit from another country, an alternative is to fly into Jakarta’s airport and take a short domestic flight, or travel by bus or shuttle, to Bandung.

Banks: 08:00 to 14:00, Monday to Friday; some larger banks are open from 08:00 to 12:00, Saturday 
Post Offices: 08:00 to 14:00, Monday to Friday
Government Offices: 08:00 to 14:00, Monday to Friday
Business Centres: 09:00 to 17:00, Monday to Friday; 08:00 to 13:00, Saturday 
Shops: 09:00/10:00 to 20:00, daily