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City in East Java, Indonesia
Photo: Rizal Febri Ardiansyah, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Malang is the second largest city in East Java with a rapidly growing population of about 887,000 in the city (2017), and 2.8 million in the urban area. 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.
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Jalan Besar Ijen
This is a quite beautiful street. It is lined with well-tended bougainvillea against a backdrop of old colonial structures. The street houses a number of interesting buildings including the Brawijaya Army Museum, the Catholic Church and the city library. Usually every Sunday, there is an event called "Car Free Day" when almost all of Ijen Boulevard is free of motorised vehicles. There is also a "Pasar Minggu", a traditional market which offers a wide range of items to buy, from traditional foods to clothing, even pets. It starts from 06:00 to around 10:00, depending on the number of events held. You should take in this area as part of a becak or walking tour of the historic downtown area.
Kampung Warna-Warni Jodipan
This village has all houses in it painted colorfully. The village has two areas, Jodipan and Tridi, which are connected by the Ngalam Indonesia Glass Bridge over the Brantas River, the first glass bridge in Indonesia.
Candi Singosari
This well-preserved Hindu temple dates from 1300 AD 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.
Candi Kidal is a small but finely preserved 13th-century Hindu temple near Malang in East Java, associated with the Singhasari Kingdom. It is believed to have been built as a funerary shrine for King Anusapati, one of the rulers of the kingdom. The temple is particularly noted for its detailed reliefs, including scenes from the Garudeya story carved along the base. Set in a quiet rural area,
Traditional East Java dances.
Dino Park Malang
Family entertainment place with 2 theme parks. There are some replicas of dinousaurs.
Suhat
Hub for shopping, dining, and entertainment, offering a diverse array of modern amenities and attractions. It’s home to numerous cafes, restaurants, and retail stores, making it a popular destination for both locals and tourists. Whether you’re looking to explore trendy boutiques or enjoy a delicious meal, Soekarno Hatta Boulevard provides a dynamic and lively atmosphere that captures the essence of Malang's urban culture.
Candi Badut is the oldest known temple in East Java, dating to the 8th century and linked to the early Kanjuruhan Kingdom. Located near Malang, this small Hindu temple is dedicated to Shiva and features simple yet elegant stonework, with niches that once held statues of Hindu deities. Although modest in size, it is historically significant as one of the earliest examples of temple architecture in the region.
Eastern Javanese noodle dishes at their very best.
Highly rated restaurant specialising in Javanese cuisine.
Very well known for rujak (salad with spicy sweet peanut sauce).
The kopi jahe is infused with cloves for a powerful and simply decadent taste. Serving martabak, sate kambing and nasi goreng cairo.
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.
Friendly owner who speaks good English and has good knowledge of area. Good and free wifi. Reasonable prices with western movie themed menu. Is about 500 metres northwest of railway station. Corner of Jl. Patimura and Jl. Trunojoyo
Original Indonesian coffee blended by pro.
The owner is Italian.
The owner is Korean.
24/7 bar
Bar with more rare beer brands and live music.
Windowless house, small rooms with what might be 20-year-old mattresses. The only entrance is 2 steps from a busy main road. A bit distant from the Malang city center but closer to shopping mall Town Square. Free Wi-Fi. (Despite a photo you might find on Google, there's definitely no swimming pool.)
Clean hotel that is overpriced due to being in a central location and its popularity among Western tourists. They'll send you upstairs to Kampong Tourist if you want a cheap room. Available rooms are Rp 200,000 (fan room) or Rp 280,000 (air-con). Free Wi-Fi. Tours can also be booked next door.
Dutch-owned backpackers hostel on the roof top of Hotel Helios. Great view over the city and the mountains. Choice between a 16-bed bamboo dormitory and three gazebo bamboo huts with 2 quality mattresses, but tiny blankets. Shared very hot showers and toilets. Well-maintained and clean. Free WiFi. Friendly English, Dutch and Indonesian speaking staff. Bicycle rental possible, also two quality mountain bikes (Rp 50,000), towels: Rp 7,500, toilet paper: Rp 3,000. Unfortunately quite noisy from 06:30 due to motorcycle traffic and a nearby Mosque (04:15). The restaurant is slightly overpriced and serves small portions. The banana pancake contains four small banana slices. Tours can be booked at reception.
Basic but relatively clean, rooms are bigger than in Helios. Breakfast included. No Wi-Fi - bring you own SIM card. Little English may be spoken here.
Air-conditioned, 12-bed, mixed dorm with free breakfast and wifi. Security lockers.
Air-conditioned, 10-bed, mixed dorm with free wifi and self-catering facilities.
Fan double room with shared bathroom.
Centrally located mid-range hotel in the Malang city.
A converted colonial building that dates from 1930s. Designed by Dutch architect Ir Mueller. Has been operating as a hotel since 1994. 52 rooms, large swimming pool and restaurant.
Large 100-room modern hotel which is a little lacking in character but offers good value and service.
The sister hotel of the famous Tugu Hotel in Canggu, Bali, and a similar type of property. It is fitted and furnished with a range of Javanese antiquities. The owners of the Tugu rescued and relocated many splendid old trees here when property developers razed the old Malang botanical gardens. It's in the heart of the old town and looks out on the Tugu Monument which commemorates the independence struggle in Indonesia. A four-star property.
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.
Numerous well-known retail stores, trendy fashion outlets, and a variety of dining establishments, from local favorites to international cuisine.
Matos
Premier shopping and entertainment destination in Malang. Matos offers a diverse range of shops, from trendy fashion boutiques to electronics stores, in addition to shopping, visitors can enjoy a variety of dining options, from casual eateries to popular fast-food chains. The mall also features a cinema and entertainment zones, providing a complete leisure experience for families and friends. There is big supermarket as well.
By car
Malang is about 95 km south of Surabaya; 2-3 hr via the Surabaya-Gempol highway, but frequently takes 4 hours to reach.
By bus
There are frequent bus services into Malang's Arjosari bus station from Bungarasih bus terminal in Surabaya. Non AC from Probolinggo Rp 14,000.
By train
Overnight train services link Jakarta and Bandung to the Malang railway station. There are many train services every day from Surabaya.
By minivan
City mini-vans in Malang, called "mikrolet" or "angkot" by locals, are blue and can be hailed at random.
By becak
Becaks (pedicabs) are a great way to see the Malang city and are easy to find, often on the side of the road waiting for customers.
On foot
With its relatively cool climate and wide colonial streets, Malang is a good city to walk around.
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Malang · Regional · MLG
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