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Province in Java, Indonesia
Photo: Arabsalam, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Western Java is the western third of the island of Java, Indonesia. It covers from west to east the province of Banten, the Jakarta Special Capital Region (DKI Jakarta), and the province of West Java (Jawa Barat). Western Java is one of the most densely populated regions on earth, but still there are extensive natural areas of impassable rainforest, as well as many active volcanoes and secluded beaches.
One of the most populous urban areas in the world, with the capital Jakarta and its suburbs. The region also includes the Thousand Islands in the Jakarta Bay.
Once the centre of the powerful Banten sultanate, the region includes various beach resorts along the west coast, and Ujung Kulon National Park with many rare flora and fauna species.
The city of Bogor with its famous botanical garden, and a volcanic mountain range with two national parks and extensive tea plantations.
The heartland of the Sundanese culture, with the Paris of Java Bandung, volcanoes, crater lakes, and hot springs.
More volcanoes, including Mount Ciremai National Park with Western Java's highest mountain, and well-known beaches along Java's south coast.
The oldest temples of Java, vast rice fields, the 'city of shrimp' Cirebon, and the Java Sea coast.
By train
Western Java can be reached by train from the other parts of Java, with the key connections being from Surabaya (East Java) or Yogyakarta via Semarang (Central Java) to Cirebon and Jakarta, and from…
By bus
There are many interprovincial bus connections (named AKAP for Antar Kota Antar Provinsi, intercity/interprovince) to the key cities in Western Java, mainly Jakarta and Bandung.g.
By ferry
There is a ferry connection between Western Java (the port of Merak) and Sumatra (Lampung province) that runs 24 hours per day. The crossing takes approximately 2 hours.
By car or motorbike
The road network of Western Java is extensive, with tolled motorways connecting the major cities, and major trunk roads throughout the region.
By train
Most of the cities and larger towns in Western Java are connected to the railway network. Trains are generally reliable, but not very fast. The most frequent trains run in the Greater Jakarta area.
By bus
Intercity bus connections are much more frequent than train connections. However, the speed very much depends on the road conditions and traffic congestion.
By taxi
Taxicabs are abundant in the larger cities, especially in the Greater Jakarta area, Bogor, and Bandung.
By plane
Getting around within the region by plane is usually not really an option.
Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Bandung · Regional · BDO
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the chaotic, congested yet oddly fascinating Indonesian capital.
the Paris of Java of Dutch colonial days, now a university city known for shopping and food.
the former summer capital, known for the world-class botanical gardens.
once the capital of the powerful Galuh Kingdom.
nicknamed the 'city of shrimp' at the Java Sea coast, with four sultan palaces.
mountain town with a cooler climate and many volcanic hot springs.
Indian Ocean beach town with a nature reserve and a busy fish market.
city on the foot of the Mount Gede volcano, surrounded by tea, coffee, and rubber plantations.
now a small village, but once the centre of the mighty Banten Sultanate.
archaeological site with (possibly) the oldest remaining temples of Java.
the blue-water sulphur-smell Kawah Putih crater lake.
most-visited national park of Indonesia, centred around two volcanoes.
very popular weekend getaway among rice fields, tea plantations, rivers, and volcanoes.
just off the coast of Jakarta, small islands with white sand beaches.
fishing village on the Indian Ocean, with a turtle sanctuary.
the last holdout of the Javan rhinoceros and a World Heritage Site.
Articles and travel topics about Western Java and Indonesia.
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