Getty Images/iStockphoto
With leafy, colonial-era boulevards and a breezy climate, Malang moves at a far more leisurely pace than the regional capital, Surabaya. It’s a cultured city with several important universities, and is home to a large student population. The central area is not too large and is quite walkable.
Established by the Dutch colonizers in the closing decades of the 18th century, Malang earned its first fortunes from coffee, which flourished on the surrounding hillsides. Today, the city’s colonial architecture is quickly disappearing behind the homogeneous facades of more modern developments, but there’s still much to admire for now.
With a number of Hindu temples and sights outside the city, Malang makes an ideal base to explore this intriguing corner of East Java.
These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Malang.
Museum
Malang’s most impressive museum isn’t actually a museum at all, but a hotel: the boutique, four-star Hotel Tugu Malang, a showcase for its owner, arguably Indonesia's foremost collector of Asian art and antiquities. English-speaking tours are available all day, but aim for evening for candlelight ambience; it's complimentary for guests staying here, while admission for nonguests is redeemable against restaurant orders.
Area
Malang has some wonderful colonial architecture. Just northwest of the centre, Jl Besar Ijen is Malang’s millionaires' row, a boulevard lined with elegant whitewashed mansions from the Dutch era. Many have been substantially renovated, but there’s still much to admire. On Sunday mornings it's closed to traffic and a market is set up along here; in late May it becomes the setting for the city's huge Malang Kembali festival.
Street
A local initiative to beautify Malang's ramshackle, high-density kampung are these whimsical multicoloured neighbourhoods that have been transformed into one of the city's most popular sights. While they could do with a fresh lick of paint, they're still worthy of exploration.
Notable Building
Close to the city centre, the Balai Kota is an immense Dutch administrative building, built in a hybrid of Dutch and Indonesian architectural styles with a tiered central roof that resembles a Javanese mosque.
Market
Malang's largest public market. Expect fruit, beef, fish and more, much more. Busiest in the morning, it's worth a trawl for the people-watching as much as for the shopping.
Market
The flower market, Pasar Bunga, is pleasantly sited around a river valley and is the place to stroll in the morning.
Mosque
Malang's central mosque is a pincushion of minarets that overlooks one end of the alun-alun (main square).
Temple
For those who love wafting incense, flickering candles and the rituals associated with Chinese belief systems.
Church
A historic Catholic church, founded in the colonial days, but with a still-devoted local congregation.