Bogor Travel Guide

General information about Bogor

Bogor is a city on the island of Java in Indonesia near Jakarta, 50 kilometers from its center (Bogor on the map). It is part of the Jakarta city district and is often perceived by tourists as a suburb of the capital, since it is really located on the outskirts of an almost continuous urban agglomeration, i.e. you will not even feel that you have arrived in another city from Jakarta, there is simply no border and separation between them, despite the impressive distance. But do not think that this is a modest small town, rather the opposite: the population of Bogor is more than a million people, and it is one of the most densely populated cities in the world.

Bogor as an independent tourist destination will not be very interesting. There is not much to see here, but one attraction deserves special attention. This is the Kebun Raya Botanical Garden with exotic tropical plants, birds and animals. Therefore, most foreign tourists come here for one day from Jakarta on their own or on an excursion, or stop for a day and overnight on the way from the capital to other places on the island. One day is really quite enough to come from Jakarta to Bogor, explore everything here and return back in the evening. There is nothing to do here for longer, but keep in mind that your one-day visit may be spoiled by rain: the geographical location of the city is such that it rains almost every day.

The infrastructure in the city for tourists is well developed. There are several hundred hotels here, there are cafes and restaurants, transport, so if you decide to stay here for a day and a night, there will be no difficulties.

You can book a hotel in Bogor in the popular hotel search system in Southeast Asia Trip.com, or one of the most popular hotel booking systems in the world Ostrovok.ru. You can search for hotels in KL immediately through the search form:

Bogor hotels on the map

How to get to Bogor

• By plane

  Bogor does not have its own airport, the nearest one is Soekarno–Hatta International Airport in Jakarta (airport on the map). You can get from the airport directly by taxi (from $ 27), or more budget-friendly by Damri buses, bypassing Jakarta:

  Damri buses depart from all three terminals of the airport, tickets are purchased at the counter inside the terminal or at the exit. The fare is 55,000 rupees (about 4 US dollars, see the currency of Indonesia and its exchange rate). Buses depart every 30 minutes only during the daytime (from 04:00 to 22:00), 2-4 hours on the way, depending on traffic on the road. Be careful, and when buying, buy a ticket for the route to the bus station Botani Square, and not to the City Mall Cibinong. The Botani Square bus station is located in the city center next to the shopping center and the botanical garden (bus station on the map).

• By bus

  By bus you can get from Jakarta, Bandung, Yogyakarta, and other cities of Java. From Jakarta, buses depart from Lebak Bulus, Kampung Rambutan and Kali Deres bus terminals, 1-2 hours on the way. Buses depart very often, about every 15 minutes, costs from 15,000 rupees (a little more than 1 US dollar). In order not to get to the bus stations, you can buy bus or minivan tickets at travel agencies on the street, but the price can reach 100,000 rupees ($ 7).

• By train

  Commuter trains (Commuterline or KRL), in our opinion, are the best way to get to Bogor. It costs a penny to travel, while trains bypass all traffic jams, which is especially important during peak hours and on Fridays. but keep in mind that usually the trains are crowded, people are literally riding on the roofs, so get ready to wallow.

  Trains to Bogor from Jakarta depart from Jakarta Kota stations and make stops at all city stations along the way, including Juanda (the closest station to Gambir railway station) and Gondangdia (the closest to the tourist districts of Jakarta, see about these stations and their position on the map here). But these trains do not stop at the Gambir railway station. They run from 05:50 to 23:45, back from Bogor from 04:00 to 21:47 every 10-50 minutes. The fare costs less than $ 1. Tickets must be purchased before Bogor station (code – BOO).

  Trains arrive in the city at the station in the city center near the botanical garden and other attractions (railway station on the map). To the main entrance to the botanical garden from the station one and a half kilometers on foot, or you can take buses running around the perimeter of the botsad for 3,000 rupees.

  If you decide to go back to Jakarta by train, keep in mind that not all of them go to Gondangdia or Jakarta Kota station, especially in the evening. Therefore, please check when buying tickets and boarding.

Bogor sights, what to see

• Kebun Raya Botanical Garden

  This is the main attraction of the city, for which tourists come here. It was founded in 1811. Almost 14,000 different plants grow on the territory of 87 hectares, tropical birds, lizards and deer are found. Plants are collected from all over the world, you can see very rare specimens. For example, one of the largest flowers in the world, Amorphophallus titanum, grows here, but it is very rare to see it in bloom. There are ponds with giant water lilies, huge palm trees up to 40 meters high, a greenhouse with orchids.

  On the territory of the park there is a beautiful summer Presidential Palace (Istana Bogor). It can be viewed from the outside, but you can only get inside as part of a tour group, which you need to register in advance, usually a few days in advance. The visit is free of charge.

  🕐 Working hours: 08:00 – 17:00, The greenhouse with orchids closes at 15:30.

  💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: 26 000 rupees (2 US dollars)

  🚶 How to get there: The botanical garden is located in the city center and occupies a large area. The entrance to it on normal days is through the main entrance on the south side (entrance to the botanical garden on the map), other entrances are opened on weekends and holidays. To get from the railway station to the entrance, you can walk one and a half kilometers, or take a minibus No. 4 for 3,000 rupees. From the bus station, where buses come from Jakarta, it takes a few minutes on foot.

• Zoological Museum

  A small zoological museum is located on the territory of the botanical garden. There are stuffed animals, skeletons and installations of wildlife, plants. You can see everything in 15 minutes.

  🕐 Working hours: daily from 07:30 to 16:00.

  💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: the visit is included in the entrance ticket to the botanical garden

  🚶 How to get there: located near the entrance to the botanical garden (museum on the map)

• Bogor National Historical Museum

  The National Museum of Natural History or Museum Nasional Sejarah Alam Indonesia is a small museum dedicated to the history and way of life of the peoples of Indonesia in general, and Bogor in particular. An analogue of our city museums of local lore. It is optional to visit, but if you pass by, you can visit it, especially since the entrance fee is symbolic.

  🕐 Working hours: from 08:00 to 16:00, Friday is a day off.

  💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: -

  🚶 How to get there: The museum is located on the east side of the botanical garden and not far from the railway station (museum on the map). If you arrive in the city by train, you can visit the museum on the way to the main entrance to the botanical garden.

• Gong Workshop

  This is a small family workshop of traditional musical instruments, where everything is made by hand. In just one room, using the most common tools, the craftsmen here make gongs in the traditional way for sale to tourists and locals. You can freely visit this place and watch at work, guests are welcome here, the main thing is not to interfere with work. Of course, you can purchase finished products.

  🕐 Working hours: from 08:00 to 15:00.

  💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: free of charge.

  🚶 How to get there: the workshop is located at Jalan Pancasan, 17, about one and a half kilometers from the entrance to the botanical garden (workshop on the map). You can get there by taxi or on foot.

• Stone Batu Tulis

  Stone Batu Tulis is a historical landmark for tourists and at the same time a shrine for local residents. On this stone slab in 1533, in the ancient Sundanese language, a text was inscribed dedicated to the king Sri Baguda Maharaja, who allegedly possessed supernatural powers. The stone is kept as a relic in a building specially built for it, and it is said that locals even come here to pray. To see the stone, you will have to take off your shoes.

  🕐 Working hours: 08:00 – 17:00, Sunday is a day off.

  💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: free of charge, donations are welcome, and in a rather intrusive form.

  🚶 How to get there: This landmark is located two kilometers south of the city center, at Jalan Batutulis No. 54 (Batutulis on the map). You can only get here on foot or by taxi.

• Halimun Salak National Park and Volcano

  Halimun Salak National Park is the closest natural park and active volcano to Bogor. Its height is 2211 meters, and the last active eruption was in 1938, although even now it is smoking, it is simply not in the active phase. Also, this mountain is notorious for the fact that in 2012 a Russian Sukhoi Superjet 100 crashed into it during a demonstration flight, killing 45 people.

  It is theoretically possible to visit the national park and the volcano on your own, but for this you need to prepare well. It is much easier for tourists to use the services of a guide.

  🚶 How to get there: the volcano is located 20 kilometers from the city (volcano on the map). You can visit it as part of a group or individual guided tour, which can be found at Bogor travel agencies. Tours can be one-day only with climbing the volcano, and two-day with an overnight stay in a guest house in a village in the park.