Warm smiles greet the visitor walking through Malang's Islamic neighborhood

The pretty Dutch colonial city of Malang is a great place to spend a couple of days, with good restaurants, nice hotels, interesting things to see in the city, and a good city from which to book tours to nearby temples and the extraordinary volcanic region of Gunung Bromo. 

Malang Top 4 

1) We found the most intriguing part of Malang was to take a walk through the Islamic quarter, starting at the mosque on Jalal Kauman Merdeka. Here, you’ll find a moderate Islamic culture you probably won’t read about in the Press. The people are friendly, love western visitors, and are ready with a quick smile. As we were taking pictures, we were invited into a home to meet the whole family and share tea. The whole neighborhood is a fun walk, and not crowded with tourists. 

2) Tour the Gunung Bromo volcanic area. This fascinating trip is worth two or three days of your time, taking you to interesting spots such as Gunung Bromo, Gunung Penanjakan, and the extraordinary turquoise lake and sulphur area at Kawah Ijen. Other tours available in Malang will take you to Gunung Semeru, the highest peak in Java. 

3) To the west, book a one day tour that will take you to the wonderful temples at Panataran. These are close to the nearby city of Blitar, where a visit to the Sukarno boyhood home, and Sukarno’s grave and museum are worthwhile for an insight into Indonesia’s development as a nation.

4 For a very nice half-day trip just 20 km to the east, visit the nearby temples of Candi Kidal and Candi Jago.