A vital hill station in Dutch colonial times, Bogor boasts gorgeous gardens, a mild climate, and some magical attractions. At 40 miles from Jakarta, it's also a great base from which to explore Indonesia's capital.
The jewel in Bogor's crown, Kebun Raya is one of the most beautiful botanical gardens in the world, with lotus ponds, hundreds of palm varieties, and over 3,000 orchids.
Other attractions well worth visiting include the Zoology Museum, with its collection of taxidermy, and the Presidential Palace, which houses a wonderful art collection.
Bogor has more family attractions than you might expect from a town of its size, including the rollercoasters of the Jungle Fest amusement park, and the chutes and pools at Marcopolo Water Adventure.
Jakarta is a pulsating metropolis, but staying there can be hectic. A better option is to find lodgings in Bogor and drive in when the desire takes you.
Not far from Bogor, you'll find the beautiful Cikidang waterfalls, while adrenaline junkies can take whitewater rafting trips on the nearby Sungai Citarik river.
Bogor has its own signature dishes, including tauge goreng (grilled bean sprouts), but you'll find all kinds of Indonesian food at its best restaurants. Standouts include De' Leuit, with its pyramid-shaped roof, and Gumati Cafe, which specializes in Sundanese cuisine. Meals will cost around Rp80,000.
Bogor is also known as the "City of Rain", due to its rainy season. To avoid the rains, travel between late May and September.
Soekarno-Hatta International Airport (CGK) is not far away. A bus from there will cost about Rp55,000 and taxis will charge around Rp350,000.
There are trains every 30 minutes from Jakarta, which cost just Rp2,000.
From Jakarta, take Highway 2. If you are coming from Bandung, take Highway 3, then Highway 11 towards Bogor.
DAMRI runs buses from Jakarta and Bandung to Bogor. Expect the journey from the capital to take between one and two hours.
Accommodation highlights include the Aston Bogor (which has its own paintball zone), and the slightly more secluded Hotel Novotel Bogor Golf Resort.
Jl Dewi Sartika - just west of the botanical gardens, this street is the best place to head for fine food and casual shopping.
Mulyaharja - an upscale area in southern Bogor, Mulyaharja is home to the Aston Hotel, as well as the huge Jungle Water Adventure water park.
Sukaraja - another wealthy area, this time in the eastern part of Bogor, Sukaraja hosts the city's finest golf course and has attractions of its own, like Gumati Waterpark.
Angkot minibuses cover pretty much all of Bogor, and single tickets cost just Rp3,500.
Taxis in Bogor will charge around Rp7,250 for the meter drop, followed by Rp7,500 for every mile.
Car rental services in Bogor include Merdeka Rent Car and Laduta, and you should find deals for as little as Rp40,000 per day.
The most fun places to shop in Bogor are the traditional market stalls in Sempur (north of the gardens), but there are also malls like Botani Square that offer international brands and good places to eat.
Supermarkets in Bogor include Robinson, Toko, and Prima Fresh. Expect to pay around Rp18,000 for 12 eggs.