Bandung to Garut

Garut is the natural weekend escape from Bandung: a highland town in a volcanic basin, with hot springs, the Papandayan crater and cooler air. Since the Cibatu–Garut branch reopened to passengers in March 2022 after almost forty years, you can do the whole trip by rail.

Your options:

Papandayan — the long-distance train from Jakarta Gambir calls at Bandung station mid-morning and reaches Garut a little over two hours later. It carries eksekutif, premium ekonomi and a Panoramic car with a glass roof, and it is the most comfortable way to make the trip.

Cikuray — the subsidised ekonomi train from Jakarta Pasar Senen also calls at Bandung and Kiaracondong on its way to Garut. Its Jakarta departure is in the evening, so it reaches Bandung late and Garut later still; useful mainly if you want to arrive the night before.

Commuter Line Garut — the local train operated by KAI Commuter, running between Purwakarta and Garut through Padalarang, Cimahi, Bandung, Kiaracondong, Cicalengka, Nagreg and Cibatu. It stops everywhere and is slower, but it is very cheap. Services are few, so check the day's timetable before you rely on it.

The ride: east of Cicalengka the line climbs over the Nagreg pass, then runs down via Cibatu onto the reopened branch through the rice fields of Leles and Kadungora into Garut. It is short enough to sit at the window the whole way.

Station tip: long-distance trains are booked in Access by KAI; check whether yours calls at Bandung or Kiaracondong, which are a few kilometres apart. For the way back see Garut to Bandung; for the full journey from the capital see Jakarta to Garut, and for the return to Jakarta see Garut to Jakarta.