Aceh · Indonesia
Where to stay in Banda Aceh
Banda Aceh is a city in Aceh, Indonesia, home to about 235,000 people.
- Nearest airport
- BTJ12 km · Sultan Iskandar Muda International Airport
- Currency
- IDRrupiah
- Time zone
- Asia/Jakarta
- Language
- Indonesian
About
About Banda Aceh
Banda Aceh ( BUN-duh-AH-cheh; Acehnese: Banda Acèh, Jawoe: بند اچيه) is the capital and largest city in the province of Aceh, Indonesia. It is located on the island of Sumatra and has an elevation of 35 metres (115 ft).
Around 150,000 people were killed in Banda Aceh in the Tsunami of 26 December 2004. Some parts of the city became permanently submerged. Many aid agencies have been present since then to help rebuild. The long conflict between the Acehnese independence movement (GAM) and the Indonesian army (TNI) was ended by the peace agreement of 2005. The peace process has been quite smooth since. In 2006 the province held its first direct and democratic local elections. In 2007 the first democratically elected Governor, Irwandi Yusuf, was inaugurated.
Wikipedia and Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Things to do
What to see and do in Banda Aceh
See
- Masjid Raya Baiturrahman/Grand Mosque
- Cut Nya Dien House
- Gunongan and Taman Putroe Phang
- Graveyard in Bitay Village
- The Aceh Museum
- Indonesian Airline Monument
- Kerkhof
- Ulee Lheue-Banda Aceh
- Aceh Culture & Tourism Agency
- Fisherman boat on an inhabitant house
- Floating Electric Generator Ship
- Tsunami Monument & Garden
Do
- Mountain Biking Cycling Hiking
- Banda Aceh city highlights tour on a Bicycle.
- Tour around on a Motorbike
- Island dropping
- Sulthanah Safiatuddin Park
- Aceh Culture Week
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Hotels in Banda Aceh
33 hotels within 25 km of the centre, as recorded in Wikidata. Each name links to its encyclopedia article where there is one.
| Hotel | Opened | From centre |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Nanggroe Hotel | 3.0 km | |
| Hermes Palace Hotel | 2006 | 0.1 km |
| The Pade Hotel Aceh Besar | 3.6 km | |
| Ayani Hotel Banda Aceh | 0.8 km | |
| Azana Oasis Hotel Aceh | 2.6 km | |
| Grand Arabia Hotel | 0.5 km | |
| Grand Emperom Hotel RedPartner RedDoorz | 3.6 km | |
| Guest House Lampriet RedPartner RedDoorz | 2.9 km | |
| Hermes Palace By BENCOOLEN | 3.0 km | |
| Hotel Grand Permata Hati | 0.8 km | |
| Kyriad Hotel Muraya Aceh | 2017 | 0.9 km |
| OYO 1569 Kupula Guest House OYO Rooms | 3.2 km | |
| OYO 1630 Hotel Syariah Ring Road OYO Rooms | 2.6 km | |
| OYO 2018 Ring Road Guest House Syariah OYO Rooms | 2.9 km | |
| OYO 2328 Lamnyong Syariah OYO Rooms | 5.2 km | |
| OYO 632 Hotel Mulana OYO Rooms | 1.3 km | |
| OYO 854 Ub Caisar Hotel OYO Rooms | 4.3 km | |
| OYO 884 Rumoh PMI Hotel OYO Rooms | 1.0 km | |
| RedDoorz Hostel Syariah @ Peunayong Banda Aceh RedDoorz | 0.8 km | |
| RedDoorz Plus Syariah @ Jalan Syiah Kuala Banda Aceh RedDoorz | 1.9 km | |
| RedDoorz Syariah @ Panglima Nyak Makam Aceh RedDoorz | 3.2 km | |
| RedDoorz Syariah @ Panglima Polem Aceh RedDoorz | 1.2 km | |
| RedDoorz Syariah near Baiturrahman Aceh RedDoorz | 2.2 km | |
| RedDoorz Syariah near Banda Aceh Convention Hall RedDoorz | 3.8 km | |
| RedDoorz Syariah near Museum Tsunami Aceh 2 RedDoorz | 1.6 km | |
| RedDoorz Syariah near RS Harapan Bunda Banda Aceh RedDoorz | 2.5 km | |
| RedDoorz Syariah near RSUD Zainoel Abidin Banda Aceh RedDoorz | 1.9 km | |
| RedDoorz Syariah near Simpang Surabaya Aceh RedDoorz | 1.8 km | |
| RedDoorz Syariah near Suzuya Mall Banda Aceh RedDoorz | 1.8 km | |
| RedDoorz Syariah near Universitas Serambi Mekkah RedDoorz | 2.9 km | |
| RedDoorz Syariah near Universitas Syiah Kuala Aceh RedDoorz | 4.4 km | |
| RedDoorz Syariah near Universitas Syiah Kuala Aceh 2 RedDoorz | 4.8 km | |
| SPOT ON 2134 Seunia Hotel OYO Rooms | 5.0 km |
All 33 hotels in Banda Aceh, with their history and operators
When to go
The best time to visit Banda Aceh
Banda Aceh has no month that is both mild and dry by the measure used here. December is the warmest month, with average highs of 32 °C; December is the wettest, with about 305 mm of rain.
Comfortable means average daytime high between 18 °C and 29 °C and under 80 mm of rain in the month. Averages for 1991–2020 over the surrounding area, a grid square about 50 km across, so a coast or a nearby mountain can make the town itself warmer or cooler. Data: CRU TS v4.10, Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia (Open Database License).
Getting there
Getting to Banda Aceh: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Sultan Iskandar Muda International Airport (BTJ), about 12 km from the city centre in a straight line.
Getting in
Foreigners no longer require a travel permit (Surat Jalan) to enter Aceh, but an Indonesian visa is required. It is possible to get a 30-day Visa-on-Arrival at Banda Aceh Airport. The embassy in Kuala Lumpur can sometimes process the visa in the same day if you complete all the paperwork before noon, though this is supposed to apply only to Malaysian residents. There are non-stop night buses, with travel times ranging from 9–13 hours from Medan to Banda Aceh. Major bus companies such as PMTOH, Pelangi, Kurnia and Pusaka have offices on Jl. Gajah Mada, Medan, or you can book on Redbus.
Getting around
The main methods of getting around are becak (motorbike taxis) and labi-labi (public minibus). Due to the sudden influx of money post-tsunami, locals got used to overcharging, but now prices are stable again. Example becak fares are: Airport - Grand Mosque: Rp 50,000; Bus Terminal - Grand Mosque: Rp 8,000; Grand Mosque - Penayong: Rp 5,000. Inside the city, generally Rp 10,000 should do it. One knowledgeable and friendly local becak driver is Little John.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
BTJ · Sultan Iskandar Muda International Airport
Local knowledge
Eating, drinking and staying safe in Banda Aceh
Eat
The Acehnese breakfast staple is nasi gurih, rice cooked in coconut milk, sold in coffee shops everywhere. Food stalls and Padang restaurants are open across the undamaged part of town, and fruit carts are ubiquitous.
Stay safe
As with all travelling common sense and a good attitude is all you need to get along in this small city. However there are some points to keep in mind. Although Banda Aceh is nowadays safer than most European cities it is still best to not go out alone after 22:00. Because Sharia law is enforced, drinking alcohol is not permitted, although it is still possible. Infractions upon the locally perceived interpretations of Sharia law may result in arrest by the Sharia police with physical punishment and public ridicule imposed upon an offending Muslim. Muslim women should normally wear headscarves in public areas. Western-style swimsuits are not advisable except in Sabang.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Questions
Banda Aceh: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Banda Aceh?
Banda Aceh has no month that is both mild and dry by the measure used here. December is the warmest month, with average highs of 32 °C; December is the wettest, with about 305 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Banda Aceh?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Sultan Iskandar Muda International Airport (BTJ), about 12 km from the city centre in a straight line.
What currency is used in Banda Aceh?
rupiah (IDR).
Nearby
Destinations near Banda Aceh
Sources: city facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia; airports from OurAirports; climate from CRU TS v4.10 (University of East Anglia Climatic Research Unit), 1991–2020 monthly means, 0.5° grid; places to stay, guest scores and amenities from each operator's own public pages. How this guide is made.