Bandung's Gift of Relaxation

Looking to relax those tense muscles after a whole week’s worth of routines and want to blow off some steam both literally and figuratively? Then Ciater’s hot spring is just the right choice of getaway that you need.

This natural mineral spring just north of Bandung is a really good choice when it comes to a vacation, both with your colleagues or if you are planning to bring the kids, too. Being one of the most visited tourist attractions besides Tangkuban Perahu, the hot water spring complex is not only offering you an amazing hot bath experience that is believed to cure illnesses, but also is providing another means of entertainment, including a tennis court, a golf course, and more.

Destination Information

Location – The hot spring of Ciater is located near the Tangkuban Perahu Mountain just north of the city of Bandung. It is also strategically located on the borders of Bandung and Subang which is crowded, so it is not going to be hard to find your way around.

Operational Hours

The Ciater hot spring is open everyday for 24 hours.

Fees

Entrance Ticket : IDR 15,000 – IDR 20,000 (prices may vary depends on the season)

Hot Spring Entrance Fee : IDR 80,000

Simple Hot Spring Entrance Fee : IDR 20,000 – IDR 55,000 (prices may vary depends on the facilities used)

How To Get There

Because this hot spring attracts many tourists from all over the land, getting here is not going to be a problem, because it is quite easy if you are going to get to Ciater from Bandung. It is located strategically between few other attractions, such as Tangkuban Perahu Mountain which is only have 7 kilometers in distance, and it is also relatively near Lembang, with only 15 kilometers in distance.

Driving to Ciater from Bandung is going to take you appoximately 30 minutes to 1 hour maximum, and it is quite easy to get there, and it is also accessible from Jakarta-Cikampek toll road which is going to take you about 2 and a half hours to drive on, and from there, there will be a lot of signs that will assist you to get to Ciater.

If you are planning to go with public transportation, it is recommended that you get to Bandung first. From the city of Bandung, you can opt to go through the Ledeng Terminal and then catch an angkot that will take you to the Lembang Terminal where you will board the Lembang – Subang carrier that will take you to the main entrance of the hot spring complex, or you can just find the angkot with Bandung – Subang as its destinations and it will take you directly to the main entrance, although it is quite hard to find the angkot or carrier with that direction.



Accommodation

Because it is not a rare occasion that this mineral spring be flooded by tourists, it is quite easy to find places to stay within a wide range of prices. And because it is located quite near to the Tangkuban Perahu Mountain which contains many campsites, it is also an intriguing choice for you, to get in touch with your adventurous side.

The Sari Ater Hotel is the most feasible choice if you are traveling to this area, because it is famous for its service, its ambience and its facilities that the hotel provide. The Sari Ater hotel is only 5 minutes brisk walk away from the hot spring complex, and if you don’t feel quite like walking, there is also an internal hot spring that is being fed by the same crater of Tangkuban Perahu Mountain.

For further information on the Sari Ater hotel, you can visit here.

Another good choice if you are planning to move around Lembang within a good reach from your hotel is Grand Paradise Hotel Lembang. With prices starting from IDR 350,000 you will get services and facilities that is good, and it provides an easy access to several other tourist attractions such as Boscha Observatorium, Maribaya Park, and Floating Market, and you can check out prices and more here.

As usual, Airbnb is still a good choice if you want to explore more price ranges with a host that is easier to engage and if you are looking for a more homey type of stay. Here are our recommendations which you can see here and here.

Ambience

The ambience of this place is unique, yet so refreshing – the mixture of the cool breeze of the hills of Bandung combined with the sense of peace obtained when you dip yourself to the hot spring bath – it really is a huge win for your body as it is relaxing comfortably.

Cuisines

The locals around the hot spring complex are usually opening a food stalls here and there which sell various local delicacies such as bandrek and bajigur, corn on the cob, and rabbit satay. The last options seems uncanny – but it is undoubtedly delicious, with peanut sauce and sambal terasi to accompany it, the unusual food is indeed mouth watering.

If you are looking to bring home a local specialty, don’t forget to come by the local stalls to purchase local-grown pineapples. It is known that the pineapples sold in this area is different and more delicious than in any other part of the land.

Best Time To Visit

Just like Tangkuban Perahu, it is quite tricky if you want to have a nice,quiet holiday as it is usually very crowded during peak hours of 09.00 a.m. to around noon, and the number of tourists is usually start to decrease around 01.00 p.m but it will be less enjoyable to bathe around afternoon. So it is up to you, whether to catch the silence of the morning or if you are willing to share your time with fellow tourists.

Nearest Tourist Attraction

As we mentioned before, Ciater hot spring complex is located strategically in between several other attractions and it is quite easy to get around by car or by motorcycle to those destinations. We are not going to include Tangkuban Perahu Mountain because we have a whole article dedicated for it, but it is one of the nearby destinations you can go to.

1. Observatorium Bosscha

This is one of the landmarks that vibrates education and fascination at the same time, and it will definitely be one of the unique destinations you can enjoy while in the area. You can observe the mystery of the sky, learn astrology, and have a good time at the same time, and it will definitely be worth your while.

The official website for this attraction can be accessed here.

2. Maribaya Park

Maribaya Park (Taman Maribaya) is one of the most visited destinations there is in Lembang, with a natural flair that is unmatched by any other park in mind, and it is legendarily visited as the favorite destinations in the 70’s in accordance of its beauty. Bordered by the Juanda National Park, it has been renovated quite recently and it is now one of the places with the best hiking routes available.

You can find out more about this destination here.

3. Lembang Floating Market

Also in this list, one of the quite recent boom of travel destination, this floating market is located not far from the attractions listed above, and it is offering something fresh and different from the usual market that you visit. You can enjoy the scene, and there are packages of tour and meals provided.

And, here is theofficial website of Lembang Floating Market.

Top Tips

Here are a few useful tips to be considered for your future trip to Ciater hot spring :

1. Be early or be considerate. It is quite impossible for this place to be quiet, so if you need to bathe in private, you should come really early, or you have to deal with the other tourists, which is not comfortable for some of us.

2. Find a place to stay that is in the middle of every destination. It is recommended that you find a place that can accommodate every part of your trip nicely, as there are a lot of destinations to explore around Ciater such as Lembang and Tangkuban Perahu. Make sure you don’t have to endure a long trip to each and every one of there destinations.

3. Enjoy Bandung at its finest. The northern Bandung area is full of wonders as we mentioned above a lot of times, and it is going to be a shame if you cannot enjoy it all in one trip. Plan an itinerary to schedule your trip completely.

Img header credit: el_goretto

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