10 Best Things To Do In Banda Aceh, Indonesia

1. Enjoy an afternoon coffee at the famous Warung Kopi Solong

Coffee is one of many things that Banda Aceh is famous for, and people would order coffee beans from Aceh for personal use or for their coffeeshop businesses. Some of them would even travel all the way to Banda Aceh to visit the most popular coffee place, Warung Kopi Solong. Its actual name is Warung Kopi Jasa Ayah. The name, “Solong”, came from the nickname of its current owner’s father that was given by the Chinese man the father was working for. Warung Kopi Solong is very popular among locals and travellers. Some say that you haven’t officially been to Banda Aceh if you’re not visiting Warung Kopi Solong.

Warung Kopi Solong

Address: Jl. Teuku Iskandar No. 13 - 14, Banda Aceh

Opening hours: 6am - 11pm (daily)

2. Learn more about the darkest day at Aceh Tsunami Museum

This museum remembers the most haunting incident in Banda Aceh that happened early one morning in 2004. Today, as Banda Aceh stands proudly on their feet, they’ve never forgetten that unfortunate day and those who have left them. Aceh Tsunami Museum was built to commemorate the incident and how Banda Aceh managed to recover from that day with strength. The museum was built by the current West Java governor, Ridwan Kamil, in 2009, and inside, you could feel the ambience of the day when the tsunami hit through the museum’s displays. Also, to represent hope, the museum walls hold images of Saman dancers and names of the victims along. Interestingly, the museum was not only built as the place to learn from what happened, but it was also prepared to be a shelter.

Aceh Tsunami Museum

Address: Jalan Sultan Iskandar Muda No. 3 Banda Aceh

Website: Aceh Tsunami Museum

Opening hours: 9am - 4pm (daily)

Price: From 0.70 USD

3. Stop by PLTD Apung 1

PLTD Apung 1 is another historical place that commemorates the tsunami incident in Banda Aceh, with a devastating story behind it. PLTD 1 Apung was a floating vessel that generated electricity from diesel and it was initially moored on the ocean. When the tsunami came, PLTD 1 Apung was swept to land, around 2 miles (3 kilometres) away from its located initially and landed in the city. Stories have it that the vessel was actually fallen on some houses, burying the residents and practically making the site as a graveyard as well.

PLTD Apung 1

Address: Punge Blang Cut, Jaya Baru, Banda Aceh

Opening hours: Mon: 9am - 12pm, 1:45pm - 5:30pm; Tue - Thu: 9am - 12pm, 2pm - 5:30pm; Fri: 9am - 12pm, 2pm - 5pm; Sat - Sun: 9am - 12pm, 2pm - 5:30pm

4. Delve into history at Museum Aceh

It’s one of the oldest museums in Indonesia and here you can learn more about its culture. The museum displays artifacts of many kinds that could give you insight into the history of the city and people. Here you can find archaeological artifacts, ancient paintings, old manuscripts, and even samples of minerals and stones that can be found in Banda Aceh. The museum took the design of Aceh’s traditional house, Rumoh Aceh, a stage house that entirely made of wood. Outside the museum’s main building, there’s Cakra Donya bell, a bell gifted to the Sultanate of Aceh from Admiral Cheng Ho.

Museum Aceh

Address: Jl. Sultan Mahmudsyah No.10, Peuniti, Kec. Baiturrahman, Kota Banda Aceh

Website: Museum Aceh

Opening hours: Tue - Sun: 8:30am - 12pm, 2pm - 4:15pm (closed on Mon)

Price: 0.40 USD

5. Spend a day at Gunongan Historical Park

Sultan Iskandar Muda originally built Gunongan Park for his wife, the princess of Pahang, to have a personal place to play. Several buildings can be admired inside the park walls and Pintu Biram Indera Bangsa, the main gate, surrounds the garden. There’s also a mosque, Isyqi Musyahadah, and several pavilions (Balai Cermin Perang, Balai Keemasan, Balai Kumbang Caya, and Balai Rekaan Cina). You will also find a magnificent fountain inside the garden that is shaped like two dragons.

Gunongan Historical Park

Address: Jl. Merapi No.37, Sukaramai, Kec. Baiturrahman, Banda Aceh

Opening hours: 8am - 6pm (daily)

6. Visit the largest Dutch soldier cemetery outside the Netherlands at Kerkhof Peucut

Being a nation that was once colonised by the Dutch, you can find many cemeteries dedicated to their fallen soldiers spread all over Indonesia, including in Banda Aceh. Record said that around 2,000 soldiers are buried at Kerkhof Peucut, making it the biggest historical cemetery complex outside of the Netherlands. This fact also makes this place an interesting tourist attraction.

Kerkhof Peucut

Address: Sukaramai, Baiturrahman, Banda Aceh

Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)

7. Sample tasty local snacks at Pasar Malam Rek

When it’s time to go for a night adventure in Banda Aceh, then you should visit Pasar Malam Rek, the vibrant popular street food market that provides delicious treats with friendly prices for locals and tourists. Stroll along the stalls in the market and choose the snacks that catch your eyes, and it’s guaranteed you will be craving for more on the next day.

Pasar Malam Rek

Address: Junction of Jl Ahmad Yani and Jl Khairil Anwar

Opening hours: 5am - 10pm (daily)

8. Feel the graceful ambience of Baiturrahman Grand Mosque

This mosque is famous for being one of the very few ones that survived the 2004 tsunami in Banda Aceh, and since then, Baiturrahman Grand Mosque has been the symbolism of hope, strength, faith, and many more for the people. It was designed by Gerrit Bruins, a Dutch architect, and was built in 1612 with the name Masjid Raya. In 1879, the Dutch rebuilt it, and renamed it as Baiturrahman Grand Mosque, as a gesture of kindness for the locals. Later, through 1935 to 1982, two more domes and minarets to the mosque, making it a majestic mosque with its iconic three magnificent pillars.

Baiturrahman Grand Mosque

Address: Jl. Moh. Jam No.1, Kp. Baru, Kec. Baiturrahman, Banda Aceh

Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)

9. Have a solemn afternoon by visiting Siron Tsunami Memorial Park

This is the memorial park for the casualties of the tsunami that happened back in 2004. More than 45,000 unidentified victims are buried here. The atmosphere of the site is surreal and eerily peaceful, and it could give you broader insight on what happened on that unfortunate day.

Siron Tsunami Memorial Park

Address: Siron, Ingin Jaya, Aceh Besar Regency, Banda Aceh

Opening hours: 8am - 6pm (daily)

10. See the iconic Clock Tower

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

This is a famous landmark in Banda Aceh which many travellers would visit and take a photo of the tower. They say that on the day the major tsunami incident happened, the time on the clock stopped just before 8 in the morning when it happened.

A city rising from a dark history

Although there is much news that could make you frown about Banda Aceh, there’s much to discover and learn about it. Of course, you would find gloomy landmarks and monuments around the city that would remind you of the disastrous day in 2004, but there are also lively and vibrant places that could lift your mood during your visit. We hope our article could help you with potential attractions that will catch your interest in Banda Aceh, and you can book your flight and hotels there soon for your next adventure!