Banda Aceh Travel Guide, Indonesia

Compare Hotel Room Rates from different Booking Sites

Danau Laut Tawar, Takengon, Aceh Tengah
Author: Asep Mulyadi (Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic)

Banda Aceh is a city on the northern tip of Sumatra. It is the capital and largest city in Aceh Province, Indonesia. The city, which was originally known as Kutaraja, meaning "king's city" is now called Banda Aceh, meaning "Port Aceh," partly because it was the traditional port for departures for Haj pilgrimages.

Guide to Banda Aceh Hotels

It's never easy finding the hotel that's just right for your stay. Still, by taking a little time to do your research, you increase your chance of getting a good hotel at the best price. Go through the list of hotels in Banda Aceh which we've put together, with full description, star rating, address, location map and evaluation. Pick the hotel of your choice and view the rates offered by different booking sites. Yes, we show you prices from different websites, so you don't have to visit them one by one.

Rumah Aceh, a replica of a traditional Acehnese house
Author: Si Gam Acèh (Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported)

Banda Aceh came to international attention when it was devastated by the 26 December 2004 Indian Ocean Earthquake, which caused the death of some 167,000 people within northern Sumatra alone. Much of the city has now been rebuilt, making it look like the newest city in Indonesia.

Budget Travel to Banda Aceh

Budget travelers can now fly AirAsia from Kuala Lumpur and Firefly from Penang. You can also fly Garuda from Jakarta and Medan.

Budget Travel within Banda Aceh

The main mode of transportation are the becak (motorcycle taxis and trishaws) and labi-labi (minivans). A trip within Banda Aceh should cost you in the region of Rp.8,000 to Rp. 15,000. A trip from airport to Banda Aceh should be around Rp. 40,000.

Mosque at Meulaboh Village, northern Sumatra, after the tsunami
Author: U.S. Navy (public domain)

Tools

Places of Interest in Banda Aceh

Cut Nya Dien House
Former home of Indonesia's heroine Cut Nyak Dien.
Desa Lampulo Boat On House
A boat carrying 59 people that was carried by the tsunami and deposited on a house. All on board survived.
Gunongan
A whimsical structure erected by Sultan Iskandar Muda (1607-1636) as the bathing place for his wife Putro Phang.
Kerkhof
War memorial cemetery to 2,000 Dutch soldiers.
Masjid Raya Baiturrahman
The grand mosque at the very heart of Banda Aceh.
Museum Aceh
Museum showcasing the cultural history of the region, with displays of ceramics, weaponry, attire, jewelry and calligraphy, among others.
Teungku di Bitay's Grave
Grave of an Achenese Muslim saint.
Tsunami Monument
Monument beside a 2,600 ton vessel that was swept 2 km inland.
Ulee Lheue
Ground zero of the Tsunami, the shore line facing the Straits of Malacca where the tsunami approached.