Malang Activities: Bakso, Toko Oen, Kampungs
Advisory, October 2026: Bromo and Semeru country is more restricted than usual this year. Fires shut Mount Bromo repeatedly from August to October, with four firefighters and volunteers killed on 15 October at Bukit Kembang, and the Jemplang gate on the Malang side may be closed on a given day. Bromo is on volcano alert Level II (stay 1 km from the crater) and Semeru on Level III with its summit trail shut. If you plan to leave the city, read the national park’s notices at bromotenggersemeru.id and check PVMBG’s alert levels first. The city, Batu and the surrounding towns carry no such restrictions.
What to Expect
Malang sits in a highland basin at about 450 to 500 m, with warm days and cool nights. Indonesian rupiah (Rp) is the only currency in use, and cash matters for stalls, minibuses, parking and kampung gates. QRIS code payment works in many cafes and shops.
The Short List
| Activity | Where | Cost and hours |
|---|---|---|
| Bakso at Bakso Presiden | Jl. Batanghari No. 5 | Plain bowl about Rp 20,000 to 25,000, open about 08:00 to 21:30 |
| Ice cream at Toko Oen | Jl. Jenderal Basuki Rahmat No. 5 | Menu prices vary, check hours |
| Kampung Warna-Warni Jodipan | Under Gatot Subroto bridge | About Rp 5,000, 07:00 to 17:00 |
| Pasar Splendid | Jl. Brawijaya and Jl. Majapahit | Free, 07:00 to 17:00 |
| Kopi Lonceng | Jl. Kyai Tamin No. 62 | About 09:00 to midnight, Sundays from 16:00 |
| Bus Macito | Stadion Gajayana or Tarekot | Free, about 40 minutes |
Eating in Malang
Bakso Presiden has operated since 1977 opposite the tracks at Malang Kotabaru station, and trains pass as you slurp. Meatballs, fried meatballs, tofu, fried wontons and siomay come in one bowl. Beyond bakso, look for rawon (black beef soup), orem-orem (tempeh in coconut broth) and cwie mie (noodles with minced chicken and wonton crackers). Toko Oen, open since 1930, is a colonial-style tea room famous for homemade ice cream, and its website is tokooenmalang.com .
Painted Kampungs
In 2016 students from Universitas Muhammadiyah Malang covered an informal riverside settlement in colour, and it became Kampung Warna-Warni Jodipan. A yellow glass-bottomed footbridge, the Jembatan Kaca Ngalam Indonesia, crosses the Brantas River to Kampung Tridi, where 3D murals fill the walls. Tridi has its own entry fee. Motorbike parking was about Rp 2,000 and car parking about Rp 5,000 at last report. Residents live in these lanes, so ask before photographing a doorway.
Markets and Coffee
Pasar Splendid combines a flower market and a songbird market. The plant terraces are shaded and easy to enjoy, while the caged-bird stalls may upset some visitors. Kopi Lonceng is a coffee house near Pasar Besar.
A Free Bus Ride
Bus Macito, run by the city tourism office since January 2025, is free and runs on a booking system. Reserve in the Macito app up to two weeks ahead and scan the QR code when you board. The bus slows past colonial streets rather than stopping. Weekday trips have left from Stadion Gajayana and weekend trips from Tarekot, but read the app for the current timetable.
Leaving the City
Batu’s theme parks and Selecta gardens are in a separate city 15 to 20 km uphill. Bromo and Tumpak Sewu are long trips from Malang. See the day trips page for routes, prices and closure warnings. Malang’s airport serves domestic routes only, while foreign visitors fly into Surabaya.
Read more: Sightseeing in Malang for heritage squares and temples.
Looking for a guide? Try Malang experiences on Viator .