Walking Tours in Malang: Three City Routes

Three Routes, Three Moods

Malang’s centre is flat and compact, and the heritage quarters repay a slow walk. The routes below are short, each takes two or three hours with stops, and none needs a mountain climb. Start before 10:00 to keep the heat off, and carry water and small notes in rupiah for entry gates and snacks.

Route 1: Kayutangan and the Colonial Core

About 2.5 km, 2 to 3 hours, flat.

  1. Begin at Alun-Alun Tugu and look over the lotus pond and the 1927 City Hall.
  2. Walk west along Jl. Majapahit and cross the Brantas River bridge.
  3. Turn south on Jl. Jenderal Basuki Rahmat, the Kayutangan Heritage street, with restored Dutch shophouses and old signboards.
  4. Stop at Toko Oen, at No. 5, for homemade ice cream (tokooenmalang.com ).
  5. Wander the alleys of Kampung Kayutangan, where houses from 1870 to 1920 keep their gables and patterned floor tiles.
  6. Continue south to Alun-Alun Merdeka for the shaded gardens, Masjid Jami’ Malang and the 1905 Church of the Sacred Heart.
  7. Finish with traditional snacks at Pasar Besar, or lunch at Rawon Nguling on Jl. Zainul Arifin.

Route 2: Jalan Ijen

About 2 km, 1.5 to 2 hours.

Begin at the Taman Balapan roundabout at the northern end of Jl. Ijen and walk south along the wide sidewalks under royal palms. The villas date from the 1930s and follow Karsten’s plan. Pause at Katedral Ijen, at Jl. Ijen No. 2, for its brickwork and stained glass. Continue to Museum Brawijaya at Jl. Ijen No. 25A, where an outdoor artillery park surrounds the Gerbong Maut, a rail wagon that carried prisoners in 1947. The museum charges an entry fee of about Rp 10,000 to 25,000.

The best time is Sunday from 05:30 to 09:00, when Car Free Day closes the boulevard to traffic and food stalls line the route. On other days the sidewalks are quiet and shaded.

Route 3: The Riverside Kampungs

About 1.5 km, 1.5 to 2 hours, with stairs and cobbled paths.

  1. Start on the south side of the Gatot Subroto Bridge, known as Jembatan Buk Gluduk. From its walkway you can photograph the coloured rooftops above the railway viaduct.
  2. Go down the stairs into Kampung Warna-Warni Jodipan, where the alleys and steps are painted. Entry is about Rp 5,000.
  3. Cross the Jembatan Kaca Ngalam Indonesia, a yellow glass-bottomed bridge above the Brantas River.
  4. Enter Kampung Tridi, where 3D murals cover house walls. It charges a separate fee when entered from Jodipan.
  5. Kampung Biru Arema, a blue-painted kampung in Kiduldalem, is about 500 m from the station. Reach it by a short walk or ride, as there is no continuous alley link. Entry is free or about Rp 2,500.

Wear shoes with good grip, because the concrete stairs and steep ramps are slippery after rain. People live in these kampungs, so keep your camera away from open doorways.

Walking Tips

  • Malang is cool in the evening and warm by day, from about 24 to 29 degrees C. Rainy season runs from November to April, with heavy afternoon showers.
  • Angkot minibuses, in blue, run fixed routes for about Rp 5,000 a ride and help with tired legs between routes.
  • Batu’s attractions are 15 to 20 km uphill, so they belong on a separate trip rather than a walking day.
  • A free city bus, Bus Macito, passes many of these streets. It does not stop, but it makes a good preview. Book a seat in the Macito app.

Read more: Sightseeing in Malang for the history behind these places, or solo activities for more things to do alone.

For a guided option, see Malang walking tours on GetYourGuide .