Bandar Lampung sits at the head of Lampung Bay on the southern tip of Sumatra, a working port and transport city that grew out of the twin settlements of Tanjungkarang and Telukbetung. It is the main gateway for travellers moving between Java and southern Sumatra, with air, road and rail connections and a steady flow of domestic business and transit visitors.
For a visitor, the city is easiest to read as a set of corridors rather than a single centre. Tanjung Karang is the heart of the city, and the main roads run between it and the port area of Teluk Betung, out to the northern districts and towards the airport in neighbouring South Lampung. This guide covers which areas make practical bases, what kind of accommodation you find in each, and how the choice changes depending on whether you are here for a first visit, on a budget, or looking for more comfort.
Best areas to stay in Bandar Lampung
1. Tanjung Karang (city centre, around Jalan Raden Intan)
Tanjung Karang is the heart of Bandar Lampung and the most practical base for a first visit. Jalan Raden Intan and the surrounding streets hold the densest cluster of places to stay in the city, ranging from simple budget addresses to mid-price hotels, alongside the markets and commercial streets of the centre. If you want to be within easy reach of the widest choice of accommodation and transport connections, this is the area to start with.
It suits first-time visitors and budget travellers in particular. The angkot minibus network radiates from Tanjung Karang to the rest of the city, with routes to Teluk Betung, Rajabasa, Sukarame, Langkapura and Garuntang, so you can reach other parts of Bandar Lampung cheaply without changing bases. Expect some traffic and street noise in the busiest parts of the centre.
2. Teluk Betung
Teluk Betung is the old port side of the city, on the bay to the south of Tanjung Karang. It is a separate settlement in character from the commercial centre, and the two are linked by a direct angkot route. Accommodation here is more limited and more spread out than in Tanjung Karang, with a mix of budget and mid-range places rather than a concentrated strip.
This area suits travellers who want to be nearer the port and the waterfront rather than in the middle of the city, or who have business on that side of Bandar Lampung. If your plans centre on the markets and transport links of Tanjung Karang, staying here means a short angkot ride each time you want to go into the centre.
3. Kedaton (around Jalan Teuku Umar)
Kedaton lies along Jalan Teuku Umar in the northern part of the city, next to a shopping mall, and is where you find some of the larger, more comfortable hotels in Bandar Lampung. This is the area to consider if you want modern facilities and a quieter, more residential setting than the city centre, with a mall and its food and retail options on the doorstep.
It suits travellers with a higher budget, couples and anyone who prefers a calmer base with easy access to shopping. The trade-off is distance: Kedaton is away from the historic centre and the port, so you rely on the angkot network or a taxi to reach the rest of the city.
4. Tanjungkarang Timur (Kamboja area)
Tanjungkarang Timur, east of the centre, includes a hillside area where some mid-range hotels sit above the surrounding rooftops. Staying on the hill gives you a wider view over the city and generally a quieter environment than the streets around Jalan Raden Intan, while still being within the Tanjung Karang side of Bandar Lampung.
It suits travellers who want mid-range comfort without moving out to the northern districts, and who do not mind being on slightly higher ground. If you are walking rather than taking angkot or taxis, the slope is worth factoring into your choice.
5. Rajabasa and Sukarame (northern districts)
Rajabasa and Sukarame are northern districts served by direct angkot routes from Tanjung Karang, and Sukarame is also on one of the bus rapid transit routes that connect the Rajabasa and Sukaraja corridors. These areas are more residential and are home to several of the city's universities, so the accommodation is oriented towards students, staff and longer stays rather than sightseeing.
They suit travellers who need to be near the universities or who are passing through on the northern side of the city. For a short visit focused on the centre and the port, they are less convenient, as each trip into town means a ride on the angkot network.
Where to stay on a budget, mid-range or splurge
- Budget: Simple hotels and guesthouses, often along Jalan Raden Intan in Tanjung Karang, with basic rooms and sometimes air conditioning and wifi. This is the widest and most central budget cluster in the city.
- Mid-range: Larger hotels in the centre, on the hillside at Tanjungkarang Timur, and in the Kedaton area, typically with a pool, restaurant and bar, air conditioning and wifi.
- Splurge: The most comfortable options are the large hotels in the Kedaton and northern part of the city, with the fullest range of facilities. Availability at this level is limited, so book ahead if you want it.
Best area for a first visit
Stay in Tanjung Karang, around Jalan Raden Intan, for a first visit. It is the heart of the city, it has the largest concentration of places to stay at every budget, and the angkot routes that connect the rest of Bandar Lampung start here. From this base you can reach Teluk Betung, the northern districts and the transport terminals without relocating.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get around Bandar Lampung from my accommodation?
The main local transport is the angkot, a privately operated minibus that runs cheaply between Tanjung Karang and the city's other areas, including Teluk Betung, Rajabasa, Sukarame, Langkapura and Garuntang. Bus rapid transit routes also serve the Rajabasa and Sukarame corridors.
Which area is best if I am arriving by train?
Tanjung Karang Station is the terminus of the railway from Palembang, and it sits in the Tanjung Karang side of the city. Basing yourself in the centre keeps you close to the station and to the angkot routes onward.
Where should I stay if I want a pool and a restaurant?
Look at the mid-range and larger hotels in the Kedaton area along Jalan Teuku Umar, in the city centre, and on the hillside at Tanjungkarang Timur. These are the parts of Bandar Lampung where hotels with pools, restaurants and bars are concentrated.
When is the rain heaviest?
Bandar Lampung has a tropical rainforest climate with rain throughout the year, and rainfall becomes noticeably heavier from November to April. If you are planning trips around the city, keep that period in mind when choosing how central your base needs to be.
Compare live prices for the areas above with the booking tools on this page before you decide where to base yourself.