Cirebon, A Must Visit Budget Friendly City in Indonesia
This article was also featured in Jakarta Post Travel "Five must-visit budget-friendly cities" on August 20, 2014, compiled and edited by Novani Nugrahani.
Cirebon is known as the “city of shrimp” due to its large shrimp industry. It is also on the list of budget-friendly cities, nominated by Awan Yulianto, an avid traveler behind travelawan.com.
Only a three-hour journey from Jakarta, you will be entranced by the beautiful view of green paddy fields as well as the sight of Mount Ciremai standing not far from Cirebon.
Cirebon has a unique culture thanks to its location on the border between West and Central Java, as well as on the north coast of the island. “Much of its old architecture was influenced by Sundanese and Javanese styles, as well as Chinese and Islamic styles,” Awan said.
Cirebon’s must-visit spots include the Kasepuhan Palace, the oldest palace in Cirebon, built in 1447. If you have more time, you could also visit the Kanoman Palace and the Kacirebonan Palace.
For food lovers, delicious traditional food is available across the city. Empal Gentong (spicy currylike beef soup), Nasi Jamblang (white rice with various side dishes like beef stew, boiled egg and tofu served on teak leaves), Nasi Lengko (white rice mixed with fried tofu, fried tempeh, bean sprouts and cut chive leaves. all drenched in peanut sauce) and Tahu Gejrot (small cut fried tofu covered in spicy marinated sauce) are just some of the popular traditional dishes that you can try in Cirebon.
Before heading home, don't forget to stop by the Batik Trusmi village for a cheap batik shopping spree. “Cirebon's batik is different from that you would find in Yogyakarta and Surakarta because of its bright color and different patterns,” Awan explained.
What’s more, all the batik fabrics displayed at Trusmi village are usually sold directly from the batik artisans, which means you can happily shop there and bring home batik at a reasonable price.
*** Cirebon Culinary Experience
Nasi Jamblang Mang Dul Jln. Cipto Mangunkusumo No. 4, Cirebon 45132 (Across Grage Mall) Open Daily: 4 am – 3 pm and 5 pm – 12 am Tel: (0231) 206 564
Nasi Jamblang Ibu Nur Jln. Cangkring II No. 34 (enter from Jalan Raya Tentara Pelajar) Open Daily: 7 am - 10 pm Twitter: @nasjamIbuNur
Empal Gentong & Empal Asem H. Apud Jln. Ir. H. Juanda No. 24 Battembat Plered, Cirebon Tel: (0231) 211 055 / 0821 1533 7650
Empal Gentong Mang Darma (Original) Jln. Slamet Riyadi, Krucuk, Cirebon (Just beside BTN Bank - the only one in Cirebon) Open Daily from 7.30 am Tel: 0812 2217 7017
Empal Gentong Rasa Jln. Tuparev No. 17 (In front of police station - Polsek Utara Barat) Tel: (0231) 237 029 / 0812 2213 4427
Nasi Lengko Pagongan Pak H. Barno Jln. Pagongan (across Yamaha Music) Open Daily - morning until 9 pm
*** Cirebon Budget Hotel
Hotel Amaris Cirebon Jln. Siliwangi No.70, Cirebon, Jawa Barat Tel: (62-231) 829 0066 Fax: (62-231) 829 0060 Website: amarishotel.com/amaris-cirebon
Hotel Sidodadi Jln. Siliwangi 72, Cirebon 45124 Tel: 62 231 202305 - 208639 Fax: 62 231 210023 Website: sidodadihotel.com
Hotel Slamet Jln. Siliwangi No. 95, Cirebon Tel: (0231) 203 296 / 200 324
