From Wikitravel

Banda Aceh is the capital of the Indonesian province of Aceh on the island of Sumatra.

[edit] Understand

The long conflict between the Acehnese independence movement (GAM) and the Indonesian army (TNI) has been solved for the time being by the peace agreement on 15 August 2005. The peace process has been quite smooth since. On 11 December 2006 the province held its first direct and democratic local elections. On 8 February 2007 the first democratically elected Governor, Irwandi Yusuf, was inaugurated.

Around 150,000 people were killed in Banda Aceh in the Tsunami of 26 December 2004. Some parts of the city became permanently submerged. Many aid agencies have been present since then to help rebuild.

[edit] Get in

Foreigners no longer require a travel permit (surat jalan) to enter Aceh, but an Indonesian visa is required.

[edit] By plane

Three airlines fly daily between Banda Aceh and Medan, a one-hour trip. Jatayu Airlines and Adam Air make the loop from Medan every morning and charge 300,000Rp one-way. Garuda has three daily flights and charges 454,000Rp between Banda Aceh and Medan, and 1,400,000Rp to Jakarta. The Jakarta-Banda Aceh direct flight on Garuda takes 2 hrs 40 mins on a Boeing 737, although it is often changed to stopover at Medan without warning. SMAC Airlines flies daily from Medan to Nias Island and Simeulue Island. Air Asia also sells discount tickets on daily flights from Kuala Lumpur.

[edit][add listing] See

There is a boat which landed on top of some houses and is still there (see picture). Also the "tour of Tsunami-affected areas" is the standard introduction to the Tsunami and its after effects for those visiting the area.

[edit] Work

There are approximately 65 NGOs currently operating in Banda Aceh, however generally they do not recruit non-Indonesians locally. These NGos include various UN and EU agencies, USNS, Care, Americare, Islamic Relief, International Federation Of Red Cross and Red Crescent, Australian Red Cross, Turkish Red Crescent, Kuwaiti Red Crescent, French Red Cross, IMC, IOM, WHO, Japan International Cooperation System, Habitat, Medecins sans frontières, Japan Platform, USAID. AT the peak of the post-Tsunami aid effort there were 850 NGOs, however many of these were religious organisations with religious agendas and their permits were not extended by the Indonesian government.

[edit][add listing] Buy

[edit] Markets

There are interesting fish, meat and vegetable markets in the centre of town. There are also some small souvenir shops selling various local items.

[edit][add listing] Eat

The Acehnese breakfast staple is nasi gurih, rice cooked in coconut milk, sold in coffee shops everywhere. Food stalls and Padang restaurants are open across the undamaged part of town, and fruit carts are ubiquitous.

• Tropicana Seafood Restaurant, (Jl A Yani No 90-92, Peunayong). High quality Chinese restaurant.
• Imperial Kitchen, (Jl Teuku Umar). High quality Chinese restaurant.
• Country Steakhouse, (Jl Sri Ratu Safiatuddin 46D). Steaks, hamburgers, salads etc. western style food.
• Pace Bene, (Jl Sri Ratu Safiatuddin). Italian restaurant with open air dining.
• Banda Seafood Restaurant, (Jl Panglima Polem 125). Also offers fine chicken, meat and vegetable dishes. Near the Kartika Hotel.
• Warung Ibu Pocut, (Jl Nyak Adam Kamil IV 41-VII, near Kartika Hotel). In a traditional stilted wooden house with open sides, offers great local fare and a fresh breeze.
• Big Top (across the road from Warung Ibu Pocut). Chinese and Indonesian dishes.
• Putra Jaya (Jl Tgk Haji Abdullah Ujung Rimba No 14, off Jl Muhammad near Masjid Baiturrahman). Panang style dining in nice air-con atmosphere with some English-speaking waiters.
• Pizza House, (Jl Teuku Umar 21A-21B). Tasty but quite thick (and often spicy) pizzas and pastas. Some English-speaking waitresses. Also delivery.
• Niagara Cafe, (Jl Hasandek 8-9). Has every fruit juice imaginable and a satay stand outside.

The restaurant of the Swiss-Belhotel is presumably the best in town and offers nice dinner buffets as well as ala carte. The Sultan Hotel has a popular cafe, while the chef at the hotel’s Koetaradja Restaurant boldly tries his hand at a Sultan Burger. There are some nice coffee houses with soothing rice paddie views around Ulee Kareng, along Jl Tengku Iskander on the town’s western outskirts. There are two fast food restaurants in the centre, AW and KFC.

[edit][add listing] Drink

Drinking alcohol is not allowed. Coffee-drinking is the main activity.

[edit][add listing] Sleep

• Hermes Palace Hotel, the first international hotel and landmark hotel of Banda Aceh.
• Hotel Medan (in the centre) - one star hotel
• Hotel Sultan (in the centre) - two star hotel, around $30-40
• Pavilliun Seulawah (in the centre, Jl. Prof. A. Majid. Ibrahim II No. 3) - a good hotel, around $50. Wireless internet access (included), restaurant. Next to a park with sports possibilities.
• Swiss Bel-Hotel [1] (just outside the centre) - the only 4-star hotel in the city - rooms start at around USD90-100. Internet access (paid), fitness centre, swimming pool, restaurant. Beautiful decor.
• Oasis Hotel (just outside the centre) - more cozy than the Swiss Bell and the rooms are just as nice, with wireless internet in the lobby at around USD75 per night.

[edit] Stay safe

The Sharia police enforces Islamic law and does not permit the drinking of alcohol or relationships between Muslim locals and foreigners. Although both are possible, they may result in arrest by the Sharia police and a punishment of caning on the back for the Muslim party involved.

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