Summary of Mount Bromo Travel Guide
Watching the sunrise at the Mount Bromo volcano in Indonesia is easily one of the most amazing travel experiences in the world. You can even climb the crater and look directly into the smoking volcano!
Bromo can be visited on a road trip through East Java, along with other epic sights like the Ijen crater lake and giant waterfalls, or you can fly from Bali straight to Surabaya and visit Bromo on a day tour from there.
We’ve done it both ways, and would love to go again. Either way, the Bromo volcano is a bucket list item you shouldn’t miss on your journey through Southeast Asia.
This travel guide will explain how to go to Mount Bromo, what to see and do there, and everything else you need to know before you go!
Where Is Bromo?
Mount Bromo is an active volcano crater located in East Java, Indonesia.
It’s part of the Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park, where you can see a cluster of 5 incredible volcanoes (including Bromo), and Java’s highest mountain Semeru puffing out smoke in the background.
Bromo is located between the cities of Malang, Surabaya, and Probolinggo, and you can visit it from any of those places.
How To Visit Mount Bromo
The easiest way to visit Bromo is to fly to Malang or Surabaya and then arrange a day tour or a multi-day trip from there. If you’re in Bali, you can also do it in the opposite direction, starting overland from Bali and then ending at Malang or Surabaya.
Bali has direct flights to and from Surabaya (SUB) every day, and a one-way ticket can be as cheap as 700k Rupiah ($45 USD). You can shop for flights to Malang or Surabaya at Skyscanner.
Once you arrive in Malang or Surabaya, it’s easy to book a day tour to Bromo or plan everything yourself if you prefer. A full day tour is sufficient to see all the highlights of the park.
We generally like to do things without a tour; however, this is one case where I think the tour is a good idea because it’s much more convenient and includes extra activities like Jeep riding around the volcano. Since Bromo is a bucket list item, you want to ensure a memorable experience.
Where To Stay
In East Java, you have the option of basing yourself in Surabaya, Malang, Probolinggo, or right at Mount Bromo itself (Cemoro Lawang village).
Surabaya offers the most comfortable hotels since it’s a major city in Indonesia, and Malang has good options too. Probolinggo is smaller but offers a few decent hotel options.
Surabaya Hotels
Staying At Bromo
If you want to stay very close to the action, there are some hotels at Cemoro Lawang village right by Bromo, but they tend to be pretty basic and overpriced for what you receive.
Cemoro Lawang generally isn’t a fun place to stay, as it’s undeveloped and hasn’t caught up to the increasing tourism at Bromo yet. This may change in the future, but for now, most of the budget-friendly hotel options at Cemoro Lawang are quite basic.
Our top recommendations there would be Cahyo Homestay Bromo, Good Karma Guesthouse, or Guesthouse Gunung Bromo. Once more, don’t expect luxury.
You can see the highlights of the volcano in one full day tour; therefore, it’s not necessary to stay longer unless you’re a serious photographer or simply want more time exploring the area.
Best Things To Do At Mount Bromo
• Mount Bromo Sunrise
First things first — witness the famous sunrise at Mount Bromo!
Before you start exploring the mountain up close, you have to see the sunrise from the top of the caldera. Every tour package begins like this, and for good reason.
It’s probably one of the top places in the world to watch the sunrise. The colors are extraordinary, and on a clear day you can see all the way to Mount Argopuro in the east.
• Mount Bromo Volcanoes Viewpoint
The viewpoints on the north side of the caldera are where you can capture those iconic photos of the volcano cluster.
Your main options are Seruni Point, King Kong Hill, Bukit Perahu, Bukit Cinta, or the highest viewpoint Penanjakan. You can click each of these links for map coordinates.
To be honest, there is very little difference between these viewpoints; moreover, the only reason so many exist is to help space out the crowds at Bromo, which can be quite overwhelming (especially on weekends).
In other words, don’t worry about which viewpoint you choose — they’re all amazing, so just enjoy the breathtaking scenery! Photography here in the early morning is ideal because you’ll benefit from nice shadows and atmospheric fog around the base of the caldera.
• Sea of Sand
Following the sunrise, the next stop is the ‘sea of sand’ at the bottom of the caldera. The locals call it Lautan Pasir, which directly translates to the same thing in Bahasa Indonesia.
This is a really unique location, and you’ll need to pass through it anyway to reach the Bromo crater. You can explore the sea of sand by Jeep, horse, or motorbike.
It’s a fantastic photo opportunity with the steep ridges of the Mount Widodaren volcano in the background.
• Mount Bromo Crater Hike
Possibly the most incredible experience at the Bromo mountain complex is the hike to the top of the smoking volcano crater.
The full hike to the top of the crater, starting from the sea of sand, takes about 1 hour; however, you can shorten it by riding a horse partway.
The last segment of the hike must be done on foot; therefore, it’s a short but steep climb up a concrete stairway to the top of the crater. It’s not too challenging for non-hikers, and even children can manage it.
Exercise caution at the top because there isn’t much of a safety railing; moreover, on a windy day, it has strong sulfur fumes that can be difficult to breathe. In general, you can’t see red lava here, but you can peek directly into the smoking crater of the active volcano!
Is The Volcano Safe?
Mount Bromo is generally safe to visit; however, it’s wise to check the current status before you make plans. Otherwise, you may not get the full experience if part of the park is closed.
There were eruptions in 2010, 2015, and 2019. Typically, no one is hurt, and you can still enjoy great views from a distance, although they may close access to the Mount Bromo crater hike. During a 2004 eruption, two tourists were killed by falling rocks there.
Currently, the area is closely monitored and includes earthquake detectors underground to anticipate any major volcanic activity.
No one has been harmed by the volcano in almost 20 years; consequently, it attracts around 1 million visitors per year, so the overall safety record is quite good.
Entrance Fee
- Weekdays: 220k IDR (~$15 USD) / person / day
- Weekends: 320k IDR (~$21 USD) / person / day
These entrance fees for Mount Bromo are current as of 2024.
It’s quite pricey by Indonesian standards; therefore, I wish they would at least extend the duration of the tickets (like 3 days) so you could maximize your visit.
Weather / Climate — How Cold Is It?
Even though this is Indonesia, it can be quite chilly before sunrise since you’re 2,329 meters (7,641 ft) above sea level, and the sunrise viewpoints are even higher!
The elevation at the Penanjakan viewpoint reaches a remarkable 2,770 meters (9,088 ft). For Indonesia, that’s unusually high.
Temperatures can drop below 7 Celsius (45 F), and that doesn’t even consider wind chill. It can get incredibly windy on the mountain peaks, and dry season is cooler than rainy season.
Nevertheless, you’ll only be cold before sunrise. After that, it warms up pretty quickly, and the sun at this altitude is strong.
If you find yourself too cold at Mt. Bromo while waiting for sunrise, you can also rent a jacket from your hotel or a small local shop near the sunrise viewpoints.
What To Bring
- Jacket: Essential for sunrise as it can be quite chilly. After sunrise, you’ll likely want to take it off.
- Footwear: Regular shoes are suitable, but sturdy hiking shoes are advisable for the Mount Bromo hike. When going to the crater, you’ll be walking on slippery gravel and steep inclines.
- Sunglasses: Protect your eyes from sandstorms encountered in the sea of sand.
- Poncho: If visiting Bromo during the rainy season in Indonesia (especially December to February), consider bringing a rain jacket just in case.
- Snacks: While most tours include breakfast, it’s often minimal, so you may want energy snacks.
- Headlight: Useful for hiking before sunrise, particularly if you plan to trek to the crater on your own.
- Camera: Mandatory! A small tripod may also be handy since it will be dark before sunrise.
- Drone: So far, there aren’t any restrictions against flying a drone at Mount Bromo; however, it’s not advisable at the sunrise point due to crowds. Once you venture down to the Sea of Sand, there’s ample space to fly without disturbing others.
Best Month To Visit
There’s not really a best month to visit Mount Bromo, but visiting during the dry season is definitely ideal.
Indonesia’s dry season spans from April to November, and during this time there’s less rain, leading to the best visibility on the mountain. This applies to East Java as well.
You can still visit Bromo during the rainy season in East Java (December to March), but if it’s cloudy, you might miss the sunrise and the iconic view of the volcanoes; hence, it’s not ideal.
Nonetheless, both times we visited were technically near the end of the rainy season, and we experienced perfect weather; therefore, don’t completely dismiss this timeframe.
In general, avoiding the crowds at Mount Bromo is challenging because this destination has become a bucket list item for many travelers. It’s advisable to avoid weekends and public holidays when the park can become particularly busy.
If you want to witness an active volcano in Indonesia without the crowds, consider exploring Mount Dukono in North Maluku. This location is more remote than Bromo and requires a more challenging hike to reach, but it’s spectacular, and you might have it all to yourself!
Is Mount Bromo Open / Closed?
Yes, Mount Bromo is currently open for tourists as of 2024! This travel guide will be updated if anything changes.
The mountain is rarely closed to the public; this would only happen temporarily during special ceremonies, periods of unusual volcanic activity, or other safety concerns.
Mount Bromo will be briefly closed for Wulan Kapitu (January 9-10, 2024), Silent Day (March 11-12, 2024), and Yadnya Kasada (July 6-7, 2024), and once again for Wulan Kapitu (December dates TBA, 2024).
You can also refer to status updates for all of Indonesia’s volcanoes at Magma Indonesia.
Happy travels!
More Things To See Near Bromo
There are plenty of great attractions in East Java, Indonesia, including the spectacular Tumpak Sewu Waterfall and numerous other stunning waterfalls near Malang and Probolinggo.
After visiting Mt Bromo, most travelers typically continue on to Kawah Ijen, a breathtaking crater lake on the eastern end of Java island.
You could even contemplate climbing Mount Semeru, which is Java’s tallest mountain. This is the volcanic peak you see erupting in the distance behind Bromo.
Don’t forget to check out my 1-Week Java itinerary for more activities to consider in Central and East Java!
Mount Bromo vs Kawah Ijen: Which Is Better?
So which is better, Mount Bromo or Kawah Ijen? And if you only have time to experience one, which should it be? This isn’t an easy question to answer.
In my opinion, Bromo features a more stunning landscape, allowing you to gaze into a smoking volcano crater. The hiking is also easier compared to Ijen, and it’s closer to a major airport (Surabaya); however, the drive from the town is longer.
Conversely, Mount Ijen boasts the world’s largest acid lake, with a striking turquoise color, and you can see the ‘blue fire’ phenomenon if you visit at night. Additionally, Ijen is closer to Bali and nearer to a town (Banyuwangi).
Overall, it’s quite difficult to choose between Mount Bromo and Kawah Ijen. I lean toward Bromo as my favorite, but that’s just my perspective; I’m sure many people would disagree with me. If you have the opportunity, definitely aim to see both locations during your time in East Java!
Read More: Kawah Ijen Volcano
More Indonesia Travel Guides
Thank you for reading! I hope you found this travel guide for Mount Bromo useful. Witnessing the sunrise over this volcano is one of our favorite experiences in East Java, Indonesia.
Don’t forget to explore my other travel guides for additional tips, information, and photos!
