Banyuwangi – Coast, Culture and Nature

When looking for a hotel in Banyuwangi, it is worth distinguishing between the area around the town and the wider Banyuwangi destination. Pantai Boom is close to the town center; other cultural and nature-related attractions belong to the wider destination. First consider which of these priorities matter to your trip.

Pantai Boom and the surrounding area

Near Banyuwangi, Pantai Boom combines relaxation, activity, and coastal scenery. The Jembatan Lorong Waktu at Pantai Boom stretches out toward the sea. With its modern design, it is a popular photo spot. The grounds include green spaces for relaxing and sports activities, as well as pedestrian areas for walks. Rental bicycles make it possible to ride around the tourism area; if you are planning to do so, check current availability.

Pantai Boom Banyuwangi is close to the town center and accessible by private vehicle and public transport. The site also has a former port function: fishermen used to dock there, and a fish auction area once served as a center for selling their catch. Its present-day use and port history offer different perspectives on the same place.

A 2023 festival report describes Petik Laut as a tradition at Pantai Seranite, Kampung Mandar, Kecamatan Banyuwangi. If you would like to plan your trip around this event, check the dates for the specific occasion.

Culture across the wider Banyuwangi destination

Across the wider Banyuwangi destination, Gandrung Sewu is a festival with a long history: it has been held in Banyuwangi Regency since 2012 and has been part of the Kharisma Event Nusantara program since 2023. At Taman Blambangan, cultural performances take place every evening as part of “Banyuwangi Culture Everyday,” a program organized by the Banyuwangi Tourism Office. As the program may change, check the latest information before visiting.

Desa Wisata Adat Osing Kemiren preserves the customs, language, and traditional arts of the Osing community. Experiences offered there also include traditional coffee preparation: visitors can learn how the beans are pounded, roasted, and sifted before the coffee is served. Traditionally, the beans are roasted in a pan over a clay stove. Ask local hosts whether the learning experience is available.

Gedhogan is also associated with Kemiren. During the harvest season, women perform this tradition by striking mortars and pestles, accompanied by angklung and drums. If you would like to see a performance, ask locally when one will take place. The Hindu temple Pura Giri Selokah is also located in Alas Purwo National Park. The temple draws many pilgrims, especially during Pagerwesi, a sacred Hindu ritual.

Landscapes and activities in Banyuwangi

The wider Banyuwangi destination includes a variety of landscapes. Teluk Hijau, also known as Green Bay, is located in Taman Nasional Meru Betiri near Sarongan, Kecamatan Pesanggaran. The bay has clear greenish water and is surrounded by rocky cliffs and well-preserved tropical forest. Pantai Pulau Merah in Desa Sumberagung, Kecamatan Pesanggaran, is known for a small red-sand hill near the shoreline.

Pantai Plengkung, also known as G-Land, offers a different focus: the beach lies within the Alas Purwo National Park area in Kecamatan Tegaldlimo and has large waves for challenging surfing. Sea conditions vary. In Alas Purwo National Park, mangroves, savannas, tropical lowland monsoon forests, and coral-fringed beaches come together. Thousands of migratory birds visit the park’s forests every year; sea turtles come to its remote beaches to lay their eggs.

There are two different points of reference for Ijen: a 3 km route leads from Paltuding Post to the edge of the Ijen caldera. Visitors can walk along the crater rim for about one to one and a half hours. Check the current access rules before visiting. Another activity is offered by Bangsring Underwater in Desa Bangsring, Kecamatan Wongsorejo: the site is a destination for snorkeling and also a coral reef conservation center. Sea conditions may vary.

Djawatan Benculuk also offers its own distinctive scenery. The protected forest is in Dusun Purwosari, Benculuk, Kecamatan Cluring, and is characterized by giant, several-hundred-year-old trembesi trees. For a cultural and educational focus, there is Kampoeng Batara, a creative educational destination where children learn about culture and literacy. The wider Banyuwangi destination therefore offers everything from coastal landscapes and nature observation to cultural and educational experiences.

Discover more destinations: Bangorejo, Gradjagan.

Go to the wider travel overview: Banyuwangi.