Everything you need to know about visiting Jodipan Colorful Village in Malang, Java

Jodipan Colorful Village is an absolute must-see in Malang, and it should definitely be on your Java itinerary. This place used to be a struggling slum waiting to be demolished. Luckily a group of local university students had the brilliant idea to paint the villages in bright colors. Nowadays it’s a lively, colorful area full of life! Here’s everything you need to know about visiting Jodipan and why it should be on your travel list.

About Jodipan, Malang
How to get to Jodipan in Malang
How to visit Jodipan
What to expect when visiting Jodipan
Where to stay in Malang

About Jodipan, Malang

Jodipan is made up of three colorful villages. The most famous is Kampung Warna-Warni, also known as The Rainbow Village. In this cute little village houses are painted in all sorts of colors, and you’ll find beautiful murals like the majestic lion and a charming umbrella street. Kampung Tridi, or the 3D (“tri di”) Arts Village, features incredible murals with optical illusions that make the artwork come to life. Lastly, there’s Kampung Biru Arema that’s fittingly called The Blue Village. As the name suggests, this whole town is painted in blue, which they did to honor the local football team, Arema FC. If you’ve been to Chefchaouen in Morocco, you’ll notice some similarities here!

How to get to Jodipan in Malang

The best way to get to Malang is by train from Yogyakarta, which takes about 6 hours. Java’s train system is quite extensive and affordable, the easiest way of booking tickets is through 12go.asia. You can choose between three types of tickets: economy (“ekonomi”), business class (“bisnis”), and executive class (“eksekutif”). As budget travelers, we normally recommend the most wallet friendly option, but this time we have to contradict ourselves: don’t go economy! For more legroom and a little more comfort we recommend going for business class, at least. If you hope to catch some z’s, then executive is the way to go with its reclining seats. We were more than happy with our six hour-long executive journey! Once you arrive at the train station, it’s just a 20-minute walk to Jodipan.

How to visit Jodipan

Visiting Jodipan is straightforward and inexpensive, with an entrance fee of only 10,000 IDR (just over € 0,50). By paying this small fee you get access to all the colorful streets and art, how amazing is that? We really loved how diverse this whole area is. Almost every house has a different color, and there’s a beautiful mural around every corner. From simple cartoon characters to very cool 3D art, there’s always something new to see.

What to expect when visiting Jodipan

The thing we love the most about Jodipan is the artistic vibe. Of course, the murals and colorful houses are the stars of the show here, but what absolutely makes Jodipan for us is the decoration in the streets. Everywhere around you you’ll see colorful umbrellas, empty buckets of paint hanging, and other decorations that make the whole village feel festive. A must-see is the bridge that spans the river and connects different parts of the village. It’s also a great place for photo opportunities and stunning views of the vibrant houses.

Plan to spend around (at least) one hour exploring Jodipan. It’s a small area, but we guarantee that every turn can offer a nice, new surprise. Whether you’re a photographer, an art enthusiast, or just looking for a unique experience, Jodipan sure is a fun place to visit. Especially now you know all the history behind it!