Banda Neira

Banda Neira or Pulau Naira is an island in the Banda Islands.

Understand

The view of Banda Neira from Gunung Api Banda

Banda Neira is a vibrant small town and become the gateway of the Banda Islands.

Get in

By plane

• 1 Bandanaira Airport (NDA  ^IATA). SAM Air serves the flight to Banda Neira. It uses a very small propeller plane (12 people capacity). You may book the ticket from the agent in Ambon. The flight is on Monday and Friday with the ticket price is Rp380,000.  

By boat

A cruise stopped by in Banda Neira

• 2 Port of Banda Neira (Pelabuhan Pelni Banda Neira), Nusantara. PELNI boats, KM. Nggapulu and KM. Pangrango from Ambon. Some cruises also come annually to Banda Neira, one of them is a cruise from coral expeditions. (updated Oct 2022)

Get around

Take the ojek (motorcycle taxi) or you may rent a motorbike from the locals to go to tourist attractions.

See

Fort Belgica

Mohammad Hatta Exile House

• 1 Istana Mini (Mini Palace), Neira Island. Two buildings: the administrative office and residence of the Deputy Governor of the Dutch East Indies. Voluntary donation. (updated Oct 2022)
• 2 Fort Belgica (Benteng Belgica). The fort was built by the Dutch in 1611 and has been fully restored. From here you have a beautiful view of the bay and the volcano at Pulau Gunung Api. Rp10,000. 
• 3 Rumah Budaya Museum, Rumah Budaya Banda. This small museum exhibits old furniture from colonial times and tries to evoke a picture of the horrors that took place on Banda Neira by means of paintings. Rp20,000. 
• 4 Mohammad Hatta Exile House (Internerinshuis van Boeng Hatta in Banda Neira), Jalan Rahatta. Mohammad Hatta was one of the founding fathers of Indonesia (first Vice-President). From 1934 until 1942 he stayed in exile in this house after he was arrested by the Dutch. Photographs and personal belongings are exhibited. (updated Nov 2018)
• 5 Mercusuar Lautaka. The breathtaking view from the top of a lighthouse. (updated Oct 2022)
• 6 Maloli Beach (Pantai Maloli). (updated Oct 2022)
• 7 Sutan Sjahrir Exile House (Internerinshuis van Boeng Sjahrir in Banda Neira). Sutan Sjahrir is the first prime minister of Indonesia. (updated Oct 2022)
• 8 Gereja Tua Banda. One of the oldest churches in the Banda Islands. Built by the Dutch on April 20, 1873. (updated Oct 2022)
• 9 The House of Captain Christopher Cole of the British Marines. (updated Oct 2022)
• 10 Masjid Besar Kampung Baru (Al-Mukhlisin Mosque). The oldest mosque in Banda Neira. It was inaugurated in 1889. (updated Oct 2022)
• 11 Fort Nassau (Benteng Nassau). The first Dutch fort was built on Banda Neira. The fort was completed in 1609. (updated Oct 2022)

Do

Diving

• 1 Dive Bluemotion, Banda Neira, on beach, southwest of airport (inside Baba Lagoon Hotel). SSI dive shop offering a variety of dive sites and courses. (updated Jul 2022)
• 1 Luminocean, info@luminocean.com. Sustainability-focussed social enterprive offering eco-diving training and courses in marine ecology. Ecodive course Rp7,450,000 for 7 nights. (updated Jul 2022)

Buy

Food souvenirs

• 1 Toko Oleh-Oleh Khas Banda (Ibu Icha), Nusantara. Nutmeg product, manisan pala (candied nutmeg), sirup pala (nutmeg syrup), and so on. (updated Oct 2022)

Eat

• 1 Rumah Makan Nusantara, Nusantara, ☏ +62 822 385 08356. Indonesian food including nasi kuning ikan (yellow rice with fish), nasi goreng, etc. (updated Oct 2022)
• 2 Belgica Cafe, Nusantara. Indonesian food. Around Rp20,000. (updated Oct 2022)
• 3 Bakso Banda Neira, Nusantara, ☏ +62 852 432 66219. Try bakso ikan (fish ball soup). (updated Oct 2022)
• 4 Spice Island Cafe, Nusantara, ☏ +62 813 215 85332. 10:00-21:00. Indonesian food also serves jus pala (nutmeg juice). (updated Oct 2022)
• 5 Kafe Calepo, Kampung Baru, ☏ +62 853 545 56606. Start 08:00. Ikan bakar (grilled fish), jus gandaria (plum mango juice), kue manto (fish roll), and others. (updated Oct 2022)
• 6 Warung Sepuh Bu Fat, Nusantara, ☏ +62 812 470 52244. Open, 10:00. Chicken and fish. (updated Oct 2022)

Drink

Juice bars

• 1 Nutmeg Cafe Juice & Pancake, Nusantara. Fruits juices, oranges, avocado, bananas, papaya, pineapple. Also, the specialty dish, pancake selai pala (pancake with nutmeg jam). You may try sirup pala (nutmeg syrup) drink too as well as the nutmeg fish soup sup ikan pala. (updated Oct 2022)
• 2 Cafe DKRF, Dwi Warna. Fruits juices, dragon fruit, apple, tomato, mango, and so on. Rp15,000. (updated Oct 2022)

Sleep

• 1 Vita Guesthouse, Banda Neira (by the harbour), ☏ +62 819 45090110. This guesthouse is located at the waterside facing Gunung Api. Rooms tend to be a little time-worn, but the courtyard and the jetty is a wonderful hangout places and Alan, the manager of this homestay, can provide useful information about the Bandas and activities in English. Snorkeling gear rental and boat charter are easily available from the private jetty. The dinner (Rp50,000 per person) is very tasty. Fan double room Rp175,000 (Feb 2016), AC double room Rp200,000 including breakfast. (updated Oct 2022)
• 2 Matahari Guesthouse, ☏ +62851-9747-1543. Six rooms available (three with air conditioning), all with private bathroom. Good Wi-Fi. Rp250,000 and up. (updated Oct 2022)
• 3 Mutiara Guesthouse, Banda Neira, ☏ +62 813 30343377. Mutiara Guesthouse is run by the same owner of Cilu Bintang Estate. Rp300,000 and up. (updated Oct 2022)
• 4 Delfika Guesthouse, Banda Neira. Another well-known guesthouse, in the village. They also have a new building on the seaside, near Vita. 
• 5 Mawar Guesthouse, Banda Neira (In Bandaneira, next to the house of the VOC Governor General), ☏ +62 813 43472742, signaturebandanaira@gmail.com. Abdulah, the manager of this homestay, can provide useful information about the Bandas and activities in the English language. The dinner (Rp50,000 per person) is very tasty. Fan room double Rp175,000 (Feb 2016), AC room double Rp200,000 including breakfast. (updated Jan 2017)
• 6 Bintang Laut Banda (Bintang Laut Guesthouse), Nusantara, Banda (Same row with Vita Guesthouse and Matahari Guesthouse), ☏ +62 822 483 07056. A hotel by the sea, facing Mount Api Banda. Really spacious and clean rooms. If you're lucky, you might get Room 1, that has a view of the volcano, air-conditioning, and a double bed. Rp300,000. (updated Aug 2022)
• 7 Cilu Bintang Estate, Nusantara, Banda (Near Fort Nassau, or the post office), ☏ +62 813 303 43377, abba@banda-mutiara.com. A hotel with dutch knick-knacks. (updated Aug 2022)
• 8 Nassau Beach Guesthouse, Nusantara, Banda (Near Fort Nassau), ☏ +62 813 432 66771. There is a beach in front of the guesthouse with traditional wooden boats. From Rp250,000. (updated Aug 2022)

There are several other small homestays on Banda Neira island (though English will probably be a challenge).

Connect

The dialing code for Banda Neira is 0910.

Go next

• Other islands in the Banda Islands. The two closest are Banda Besar and Banda Api.