Surrounded by four magnificent volcanoes, Malang in eastern Java ranks among the world’s most dramatically sited cities. Visitors pass through en route to the mountains further inland, but it’s worth exploring the faded old town, established by the Dutch in the late 18th century on the back of the coffee trade. Malang’s cooler climate (the city sits at 443m / 1,453ft above sea level) appealed to the European traders and planters, and still entices people to linger in the area longer than they intended: trips to the many beautiful beaches, islands, waterfalls and ruined medieval temples in the area offer plenty of incentive to do so.