Banda Aceh

Banda Aceh Kutaraja
Special region capital
City of Banda Aceh Kota Banda Aceh
Regional transcription(s)
• Acehnese	Kuta Banda Acèh (Latin) بند اچيه (Jawoe)
Baiturrahman Grand Mosque Aceh Tsunami Museum Seulawah 001 Monument Gunongan Historical Park Kerkhof Peucut
Flag Coat of arms
Nickname:  Kota Serambi Mekkah (the Porch of Mecca)
Motto:  Saboeh Pakat Tabangun Banda (Acehnese) (One Agreement to Build a City)
Interactive map of Banda Aceh
Banda Aceh Location in Sumatra, Indonesia and the Bay of Bengal Banda Aceh Banda Aceh (Indonesia) Banda Aceh Banda Aceh (Bay of Bengal)
Coordinates: 5°33′0″N 95°19′3″E
Country	Indonesia
Province	Aceh
Founded	April 22, 1205 (1205-04-22)
Government
• Type	Mayor–council
• Body	Banda Aceh City Government
• Mayor	Illiza Sa'aduddin Djamal (PPP)
• Vice Mayor	Afdhal Khalilullah
• Legislature	Banda Aceh City House of Representatives (DPRK)
Area
• Special region capital	61.36 km2 (23.69 sq mi)
• Metro	2,935.36 km2 (1,133.35 sq mi)
Elevation	0–10 m (0–33 ft)
Population  (mid 2025 estimate)
• Special region capital	267,962
• Density	4,367/km2 (11,310/sq mi)
• Metro	513,698
• Metro density	175.003/km2 (453.257/sq mi)
Demonyms	Banda Acehnese
Time zone	UTC+7 (Indonesia Western Time)
Postal code	23000
Area code	(+62) 651
Vehicle registration	BL
HDI (2024)	0.8717 (2nd) – (very high)
Website	bandaacehkota.go.id

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Banda Aceh (/bʌndəˈɑːtʃeɪ/ BUN-duh-AH-cheh; Acehnese: Banda Acèh, Jawoe: بند اچيه) is the capital and largest city in the province of Aceh, Indonesia. It is located on the island of Sumatra and has an elevation of 35 metres (115 ft). The city covers an area of 61.36 square kilometers (23.69 sq mi) and had a population of 223,446 people at the 2010 Census, rising to 252,899 at the 2020 Census. The official estimate as of 2025 was 267,962 (comprising 134,451 males and 133,511 females).

Banda Aceh is located on the northwestern tip of Indonesia at the mouth of the Aceh River. Banda Aceh itself is a semi-enclave within Aceh Besar Regency, as Banda Aceh is surrounded by Aceh Besar to the south, east, and west, while it borders with the Andaman Sea to the north-west. Many suburbs of the city have developed in adjacent districts of Acah Besar Regency beyond the city limits.

The city was originally established as Bandar Aceh Darussalam and served as the capital and hub for the Sultanate of Aceh upon its foundation in the late 15th century. Later its name was changed to Bandar Aceh Darussalam, and thereafter became popularly known as Banda Aceh. The first part of the name comes from the Persian bandar (بندر) meaning "port" or "haven". The city is also dubbed the "port to Mecca," or the "porch of Mecca" (Indonesian: Serambi Mekkah) in reference to the days when hajj pilgrims travelled by sea from Indonesia and would make a stopover in the city before continuing their journey to Mecca.

Banda Aceh was long at the center of protracted conflicts between the Acehnese and foreign powers, including the Portuguese, the Dutch, the Japanese, and the Indonesian government. The city rose to international prominence in the aftermath of the Indian Ocean earthquake on 26 December 2004, which struck off the western coast of Sumatra. Banda Aceh was the closest major city to the earthquake's epicenter, which lay 249 kilometers (155 miles) off the coast. It suffered great damage in the earthquake and further damage when a tsunami struck shortly afterwards. Around 60,000 people in the city died as a result and many more were injured.

The aftermath of the tsunami saw a cessation of conflict between the government and the Free Aceh Movement, as well as an increase in domestic and international aid. Consequently, the city itself has seen major modernization and reconstruction over the past two decades.