Bandung — Two hours south by train, Bandung sits in a cool highland basin surrounded by volcanic peaks. It is a large city with a good café and restaurant scene, fashion shopping (factory outlet stores are a major draw for Indonesian tourists), and easy access to volcanic landscapes. The contrast with Cirebon's coastal heat is immediately noticeable on arrival.
Kuningan and Cigugur — About 30km south of Cirebon, the road climbs into cooler hills. Cigugur is a small town that maintains the Sunda Wiwitan tradition, a pre-Islamic Sundanese belief system that has coexisted with its Muslim neighbours for generations. The community holds open ceremonies at certain times of year. Kuningan itself is a pleasant highland market town and a good lunch stop.
Batik workshops — Several traditional batik ateliers operate on the outskirts of Cirebon, specialising in the megamendung (cloud) pattern that is the city's most recognisable contribution to Javanese textile tradition. The bold, curved clouds in deep blues and reds show the Chinese influence on Cirebon's artistic culture more clearly than almost anything else. A number of workshops welcome visitors and some offer short making sessions.
Losari and the north coast — The coast north of Cirebon has fishing villages, mangrove areas, and calm beaches suited to an easy half-day. Losari beach is one option; the fishing harbour areas closer to the city give a sense of the maritime life that earned Cirebon its name as the Shrimp City.