Surabaya is known for…

Delicious Local Food
Being the cleanest and greenest in Indonesia
Mount Bromo nearby (80km)
Many urban forests & parks
Dutch colonial buildings and museums
City vibes
Business hub of a thriving industrial and agricultural region
Eco-tourism
Cultural Highlights: Ludruk Drama, Remo Dance, Kidungan – poetry musicalisation

Why visit Surabaya?

From the traditional Indonesian fish markets to a blast of Buddhist, Catholic, and Islamic culture, there is a lot to see and do in Surabaya.
Many international travelers only pass through Surabaya on their way from one flight, train, or bus to another, missing out on a wonderful cultural experience.

Those who stay for a while, however, will fall in love despite its crowded streets and strong business culture.

Surabaya is one of Indonesia’s four major central cities, with a population of almost 3 million within the city limits and another 9.5 million in the extended Surabaya metropolitan area. It’s a great place to visit for both business and pleasure, with everything from fine dining to delicious street food, shopping to a lively cafe culture, and Dutch architecture repurposed into interesting places to explore.

Hotels in Surabaya

There is so much to choose from. Best practice is to narrow down the location you want to go, and then filter the list of hotels by price and star ratings.
Many international hotel chains, such as Marriott, have opened their doors in Surabaya, ensuring that you receive the service and quality that you would expect from a star-rated and internationally managed hotel.

Marriott Hotels in Surabaya

Finally, there are hotels in Surabaya to suit every traveler’s needs, from those on a tight budget to those with lavish tastes.

Booking.com

Surabaya Guide

The eight-lane Trans-Java toll road that runs through the heart of Surabaya will introduce you into the city’s bustle, which is in stark contrast to the calmness of the surrounding rural areas. According to urban legend, East Java’s capital Surabaya got its name by combining the Javanese words for “shark” (Suro) and “crocodile” (Baya). The two creatures fought courageously and became symbols of the city.
Tree-lined streets, street parks, and newly repaved pavements will WOW most newcomers from other parts of the archipelago, but the city’s true beauty will become most noticeable to those who stay a while.

The people of Surabaya are very kind and welcoming. They respect the Javanese and Islamic cultural traditions. If you are looking to practice your Indonesian, most locals here speak Bahasa Indonesia as it is the official language, but as you will quickly discover, many speak a slightly different dialect of Javanese.
From Bali, many tourists take the ferry from Gilimanuk Harbour to Java heading to Surabaya, where they may then go by rail to Yogyakarta and other towns or visit Mount Bromo on the way. Great for taking in the sights of Java’s rural and urban communities.

Surabaya Pasar Turi and Surabaya Gubeng are the city’s two primary train stops. Any major Java train station will allow you to book first- and second-class seats on any intercity train up to 30 days in advance.
But if you are worn out from the many attractions and mix of modern skyscrapers with canals and buildings from its Dutch colonial past, or have simply sampled enough coconut-based satay to last a lifetime, the best bars in Surabaya are waiting to help you relax.

Surabaya Town Square is a great place to kick off your night on the town by grabbing a beverage in the comfort of a mall. Surabaya’s vibrant nightlife is home to several pubs and discotheques, which are naturally more casual and less refined than Jakarta’s. The traffic isn’t too bad, there are walkways to stroll on, and the streets are rather clean.
The number of travelers and expats in Surabaya is much lower than in other popular destinations like Bali. Because of this, you can attract more interest from the locals than normal.

Good to Know

General Atmosphere

The city of Surabaya is one that actively supports and promotes technological development. It’s picking up steam and becoming an increasingly important player in the region’s development.

Surabaya has also earned a reputation as a model of environmental sustainability. Large trees line the streets. A number of nurseries and botanical gardens, including Taman Bungkul, Taman Sakura, and Kebun Bibit, are open to the public.

In recognition of its efforts to become a more livable city, Surabaya has been recognized both nationally and internationally with a number of prestigious awards. These include the Best City in Indonesia, the Innovative Government Award, the UNESCO Learning City Award, and the Global Green City Award.

More recently, the Singaporean government’s Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) recognized Surabaya as a candidate for the prestigious “Lee Kwan Yee” award for being a particularly livable city.

Getting to Surabaya & Getting around

It’s pretty easy to get to Surabaya because its airport (Surabaya’s Juanda Airport “SUB”) is one of the biggest in the area. Budget airlines like Citilink or Airasia make traveling to Surabaya very affordable and convenient.

When it comes to traveling about Surabaya, you won’t be short of options.
It is a major hub for travel within the country, with many bus, train, air, and ferry connections.

The city of Surabaya is easy to move about whether you’re a budget tourist or a high-rolling businessman. The roads of East Java’s city, Surabaya, are among the best in Indonesia.

You could explore a lot of Surabaya on your own by renting a car. But if you’re not sure of your driving abilities, it might be easier to rent a vehicle with a driver. That way, you can go anywhere you want in the city whenever you want, without having to worry about maneuvering through common obstacles and road hazards.

The Juanda International Airport features a broad range of car rentals, making it an ideal site for reserving a car. Alternatively, you may book a taxi for the day and have the driver act as your own tour guide, taking you to all the best sights in East Java’s capital.

Clean buses and trains with air conditioning can take you to Yogyakarta and beyond.

Best taxis are the Bluebird taxis. Nowadays you should install one of the transportation apps (JoJek or Grab) which are like Uber and will easily get you from A to B.

Keep in mind, most trains and rental cars are sold out during Ramadan.

Safety

The crime rate is quite low compared to other mega-cities in the world. Of course, like in any other place in the world where lots of people mingle, there is always the odd scam going on, and some might try to take advantage to make an extra buck on you. But even the poorest people in Surabaya are very friendly and optimistic. It is nevertheless wise to go in groups rather than alone, whether it is day or night.

Weather & Climate

Tropical Monsoon Climate

Since it is so close to the equator, it makes sense that Surabaya, Indonesia, would experience a tropical monsoon climate. You can always take a dip in the hotel pool, go shopping at any mall, or sip an ice-cold teh manis (sweet tea) at one of the many air-conditioned cafes in the area.

Rainy Season in Jakarta is from November to March.

Prices

Great Value for money

Not everything in Surabaya is incredibly cheap, but you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the value you get at hotels, bars, clubs, and upscale restaurants.

Sites, Attractions & Hidden Treasures

The City

Some may say there aren’t a lot of places to see, but if you are willing to take your time and look around, you will discover some interesting spots in Surabaya.

Surabaya is well-known for its food, but you can also watch the sun rise over the Bromo Volcano, go to Madakaripura’s gushing waterfalls, or watch a traditional bull race.

Visitors come from far and wide to see the historic mosque and get lost in the maze-like streets of the ancient Arab neighborhood or visit the Heritage Street Tunjungan (Jalan Tunjungan).

Surabaya also has one of the biggest Chinatowns in all of Indonesia, as well as a collection of modern, but falling apart, Dutch buildings that are great for photo-ops.
And there are monuments and museums all over the city that honor the heroes who helped build Indonesia.
Located in the heart of Surabaya, not far from City Hall, lies the Balai Pemuda art center.

The Reog Dances and other artistic performances are highlights of the June Festival Seni Surabaya (FSS).

Take in the historic colonial architecture of Old Town (Kembang Jepun to the port). People go to 21 Cinemas and CGV Cinemas to cool themselves off during the hot summer days. There is cool air and cozy seating in both. You can also take the family to Ciputra Waterpark in CitraLand which has a wave pool, slides, and more.
You can simply just walk around Surabaya and experience Surabaya like a local by taking a walk across the city, visiting its markets and learning to bargain like a pro, and tasting delicious traditional Javanese street food along the way.

Mount Bromo – Volcano Trekking

If you need some fresh air, head to Bromo, you may see the dawn over the volcano and hike in the nearby highlands.

Golf

There are a number of golf courses in Surabaya for those who like the sport. The posh neighborhood of Bukit Darmo Golf can be found in West Surabaya. The oldest course in Surabaya is Yani Golf. Graha Famili Golf Course, located next to Bukit Darmo Golf, has 18 challenging holes. Another 18-hole par-3 can be found at Pakuwon Golf Course in Pakuwon Estate and the Ciputra Golf Course in Citraland Estate. An hour south of Malang, between Fina Golf and Semen Gresik’s estate. Not too far from there lies two 9-hole Par 3 courses at Taman Dayu golf and Semen Gresik.

Surabaya Sports Museum

Established as a tribute to Surabaya athletes who excel in flying the red and white flag at international events.

Education Museum

The Surabaya Education Museum is a thematic museum that was established as a step to preserve the nation’s history and culture

Museum House of Sampoerna

This complex still functions as a factory to produce Indonesian Kretek cigarettes. Central auditorium currently functions as a museum and shop.

Museum Surabaya

The Surabaya City Museum contains 1,000 historical objects related to the journey of the City of Surabaya which is located on the first floor of the SIOLA building.

Surabaya Sports Museum

The Surabaya City Museum contains 1,000 historical objects related to the journey of the City of Surabaya which is located on the first floor of the SIOLA building.

Geography & Map