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city and capital of East Java Province, Indonesia
Asia > Southeast Asia > Indonesia > Java > East Java > Surabaya Metropolitan Area > Surabaya

Surabaya[dead link] (Surabaya Javanese: ꦯꦸꦫꦧꦪ Suroboyo) is a city on the eastern side of Java, the capital of the East Java province of Indonesia. It is the second largest city in the country with over 10 million inhabitants in its metropolitan area. Complementing Jakarta, its larger brother on the western side of the same island, it sits close enough geographically to be exposed by the Javanese culture, while large enough to hold its people of multicultural backgrounds.

Downtown Surabaya

Understand

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According to folklore, Surabaya's name derives from the Javanese words Suro, meaning shark, and Boyo, meaning crocodile. With over 2 million people, Surabaya is the second-largest city in Indonesia. While many people come for business, Surabaya is also a gateway city for Mount Bromo and Bali. The city's tree-lined streets and renovated pavements will impress those newly arrived from other cities in the archipelago, though in general the city's attractions tend to be more apparent to those who make it their home rather than to short-term visitors. Put in the effort here, and you'll have an authentic, fascinating, unique experience of an Asia that once was: get it while it lasts.

Climate

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Very tropical and you need to wear casual, light clothes: T-shirts, shorts, sandals or shoes. Temperatures vary little through the year, with daytime highs around 32-34°C, falling at night to 22-26°C. During the rainy season (November–April) be prepared for occasional flash floods and traffic jams, and sometimes its almost as bad as Jakarta.

Community

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Bookmobile in a Bungkul Park, Surabaya

Being simultaneously one of the most ancient and significant trading ports in Indonesia, a post Dutch-colonial city (the Dutch knew it as Soerabaja), and having passed through brief Japanese control during WWII, Surabaya has a complex and patchwork heritage. It's not unusual to meet Surabaya locals with heritage from other parts of Indonesia, all parts of south-eastern China, the Middle East or Europe. Surabaya was also one of the only places in Indonesia with a synagogue; it was demolished in 2013.

Tourism information office

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Talk

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How to speak prokem like a Java

The everyday speech of Surabayan (Javanese) is liberally laced with slang (prokem) expressions. Like any slang, words come in and out of fashion with bewildering rapidity, but some features can be distinguished:

  • Nya becomes né or na
  • The prefix me- for verbs becomes ng- or ny-
  • The suffixes -i and -kan turn into -nge or -é

A short glossary of common Surabayan expressions:

no
tidak → mboten/ora/ndak
yes
ya → nggih/njih/iyo/yo
I
saya/aku → kulo/aku
you
kamu/anda → sampéyan/kon/awakmu/peno
sorry
maaf → ngapunten
to come up
menaik → naék/naik
to take
mengambil → jukut/ngambil
to look
melihat → ningali/ndelok
to use
memakai/menggunakan → paké/makai/maké
to visit
mengunjungi → nyambangi/mêthuk
what are you doing?
kamu sedang apa? → sampéyan lagi ngopo?
to pay
membayar → bayar
how much is it?
berapa harganya? → piro rék hargané?

While the Chinese were the first to record the area in the 13th century under the name 重迦廬 (zhonggala; apparently after the then-current local kingdom Jungala), local Chinese now know the city as 泗水 (sishui), while some further afield call it by a transliterated name 苏腊巴亚 (sulabaya).

Get in

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By plane

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  • 1 Juanda International Airport (SUB  IATA) (about 12 km south-east of the city). There are two terminals: Terminal 1 (north of the runway) is the Domestic Terminal, and Terminal 2 (south of the runway) is the International Terminal (with some exceptions for Garuda Indonesia and Indonesia AirAsia flights). There is a free 15-minutes shuttle that links the two terminals. Juanda International Airport (Q1431631) on Wikidata Juanda International Airport on Wikipedia 

To reach the Purabaya Bus Terminal a few kilometers west, there is a Damri Bus that leaves from both terminals and costs Rp 25,000 per person.

By train

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B1239 steam tram locomotive, a train monument in Pasar Turi station

The national rail operator Kereta Api[dead link] runs multiple daily trains from Jakarta and several other cities in Java, with both daytime and overnight services available.

Surabaya has two main station for long distance trains, 2 Surabaya Pasar Turi and 3 Surabaya Gubeng, both located at the heart of downtown Surabaya. Pasar Turi serves executive air-conditioned trains from Jakarta, Semarang, and all of Java's northern coast; while Gubeng is the terminus station for mainly economy class trains and trains for southern and eastern Java, including Yogyakarta, Bandung, and Banyuwangi for the ferry to Bali. Slow and packed local economy-class trains from Malang arrive at 4 Surabaya Kota station (also known as Semut) and passing through Gubeng station as they come in from the south.

Seats in Eksekutif (first class) and Bisnis (second class) for any intercity journey can be reserved from 90 days in advance up to 24 hours before departure at any major railway station in Java through e-kiosks serve by yourself. It same with online reserved by minimarket attendant of Alfamart and Indomart and the payment in minimarket can be done by cash also without any additional fee. On the last 24 hours before departure, the ticket is only available in the ticket counter at departure station. Senior citizens ages 60 and above are eligible for a 20% discount when the ticket is bought in this time bracket.

By boat

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Gapura Surya Nusantara ferry terminal in Tanjung Perak harbour

The main harbour is 5 Tanjung Perak, at the northern end of Jl. Perak Timur road is about 4 km north of downtown.

By bus

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Surabaya has frequent bus connections from all parts of East Java and from major cities in other parts of Java and beyond. The main bus terminal is at 6 Purabaya Bus Terminal (also known as Bungurasih), about 10 km south of the city.

Note: The names "Purabaya Terminal" and "Bungurasih Terminal" are used interchangeably to refer to Surabaya's main bus terminal. "Purabaya" is the correct name but it is sometimes called "Bungurasih" because it is located in Bungurasih.

There are many people inside the terminal trying to solicit passengers to the bus of the company from which they get a commission, and they are especially bothersome to the foreigners. If you follow them to the bus, you are likely to get offered an inflated (Rp 200,000 or even more to Bali) price, even though there's an official price list (you can see it at the exit to the platform). Ticket offices do not guarantee you to be safe from overcharging - most of them are private, and there's no price posted on the window, so shop around. It may make sense to bargain if the price is certainly too high. Prices may be slightly higher during high-demand periods like weekends and public holidays.

There are frequent buses from Malang (Rp 30,000 for air conditioned, less for "ekonomi") and Probolinggo (for Mount Bromo, Rp 30,000), so just turn up.

To Denpasar in Bali, fair price is Rp 200,000-280,000 by eksekutif night bus, including the ferry trip between Banyuwangi and Gilimanuk, mineral water and a meal. Buses depart from Bungurasih bus terminal in Surabaya, and arrive in Mengwi bus terminal in Denpasar. Duration: 10-12 hr.

A ticket to Jakarta should cost Rp 250,000-350,000 in eksekutif bus. On average, eksekutif bus bound for Jakarta will head to Jakarta via the Trans-Java Toll Road, which allows direct travel from Surabaya to Jakarta via toll roads more quickly. The travel time for eksekutif bus via the Trans-Java Toll Road generally ranges from 10-12 hours with 1 or 2 rest stops on the way (20–30 minutes each), and at least some traffic jams near Jakarta.

Another option is to go by minibus (known in Indonesia as travel). A number of companies run door-to-door minibus services from and to major destinations in Java, including Malang and Yogyakarta. These services are both more convenient and more expensive than public buses. Seats can be booked in advance through company offices, and also through many hotels and travel agents.

  • 7 Cititrans bus shop (Cititrans - Surabaya), Jl. R.A Kartini No.58, DR. Soetomo, Kec. Tegalsari. Shop has aircon and toilet. Solo Rp 180,000 (executive minibus 8 seats, large, reclining, AC, usb-a+c power plug, about 4 hours, 20 min break), Yogyakarta Rp 205,000 (about 5 hours), Jakarta Rp 450,000 (about 12 hr 30 min). (updated May 2024)

By car

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Surabaya is well connected from a few of Java island's large cities, thanks to the Trans-Java toll road. Surabaya is reachable in 12 hours from the west end of the island at the Merak ferry crossing to Sumatra, 9 hours from Jakarta, 4 hours from Semarang, 3.5 hours from Solo, 2 hours from Ngawi and less than 1.5 hours from Malang. From the neighboring Madura Island, the Suramadu bridge crosses the Madura strait, for free.

Get around

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By taxi

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Taxis are plentiful on the streets of Surabaya. Some taxis are not renowned for their reliability so stick to the well known firms:

Always insist on a metered fare. Figure on Rp 20,000 for a cross-town trip and Rp 70,000 to the airport. Drivers will expect a minimum fare of Rp 15,000 for short trips and for longer trips, pay the fare shown on the meter rounded up to the nearest multiple of Rp 1,000. Drivers will appreciate a tip of a few thousand rupiah. Blue Bird has increased its minimum payment to Rp 25,000, but it's still the most reliable taxi company.

A trip from Stasiun Gubeng to Pasar Keputran should cost around Rp 20,000.

By becak

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Becak (cycle rickshaw) are a traditional form of transportation in Surabaya. Surprisingly, they are still visible everywhere in the city outskirts, unlike throughout most of Southeast Asia where they have nearly vanished already. Expect to pay around Rp 5,000 for a short-hop, or Rp 10,000 for a few blocks, Rp 20,000 for a multi-block haul. Drivers may not want to go a long way, and if it's stinking hot have a heart and pay them some more money. Some of them have sun and rain covers, though these can be a bit low at times. Also, they can vary quite a bit in width: if you are 'big boned' you might need one to yourself.

Also available Becak Motor (cycle which powered by motor cycle engine).

By ride-hailing

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Also available : Gocar & Gojek, Grab car & Grab bike.

By train

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Commuter city trains are extremely limited, serving some parts of Surabaya and Sidoarjo.

By bus

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Suroboyo Bus is the municipal city bus service. As of August 2018 it only serves Rajawali to Purabaya bus terminal via Pasar Turi train station, Siola and Tunjungan. While they do not accept cash as a form of payment, they accept e-money like Qris or touchless ATM cards like Flazz.

The price for a trip is Rp5000. and to help protect the environment, passengers can use another payment method by exchanging 3 large plastic bottles, 5 small plastic bottles, or 10 plastic glasses for a 2-hour trip.

This is a populous city, and buses are usually crowded. There are two classes of bus: standard buses which are usually very full, and patas buses, which are described as first class.

By minibus

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Bemos (public minibus) in Surabaya are called bemo or lin. They are plentiful in Surabaya and routes are distinguished by their color.

You need to know the routes to specific destination and beware of pickpockets, as it's not safe.

By car

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There are many car rental companies. To rent a car with a driver for one day might cost Rp 250,000-500,000, depending on the type of car and the length of the trip. For a full day trip, it is customary to buy lunch for the driver, or give some extra money for the driver to buy cigarettes, a snack, or coffee. Don't forget to pay for parking and toll fees and gas (unless you have already negotiated this into your initial price).

Bridges

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Suramadu Bridge
  • 1 Jembatan Merah (The Red Bridge). This red bridge plays a big role in Surabaya's history; not for the bridge itself, but for the Dutch colonial era commercial area which lies in northern part of the city surrounding this bridge. The area is also known as Old Surabaya. See one of the best preserved Dutch colonial quarters in Indonesia. Red Bridge, Surabaya (Q7355016) on Wikidata (updated Jun 2016)
  • 2 The Suramadu Bridge (Jembatan Suramadu). Also known as the Surabaya-Madura Bridge, is a cable-stayed bridge which connects Surabaya on the island of Java and the town of Bangkalan on the island of Madura. The bridge has been open for the public since 2009. Suramadu Bridge (Q1275181) on Wikidata Suramadu Bridge on Wikipedia 

Monuments

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Submarine Monument
  • 3 Tugu Pahlawan & Museum Sepuluh November (Heroes monument), Jalan Pahlawan, Kel. Alun-Alun Contong, Kec. Bubutan. A monument dedicated to the fallen heroes of Surabaya during the Independence war of 1945-49. Adjacent to the monument area is Museum Sepuluh Nopember, named after the declaration of war against the Dutch colony on November 10, 1945. There are uniforms, pictures, dioramas and a large collection of World Was II era weapons (pistols, rifles, machine guns and a mortar). Most of the information is available in Indonesian and English. Rp8,000. 
  • 4 Monumen Jalasveva Jayamahe. A monument on Surabaya's seafront dedicated to the service of the Indonesian Navy. Jalesveva Jayamahe Monument (Q18965840) on Wikidata Jalesveva Jayamahe Monument on Wikipedia 
  • 5 Monumen Kapal Selam (KRI Pasopati (410)) (beside the river next to Delta Plaza). A Soviet-built submarine display which served in the Indonesian Navy since 1962. Launched in 1952, and since her decommissioning in 1990 has been preserved as a monument. The body/hull was slightly cut for stairs & door for easier public entrance & viewing. Beside the monument there is a building where a short film about the history of the submarine can be viewed. You also can see the Suroboyo monument near the river. KRI Pasopati (Q7357635) on Wikidata KRI Pasopati on Wikipedia 
  • 6 Monumen Pers Perjuangan Surabaya, Jl. Tunjungan No.100, Genteng. A press monument. (updated Oct 2022)

Museums

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  • 7 Museum Kesehatan dr. Adhyatma, MPH (Dr. Adhyatma Health Museum), Jl. Indrapura No. 17, ☏ +62 31 352-8748, fax: +82 31 352-8749. Daily 08:30-15:00. A museum built in the 1990s oriented towards the history of health & medicinal treatment in Indonesia, from the depiction of health in traditional cultures to the evolution of remedy methods. Rp 1500. Dr. Adhyatma Health Museum (Q25455477) on Wikidata 
  • 8 Museum Rudi Isbandi (Modern and contemporary art museum), ☏ +62 31 503-2931. Holdings collected from 1952 to 2009. Opened in 2009, and named after collector Rudi Isbandi. Address: Karangwismo I/10, Surabaya. 
  • 9 Museum TNI AL Loka Jala Çrana (Loka Jaya Çrana Navy Museum), Candradimuka Kompleks Pendidikan TNI AL Bumimoro, ☏ +82 31 329-1092 ext 4380. M-Th 08:00-14:00, F 08:00-15:00, closed on Sa Su and public holidays. Established in 1969, the museum contains various displays related to the Indonesian Navy since the revolution era, including ships and amphibious tanks and a planetarium. Loka Jala Crana Museum (Q12499647) on Wikidata 
  • 10 Museum WR. Soepratman, Jl. Mangga No.21, Tambaksari, ☏ +62 31 5013518. Tu-Su, 08:00-15:00. A museum of the creator of the Indonesian national anthem. (updated Oct 2022)
  • 11 Museum Pendidikan Surabaya, Jl. Genteng Kali No.10, Genteng. Tu-Su, 08:00-15:00. An education museum. (updated Oct 2022)
  • 12 Siola Surabaya Museum, Jl. Tunjungan No.1, Genteng, Kec. Genteng. Tu-Su, 09:00-21:00. A history of Surabaya museum. (updated Oct 2022)
  • 13 Museum H.O.S. Tjokroaminoto, Jl. Peneleh Gg. VII No.29-31, Peneleh, Genteng. A national hero museum, H.O.S. Tjokroaminoto was an Indonesian nationalist. He became one of the leaders of the Sarekat Dagang Islam (Islamic Trade Union). (updated Oct 2022)
  • 14 Museum Dr. Soetomo, Jl. Bubutan No.85-87, Bubutan, ☏ +62 31 5467784. Tu-Su 08:00-15:00. A national hero museum, Soetomo was a doctor, politician, and National Hero of Indonesia. (updated Oct 2022)
  • 15 Blockbuster Museum Surabaya, Jl. Kenjeran No.463-465, RT.003/RW.15, Gading, Tambaksari, ☏ +62 822 233 81133. A movie museum. (updated Oct 2022)
  • 16 Museum Etnografi dan Pusat Kajian Kematian FISIP UNAIR, Airlangga University, Campus B, ☏ +62 31 5034015. M-F 10:00-16:00. An ethnography museum. (updated Oct 2022)
  • 17 Museum De Javasche Bank, Jl. Garuda No.1, Krembangan Sel., Krembangan. Daily 08:00-16:00. A Bank museum. Bank of Java (Dutch: De Javasche Bank, DJB), which had been created in 1828 to serve the financial needs of the Dutch East Indies. (updated Oct 2022)
  • 18 Museum Olahraga Surabaya, Jl. Indragiri, Darmo, Wonokromo. Tu-Su, 08:00-15:00. A sports museum. (updated Oct 2022)
  • 19 Museum Kanker Indonesia, Jl. Kayoon No.16-18, Embong Kaliasin, Genteng, ☏ +62 31 5342181. 09:00-21:00. A cancer museum. (updated Oct 2022)

Colonial-era buildings

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  • 20 Grahadi. The colonial-era residence of the Governor of East Java. You can watch Reog dance, a vigorous traditional dance at the nearby 'Balai Pemuda' (Youth Hall- one historical building in Surabaya). It is not open to public. Grahadi Building (Q12484452) on Wikidata 
  • 21 House of Sampoerna, ☏ +62313539000. Situated in "old Surabaya"‚ this stately Dutch colonial-style compound was built in 1862 and is now a preserved historical site. Cited as the top tourist destination in Surabaya, the complex offers a museum, an art gallery, a cafe as well as souvenir shops. It also provides a City Sightseeing bus for free with a tour guide speaking English. The museum also organizes its own bus tours of nearby historical sites; these are worthwhile and generally available in Indonesian and English. The cigarette production is no longer situated here as it has been moved to the main factory. 

Religious architectures

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Gereja Katolik Kelahiran Santa Perawan Maria
Masjid Al Akbar
  • 22 Gereja Kelahiran Santa Perawan Maria. The oldest Catholic church in Surabaya. Beautiful glass panels and serene surroundings. 
  • 23 Hok An Kiong Chinese Temple (Klenteng Jalan Coklat). Excellent example of an older Chinese Southeast Asian temple, built in the early 19th century. Numerous old wooden carvings and statues from around the region. Just ask a bicycle to bring you to "Jalan Coklat" (Chocolate street) and you'll see a bright red temple building. Afterwards, walk westward then north through some of the city's numerous examples of old colonial commercial architecture. 
  • 24 Masjid Al Akbar Surabaya. A huge mosque which some say is the biggest mosque in South East Asia, The mosque has a tower which is equipped with an elevator, so that visitors can see Surabaya from top of the tower, 65 m (195 ft) above ground level. Al-Akbar Mosque (Q13094984) on Wikidata Al-Akbar Mosque on Wikipedia 
  • 25 Masjid Ampel. Built in 1421 by Sunan Ampel, this is the oldest mosque in East Java. In the left side of the mosque there is a well that is believed to be the auspicious well, typically used by believers to strengthen a pledge or oath. Sunan Ampel's tomb complex is located in the area. Ampel Mosque (Q18205016) on Wikidata Ampel Mosque on Wikipedia (updated May 2020)
  • 26 Masjid Muhammad Cheng Hoo. A small but impressively detailed modern mosque, built circa 2001 and named after Zheng He, the Chinese Muslim (of distant Turmenistani-heritage!) admiral who led the Ming Dynasty treasure fleets on their seven voyages through the South China Sea to Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Middle East and East Africa. Beautiful Chinese architecture, and a large outdoor model of one of the ancient Chinese treasure vessels. About 10 minutes walk from Surabaya City Hall, or 5 minutes by becak. Muhammad Cheng Hoo Mosque (Q12497285) on Wikidata Cheng Ho Mosque on Wikipedia 
  • 27 Surabaya Cathedral (Katedral Hati Kudus Yesus). Seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Surabaya, established on 15 February 1928 as the Apostolic Prefecture of Surabaya from the Apostolic Vicariate of Batavia, promoted on 16 October 1941 as Apostolic Vicariate of Surabaya, promoted on 3 January 1961 as the Diocese of Surabaya, and renamed as such 22 August 1973. The local area apparently includes 150,457 (4.4%) Catholics. Surabaya Cathedral (Q56257725) on Wikidata 

Others

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  • 28 G-Walk. In west Surabaya (CitraLand). There are many food stalls and bazaars at night where you can find a lot of good food. It gets very crowded at night and it's a place for a lot of young people to hang out. There is a food market, and close to G-Walk you'll also find some bars. G-Walk is located between Pakuwon Super Mall and Ciputra Golf. 
  • 29 Kenjeran Beach (Pantai Kenjeran). A beach with black sand. There is also a bridge and water fountain show in the evening. (updated May 2020)
  • 30 Ekowisata mangrove wonorejo Rungkut - Surabaya (Mangrove Wonorejo Ecotourism), Jl. Wonorejo Timur No.1, Wonorejo, Kec. Rungkut (From Tugu monument, by car-hailing app Rp 80,000-100,000, bike Rp 50,000). 08:00-16:00 (last boat in 15:30). About 30 min boat to seaside with bamboo bridges and shelters. good for picnic and chill. Expect wait for boat depending on conditions. Adult Rp 25,000, child Rp 15,000. (updated May 2024)
  • Swim and have fun with water in 1 Ciputra Waterpark. , a great place for swimming. It has a wave pool, slides, and more. This waterpark is located in the CitraLand complex. It is usually crowded on Saturdays, Sundays and other holidays. The waterpark is open until 20:00.
  • Enjoy the local arts at Balai Pemuda, an art center in the heart of Surabaya, near the City Hall. You can watch the Reog Dance and other art performances. The big event is Festival Seni Surabaya (FSS), held every year in June. During the Dutch Colonial era, this building was a club called Simpangsche Societeit.
  • Get around the Old Town area (around Kembang Jepun to the port) and enjoy the view of nice colonial buildings.
  • Watch movies in 21 Group cinemas, a nice cinema. 21 Cinemas have air-conditioners and nice seats. You can identify if a cinema is part of Group 21 from the last name, like Empire 21 or Tunjungan 21. And now there are also XXI which is still the same group of 21. The XXI cinema is available at SUTOS (Surabaya Town Square) and Tunjungan Plaza. The XXI cinemas are more expensive than 21 Cinema. Also available CGV cinemas in Marvell City Mall.
  • 2 Surabaya expats football team. plays every Saturdays at 3pm. Feel free to join! 

Golf

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Surabaya has several golf courses. Generally golf in Surabaya is both great and cheap if you compare with most other countries.

  • 3 Bukit Darmo Golf, Jl. Bukit Darmo Golf Blok G-2. This golf course is located in the elite housing area in West Surabaya. This course has 18 holes, designed by Jack Nicklaus II. (updated May 2020)
  • 4 Ahmad Yani Golf Club, Jl. Golf No. 1. This course is built in hilly terrain and is the oldest course in town, built in 1898, with the crypt of the last Dutch Governor on it. (updated May 2020)
  • 5 Golf Graha Famili, Jl. Raya Golf Graha Famili. 18 holes, inside Graha Famili real estate site, near the Bukit Darmo Golf. (updated May 2020)
  • 6 Ciputra Golf, Jl. CitraLand Utama, CitraLand. Found within Citraland Estate. (updated May 2020)
  • 7 Pakuwon Golf. For beginners, try this golf course instead within Pakuwon Estate - an 18-hole par 3 course; the 'back nine' are quite challenging. (updated May 2020)
  • 8 Taman Dayu Golf Club & Resort, Jl. Raya Surabaya Malang Km.48. Pandaan 67156. Located about an hour drive south, towards Malang. (updated May 2020)
  • 9 Finna Golf & Country, Jl. Raya Barsari, Prigen, Pasuruan 67157. Also located about an hour drive south. (updated May 2020)
  • 10 Golf Petrokimia Gresik. This 9-hole Par 3 course can be found on the estate of Petrokimia Gresik in Gresik. (updated May 2020)

Surabaya boasts some of South-East Asia's largest shopping malls. Try to shop between 1 May and 30 June when the Surabaya big sale is on. Discounts are up to 50% at this time.

Malls

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Upscale

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Tunjungan Plaza: The largest consumer mecca in town
  • 1 Tunjungan Plaza (TP), Jl Basuki Rahmat. Anchored by SOGO, Matahari, and Hero. The largest in central Surabaya, with six interconnected buildings (TP 1 - TP 6) selling everything. Good selection of restaurants on the top floors and the basement. Enjoy yourself at Stingers, a game area near the food court, or Timezone, a popular arcade. Tunjungan Plaza (Q7203665) on Wikidata Tunjungan Plaza on Wikipedia (updated May 2020)
  • 2 Galaxy Mall (GM), Jl Dharmahusada Indah Timur (Middle East Ring Road). Anchored by SOGO, Centro, Ranch Market 99, Cinema XXI and more than 400 shops selling well known brands such as Mango, Guess Marks ans Spencer, LaSenza, Sephora, Nine West, The Body Shop, L'Occitane, Mothercare and many more. There are two Food Courts, one completely dedicated to the best local Indonesian food and an International Food Court plus The Dining Town which gathers many fine-dining restaurants on one exclusive floor. The largest mall in the eastern part of Surabaya, with two interconnected buildings lavishly finished throughout with marble floors and stainless steel finishes. Galaxy Mall (Surabaya) (Q12483303) on Wikidata Galaxy Mall on Wikipedia (updated May 2020)
  • 3 Pakuwon Mall, Supermal Pakuwon Indah (SPI) and Pakuwon Trade Center (PTC), Jl Puncak Indah Lontar (Middle West Ring Road). Pakuwon Mall is anchored by Sogo, Lotemart, while Supermall is anchored by Matahari, Hypermart, ACE. The largest mall in Indonesia with 18 hectares. Pakuwon mall contains the exclusive part of the mall and SPI is middle while PTC caters the lower market of the mall. PTC has an area that sells pets. Pakuwon Mall (Q12518071) on Wikidata Pakuwon Mall on Wikipedia (updated May 2020)
  • 4 Surabaya Town Square (locally abrreviated Sutos), Jl Adityawarman. Anchored by Foodmart. A shopping mall with the largest cinema studio in Surabaya. Open until midnight. Surabaya Town Square (Q12518102) on Wikidata (updated May 2020)
  • 5 Grand City Mall, Jl Gubeng Pojok. Next to Grand City Convention and Exhibition Hall. The luxurious mall in Surabaya. (updated May 2020)
  • 6 Lenmarc Mall, Jl Bukit Darmo Boulevard. Anchored by Transmart. Full glass façade and the first golf-view mall in Surabaya. Fairway Nine (Q97374270) on Wikidata (updated May 2020)
  • 7 Ciputra World Mall, Jl. Mayjen Sungkono. The longest escalator in Surabaya. Ciputra World Surabaya (Q12479287) on Wikidata Ciputra World Surabaya on Wikipedia (updated May 2020)

Factory outlet

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  • 8 Family Outlet, Jl. Raya Darmo Permai Selatan No. 11. Babies', boys', girls', men's, and women's clothing are available. Open 10:00-21:00. 

Mid-range

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BG Junction shopping center
  • The Square, Jl Sumatra. At Big Box Complex. Men's, women's and children's apparel, featuring many branded items at discount prices. Open till 22:00
  • 9 Pasar Atom & Pasar Atom Mall, Jl Bunguran. Anchored by Hartani. A large, indoor Chinese and local market, selling foods, clothes, jewellery, catering to Chinese locals. You can bargain the prices here. Loads of DVDs (Rp 5,000 each) of movies made everywhere. Excellent food court (begins to open around 12:00), featuring excellent vegetarian cuisine among at least 40 other choices. (updated May 2020)
  • 10 City of Tomorrow (Cito), Jl Raya Jendral Ahmad Yani. Anchored by Matahari and Hypermart. (Q19724965) on Wikidata (updated May 2020)
  • 11 Plaza Surabaya (Delta Plaza), Jl Pemuda. Anchored by Matahari and Superindo. One of the oldest shopping malls in town. Beside Delta Plaza is the Monkasel (Monumen Kapal Selam) or the Submarine Monument. (updated May 2020)
  • 12 Royal Plaza, Jl Raya Jendral Ahmad Yani. Anchored by Matahari, Hypermart, ACE and Index. Another medium size shopping mall in Surabaya. Royal Plaza Surabaya (Q7374725) on Wikidata Royal Plaza (Surabaya) on Wikipedia (updated May 2020)
  • 13 BG Junction, Jl Bubutan. Anchored by Carrefour (be warned: dismal cheese selection, long queues) and Cahaya. A variety of jewellery stores so if you want to buy jewellery you definitely have to go to this place. The food court is terrible unless you would like yet another "special" Indonesian dish (check out Pasar Atom's, instead). Will be opening soon CGV cinemas. BG Junction (Q4835571) on Wikidata (updated May 2020)
  • 14 ITC, Jl Gembong. Anchored by Carrefour. (updated May 2020)
  • 15 Maspion Square, Jl Margorejo Indah. Anchored by Giant. A shopping mall situated in Southern Surabaya. (updated May 2020)

Budget

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  • 16 Jembatan Merah Plaza (JMP). (updated May 2020)
  • 17 Pusat Grosir Surabaya (PGS). (updated May 2020)
  • 18 Darmo Trade Center (DTC). (Q12480940) on Wikidata (updated May 2020)
  • 19 Kapas Krampung Plaza (Kaza). (updated May 2020)
  • Royal Square

Specialty

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  • 20 World Trade Center (WTC), off Jl Pemuda. Despite its name, the building is actually more famous as the place to shop for mobile phones. Beware of pickpockets. Locals often refer to it as 'World Telephone Center'. (updated May 2020)
  • 21 HI-TECH Mall (THR Mall), Jl Kusuma Bangsa. Dismall place to shop for computers, software and computer peripherals. (updated May 2020)
  • Plasa Marina, Jl Margorejo Indah. a shopping area for computers, software, and cellphones.
  • 22 Empire Palace, Jl Blauran. A place specialising in weddings and jewellery. (updated May 2020)
  • Roode Brug Soerabaia, Jl Pucang Anom Timur 70. Heritage souvenirs specialist. Reference books about old Surabaya, miniatures of Suramadu Bridge and KRI Pasopati Submarine which is done with a high level of detail. Heritage buildings on T-shirts such as the lindeteves-stokvis & Haven Kantoor building. You can enquire about a special heritage tour to Surabaya old kampong and heritage building. 
  • Cak Cuk Surabaya, Jl Mayjen Sungkono 35, Putat Gede, Sukomanunggal, ☏ +62 31 7035 8118. Eclectic souvenir shop with the theme of Surabaya on many of its products. 

Markets

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Pasar Keputran
  • 23 Pasar Genteng, Jl Genteng Besar. Around this market you'll find shops selling bandeng asap (smoked milk fish) and kerupuk (local chips). Also known as the largest electronic spare part market in Indonesia (level 2 and above). (updated May 2020)
  • 24 Pasar Ampel. A large colourful Arab market, and a definite highlight of the city. You are able to find unique food here. An excellent place to shop for hats, imported dates, perfumes, water pipes and tobacco, a Quran for that special someone, etc. Dress reasonably conservatively and be friendly. Most people are very warm and it is perfectly safe in the day time, but you can meet the odd person who is less than warmly welcoming to westerners. It is probably best not to amble down too many alleys here at night. (updated Oct 2022)
  • 25 Pasar Keputran. A small local food market. 
Rujak cingur: Surabaya's local, saucy, cow nose salad
Tahu telor: tofu and vegetables
Lapis legit Surabaya: Surabayan layer cake
Lontong balap: rice cake with tofu, bean sprouts in a petis sauce

Surabaya is famous for rujak cingur, a local salad with sauce, and cingur (slices of cooked cow nose). Try also the sate klopo, satay with coconut rasp which you can find in Jalan Walikota Mustajab.

Surabaya is home to a huge number of restaurants - this is an eating culture.

Don't forget to try rawon, pecel, gado-gado Surabaya, semanggi, es campur, es teler, and es kacang ijo (mung bean dessert).

Lapis legit Surabaya is the local variety of a cake that's made throughout large parts of Indonesia and Malaysia.

Budget

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  • 1 Ibu Hasan, Jl. Manyar Rejo 8, ☏ +62 31 594 8710. Daily 06:30-17:00. Local bakery chain. 
  • 2 Jasmine Ice Cream and Pastries, Grand City Mall lt 2-38, Jl. Gubeng Pojok no. 1, Galaxy Mall Lt 2 - 315, ☏ +62 31 594 7452, +62 31 7099-1431. (updated Oct 2022)
  • 3 Pecel Bu Kus, Jl. Barata Jaya XX no. 110. 06:00-19:30. Serves Pecel (traditional Javanese salad with peanut sauce). (updated Jul 2022)
  • 4 Rujak Cingur Genteng Durasim, Jl. Genteng Durasim No.29, ☏ +62 31 5358213. 11:00-17:00. Notable rujak cingur. Start from Rp 30,000. (updated Jul 2022)
  • 5 Lontong Balap Pak Gendut, Jl. Embong Malang No.38, Genteng, ☏ +62 856 558 42489. 07:00-23:00. Lontong balap is made of lontong (compressed rice cake wrapped in a banana leaf), tauge (bean sprouts), fried tofu, lentho (fried mashed beans), fried shallots, petis (black coloured shrimp paste sauce), and sweet soy sauce. It served with sate kerang (clam satay). (updated Jul 2022)
  • 6 Sate Klopo Ondomohen Bu Asih, Jl. Walikota Mustajab No. 36. 07:00-22:00. Serves Sate Klopo (beef satay with grated coconut). Small dining area, filled with smoke from the satay grill. (updated Jul 2022)
  • 7 Rawon Setan Embong Malang, Jl. Embong Malang No.78/I, Genteng, ☏ +62 812 255 91682. Su-Tu 08:00-23:00; W-Sa 08:00-16:30, 18:00-05:00. Serves rawon (dark beef soup). You may try the local Surabaya iced drink es sinom. (updated Oct 2022)
  • 8 Tahu Telor Pak Jayen, Jl. Dharmahusada Indah I Blok C No.2, Mulyorejo, ☏ +62 851 014 28020. 17:00-22:00. Serves tahu tek or tahu telor (tofu dish with peanut and shrimp paste sauce). (updated Oct 2022)

Mid-range

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  • Tradewinds Restaurant, Jl. Raya Kupang Baru 17A, ☏ +62 31 7326066, . 
  • 9 Kafe Bromo, Sheraton Surabaya Hotel & Towers, Jl. Embong Malang 25-31, ☏ +62 31 546 8000. Offers delicious all day dining in a relaxed setting with a view that gives to pool. 
  • 10 Ayam Bakar Primarasa, Jalan Kusuma Bangsa 3A, ☏ +62 31 531 3000. 07:00-21:00. Local grilled chicken and seafood. (updated Jul 2022)

Splurge

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  • 11 Domicile Kitchen and Lounge, Jalan Sumatra No.35, ☏ +62 31 5016900, . Su-F 11:00-01:00, Su 10:00-02:00. A modern and chic kitchen, serving "new-age" cuisine and pastry prepared from high quality materials. Unique design through parts of the building, VIP Room available by reservation. Open for brunch until late night for supper and cocktails. (updated Jan 2016)
  • Ahimsa Restaurant, Kusuma Bangsa 80, ☏ +62 31 5350466. Daily 07:00-22:00. Best known vegetarian restaurant in stylish decor. Pan Asian, Chinese and Indonesian cuisine. 
  • Trattoria Valentino, Jl. Bukit Darmo Golf R-12 (next to the golf club), ☏ +62 31 734 3124. Italian-owned restaurant, wood-fired pizza, hand-made pastas. Family-style, good prices. Italian, English and Indonesian speakers. 
  • Lung Yuan Chinese Restaurant, Sheraton Surabaya Hotel & Towers, Jl. Embong Malang 25-31, ☏ +62 31 546 8000. The menu features fresh seafood, premium fish and various Cantonese dishes. Has a private room suitable for a business meeting or family gathering. 

Drink

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  • 360 Royal Plaza, Jl.Ahmad Yani.
  • Big Box Cafe, Jl.Sumatra. Under renovation but still open. Seems to have some other names, like 'Lava Lounge' and 'Box Entertainment Complex'. Basically an outdoor bar/restaurant with couches/stools, some decent western food and juice, alcohol and regular live music.
  • Blowfish Kitchen & Bar@MEX One Stop Entertainment, Jl.Pregolan, Tegalsari.
  • 1 Citilites Skyclub & Bistro (Java Paragon Hotel), Jl. Mayjend Sungkono 101-103, ☏ +62 31 562 1234. 18:00-23:00. On the 21st floor with a good view of the city lights. Regional and international beverages, snacks, and pastries. Cozy and stylish. 
  • Colors Pub & Resto, Jl. Sumatra 81. Popular and very, very loud nightclub.
  • Coyote Top Ten Bar, at Plaza Tunjungan
  • The D Club, Jl. Mayjend Sungkono 83, ☏ +62 31 567 7999. 12:00-23:00. Comfortable place to enjoy wine, and premium cigars from Indonesia, Cuba, Honduras and Nicaragua. 
  • D'esperados restaurant, (Shangri la Hotel), Jl. Mayjend Sungkono.
  • Foreplay Eclectic Lounge, Sutos, Jl. Adityawarman No 55.
  • Ice Club, Lenmarc Mall. Drinking of spirits in a club environment. 
  • Kantor Discotheque, Jl Semut Kali. Very nice place to hang out and drink at decent price.
  • Kowloon Palace Discotheque, at Delta Plaza or known as Plaza Surabaya building. Very nice place to hang out and chill out.
  • Lava Lounge, Jl. Sumatra 40 (near the Japanese consulate office), ☏ +62 31 5043151. Su-Th 16:00-23:00, F Sa 16:00-00:00. Cheap beer, great outdoor setting. Nice regulars that are ex-pats and Indonesian. Arak Bali (an Indonesian vodka-like spirit), cocktails, coffee, tenderloin steak, and nachos. 
  • Lido, off Jl Mayjen Sungkono. Expat-oriented bar.
  • The Penthouse, East Plaza, Ngagel.
  • Vertical Six, (V-Six at J.W. Marriott Hotel), Jl. Embong Malang.
  • 2 Zangrandi Ice Cream, Jl. Yos Sudarso No.15, Embong Kaliasin, ☏ +6231 5345820. 10:00-22:00. Since 1930, one of the oldest ice cream stalls in Surabaya. Start from Rp 36,000. (updated Jul 2022)

The tap water is unsafe to drink, make sure you order your drinks or soft drinks that come in sealed bottles. One drinking water brand that is pretty well known here is Cheers, the official drinking water of Surabaya approved by the city government.

Sleep

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Budget

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  • 1 Merdeka, Jl. Bongkaran No. 6 (near station Kota), ☏ +62 31 3520654, +62 812 3231762. Check-out: 14:00. From Rp 120,000. 
  • 2 Family Guest House, Jl. Gubeng Kertajaya 8C No. 15 (find Bank International Indonesia at Kertajaya Main St), ☏ +62 31 5022268. Check-in: 10:00, check-out: 13:00. Clean room and familiar service. Serves good coffee, hot chocolatte, and tea all day long. Free 24-hr internet connection through wifi. Rp 300,000. 
  • 3 Green House Homestay, Unimas Garden Regency H 23 Waru Sidoarjo (nearby Surabaya West), ☏ +62 31 8537629, +62 31 8544241, +62 813 30426696. Air-con, cable TV, free WiFi, bath, breakfast. Rp 100,000-200,000. 
  • Puri Kencana, Jl. Kalimantan. Worn rooms with air-con and cold water including decent Indonesian breakfast. from Rp 130,000. 
  • Soerabaya Place Homestay, Jl. Jaksa Agung Suparapto (near City Hall), ☏ +62 31 5342851. Clean, quiet and friendly. Hot water, WiFi in rooms. Tea, coffee available in the morning, hot water all day. No breakfast included, but menu available. Refrigerator available. Rp 175,000-200,000. 
  • 4 Pavillijoen Hotel, Jl. Pasar Genteng 94 (near Tunjungan Plaza-SOGO), ☏ +62 31 5343449. A classic old Dutch colonial era hotel. Mostly for backpackers and family stays. Single, double, or triple spacious rooms. Only fan, but not so hot due to the high ceilings. Breakfast with hot tea. At night, this street becomes a night market where you can find cheap goods and food. Rp 120,000-185,000. 
  • 5 Sparkling Backpacker Hotel, Jl Kayon No 2AB (near Gubeng train station), ☏ +62 31 5323311. Air-con, WiFi. No dorm, only private rooms. Rp 115,000-225,000. 
  • The Hostel, Jl Simpang Dukuh 30-40 Blok A4 (15 min walk from Gubeng train station), ☏ +62-812-35174233. Check-in: 12:00, check-out: 12:00. air condition mixed dorm. free breakfast and wifi. has lockers and a shared lounge/TV area. clean bathrooms. Rp120,000 per person. (updated Mar 2017)

Mid-range

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  • 6 TS Suites, Jl. Hayam Wuruk No.6, ☏ +62 31 5631222. 126 rooms of 2 CEO Suites, 5 family suites of 2 bedrooms and 119 Executive Suites. From Rp776,000. (updated May 2020)
  • Puri Darmo Service Residence. Darmo. A variety of restaurants, business organisations, banks, shopping malls, entertainment and international schools are provided in the Darmo commercial area. The Central Business District of Surabaya (Jalan Basuki Rachmat) is a short drive away and access to other regions of the city is easy with the major toll roads and highway nearby. 
  • 7 Ibis Styles, Jl Jemursari Raya 110-112, ☏ +62 31 8498999, fax: +62 31 8498993. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 12:00. Good discounts online for advance bookings. From Rp 465,000. (updated May 2020)
  • 8 Narita Hotel Surabaya. Narita Hotel Surabaya (Q111138366) on Wikidata 
  • Weta International Welcoming and modern hotel in a central location. Around US$30 including breakfast.
  • 9 Mercure Grand Mirama. Located in the city centre. 
  • Equator. Nice bungalows, on cobblestone roads, some with attached garages. 
  • 10 Hotel Santika Premiere Gubeng Surabaya. Hotel Santika Premiere Gubeng Surabaya (Q111138441) on Wikidata 
  • 11 Novotel Surabaya Hotel & Suites. Nice resort hotel with outdoor hallways. Pool with abundant plants and waterslide. From US$50. Novotel Surabaya Hotel & Suites (Q111138439) on Wikidata 
  • 12 Garden Palace (next to Surabaya Plaza). Dim Sum, Japanese & Chinese food. Garden Palace Hotel Surabaya (Q111138258) on Wikidata 
  • 13 Hotel Tunjungan. Located next to Tunjungan Plaza. Convenient to mall and mall's food court. Tunjungan Hotel (Q25469104) on Wikidata 
  • 14 Hotel Sahid Surabaya, Jl. Sumatera No.1 -15, ☏ +62 31 5032711. Conventional business hotel close to Surabaya Plaza. Convenient for Gubeng Railway Station, but maintenance of rooms can be spotty. Around US$30–35 including breakfast. 
  • 15 Inna Simpang. 
  • 16 Surabaya Suites Hotel, Jl. Plaza Boulevard Jl. Pemuda No.33 - 37 (close to the submarine), ☏ +62 31 5316833. Big pool, nice restaurant. Might get a room with a view of the canal. $15. (updated Oct 2020)

Splurge

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Majapahit Hotel

Stay safe

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As with any big city, never let your guard down, because big cities such as Surabaya have a reputation among Indonesians for a mid crime rate. That said, Surabaya has few real dangers for visitors apart from the perils of crossing the very busy roads (the secret is to raise an arm while crossing, and to progress with a predictable speed and bearing, allowing the traffic to flow around you). Don't walk on the streets, especially at night other than the CBD area, if you can avoid it since you won't have anything to sightsee. Bring along your face mask if you travel by foot during rush hour since the traffic will be chaos and the air pollution is bad (16:30 to 18:30). Be polite to the people, since Surabayans tend to swear easily which is very common. Do not easily trust people you have just met, even if they look friendly.

Emergencies

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  • Ambulance, ☏ 118. 
  • Police, ☏ 110. 

Police stations

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Stay healthy

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Avoid drinking tap water. Bottled water is available in most places. One of the trusted brands is Cheers, the official drinking water of Sparkling Surabaya.

Surabaya has hospitals with 24 hr emergency rooms Unit Gawat Darurat (UGD) (ER)

Connect

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By phone

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The international code for Indonesia is +62. Local Surabaya phone numbers will start +62 31 xxx xxxx or +62 31 xxxx xxxx for the CDMA provider or +62 8xx xxxx xxxx for the GSM provider.

There are four main telecommunication providers in Surabaya: Telkomsel, Indosat, Three, Smartfren and XL.

To make an international call from Surabaya, dial the access code 001 (for Indosat), 007 (for Telkom/Telkomsel), or 008 (for Indosat), followed by the country code, area code and party's number. Providers offer cheaper rates for calls using Internet telephony routes (VOIP). The access codes for this cheaper service are 01016 for Indosat provider and 01017 for Telkom and Telkomsel provider.

By net

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If you have your own mobile phone, it may run free wifi networks at many malls. Ask at the information desk for access codes. Free hotspots are also available in most restaurants and cafes. Several hotels also provide free hotspots in their lobby. All major hotels provide internet access in one or more ways; simply ask them about this when you make your booking.

Alternatively, if you have a compatible 4G mobile phone and a laptop, tethering to your PC is the quickest way to gain internet access although speeds might not impress. Note that prepaid SIM cards can be purchased very easily and cheap, and that service activation is completed on the user's phone very quickly. Once activated, recharge with credits as necessary. Internet access is usually available at this stage; refer to your phone's user manual for tethering instructions. Operators will usually offer internet packets that offer cheaper access fees-instructions to access these services are available in the booklet that comes with your SIM card (i.e. XL's services are accessible by dialing *123#). BlackBerry Internet Service is readily available and can be registered similarly on the prepaid SIM.

Internet cafes are available in many parts of the city with a price of Rp 4,000-5,000 per hour. However, most of the internet cafes can be found around universities, and in most shopping malls.

Internet speeds in Surabaya are rarely fast, regardless of your connection. They are usually sufficient to make decent Whatsapp voice calls, although HD video calling may not be possible. Temporarily disabling software updates (Windows Update, security software updates, Adobe Updater, etc.) may help maximise access speeds.

Cope

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Consulates

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Go next

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  • Taman Safari Indonesia II in Pasuruan is the second and probably biggest Taman Safari in terms of acreage in Indonesia, located in the foothills of Prigen. This park runs of the most successful Javan tiger conservation programs in Asia. This park is not like an ordinary zoo. You must drive through the park in your own car or in the sightseeing bus provided within the park, passing an interesting and amusing collection of local and international animals clustered within areas themed according to their original habitat - Americas, Asia, Africa, and Indonesia. There's also a food court, mechanical and animal rides, a petting zoo, and animal shows. The park is usually crowded on weekends and public holidays. However, it is mostly deserted on weekdays.
  • Mount Bromo is a popular 4-hour trip from Surabaya.
  • Tretes and Trawas are 2 hr away. Pleasant villas among hills. Good food. There are many roasted corn stalls at night.
  • Malang and Batu are 2 hr away. Malang (height: just over 400 m) is a coolish very busy city with some nostalgic charming houses and boulevards preserved from the colonial period. Hotels, recreation areas, and villas such as picnics and sports clubs are widely available. Bantu (height: around 1,000 m) is a hill resort around 30 min by car to the west of Malang. Higher again (around 2,000 m), just beyond Batu to the north on the slopes of Mt Arjuna, is the well-known hill resort of Selecta.
  • Wisata Bahari Lamongan (WBL) in Lamongan is 1 hr away.
  • Trowulan is believed to be the capital of the Majapahit Empire that reached its golden age in the 14th century. If you love culture and history, this is definitely a place worth visiting. There are few remains of the Majapahit Empire, such as the Ancient Pool (Kolam Segaran), Tikus Temple, Brahu Temple, Bajang Ratu temple, museum, and more. Here you can also see a sacred graveyard that people from other places around the area in Java often visit for a pilgrimage.
  • Sail to Karimunjawa through Tanjung Emas Port in Semarang is 3.5 hr away by train.
  • Sumenep on Madura can be reached by land after passing Suramadu Bridge.
  • Banyuwangi is the new destination around East Java, covering tourism from the sea (ferry to Bali) to the mountainous areas (e.g. the Ijen Plateau).
  • Bawean Island is 1.5 hr away by plane.


Routes through Surabaya
Anyer ← Gresik ←  W The Great Post Road through Java, as constructed in the early 19th century E  → Pasuruan → Panarukan


This city travel guide to Surabaya is a usable article. It has information on how to get there and on restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please feel free to improve it by editing the page.
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