Surabaya

Indonesia's second-largest city and the gateway to East Java, with a Dutch colonial old town, a Chinatown night market and the Heroes Monument; also a transit point for Mount Bromo.

Surabaya is Indonesia's second-largest city and the capital of East Java province, on the northeast coast of Java, facing Madura Island across the Madura Strait. The Battle of Surabaya on 10 November 1945 earned it the name "City of Heroes." The city preserves many Dutch colonial buildings and has lively Chinese, Arab and Madurese communities. You can explore the city in several parts: the northern old town (Jembatan Merah, Kya-Kya Chinatown, the Ampel Arab Quarter, Pabean Market and the House of Sampoerna); the center (the Heroes Monument, Tunjungan Street, the Majapahit Hotel, the Submarine Monument and City Hall); and the northeast waterfront (Kenjeran, the Sanggar Agung temple and the Suramadu Bridge). Day trips from the city include the Majapahit ruins at Trowulan, the Sidoarjo mud volcano and Madura Island. May–Oct is the dry season and the best time to visit; it is hot all year, and the rainy season has thunderstorms in the afternoon. Juanda International Airport has flights to Jakarta, Bali and some cities in China, and ride-hailing apps are the main way to get around the city. Surabaya is also the gateway to Mount Bromo and Mount Ijen; we suggest 1–2 days in the city itself. Dress modestly when visiting mosques, and note that during Ramadan some restaurants are closed during the day.

Top sights

Where to eat

Itineraries