Surabaya is one of Indonesia’s most important cities. Located in East Java, Surabaya is named the "City of Heroes" because of its significance in Indonesian independence. Though visitors often only stop in Surabaya to transit to Bali, the city itself...more
Surabaya is one of Indonesia’s most important cities. Located in East Java, Surabaya is named the "City of Heroes" because of its significance in Indonesian independence. Though visitors often only stop in Surabaya to transit to Bali, the city itself offers historical attractions filled with priceless cultural heritage.
The Old Town area is a great place to roam around and witness old colonial buildings built in the 1900s. Don’t forget to ride the Surabaya Heritage Track—a free tour bus service around Surabaya’s famous historical sites! Visit the Surabaya National Monument which symbolizes peace and war as the city’s very own legend… or perhaps check out the Suramadu National Bridge that connects Surabaya to Madura Island!
Surabaya is also known for its many museums. The best museums to visit in the city are the Museum Negeri Mpu Tantular, the Urban Historical Museum Surabaya, the Museum Rudi Isbandi, and the Modern and Contemporary Art Museum. The House of Sampoerna is a wonderful museum as well with an art gallery inside a former colonial house.
Surabaya is a great place for shopping too. The city features a number of shopping malls and markets where visitors can find a wide variety of items. Famous shopping malls in Surabaya are Tunjungan Plaza, Galaxy Mall, Surabaya Town Square, and Grand City Mall. The Square, Golden City Mall, ITC, Darmo Trade Center, Roode Brug Soerabaia, and Jembatan Merah Plaza are some of the many places where you can purchase iconic Surabaya souvenirs and trinkets to bring home with you!
Bandara Internasional Juanda is the airport available in Surabaya. There are airport buses that drop travelers off at the Bungurasih bus station. Taxis are also available at the airport and a trip to the city center costs around 7-10 USD.
Surabaya is a heavily Muslim-populated city. Thus, you would never need to worry about finding halal restaurants around any corner of Surabaya. The famous and recommended places to dine are Botanika Restaurant, Pondok Tempo Doeloe, Kahyangan Resto, Woroeng Podojoyo, Zona Alam Resto & Cafe, and Bebek Tepi Sawah!
Plenty of mosques are available in Surabaya. Though, this city has some pretty unique ones. Many of the Chinese population in Surabaya converted to Islam. Therefore, the Cheng Hoo Mosque is built with beautiful and iconic Chinese architecture as a symbol of their heritage. Surabaya also houses Masjid Al-Akbar which is a huge mosque complex welcoming visitors of all faiths to witness its brilliant structure and panoramic view off the top of its tower.