Top places to visit in Surabaya

• Surabaya Zoo (Kebun Binatang Surabaya)

  zoo · 4.0 rating · about 3 h · check the fee at the gate

  One of the oldest and largest zoos in Southeast Asia, established 1916, housing 350+ species including Sumatran tigers, Komodo dragons, giraffes, and rare birds. Set on 15 hectares in south Surabaya with well-shaded walking paths and a…

• G-Walk Citraland

  food street · 4.4 rating · about 2 h · free entry

  A lively open-air pedestrian lifestyle street in west Surabaya with 200+ food stalls, cafés, boutiques, and outdoor seating. Especially buzzing Thursday to Sunday evenings when live music is performed. One of Surabaya's top hangout spots…

• Arab Quarter Sunan Ampel (Ampel)

  islamic quarter · 4.6 rating · about 1.5 h · free entry

  Surabaya's historic Islamic quarter surrounding the 15th-century mosque and tomb of Sunan Ampel, one of the Wali Songo who Islamised Java. Labyrinthine lanes sell prayer beads, dates, Arabic perfume, and halal street food. A living…

• Kenjeran Beach (Pantai Kenjeran)

  urban beach · 4.2 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate

  Surabaya's most popular public beach on Madura Strait, backed by Kenjeran Park with rides, a Chinese temple complex, and fresh seafood stalls. The iconic twin pagodas stand on stilts over the water. Best at sunset when the sky reflects…

• Galaxy Mall Surabaya & Waterpark Kenpark

  mall & waterpark · 4.1 rating · about 4 h · check the fee at the gate

  East Surabaya's upscale mall hub surrounded by Kenjeran Water Park — one of Java's largest outdoor water parks with wave pools, slides, and a lazy river. The area also hosts regular weekend food festivals and MICE events at the nearby…

• Monumen Kapal Selam (Submarine Monument)

  naval museum · 4.4 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  A decommissioned Soviet-era KRI Pasopati 410 submarine dry-docked on land beside the Kalimas river. Visitors can step inside and explore the cramped interior — torpedo tubes, navigation room, crew quarters. Built 1952 in Russia, served…

• House of Sampoerna

  colonial heritage · 4.7 rating · about 1.5 h · free entry

  A Dutch colonial era tobacco warehouse converted into a living museum celebrating the Sampoerna kretek cigarette dynasty. The complex includes a 1862 building, working cigarette hand-rolling demonstration, a classic-car showroom, and a…

• Suroboyo Bridge (Jembatan Suroboyo)

  modern bridge · 4.5 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate

  A 2018 landmark cable-stayed pedestrian bridge over the Kali Lamong-Kenjeran shoreline, illuminated spectacularly after dark with LED light shows. The bridge is part of the Kenjeran coastal promenade and offers panoramic views of the…

• Surabaya Heroes Monument (Tugu Pahlawan)

  war memorial · 4.5 rating · about 1.3 h · check the fee at the gate

  A 41-metre white marble obelisk built in 1952 honouring the Surabayan fighters of the 10 November 1945 Battle of Surabaya. Flanked by an underground museum of independence-era artefacts, dioramas, and photos. National importance as a…

• Darmo Boulevard (Jl. Raya Darmo)

  colonial boulevard · 4.3 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  Surabaya's grandest tree-lined boulevard flanked by colonial villas, art deco mansions, and consulates. Sunday mornings see a 5km Car-Free Day market with craft vendors and street food. Ideal for heritage walks and birdwatching among the…

• Jembatan Merah (Red Bridge)

  colonial bridge · 4.3 rating · about 0.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  Surabaya's most iconic colonial bridge, painted red, spanning the Kalimas river at the heart of the old port district. Originally built by the Dutch East India Company (VOC) in 1734, it has witnessed pivotal moments in Indonesian history…

• Balai Kota Surabaya (City Hall)

  colonial architecture · 4.1 rating · about 0.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  A grand 1920s Dutch colonial administrative building with classical European columns and a clock tower, set amid manicured gardens. The courtyard hosts public events; the surrounding streetscape of Jl. Walikota Mustajab is lined with…

Things to do

• Mount Bromo Sunrise Tour from Surabaya Nature · 12 h · from IDR 665,000 per person
• Submarine Monument & Riverside Walk Sightseeing · 2 h · from IDR 95,000 per person
• Surabaya Night Culinary Tour Food · 3 h · from IDR 285,000 per person
• Madura Island Day Trip Sightseeing · 8 h · from IDR 380,000 per person
• Arab Quarter & Ampel Mosque Heritage Walk Cultural · 2.5 h · from IDR 152,000 per person
• Mangrove Wonorejo Eco-Boat Tour Nature · 2.5 h · from IDR 152,000 per person
• Surabaya Heritage Walking Tour Cultural · 3 h · from IDR 250,000 per person
• House of Sampoerna Museum & Factory Tour Cultural · 1.5 h

Day trips and tours

• Surabaya Heritage Walk: Kota Tua + Sampoerna + Arab Quarter 6 h · from IDR 350,000

Where to stay in Surabaya

• City Center about IDR 1,800 per night

  East Java capital with mid-range accommodation

Hotels

• Hotel Majapahit Surabaya (Mandarin Oriental) 5-star · IDR 2,500,000 to IDR 8,000,000 per night
• JW Marriott Surabaya 5-star · IDR 2,200,000 to IDR 6,500,000 per night
• Shangri-La Hotel Surabaya 5-star · IDR 1,300,000 to IDR 3,200,000 per night
• The Westin Surabaya 5-star · IDR 1,300,000 to IDR 3,000,000 per night
• Bumi Surabaya City Resort 4-star · IDR 900,000 to IDR 2,200,000 per night
• Sheraton Surabaya Hotel & Towers 5-star · IDR 1,200,000 to IDR 2,800,000 per night

Where to eat

• Depot Bu Rudy Indonesian, Javanese · about IDR 40,000 per person
• Rawon Setan Indonesian, Javanese · about IDR 45,000 per person
• Soto Ayam Lamongan Cak Har Indonesian, Javanese · about IDR 25,000 per person
• Sate Klopo Ondomohen Indonesian, Javanese · about IDR 55,000 per person
• Rujak Cingur Ahmad Jais Indonesian, Javanese · about IDR 30,000 per person
• Lontong Kupang Pak Ali Indonesian, East Javanese · about IDR 28,000 per person
• Bebek Palupi Indonesian · about IDR 45,000 per person
• Nasi Goreng Jancuk Indonesian · about IDR 150,000 per person

Getting to Surabaya

Airport: Surabaya (SUB)

How visitors arrive in Surabaya

• Flight to Juanda Airport By air · common

  Juanda lies southeast of the city with domestic and international terminals. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Train to Gubeng or Pasar Turi By train from Java cities · common

  Long-distance trains arrive at Gubeng and Pasar Turi downtown. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Bus to Purabaya terminal By road from East Java, Bali · common

  Purabaya is the main hub with connections across East Java, other Java cities and Bali; the Trans-Java toll road also arrives. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Boat to Tanjung Perak By ferry from Madura, other islands · possible

  The harbour handles ferries from Madura and passenger ships from other Indonesian ports. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

From the airport to the centre

• DAMRI bus from Juanda airport

  A DAMRI bus runs from both terminals to Purabaya bus terminal, west of the airport; it is not a direct link to downtown. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Taxi from Juanda airport unconfirmed

  Taxis wait at Juanda for trips into Surabaya, and app-based cars also serve the airport. Agree the fare before setting off or ask for the meter. Source: mojok.co

From the railway station to the centre

• Long-distance trains to Gubeng or Pasar Turi

  Surabaya Gubeng and Pasar Turi are the two main stations, both in the city. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

Getting around

• Ride Hail

  Gojek, Grab and Maxim operate in Surabaya, with car and motorbike options booked in the app and dedicated app pickup points at major malls and train stations.

  Get the Grab app · Grab rides to Juanda, Surabaya

• Walking

Safety and scams to avoid

• Scooter rental damage claim

  Juanda Airport taxi touts · Tunjungan Plaza area rickshaw overcharges · Ampel Arab Quarter unauthorised guides

  Pre-existing damage is invoiced when you return the scooter — often Rp 2–5M.

  How to avoid it: Video the scooter on pickup. Rent only via your hotel.

Best time to visit Surabaya

• Jan 32°C
• Feb 32°C
• Mar 32°C
• Apr 32°C
• May 32°C
• Jun 31°C
• Jul 31°C
• Aug 31°C
• Sep 32°C
• Oct 34°C
• Nov 34°C
• Dec 33°C

More in Indonesia

• Jakarta
• Bali
• Yogyakarta
• Bandung
• Labuan Bajo
• Malang

Frequently asked questions about Surabaya

How many days do you need in Surabaya?

A typical trip to Surabaya is 2-3 days.

What are the top-rated places to visit in Surabaya?

The highest-rated places in our Surabaya guide are House of Sampoerna, Arab Quarter Sunan Ampel (Ampel), Suroboyo Bridge (Jembatan Suroboyo), Surabaya Heroes Monument (Tugu Pahlawan), G-Walk Citraland.

Where should I stay in Surabaya?

Our guide covers these areas to stay in Surabaya: City Center.

How do I get around Surabaya?

Ways to get around Surabaya covered in our guide: Ride-hailing app, Walking.

What scams should I watch out for in Surabaya?

Scams reported to us for Surabaya include Scooter rental damage claim. Each is explained in the guide, with how to avoid it.

What is the weather like in Surabaya?

Average daytime highs in Surabaya run from 31°C in Jul to 34°C in Oct.

Which airport is nearest to Surabaya?

The nearest airport to Surabaya has the code SUB.