Surabaya may not be as well-known as Jakarta and Bali, but it has a lot in store for adventurous travellers visiting the captivating country of Indonesia. Some of the best things to do in Surabaya include visiting its numerous landmarks such as the Heroes Monument and the House of Sampoerna to learn about the country’s history, discovering the local culture through your taste-buds by sampling traditional Indonesian cuisine, or venturing outside the city to unearth breathtaking natural treasures, like the Bromo Tengger National Park. Make it a point to visit this incredible city during your Indonesian trip – we guarantee that you’ll be pleasantly surprised by what it has to offer!
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Kawasan Kota Lama (Europeesche Champ)
Rajawali Street is dominated by colonial-style architecture. This area in Surabaya is a corridor that has preserved its original character and is one of three “old villages” often referred to as the “triple junction.” The triple junction consists of the Arab quarter “Ampel,” the East Asian quarter “Kembang Jepun,” and the colonial quarter “Jalan Rajawali.” Tourist attractions on Rajawali Street include the Cerutu Building, Arcadia Hotel, SMPN 5 Surabaya, PTPN XII Building, PTPN XI Building, Pertamina Building, Internatio Building, De Javasche Bank, BNI Bank, Kebonrojo Main Post Office, Taman Sejarah, Jembatan Merah, Siropen Factory, Misoa, and Perak Harbor, among others. Jalan Rajawali is an old town tourist area that continues to attract many visitors, especially foreign tourists.
Take a bus tour around the city
If you visit the House of Sampoerna Cigarette Factory, then be sure to take advantage of its other key attractions in the form of a free bus tour. The bus leaves from the factory at 9 am every day, except on Mondays, and will take you around the city showing you all of the main sights for free! If you have just scheduled a quick stop-off in Surabaya and don’t have much time to get out and explore the city, then this is one of the best ways to cram-in visiting all of the top tourist spots.
Monumen Kapal Selam
If you’re a fan of boating, Monumen Kapal Selam (or Monkasel) is the perfect daytime destination while you’re out and about in Surabaya. Located near Plaza Surabaya, you won’t want to miss this unique attraction! This Soviet era-made submarine was once used during missions in the 1960s, and now stands proudly on land as a visitor attraction. Not just for looking at, this majestic monument is open to the public, and you can even go inside and have a look around.
Jl. Pemuda No. 39, Embong Kaliasin, Genteng, Surabaya
Menara Suar Sembilangan
For folks who love the ocean, this next stop is sure to tickle your fancy! On Madura Island, just off the coast of Surabaya, is a stunning Dutch-era lighthouse, with its 65m tall and 17-floor towering presence making quite an impression as it protrudes from Sembilangan Village. Though it can be a bit challenging to get to the top of Sembilangan Lighthouse, if you’re willing to tackle the stairs and get a quick workout in, reaching the top will make you glad you made the effort! With its mesmerising ocean views, it’s no wonder that so many couples opt to have their pre-wedding photo shoots here!
Jalan Sembilangan, Socah, Pernajuh, Kec. Bangkalan, Kabupaten Bangkalan, Jawa Timur 69161, Indonesia
Mount Bromo
One of the main highlights of East Java is Mount Bromo, one of Indonesia’s many impressive (and active!) volcanoes. This smouldering mountain lies in the wider Bromo Tengger National Park and one of the easiest ways to get there is to take the famous Bromo Midnight Tour that leaves from Surabaya. As the name suggests, you will be leaving at around midnight in order to reach the summit of the volcano, just in time to watch the majestic sunrise over the crater’s lip. For many visitors, this is a real highlight of their trip to Java – so if you’re visiting Surabaya then this is a one day trip that you really shouldn’t miss out on!
Coordinates: 7°56′30″S 112°57′00″E / 7.94167°S 112.95000°E
Suramadu National Bridge
The Suramadu National Bridge is one of the longest bridges in this part of the world, and runs between Surabaya and the neighbouring island of Madura. If you walk along the waterfront in the city, you can take-in the majesty of the bridge’s construction. One of the best times to come here is after dark when the bridge is illuminated with a variety of colourful lights, giving it a magical glow.
Surabaya National Monument
No visit to Surabaya is complete without a trip to the Surabaya National Monument. The name Surabaya comes from two ancient Sanskrit words, namely ‘sura’ which means whale and ‘baya’ which means crocodile. These two creatures are said to represent the difference between war and peace, and at the national monument you will find two sculptures of the animals that are the city’s national symbol. The story goes that the city was founded after an epic battle between a crocodile and a whale, and you will find further echoes of these fighting motifs in other spots all over Surabaya.
Jl. Pahlawan, Alun-alun Contong, Kec. Bubutan, Surabaya, Jawa Timur 60174
Cheng Hoo Mosque
Many people may not realise that Surabaya has a large Chinese population who originally came here as traders and then settled in the area. As a result, the Cheng Hoo Mosque is one of the key religious sites for Chinese-Indonesians in Surabaya who converted to Islam, but still retained much of their heritage – and this is a top spot to visit if you want to see some of the interesting culture firsthand! Make sure to check-out the vivid red, yellow and green decorations all over the mosque, as well as the traditional pagoda which is a blend of dragon and lion carvings.
Jl. Gading No.02, Ketabang, Kec. Genteng, Surabaya, Jawa Timur 60272
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That’s our roundup of favorite things to do in Surabaya! With this list, you’re ready to embark on a fun-filled and well-rounded adventure in the city.
