Surabaya

The story goes that 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

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

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 is also the only place in Indonesia with a synagogue.

The national language, Bahasa Indonesia (Indonesian), is the medium of government, commerce and education. Many locals also speak the regional language, Javanese (sometimes with a local accent). However, there are significant communities speaking Arabic, Cantonese (the language of Guangdong), Hokkien (the language of Fujian) and Mandarin (the now-standard spoken language of China). Most of this variety is centered in the north of the city, closer to the historic maritime center of business. There is also a surprising amount of English visible in Surabaya on advertising and signs.
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).

By plane

• Juanda International AirportThere are two terminals: Terminal 1 (north of the runways) is the Domestic Terminal, and Terminal 2 (south of the runways) 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.

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

The national rail operator Kereta Api 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, and , 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 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

The main ferry terminal is , located at the northern end of Jl. Perak Timur road about 4 km north of downtown.

• Angkutan Sungai Danau dan Penyeberangan (ASDP): Daily ferry service from Ujung Kamal and Madura
• Pelayaran Nasional Indonesia (PELNI): Runs passenger ships from a large number of port cities throughout Indonesia.

By bus

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 (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 20,000 for air conditioned, less for "ekonomi") and Probolinggo (for Mount Bromo, Rp 20,000), so just turn up.
To Denpasar in Bali, fair price is Rp 100,000-120,000 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 Ubung bus terminal in Denpasar. Duration: 10-12 hr.
A ticket to Jakarta should cost Rp 130,000-150,000 in eksekutif bus - however the trip may be extremely tedious. The road is one of the busiest in Indonesia - despite that, much of it has only one lane in each direction, and there are lots of slow heavy trucks. There will be 3 or 4 rest stops on the way (20–30 minutes each), and at least some traffic jams near Jakarta, so even in an express bus what was advertised as 13–14 hours journey could easily turn into 18 or even 20.
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.

By car

From the south, the Surabaya-Gempol toll road skirts the city limits up to Tanjung Perak port. The arterial Pantura (North Coast) road connects Surabaya all the way to Semarang in Central Java and Jakarta through Gresik, in which the portion between Surabaya and Gresik is tolled. From the neighboring Madura Island, the Suramadu bridge crosses the Madura strait, for free.

By taxi

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

• Blue Bird Group

  phone: +62 31 3721234

• Orenz Taxi

  phone: +62 31 8799999

• Silver and Express

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.
Since the fuel price hike in November 2014, there are some taxi operators that still use the old tariff, such as Zebra Nusantara Taxi which uses gas for its taxi, so the Zebra operator never increases the taxi tariff if the gas price is not increased yet. Zebra still uses the old flag-fall tariff Rp 5,500 for the first kilometer. The cheapest tariff among taxi operators. Zebra Taxi has been a public company for about 10 years and reliable enough. .
A trip from Stasiun Gubeng to Pasar Keputran should cost around Rp 20,000.

By train

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

• Wonokromo Station

  phone: +62 31 8410694

• Gubeng Station

  phone: +62 31 5033115

• Pasar Turi Station

  phone: +62 31 5345014

• Semut Station

  phone: +62 31 3521465

By bus

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, to help protect the environment passengers may exchange 3 large plastic bottles, 5 small plastic bottles or 10 plastic glasses for a ticket.
This is a large populous city and buses are usually crowded. There are two class of bus: standard buses which are usually very full and patas buses (supposed to be first class, but it is still... a bus.)

By minibus

Bemos in East Java are sometimes called Angkot or Mikrolet. They are plentiful in Surabaya and can be hailed fairly randomly.
You need to know the routes to specific destination and beware of pickpocket, as its not safe.

By becak

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 car

Another option to discover Surabaya is by car and there are many car rental companies. To rent a car with a driver for one day might cost between 250,000 rupiah and 500,000 rupiah, 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).

By Car/Bike Sharing

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

• House of Sampoerna

  phone: +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. Check out the timing for the museum's main attraction: hundreds of girls hand-rolling Indonesia's most prestigious cigarette, Dji Sam Soe, using traditional equipment: they do it at an unbelievable speed. The museum also organizes its own bus tours of nearby historical sites; these are worthwhile and generally available in Indonesian and English.Nov 2019 update: there is no longer cigarette production at this site as it has been moved to the main factory.

• Museum Kesehatan dr. Adhyatma, MPH

  phone: +62 31 352-8748
  address: Jl. Indrapura No. 17
  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.

• Tugu Pahlawan & Museum Sepuluh November

  address: Jalan Pahlawan, Kel. Alun-Alun Contong, Kec. Bubutan, Jawa Timur 60175
  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.

• Jembatan MerahThis 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.

• Museum Rudi Isbandi

  phone: +62 31 503-2931
  Holdings collected from 1952 to 2009. Opened in 2009, and named after collector Rudi Isbandi. Address: Karangwismo I/10, Surabaya.

• Museum TNI AL Loka Jala Çrana

  phone: +82 31 329-1092 ext 4380
  address: Candradimuka Kompleks Pendidikan TNI AL Bumimoro, Surabaya.
  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.

• Gereja Kelahiran Santa Perawan MariaThe oldest Catholic church in Surabaya. Beautiful glass panels and serene surroundings.

• GrahadiThe 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.

• G-Walklocated 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. A new food market opened in 2011 and close to G-Walk you'll also find some bars. G-Walk is located between Pakuwon Super Mall and Ciputra Golf.

• 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.

*

• Masjid Al Akbar SurabayaA 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, 65m (195ft) above ground level.

• Masjid Muhammad Cheng HooA 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".

• Monumen Jalasveva JayamaheA monument on Surabaya's seafront dedicated to the service of the Indonesian Navy.

• Monumen Kapal Selam (KRI Pasopati (410))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. It is located beside the river next to Delta Plaza. You also can see the Suroboyo monument near the river.

• Pasar AmpelA large Arab market selling carpets and all sorts of other goodies. At the end of the main narrow lane is the mosque and grave of one of the nine Muslim saints of Java, Sunan Ampel.

• Pasar KeputranA small local food market.

• 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.

• 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.

• Kenjeran Beach (Pantai Kenjeran), is a beach with black sand.

• Swim and have fun with water in

  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.
• Surabaya has several golf courses. Try to golf in Bukit Darmo Golf. This golf course is located in the elite housing area in West Surabaya. This course has 18 holes, designed by Jack Nicklaus II. Another alternative is Yani Golf. This course is built in hilly terrain and is the oldest course in town with the crypt of the last Dutch Governor on it. Otherwise, you can try Graha Famili golf course (18 holes), inside Graha Famili real estate site, near the Bukit Darmo Golf. Also Ciputra Golf found within Citraland Estate. For beginners, try Pakuwon Golf instead within Pakuwon Estate - an 18-hole par 3 course; the 'back nine' are quite challenging. There's also excellent Taman Dayu golf located about an hour drive south, towards Malang. There you also find the very nice course of Fina Golf. Another 9-hole Par 3 course can be found on the estate of Semen Gresik in the town of the same name. Generally golf in Surabaya is both great and cheap if you compare with most other countries.
• 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.

• Surabaya expats football teamplays every Saturdays at 3pm. Feel free to join!

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

Upscale

• 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.
• 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.
• 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 the western part of Surabaya. Pakuown 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.
• Surabaya Town Square (Sutos), Jl Adityawarman. Anchored by Foodmart. A shopping mall with the largest cinema studio in Surabaya. Open until midnight.
• Grand City Mall, Jl Gubeng Pojok. Next to Grand City Convention and Exhibition Hall. The luxurious mall in Surabaya.
• Lenmarc Mall, Jl Bukit Darmo Boulevard. Anchored by Transmart Full glass façade and the first golf-view mall in Surabaya.
• Ciputra World Mall, Jl. Mayjen Sungkono. The longest escalator in Surabaya.

Factory outlet

• Family Outlet

  address: 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

• 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
• 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 (5k each) of movies made everywhere. Excellent food court (begins to open around 12:00), featuring excellent vegetarian cuisine among at least 40 other choices.
• City of Tomorrow (Cito), Jl Raya Jendral Ahmad Yani. Anchored by Matahari and Hypermart.
• 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.
• Royal Plaza, Jl Raya Jendral Ahmad Yani. Anchored by Matahari, Hypermart, ACE and Index. Another medium size shopping mall in Surabaya.
• 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
• ITC, Jl Gembong. Anchored by Carrefour.
• Maspion Square, Jl Margorejo Indah. Anchored by Giant. A shopping mall situated in Southern Surabaya.

Budget

• Jembatan Merah Plaza (JMP)
• Pusat Grosir Surabaya (PGS)
• Darmo Trade Center (DTC)
• Kapas Krampung Plaza (Kaza)
• Royal Square

Specialty

• 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'.
• HI-TECH Mall (THR Mall), Jl Kusuma Bangsa. Dismall place to shop for computers, software and computer peripherals.
• Plasa Marina, Jl Margorejo Indah. a shopping area for computers, software, and cellphones.
• Empire Palace, Jl Blauran. A place specialising in weddings and jewellery.

• Roode Brug Soerabaia

  address: 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

  phone: +62 31 7035 8118
  address: Jl Mayjen Sungkono 35, Putat Gede, Sukomanunggal
  Eclectic souvenir shop with the theme of Surabaya on many of its products.

Markets

• 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).
• 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.

Surabaya is famous for rujak cingur, a local salad with sauce and cingur (slices of cooked cow nose). Try also the sate kelopo, 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 pecel, gado-gado, semanggi, bakso, es cendol, es campur, es teler, and es kacang ijo (mung bean milk).
Kue lapis Surabaya is the local variety of a cake that's made throughout large parts of Indonesia and Malaysia.

International

• Kafe Bromo

  phone: +62 31 546 8000
  address: Sheraton Surabaya Hotel & Towers, Jl. Embong Malang 25-31
  Offers delicious all day dining in a relaxed setting with a view that gives to pool.

• Lung Yuan Chinese Restaurant

  phone: +62 31 546 8000
  address: Sheraton Surabaya Hotel & Towers, Jl. Embong Malang 25-31
  The menu features fresh seafood, premium fish and various Cantonese dishes. Has a private room suitable for a business meeting or family gathering.

• Tradewinds Restaurant

  phone: +62 31 7326066
  address: Jl. Raya Kupang Baru 17A
• Qua-Li. Specialized in authentic Singaporean and Hong Kong cuisines conveniently and inexpensively, Qua-Li tenants are located at East Coast Center, Supermal Pakuwon Indah, Tunjungan Plaza, Galaxy Mall and many other shopping centers.
• JW Marriott Hotel. International buffet, French, Tang Palace Chinese and Japanese themed restaurants.
• Angus House, World Trade Centre & HR. Muhammad. Premium quality steak.
• Boncafe, Raya Gubeng, Manyar Kertoarjo, Pregolan Bunder, Jl. Lingkar Dalam Barat Graha Family. Local style steak house which favours by Surabaya people

• Trattoria Valentino

  phone: +62 31 734 3124
  address: Jl. Bukit Darmo Golf R-12
  Italian owned restaurant, wood fried pizza, hand made pastas. Family style, good prices. Italian, English and Indonesian speakers.
• Portofino, Shangri-la Hotel, Mayjend Sungkono. Great Italian food, can be pricey.
• Capital, Lenmarc Mall. There are no other restaurants serving complete original Western dishes except here in Capital, located in Lenmarc Mall.
• Crystal Jade Chinese Restaurant, Lenmarc Mall. Cooked by chefs from Singapore and China.
• Food courts, in all the main shopping malls offer a variety of Indonesian, Western Chinese and Japanese dishes at reasonable prices. The shopping malls also have good variety of small restaurants.

• Ahimsa Restaurant

  phone: +62 31 5350466
  address: Kusuma Bangsa 80
  Best known vegetarian restaurant in stylish decor. Pan Asian, Chinese and Indonesian cuisine.

• Domicile Kitchen and Lounge

  phone: +62 31 5016900
  address: Jalan Sumatra No.35
  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.

Indonesian

• Kahyangan Resto, Citraland. Authentic à la carte Indonesian cuisines accompanied with an Oriental touch are served here at precise prices.
• Soto Ayam Ambengan, Jl. Ambengan. Serves soto, a yellow soup with chicken meat, noodle and cabbage. The soup is yellow because of the turmeric and other spices.
• Hary Hary Restaurant, Jl. Musi 47. Special Indonesian grilled fresh fish and prawn in Dutch colonial house with cozy and classy atmosphere. Many other heritage recipes like tahu tek-tek,nasi goreng,sate kelapa.
• Puri Garden, Plaza Surabaya 1F. Tasty selection of Indonesian food with dishes for Rp 10,000-20,000. Try puri kuali asam, an Indonesian twist on the spicy Thai tom yam kung soup.
• Bakwan Dempo, Jl Dempo, Bakwan and fried or braised stuffed intestines.
• Bakwan Gili, Ps Atum, Authentic Bakwan.
• Bakwan Kapasari, Mayjend Sungkono. Serving meatballs (called bakwan), soup, tofu (called tahu), siomay and more since 1930s.
• Nasi Uduk Kebon Kacang, Jl HR Muhammad, Jl. Ahmad Yani. Serving nasi uduk, Indonesian version of nasi lemak.
• Bakwan Dempo 19, Jl. HR Muhammad 46. Try Bakwan campur, meatballs (bakwan) with siomay, tahu.
• Depot You Yuen, Jl Undaan Kulon 87. Local vegetarian cuisine. Indonesian speakers only.
• Ayam Bakar Prima Rasa, Jl.Kusuma Bangsa 3a, Jl.Raya Manyar Kertoajo 78, Jl.Raya Kupang Indah 1a, Jl. Indonesian food, especially grilled chicken (ayam bakar). BBQ fish (gurame bakar) with nice soy sauce, fresh fried fish (gurame goreng) looks like it is flying when served.
• Ikan Bakar Cianjur, Mayjend Sungkono, Jl. Manyar Kertoarjo V. Try the ikan pesmol, fried fish with delicious local sauce or Nila Goreng, fried Nila fish with sambal or 'hot sauce'.
• Ayam Goreng Kertajaya, Jl Pemuda (opposite Bonnet Supermarket and to Jl Jaksa Agung Suprapto.)
• Kartika Pujasera, Jl. Diponegoro. Pujasera is the abbreviation of 'Pusat Jajan Serba Ada' or if translated in English, 'complete snack Centre'. Here you can order various local food, ranging from semanggi, bakso, pecel, tahu tek, mie kluntung, gado-gado, lontong balap, bakwan kotak, to bebek goreng.
• Rawon Setan, Jl. Embong Malang, (opposite JW Marriott Hotel). Open 24 hr a day. Favourite among the locals.
• Sate Klopo Ondomohen Jl. Walikota Mustajab. Local minced beef satay mixed with shredded coconut. One of Surabaya Cuisine.
• Leko Jl. HR Muhammad. Serves Indonesian cuisines and specialises in beef ribs presented in a special spices.

Fast food

• A&W

  address: 3 food court
  TP SuperMall

• McDonald's

  address: 3 food court
  TP Galaxy Mall, Surabaya Plaza, and almost any other mall/plaza
• KFC, Jl. Basuki Rachmat . Also in many larger malls.

Ice cream and pastry

• Jasmine Ice Cream and Pastries

  phone: +62 31 594 7452, +62 31 7099-1431
  address: Grand City Mall lt 2-38, Jl. Gubeng Pojok no. 1, Galaxy Mall Lt 2 - 315

• Ibu Hasan

  phone: +62 31 594 8710
  address: Jl. Manyar Rejo 8, Surabaya
  Local bakery chain

• Ibu Hasan

  phone: +62 31 709 9975
  address: Jl. Kutai 25 A, Surabaya
  Local bakery chain

• Baskin and RobbinsIce cream parlour.

• phone: +62 31 843 2545
  address: JL. Komp Ruko Mangga Dua Blok A.9 No. 10

• phone: +62 31 593 7159
  address: Galaxi, Jl. Dharmahusada Indah Timur No.37 Lt.2.

• phone: +62 31 535 5081
  address: Plaza Tunjungan 4 - Jl. Embong Malang 7-21

• phone: +62 31 739 0331
  address: Pakuwon Supermall, Perumahan Pakuwon Indah

• phone: +62 31 565 3386
  address: Golden City Mall, Jl H. Abdul Wahab Siamin 2- 8

Es Krim Zangrandi, Jl Yos Sudarso. The oldest ice cream stall in town. Located in downtown area, at Jl. Yos Sudarso, near the Balai Pemuda.

Turin Italian Es Krim, Jl Embong Kenongo.

Amore, Jl Raya Kertajaya Indah.

Cocofrio Ice Cream, Jl Dharmawangsa 113-A-B

• 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.

• The Capital Restaurant & Lounge

  phone: +62 31 5116 2899
  address: Lenmarc Mall G-12
  Californian Fusion, Tex-Mex and Asian food. Wide range of beverages including CO 2 cocktails and jelly noodles. Special liquors have lower price rates during special hours.

• Citilites Skyclub & Bistro

  phone: +62 31 562 1234
  address: Jl. Mayjend Sungkono 101-103
  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

  phone: +62 31 567 7999
  address: Jl. Mayjend Sungkono 83
  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

  address: 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

  phone: +62 31 5043151
  address: Jl. Sumatra 40
  Cheap beer, great outdoor setting. Nice regulars that are expats and Indonesian. Arak Bali (an Indonesian vodka-like spirit), cocktails, coffee, tenderloin steak, 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.

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.

Budget

• Merdeka

  phone: +62 31 3520654, +62 812 3231762
  address: Jl. Bongkaran No. 6

• Family Guest House

  phone: +62 31 5022268
  address: Jl. Gubeng Kertajaya 8C No. 15
  Clean room and familiar service. Serves good coffee, hot chocolatte, and tea all day long. Free 24 hr internet connection through wifi.

• Green House Homestay

  phone: +62 31 8537629, +62 31 8544241, +62 813 30426696
  address: Unimas Garden Regency H 23 Waru Sidoarjo
  Air-con, cable TV, free WiFi, bath, breakfast.

• Puri Kencana

  address: Jl. Kalimantan
  Worn rooms with air-con and cold water including decent Indonesian breakfast.

• Soerabaya Place Homestay

  phone: +62 31 5342851
  address: Jl. Jaksa Agung Suparapto
  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.

• Pavillijoen Hotel

  phone: +62 31 5343449
  address: Jl. Pasar Genteng 94
  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.

• Sparkling Backpacker Hotel

  phone: +62 31 5323311
  address: Jl Kayon No 2AB
  Air-con, WiFi. No dorm, only private rooms.

• The Hostel

  phone: +62-812-35174233
  address: Jl Simpang Dukuh 30-40 Blok A4
  air condition mixed dorm. free breakfast and wifi. has lockers and a shared lounge/tv area. clean bathrooms.

Mid-range

• Singgasana Hotel Surabaya

  phone: +62 31 5682703
  address: Gunungsari Street, Surabaya 60224, Indonesia
  120 rooms and 4 self-contained villas, all have cable TV, Internet and telephone, mini-bar, private toilet, bath and shower. Airport/city transfers and car rental, business centre, currency exchange, banquet and meeting venues, swimming pool and spa.

• TS Suites

  phone: +62 31 5631222
  126 rooms of 2 CEO Suites, 5 family suites of 2 bedrooms and 119 Executive Suites.

• Puri Darmo Service ResidenceDarmo. 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.

• Ibis StylesGood discounts online for advance bookings.

• Narita

• Sahid Convenient for Gubeng Railway Station, but maintenance of rooms can be spotty. Around US$30–35 including breakfast.
• Weta International Welcoming and modern hotel in a central location. Around US$30 including breakfast.

• Mercure Grand MiramaLocated in the city centre.

• EquatorNice bungalows, on cobblestone roads, some with attached garages.

• Santika

• Singgasana

• NovotelNice resort hotel with outdoor hallways. Pool with abundant plants and waterslide. From US$50.

• Garden Palace, (Next to Surabaya Plaza), Dim Sum, Japanese & Chinese food.
• Hotel Tunjungan, Located next to Tunjungan Plaza. Convenient to mall and mall's food court.

• Surabaya Plaza HotelConventional business hotel close to Surabaya Plaza.

• Inna Simpang

*

Splurge

• Sheraton Surabaya Hotel & Towers

  phone: +62 31 546 8000
  address: Jalan Embong Malang 25 - 31.

• JW Marriott Hotel Surabaya

  phone: +62 31 5458888
  address: Jalan Embong Malang No. 85-89

• Majapahit Hotel

  phone: +62 31 5459002
  address: 65 Jalan Tunjungan
  Opulent colonial-era boutique hotel. Built by the Sarkies brothers in 1910, whose other hotels include the Raffles Hotel in Singapore, the Eastern & Oriental in Penang and the Strand Hotel in Yangon. Good service and staff. From US$70, although local travel agents may get better prices.

• Shangri-La Hotel Surabaya

  phone: +62 31 5661550
  Close to golf courses in Darmo area. Pool with abundant plants and waterslide. From US$80.

• Hotel Bumi SurabayaConventional business hotel. Indonesian President stays here.

• Ascott Waterplace Surabaya

  phone: +62-31 7393 001
  address: Tower D1, Jalan Pakuwon Indah Lontar Timur Kav. 3-5
  The property is equipped with one and two bedroom apartments and a one bedroom penthouse. Courier services are available on request.

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.

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 (UDG) (ER)

• RSUD Dr. Soetomo

  phone: +62 31 5340061
  address: Jl. Prof. Moestopo 6-8

• RSUD Haji

  phone: +62 31 5947760
  address: Jl. Manyar Kertoadi

• RS Darmo

  phone: +62 31 5676253
  address: Jl. Raya Darmo
  Unit Gawat Darurat

• RS Mitra Keluarga

  phone: +62 31 7345333
  address: Jl. Satelit Indah II Darmo Satelit
  (Worst hospital for emergency, doctors chat with med reps before seeing patients, very unprofessional)

• RS William Booth

  phone: +62 31 5678917
  address: Jl. Diponegoro 34

• RS Vincentius. A. Paulo

  phone: +62 31 5677562
  address: Jl. Diponegoro 51

• Rumah Sakit PHC Surabaya

  phone: +62 31 3294801, +62 31 3294118 (UGD 24 hr)
  address: ,Jl. Prapat Kurung Selatan No. 1 Tanjung Perak Surabaya

• RS Adi Husada Kapasari

  phone: +62 31 3764 555
  address: Jl. Kapasari 97-101

• RS Adi Husada

  address: Jl. Undaan Wetan No. 40 - 44

• RS Surabaya Internasional (Ramsay Health Care)

  phone: +62 31 5993211
  address: Jl. Nginden Intan Barat No. 1-6

• Siloam Hospital

  phone: +62 31 5031333, +62 31 5031821, +62 31 5038211
  address: Jl Gubeng Raya 70

• RS Husada Utama

  phone: +62 31 5017975
  address: Jl. Mayjen Prof. Dr. Moestopo 31-33-35

By phone

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. Recently the providers have started offering 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

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.

Tourism information office

• Tourism information

  phone: +62 31 8531815, +62 31 8531820
  address: Jl Wisata Menanggal

• Tourism information

  phone: +62 31 5340444
  address: TIC Balai Pemuda, Jl Pemuda Surabaya

Emergencies

• Ambulance

  phone: 118

• Police

  phone: 110

Police stations

• East Java Police HQ

  phone: +62 31 8280748
  address: Jl. Ahmad Yani.

• Surabaya Police HQ

  phone: +62 31 3523927
  address: Jl. Sikatan 1.

• East Surabaya

  phone: +62 31 5341053, +62 31 3711052
  address: Jl. Sidodadi.

• North Surabaya

  phone: +62 31 5688099, +62 31 5341053
  address: Jl. Raden Saleh

• South Surabaya

  phone: +62 31 3711052, +62 31 5670641
  address: Jl. Dukuh Kupang Barat 16

• Tanjung Perak

  phone: +62 31 3293023, +62 31 62 31 3293023
  address: Jl. Kalianget 1

Consulates

• Australia

  phone: +62 31 9920 3200
  address: Level 3 ESA Sampoerna Center

• Belarus

  phone: +62 31 545 1945
  address: Jl. Basuki Rachmad 149

• Belgium

  phone: +62 31 545 1945
  address: Jl. Darmo Baru Barat I, 22

• China

  phone: +62 31 567 5825
  address: Jalan Mayjend Soengkono, No. 105

• Czech Republic

  phone: +62 31 5621 834
  address: Darmo Square Kav. R-8, Jl. Raya Darmo 54-56

• Denmark

  phone: +62 31 567 6754
  address: Jl. Sambas No 10

• East Timor

  phone: +62 31 568 1548
  address: Jl. Kencana Sari Barat II / AA No. 8

• France

  phone: +62 31 561 5246,+62 31 562 0079
  address: Jl. Darmokali No 10

• Germany

  phone: +62 31 563 1871
  address: Jl. Dr. Wahidin 31

• Hungary

  phone: +62 31 531 6000
  address: Hotel JW Marriott Lt. 3, Jl. Embong Malang

• Japan

  phone: +62 31 503 0008
  address: Jl. Sumatera 93

• Mongolia

  address: Gozco Building 8th Floor, Jl. Raya Darmo 54-56

• Netherlands

  phone: +62 31 566 2409
  address: Jl. Imam Bonjol No. 36

• New Zealand

  phone: +62 31 2111 1388
  address: Jl Sriwijaya 38

• Philippines

  phone: +62 31 381 7062
  address: Jl. Raya Kali Kepiting No. 111

• Poland

  phone: +62 31 568 0759, +62 31 568 0804
  address: Jl. Opak No. 16

• Russia

  address: JL. Sumatera, No. 116 - 118

• Slovakia

  phone: +62 31 352 1516
  address: Jl. Sikatan No. 39

• Sweden

  phone: +62 31 567 6754
  address: Jl. Sambas No. 10, East Java

• United Kingdom

  phone: +62 31 788 1418, +62 31 788 4348
  address: Lamipak Primula Indonesia 26, Jl. Sawunggaling, Gilang-Taman, Sidoarjo

• United States

  phone: +62 31 297-5300
  address: Jl. Citra Raya Niaga No. 2

• Taman Safari II 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, petting zoo and animal shows. The park is usually crowded on weekends and public holidays. However, it is mostly deserted during weekdays.
• Mount Bromo is a popular 4-hour trip from Surabaya.
• Tretes and Trawas are 2 hrs away. Pleasant villas among hills. Good food. There are many roasted corn stalls at night.
• Malang and Batu are 2 hrs away. Malang (height: just over 400 m) is a coolish very busy city with some nostalgic charming houses and boulevards preserved from colonial period. Hotels, recreation areas, villas such as picnics and sports clubs are widely available. Bantu (height: around 1,000 m) is a hill resort around 30 mins 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) 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 where people from other places around the area in Java often visit for a pilgrimage.
• Karimunjawa can be reached by flight.
• Banyuwangi is the new destination around East Java, covering tourism from sea (ferry to Bali) to mountainous area (e.g. the Ijen Plateau)