Skip to content

Travel guides

Surabaya travel guide

Surabaya, capital of East Java and Indonesia's second-largest city, is a port and business centre on Java's north-east coast. Many visitors pass through for work or on the way to Mount Bromo, Malang or the ferry to Bali, so hotels concentrate around the Tunjungan shopping district, the two main stations and the large malls of the western suburbs.

By Hotel Unfiltered · Copy reviewed

Getting there and choosing your base

  • Juanda International Airport (SUB): About 12 km south-east of the city, with separate domestic and international terminals. DAMRI buses go to Purabaya bus terminal; for a downtown hotel a taxi or app car is the simpler choice.
  • Pasar Turi and Gubeng stations: Both are downtown. Pasar Turi takes executive trains from Jakarta along the north coast; Gubeng handles trains from the south and east, including Yogyakarta, Bandung and Banyuwangi for the Bali ferry. Choose a hotel near the station your train uses.
  • Tanjung Perak harbour: About 4 km north of downtown, used by Pelni ships and ferries to Madura. The old town between the port and the centre suits an early sailing.

Areas to consider

Tunjungan and Embong Malang

Suits shoppers and first-time visitors who want the main malls and a dense choice of mid-range and upscale hotels. Ride-hailing cars collect from set points at the big malls, so ask the hotel where pick-ups happen at its own entrance.

Gubeng

Suits rail travellers using Gubeng station and anyone continuing to Malang, Banyuwangi or Yogyakarta. If you have a dawn train, ask whether the hotel serves breakfast early or can pack one.

Old Town (Kembang Jepun and Ampel)

Suits travellers interested in colonial buildings, the Chinatown streets and Masjid Ampel, the oldest mosque in East Java. Choice is thinner here than in the centre, so read recent guest comments on cleanliness and air-conditioning.

Pakuwon Indah (West Surabaya)

Suits business visitors and families based around the large Pakuwon mall complex on the middle west ring road. It is a long way from the old town and the stations, so estimate the drive at rush hour before choosing it for a short stay.

When to go

The rainy season runs from about November to April and brings occasional flash floods and traffic jams; June to October is drier and easier for getting around. The June–July and December school holidays and long weekends are high season across Indonesia, while Idul Fitri (Lebaran) sends much of the country home and packs every train, bus and flight, so book onward transport early around those dates.

Before choosing a room

  • Some hotels in Java refuse check-in to unmarried couples, and the same can apply to same-sex guests, so read the policy and recent reviews before booking.
  • A few Garuda Indonesia and Indonesia AirAsia domestic flights use Juanda's international terminal, so confirm the terminal when booking a hotel airport transfer.
  • Rates are often quoted before government tax and service charge; ask for the all-in total.

Sources and planning resources

Facts checked on . Transport services, taxes and hotel offers can change. Confirm the details for your trip before booking.

Find a stay in Surabaya

Set your dates and compare the room offers available for your trip.

Explore hotels

More guides for Indonesia

All Indonesia guides →