Weekend in Surabaya
Trip Overview
This two-day Surabaya itinerary balances the city's Dutch colonial legacy with its reputation as Indonesia's working-class heart. Day one explores the historic Kota Tua district, where crumbling warehouses and the Arab Quarter's incense-filled alleys reveal layers of trading history. Day two ventures to the House of Sampoerna and the submarine monument, with evenings spent sampling rawon and lontong balap at legendary local warungs. The pace is moderate, expect humid walks between shaded stops, with afternoon breaks for strong Javanese coffee. This is not a polished tourist city; Surabaya rewards travelers who embrace its gritty authenticity and seek out its surviving heritage corners.
Pace
Moderate
Daily Budget
$45-75 per day
Best Seasons
May through October during the dry season when Surabaya weather brings lower humidity and manageable afternoon heat
Ideal For
History enthusiasts, Food-focused travelers, Urban explorers, First-time visitors to East Java
Day-by-Day Itinerary
A complete plan for every day of your trip
1
Old Town Shadows & Sizzling Woks
Kota Tua and Surabaya Chinatown
Walk through 300 years of trading history in Surabaya's crumbling colonial core, then eat your way through the city's most atmospheric night market.
Morning
Kota Tua heritage walk and Jembatan Merah
Start at the crimson-painted Jembatan Merah, the bridge where Dutch colonizers massacred Chinese residents in 1743. The surrounding streets still hold decaying Dutch warehouses with peeling yellow facades and rusted iron shutters. Walk north to the Kalimas River port where wooden pinisi schooners unload cargo, their sails snapping in the humid breeze. The smell of diesel and dried fish hangs thick here. Continue to the historic Bank Indonesia building, its art deco lobby preserved with marble floors that echo underfoot.
Arrive by 7:30am before the heat intensifies. No booking needed
Lunch
Depot Hok Lay
Afternoon
Sunan Ampel Mosque and Arab Quarter
The 15th-century Sunan Ampel complex draws pilgrims with its green-tiled roofs and the sweet smell of jasmine garlands sold by vendors outside. Remove your shoes and feel the cool marble underfoot in the main prayer hall. The surrounding kampung has narrow lanes where men in white caps sip thick Arabic coffee and shops sell prayer beads and fragrant oud oils. The call to prayer echoes through the corrugated metal alleyways at dusk.
Dress modestly with covered shoulders and knees; Friday afternoons are crowded with worshippers
Evening
Kya-Kya Kembang Jepun night market dinner
This Surabaya Chinatown pedestrian street closes to traffic at 6pm, filling with red lanterns and charcoal braziers. Follow your nose to stalls selling sizzling tahu tek, fried tofu smothered in peanut sauce, and es teler, a shaved ice dessert with avocado and jackfruit. The clatter of woks and Mandarin pop music create a festive din until midnight.
Where to Stay Tonight
Tunjungan Plaza vicinity (Mid-range business hotel)
Central location for day two's eastward activities, with reliable air conditioning and proximity to the colonial district for evening returns
See all Surabaya accommodation options →The best tahu tek stall at Kya-Kya has no sign, look for the grandmother with the scarred wooden cutting board and the longest queue of local office workers.
Day 1 Budget: $50-70
2
Cigarette Fortunes & Submarine Steel
House of Sampoerna to Monkasel
Discover how a clove cigarette empire built Surabaya's modern identity, then descend into a Cold War submarine before a final feast of East Javanese specialties.
Morning
House of Sampoerna museum and cigarette rolling demonstration
This 1862 Dutch colonial building preserves the story of Liem Seeng Tee, who founded Indonesia's most well-known kretek brand from a tiny stall in 1913. The free museum displays vintage advertisements and brass rolling machines, while behind glass walls you can watch women hand-roll cigarettes with practiced speed, their fingers a blur, the smell of clove and tobacco sweet and pungent. The attached café serves Surabaya's strongest kopi tubruk, thick as syrup, in porcelain cups.
The rolling demonstration runs 9am-12pm weekdays. Arrive early for front-row viewing
Lunch
Rawon Setan Mbak Endang
Afternoon
Monkasel submarine museum and Tugu Pahlawan
The KRI Pasopati, a Soviet-built submarine captured in 1962, sits beached in the Surabaya River with its hatches open for exploration. Descend the steep ladder into the cramped interior, steel walls cold to the touch, the smell of machine oil and stale air, bunks stacked three high. The nearby Tugu Pahlawan monument commemorates the 1945 Battle of Surabaya with a 41-meter pillar and underground museum displaying rusted weapons and faded revolutionary photographs.
The submarine interior is not claustrophobic-friendly; skip if uncomfortable in tight enclosed spaces
Evening
Lontong balap at Pegirian and evening river walk
End at Lontong Balap Pak Gendut, a legendary stall since 1958 serving rice cakes with beansprouts, fried tofu, and savory sauce. Walk dinner off along the revitalized Kalimas River promenade where families gather and the water reflects strings of yellow bulbs.
Where to Stay Tonight
Tunjungan Plaza vicinity (Mid-range business hotel)
Maintains central position for departure. Many properties offer late checkout for evening flights
See all Surabaya accommodation options →The House of Sampoerna gift shop sells limited-edition cigarette tins that make unusual souvenirs. But the real find is the small gallery upstairs selling vintage Surabaya travel posters.
Day 2 Budget: $40-60
Practical Information
Everything you need to know before you go
Getting Around
Surabaya's compact historic core rewards walking, though midday heat demands strategic breaks. Blue Bird taxis are metered and reliable for longer hops between Kota Tua and the submarine museum. Gojek motorbike taxis cost half the price and weave through traffic efficiently, download the app and pay cash. For the airport, the Damri bus runs every 30 minutes from Bungurasih terminal. Avoid driving yourself; Surabaya's traffic logic defies outsiders.
Book Ahead
House of Sampoerna requires no reservation. Book Surabaya hotels at least two weeks ahead during July-August peak season and the Surabaya anniversary week in May.
Packing Essentials
Lightweight breathable clothing in dark colors (street dust shows on white), comfortable walking sandals that can handle wet floors, high-SPF sunscreen, and a small pack of tissues for restrooms lacking toilet paper.
Total Budget
$90-130 for two days excluding flights
Customize Your Trip
Adapt this itinerary to your travel style
Budget Version
Stay in a kos-kosan guesthouse near Jalan Dharmawangsa for half the hotel price. Eat exclusively at warungs, rawon and lontong balap stalls charge under $2 per meal. Skip the submarine interior and view Monkasel from the exterior only. Use Gojek exclusively instead of taxis.
Luxury Upgrade
Upgrade to the Majapahit Hotel, Surabaya's 1910 colonial landmark with original stained glass and a courtyard spa. Book a private guide through the Indonesian Heritage Society for deeper historical context. Dine at Boncafe for Dutch-Indonesian rijsttafel, and arrange a private car with driver for smooth transport.
Family-Friendly
Swap the morning heritage walk for Taman Bungkul, a shaded city park with playground equipment and weekend food stalls. The submarine museum fascinates children who can climb through hatches. Add Suroboyo Carnival Night Market for carnival rides and milder flavors. Request connecting rooms at larger chain Surabaya hotels for space to spread out.
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