Transportation in Surabaya

Getting Around Surabaya Surabaya's most practical option for first-time visitors is ride-hailing. Both Gojek and Grab operate extensively throughout the city, covering everything from solo motorcycle rides (ojek) to full car hire. Fares are economy-range and fully transparent before you confirm — simply open the app, set your destination, and compare options. This sidesteps the haggling and metering uncertainty common with street-hailed taxis, making it the recommended default for anyone unfamiliar with the city layout. Surabaya also operates the Suroboyo Bus, a city bus network with a notably unusual payment option: passengers can pay using collected plastic bottles, a sustainability initiative that has drawn attention internationally. While this makes the bus affordable and worth experiencing, routes and schedules suit residents more than tourists navigating across the city quickly. For structured sightseeing, ride-hailing remains more efficient. From Juanda International Airport (SUB), ride-hailing apps are generally the most straightforward option — arrange your pickup from the designated app-based taxi zone to avoid inflated kerb-side fares. The airport sits roughly 20km south of the city center; journey time varies considerably with Surabaya's traffic, which can be heavy during peak hours. Avoid accepting unsolicited transport offers inside the terminal, and do not negotiate fares on the spot when the apps offer fixed, upfront pricing.