Surabaya

Traveling from Sulawesi to Bali , many tourists stop at Surabaya, the second largest city in Indonesia . This capital of eastern Java received its name from the ancient words of the crocodile ("boyo") and the shark ("harsh"). So in ancient times, two tribes were called, who lived in this territory and constantly quarreled among themselves.

Acquaintance with the city of Surabaya

This settlement is located in the north of east Java, on the river Mas. On the map of Indonesia, Surabaya can be found on the coast of the Madura Strait. This is an important infrastructure, economic and business center. The city was founded in 1293. Today, on an area of ​​350.5 square meters. About 2.8 million people live in the city. The port of Surabaya is one of the main sea harbors of the country.

Most of the townspeople are Javanese. Representatives of such nationalities as the Chinese, Madurians, etc. live here. The majority of Surabais are Muslims. There are a small number of Christians, and representatives of the Chinese community are Buddhists. In Surabaya there is also the only synagogue in the country, but there are only a few Jews living here.

Climate in Surabaya

The city is in the zone of the tropical subequatorial climate. Throughout the year, the average daily temperature here is about + 32-34ºС, and at night the thermometer's column drops only to + 22-26ºС. From November to April, the rainy season begins in Surabaya. At this time there are heavy rains that cause floods. Storm winds that are frequent during this period of the year, as well as possible tsunamis deter even the most courageous tourists.

What to see in Surabaya?

Surabaya is a great place to relax in Indonesia, and the choice of attractions here is huge:

  1. The Gereja Perawan Maria Tak Berdosa church is a must for all sightseeing tours. This beautiful religious building is the oldest in the city. An excellent ornament is its skilful stained glass.
  2. House of Sampoerna - this artistic complex is a striking example of the buildings of the colonial period. Now here is the Museum Museum Sempoerna.
  3. The Al Akbar Mosque is the second largest in the country. Its huge main dome, 65 m high, is surrounded by four smaller blue spheres. The minaret has a height of 99 m. Under the dome of the mosque is equipped with an observation deck, which can be climbed on a special elevator.
  4. The cable bridge Suramadu National Bridge was built relatively recently. He connects Surabaya with the island of Madura. To look at him come in the dark, when the bridge looks particularly impressive.
  5. The Monkasel Museum is located in a former Soviet submarine. It served to protect the sea borders of the country from 1962 to 1990, and then decommissioned the submarine converted into a museum. Visiting it, you can get acquainted with the device of the submarine. Excursion will be interesting for adults and children, especially for boys.
  6. The historical monument of Tugu Pahlawan serves as a reminder for all about the landing of British conquerors on the lands of Surabaya in 1945. Under the monument there is a basement in which the historical museum is located. His exposition gathered a lot of ancient documents and photographs of that era.
  7. Zoo Surabaya's Zoo is considered the largest in all of Asia. In it you can see animals from all over the world: Australian kangaroos and Indian elephants, alligators and Komodo lizards. Animals live in spacious enclosures. A lot of trees and flowers have been planted on the territory of the park, so it is pleasant to walk there even in hot weather. There are areas for recreation, as well as a place for picnics.
  8. Suroboyo Carnival Park is located in the heart of the city. Here you can ride on the Ferris wheel, the smallest will be interesting carousels and swings, and adult enthusiasts waiting for special rides. This park looks particularly beautiful in the evening, when the spectacular illumination lights up.
  9. Ciputra Waterpark - another entertainment park, which will be interesting to visit tourists of any age. The main feature of the park is unusual entertainment. Visitors can splash in the original fountain or swim in a special foam pool.

Hotels in Surabaya

Before you go on a trip, take care of choosing a hotel among many such establishments:

  1. Hotel Majapahit Surabaya 5 * - a five-star hotel is considered one of the best in the city. The building is in colonial style, the rooms are equipped with beautiful furniture and everything necessary for active pastime.
  2. Surabaya Ibis Rajawali is a budget option for a mid-range hotel with affordable prices.
  3. Surabaya Plaza Hotel 4 * - the hotel is located near the city center. Full-service rooms, as well as a fitness center, a gym and a beauty salon will make your stay at the hotel very comfortable.

Restaurants Surabaya

The national cuisine of Indonesia is bright spices and seasonings, light soups and delicate noodles, chicken dishes and fish cooked on fire. All this and many other dishes will be served in the restaurants of Surabaya:

  1. BU Kris - a restaurant of traditional Indonesian cuisine. Here you can order both classic dishes and local delicacies.
  2. The national restaurant Tempo Doeloe is delicious food, quick service and a pleasant atmosphere.
  3. Casa Fontana - an institution of Italian cuisine. Here each client is provided with an individual approach.
  4. Layar treats with delicious and varied seafood dishes.
  5. A small European restaurant Boncafe is perfect for relaxing after excursions around the city. Here you can sit in a cozy room, or open the terrace.

Shopping

For fans of shopping, Surabaya is a real expanse. There are a lot of huge shopping centers where you can buy everything: from a diamond necklace to a toothbrush. Here are some popular mega brands:

How to get to Surabaya?

To get to Surabaya, you can use different types of transport . It all depends on what level of comfort you want to get, how much time you spend on the trip and what price you are willing to pay for it.

The airport of Surabaya accepts both international and domestic flights. Most often, flights from the Indonesian cities of Jakarta and Denpasar arrive here. International flights make flights from Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur , Guangzhou, Singapore . From the airport to the city you can get there by taking a taxi.

From Jakarta to Surabaya can be reached by train. On the road you will take from 10 to 15 hours (depending on the carrier company). Trains arrive at the station Pasar Turi. It will be more comfortable to go in the wagons of the first (eksekutif) class, which are equipped with air conditioning. The budget option is a trip on economy-class trains that run between Surabaya and the Indonesian cities of Bandung , Jakarta and Malanga. These trains arrive at Surabaya station Gubeng.

The bus station Bungurasih is 10 km from the city. Here buses come from many cities of Java. You can use the minibus, where you can get to Surabaya from Malanga and Jakarta.