green and brown mountain under blue sky during daytime

East Java

Mount Bromo's sunrise, Ijen's blue fire and the Majapahit temples draw travelers to East Java, the eastern third of Java island.

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East Java is an Indonesian province covering the eastern third of Java island, with Surabaya as its capital and the country's second-largest city. Surabaya is also the province's main center for government, business and industry. At about 48,033 square kilometres, East Java is the largest of Java's six provinces by area. Most travelers come for the mountains. Mount Bromo, inside Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park, is the classic sunrise stop, and Mount Semeru, at 3,676 metres, is the highest mountain on Java. Ijen, in Banyuwangi and Bondowoso, is known for its blue fire and acidic crater lake.

Beyond the volcanoes, the province holds the Majapahit story. Trowulan near Mojokerto was the center of the Majapahit kingdom and has dozens of temples and royal tombs. Madura island is reached from Surabaya by the Suramadu Bridge. Trains run from Surabaya to Malang and Banyuwangi, and Juanda International Airport in Sidoarjo is the main air gateway. The province is usually drier than western Java, with a rainy season of about 100 days.

East Java in five

Choose Bromo or Ijen first, then add the roadBromo is reached from Malang, Probolinggo or Surabaya; Ijen from Banyuwangi in the far east. They are roughly 6 to 8 hours apart by road, so a trip that chains both needs at least four days.
Start Bromo sunrise in the dark and layer upJeeps leave around 3am for the viewpoint on Penanjakan, and the plateau is cold at dawn. Wear a warm layer, keep cash for the jeep and park entry, and check the park's booking system before you go.
Check Ijen gas levels and carry a maskThe blue fire hike starts after midnight, and sulfur gas can force closures. Use a registered guide, carry a gas mask, and skip the crater edge on windy nights when fumes drift.
Base in Malang or the Bromo rimMalang has food, cafes and cool air; Cemoro Lawang puts you at the rim for dawn. Surabaya works only for short stops, as the city has little to see compared with the mountains.Surabaya
Use Surabaya for flights, not for the volcanoesJuanda Airport links Bali, Jakarta and Kalimantan, including Balikpapan. Fly in or out there, then travel by driver or train; the Banyuwangi ferry to Bali is the overland route.Balikpapan

Things to do in East Java

See all attractions in East Java

a man riding a motorcycle down a street next to a fountain

Sight · East JavaBlambangan Museum

Museum · East JavaHouse of Sampoerna

Sight · East JavaTrowulan Museum

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to East JavaPut the places you like in East Java on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Airport: Juanda, Surabaya (SUB); Malang and Banyuwangi have small airports
Getting there: Flights to Surabaya; trains and drivers to Malang and Probolinggo
Getting around: Driver, train and jeep for Bromo; shared minibuses are slow
Best base: Malang for food, Cemoro Lawang for Bromo, Banyuwangi for Ijen
Time needed: 3–5 days for Bromo and Ijen; a week with Malang's waterfalls

Weather by month

Rainy days

Best
Good
Mixed
Poor

JanuaryRain30 rainy daysHigh27°Low20°Wet, cloudy
FebruaryRain28 rainy daysHigh27°Low20°Wet, cloudy
MarchRain29 rainy daysHigh28°Low20°Wet, humid
AprilRain23 rainy daysHigh28°Low21°Drying out
MayRain16 rainy daysHigh28°Low21°Dry, clear
JuneRain14 rainy daysHigh28°Low20°Dry, clear sky
JulyPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh28°Low19°Dry, cold nights
AugustPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh29°Low19°Dry, busy
SeptemberRain12 rainy daysHigh30°Low19°Hot, dusty
OctoberRain19 rainy daysHigh30°Low20°Hot, showers
NovemberRain25 rainy daysHigh28°Low20°Rains return
DecemberRain29 rainy daysHigh28°Low20°Wet, cloudy

Average daily high and low in Malang, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Right now in East Java

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 21°
Humidity: 95%
Wind: 4 km/h
Chance of rain: 100%

East Java

03:40 AM

Tuesday, November 3

GMT+7

Today28°19°100%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 28°, Low 19°. Chance of rain 100%.
Wed27°19°100%Wednesday: Rain. High 27°, Low 19°. Chance of rain 100%.
Thu27°19°100%Thursday: Rain. High 27°, Low 19°. Chance of rain 100%.
Fri29°19°57%Friday: Fog. High 29°, Low 19°. Chance of rain 57%.
Sat27°18°89%Saturday: Rain. High 27°, Low 18°. Chance of rain 89%.
Sun29°18°100%Sunday: Rain. High 29°, Low 18°. Chance of rain 100%.
Mon24°19°100%Monday: Rain. High 24°, Low 19°. Chance of rain 100%.

Updated 11:39 PM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 18,144 IDR

Amount

Converted to

IDR · Indonesian Rupiah

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

Day trips by train

Mount Bromoabout 2.5–3 hours from MalangSunrise at the rim, then a crossing of the sand sea by jeep.
Ijen craterabout 1–1.5 hours from BanyuwangiBlue fire hike after midnight and a turquoise acid lake at dawn.
Surabayaabout 2–3 hours from MalangFlights, markets and Dutch-era architecture.Read the guide

Before you go to East Java

Bromo and Ijen toursJeep, guide and gas masks includedCompare tours

Stays in Malang and BromoRim lodges, hotels and homestaysCheck availability

eSIM for East JavaSignal is patchy on the Bromo plateauRead the guide

Travel insurance for trekkingCheck cover for volcano treks and altitudeRead the guide

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Rules for East Java, checked

Check Indonesia's entry requirements with the Directorate General of Immigration (imigrasi.go.id) before you fly.
Indonesia's drug laws are strict and include the death penalty for some offences. Check customs rules on beacukai.go.id before you travel.
Cover shoulders and knees at mosques and pilgrimage tombs such as Sunan Ampel, and take off your shoes where asked.
Check access rules for Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park with the park office before you go to Mount Bromo.
In metered taxis in Surabaya, Malang, Banyuwangi, Jember, Madiun and Kediri, ask the driver to use the meter.

Plan around East Java

Surabaya

Gateway city for flights and trains

Read the guide Java

The island overview and route options

Read the guide Borobudur

Central Java's great temple to the west

Read the guide Yogyakarta

Culture base on the road to Bromo

Read the guide Bali

Next island east by ferry or flight

Read the guide All of Indonesia

Entry rules, money and islands

Read the guide

East Java FAQ

Is Bromo or Ijen better?

Bromo for a sunrise and an easy lookout, Ijen for a night hike and a crater lake. Bromo is closer to Malang and Surabaya, while Ijen is at the east end of the island. If you can only do one, pick Bromo.

How many days do you need in East Java?

Three days for Bromo and Malang, five for Bromo and Ijen, or a week if you add waterfalls and Surabaya. Add a buffer day for early starts and a ferry to Bali.

Is it safe to climb Ijen?

Usually with a registered guide and a gas mask, since sulfur fumes can be harmful, but the crater closes when gas levels are high. Check with your operator that day and do not go on windy nights.

Can you visit Bromo as a day trip from Surabaya?

Yes, but it is long, with about 3 to 4 hours each way and a very early start. A night in Cemoro Lawang or Malang gives you a better dawn and less fatigue.

What is the best time for Bromo and Ijen?

The dry season from about May to September gives clearer sunrises and drier roads, though nights are cold. Wet months bring cloud and slippery tracks, so check forecasts and park status.