Travel advisory · IndonesiaSome governments advise against travel to parts of Indonesia.The warnings cover only these areas: Central Papua, Highland Papua, Indonesian Papua, Papua province, South Papua province, West Papua province.Advice depends on your passport. Read your own government's advice before you book.Official advice

Areas with warnings

Central Papua · avoid all travel · Germany, New Zealand, US
Highland Papua · avoid all travel · Germany, New Zealand, US
Indonesian Papua · avoid non-essential travel · Canada, Spain, Italy
Papua province · avoid non-essential travel · Germany, New Zealand
South Papua province · avoid non-essential travel · Germany, New Zealand
West Papua province · avoid non-essential travel · Germany, Spain, New Zealand

Also named by one government: Border with Malaysia (France), Border with Philippines (France), Border with Singapore (Strait of Malacca) (France), Inland waters (Banda, Java and Celebes seas) (France), Jayawijaya (France), Mount Ibu (7 km around crater) (Italy), Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki (7 km around crater) (Italy), Mount Marapi (3 km around crater) (Italy), Mount Ruang (7 km around crater) (Italy), Mount Semeru (5 km around crater) (Italy), Mount Sinabung (5 km around crater) (Italy), Paniai (France), Poso regency (New Zealand), Puncak Jaya (France), Timika (France)

Government	Advice	Updated	Read the advice
United Kingdom (FCDO)	No advice against the whole country	–	Read the advice
United States (State Dept)	Exercise increased caution	Jul 7, 2026	Read the advice
Canada (Global Affairs)	Exercise a high degree of caution (regional advisories)	–	Read the advice
Germany (Auswärtiges Amt)	No advice against the whole country (regional advisories)	Oct 15, 2026	Read the advice
New Zealand (SafeTravel)	Exercise increased caution in Indonesia (regional advisories)	–	Read the advice
Ireland (Department of Foreign Affairs)	High Degree of Caution	–	Read the advice
France (Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs)	No advice against the whole country (regional advisories)	–	Read the advice

Checked daily from the governments' published advice; last checked Nov 2, 2026. RoamLedger summarises official advice; it is not advice from any government.

a bench sitting in the middle of a street

Semarang

Go to Semarang for colonial streets in Kota Lama, the Lawang Sewu building and lumpia, or stop here by train between Jakarta and Yogyakarta.

Find a room in Semarang Start with the essentials Plan a trip to Semarang

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Semarang is a port city on the north coast of Java and the capital of Central Java province in Indonesia. Its old town, Kota Lama, keeps Dutch colonial buildings from the years when the city was a trading base in the Dutch East Indies. Blenduk Church is among its best-known landmarks, and Lawang Sewu, a former Dutch railway office, is the best-known colonial building in the city. Sam Poo Kong, a Chinese temple linked to the admiral Zheng He, shows the long Chinese presence here.

Visit for colonial history, Chinese-Indonesian heritage and food, especially lumpia and bandeng presto, a dish made with milkfish. One or two days covers the old town and the main sights. Semarang also works as a stop on the train between Jakarta and Yogyakarta, and as a base for Borobudur, the Buddhist temple near Magelang. The dry season, roughly April to October, is the most comfortable time to walk the old town, since the city is hot and humid year round.

Semarang in five

See Kota Lama in the cool morningThe Old Town's Dutch-era streets are best before the heat builds, and cafes open later. Add Lawang Sewu and the Sam Poo Kong temple on a second morning.
Use Semarang as a Borobudur base only if you want a cityBorobudur is about 2 hours by road, longer than from Yogyakarta. Stay here for the city and food, not just for the temple.Borobudur
Take the train from Jakarta if you like routesExpress trains from Jakarta take roughly 5–6 hours along the north coast. Flights are shorter, but the train shows more of Java and runs in the middle of the city.Jakarta
Plan midday for indoorsSemarang is hot and humid, and museums and cafes with air conditioning are a relief at midday. Save outdoor walking for morning and after about 4pm.
Dress for temples and the big mosqueCover shoulders and knees at the Great Mosque of Central Java and at temple sites. Check opening and prayer times before you go.

Things to do in Semarang

See all attractions in Semarang

Sight · SemarangBekas Kantor Pusat PT. Jamu Ny. Meneer Semarang

Sight · SemarangJamu Jago

Gallery · SemarangSemarang Contemporary Art Gallery

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

Need to know

Airport: Ahmad Yani International (SRG), about 6 km from the center
Getting there: Flight, or express train from Jakarta in about 5–6 hours
Getting around: Ride apps and taxis; Old Town is walkable
Best base: Near Kota Lama for the Old Town; hotels near the station for trains
Time needed: 1–2 days; add 2–3 for Borobudur and the hills

Weather by month

Rainy days

Best
Good
Mixed
Poor

JanuaryRain29 rainy daysHigh30°Low25°Wet season
FebruaryRain27 rainy daysHigh29°Low25°Wet season
MarchRain28 rainy daysHigh30°Low25°Wet, humid
AprilRain26 rainy daysHigh31°Low25°Drying out
MayRain17 rainy daysHigh32°Low25°Drier
JuneRain16 rainy daysHigh32°Low24°Dry
JulyPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh32°Low23°Dry
AugustPartly cloudy7 rainy daysHigh33°Low24°Dry, hot
SeptemberPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh33°Low24°Dry, hot
OctoberRain18 rainy daysHigh33°Low25°Hot, storms
NovemberRain26 rainy daysHigh31°Low25°Rains begin
DecemberRain28 rainy daysHigh30°Low25°Wet season

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

Right now in Semarang

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

Feels like: 30°
Humidity: 68%
Wind: 12 km/h
Chance of rain: 48%

Semarang

03:37 AM

Tuesday, November 3

GMT+7

Today35°27°48%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 35°, Low 27°. Chance of rain 48%.
Wed36°26°84%Wednesday: Drizzle. High 36°, Low 26°. Chance of rain 84%.
Thu37°26°74%Thursday: Drizzle. High 37°, Low 26°. Chance of rain 74%.
Fri35°25°90%Friday: Drizzle. High 35°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 90%.
Sat35°25°79%Saturday: Drizzle. High 35°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 79%.
Sun35°25°84%Sunday: Drizzle. High 35°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 84%.

Updated 12:12 AM 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

What's on in Semarang

Concerts, festivals and big events in and around the city

Events calendar

Every year

Jul–AugSaparan BekakakYogyakarta, a day trip

Day trips by train

Before you go to Semarang

Central Java day toursBorobudur and hill temples by carCompare day trips

Hotels near Kota LamaOld Town stays and station hotelsCheck availability

eSIM for Central JavaData for trains, rides and ticketsRead the guide

Cover for Java rail routesDelays, heat illness and medicalRead the guide

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Rules for Semarang, checked

Check visa-free entry, visa on arrival and e-VOA rules for your passport on the Directorate General of Immigration site (imigrasi.go.id) before you fly.
Your passport must be valid for at least six months from your arrival date. Confirm this with your airline and on imigrasi.go.id.
Indonesia's drug laws are strict, and even small amounts can lead to prison. Carry prescription medicine in its original packaging with the prescription, and check beacukai.go.id.
Declare food, plants and animal products on the arrival form. Customs can confiscate them, and Bea Cukai (beacukai.go.id) sets the rules.
Dress modestly at mosques and temples, and follow staff instructions on taking off your shoes.

Plan around Semarang

All of Indonesia

Entry, regions and the rest of the country

Read the guide Java

The island overview, from Jakarta to Bali

Read the guide Borobudur

The Buddhist temple 2 hours from the city

Read the guide Yogyakarta

Culture capital, 2.5–3.5 hours south

Read the guide Solo

A calmer royal city to the east

Read the guide Transport in Indonesia

Trains, flights and ride apps on Java

Read the guide

Semarang FAQ

Is Semarang worth visiting?

For a night or two, yes, if you like colonial architecture, food and a less touristy city. It is a better stop on a Java route than a destination by itself.

How many days do you need in Semarang?

One full day covers Kota Lama, Lawang Sewu and Sam Poo Kong. Two days lets you add the Great Mosque, a hill temple trip or a day to Borobudur.

How far is Semarang from Borobudur?

About 2 hours by road, further than from Yogyakarta. Most visitors do Borobudur from Yogyakarta, and use Semarang as a stop on the north-coast route.

How do you get from Jakarta to Semarang?

By express train in about 5–6 hours, or a short flight. The train runs along the north coast and arrives in the center of the city.

What is Semarang known for?

The Dutch-era Old Town, Lawang Sewu, the Sam Poo Kong temple and local food such as lumpia. It is a port and industrial city, with a mix of Javanese, Chinese and Dutch influences.