Solo

Solo is a royal city in Central Java, known for two palace complexes, batik workshops and Javanese food. It is quieter than Yogyakarta.

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Solo, also called Surakarta, is a royal city in Central Java, Indonesia. Its two palace complexes, the Kasunanan and the Mangkunegaran, sit in the old city and are the main reason to come. Nearby batik workshops let you watch cloth being waxed and dyed by hand. Javanese food is easy to find here, from simple warung meals to stalls that open in the evening.

Solo suits travelers who want a smaller base than Yogyakarta, which is one to two hours away by train. The dry months, roughly May to October, are the easiest time to visit. Plan one to two days. A day trip can cover both palaces and a batik village, but an overnight stay leaves time for an evening meal and a slower walk through the old streets near the palaces.

Solo in five

Pair Solo with Yogyakarta by trainCommuter and intercity trains link the two cities in roughly 1–1.5 hours. Many travelers see Solo as a day trip, but staying a night adds food and quiet evenings.Yogyakarta
Check palace hours and dress rulesThe Kasunanan Palace and Mangkunegaran Palace have set visiting hours and dress rules, and parts of the compounds can close for ceremonies. Ask your hotel and confirm on the day.
Buy batik in the villages, not only the marketKauman and Laweyan are batik quarters where workshops show the process. Pasar Klewer is a big textile market, so bargain politely and compare quality first.
Eat Solo's classics in the eveningLocal dishes include nasi liwet, serabi and timlo, often served from street stalls and small restaurants. Evenings are cooler and busier than midday.
Add Sangiran or Sukuh with a driverSangiran is an early-human fossil site north of the city, and Sukuh is a temple on Mount Lawu's slopes. Both are easier by car than by public transport.Semarang

Things to do in Solo

See all attractions in Solo

Historic site · SoloPura MangkunegaranArrive around 9 to 10 AM, before the crowds build up.

Museum · SoloHouse of Danar Hadi

Sight · SoloKraton Surakarta

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

Need to know

Airport: Adi Soemarmo (SOC), about 10 km from the center
Getting there: Train from Yogyakarta, Jakarta or Surabaya; short flights
Getting around: Ride apps, becak and walking; palaces are central
Best base: Near the palaces and Slamet Riyadi street
Time needed: 1 day from Yogyakarta; 2 nights for food and batik

Weather by month

Rainy days

Best
Good
Mixed
Poor

JanuaryRain28 rainy daysHigh30°Low22°Wet season
FebruaryRain27 rainy daysHigh30°Low22°Wet season
MarchRain28 rainy daysHigh30°Low22°Wet, humid
AprilRain26 rainy daysHigh30°Low23°Drying out
MayRain19 rainy daysHigh31°Low23°Drier
JuneRain15 rainy daysHigh31°Low23°Dry
JulyPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh31°Low22°Dry
AugustPartly cloudy6 rainy daysHigh32°Low22°Dry, hot
SeptemberRain12 rainy daysHigh33°Low22°Dry, hot
OctoberRain18 rainy daysHigh33°Low23°Hot, storms
NovemberRain25 rainy daysHigh31°Low23°Rains begin
DecemberRain26 rainy daysHigh30°Low22°Wet season

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

Right now in Solo

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

Feels like: 27°
Humidity: 83%
Wind: 12 km/h
Chance of rain: 88%

Solo

03:40 AM

Tuesday, November 3

GMT+7

Today34°23°88%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 34°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 88%.
Wed34°24°96%Wednesday: Rain. High 34°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 96%.
Thu35°24°98%Thursday: Rain. High 35°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 98%.
Fri35°23°75%Friday: Drizzle. High 35°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 75%.
Sat35°24°88%Saturday: Drizzle. High 35°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 88%.
Sun35°24°92%Sunday: Drizzle. High 35°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 92%.

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 Solo

Concerts, festivals and big events in and around the city

Events calendar

Every year

Jul–AugSaparan BekakakYogyakarta, a day trip

Day trips by train

Yogyakartaabout 1–1.5 hours by trainTemples, kraton and craft streets; the main Central Java base.Read the guide
Semarangabout 2–3 hours by road or railA port city with a Dutch-era Old Town and Lawang Sewu.Read the guide
Mount Lawu templesabout 1.5 hours by roadSukuh and Cetho temples on the mountain; cool air and hill views.

Before you go to Solo

Batik and palace toursGuides for palaces and villagesCompare day trips

Hotels near the palacesHeritage guesthouses and city hotelsCheck availability

eSIM for SoloData for trains, maps and ride appsRead the guide

Cover for Java rail routesDelays, heat and food illnessRead the guide

We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.

Rules for Solo, checked

Check visa-on-arrival, e-VOA and passport validity rules on the Directorate General of Immigration site before you fly.Source
Carry rupiah cash for warungs, becak rides and small batik shops, and ask whether a card is accepted before you order.
Cover shoulders and knees at the Keraton and at mosques, and take off your shoes where staff ask you to.
Drug offences carry severe penalties in Indonesia, including the death penalty for trafficking. Never carry anyone else's bag.
Dial 112 from any phone for emergencies. Police is 110.

Plan around Solo

All of Indonesia

Entry, regions and the rest of the country

Read the guide Yogyakarta

The culture capital, an hour by train

Read the guide Borobudur

The great temple, reached from Yogyakarta

Read the guide Semarang

The port city to the north

Read the guide Java

The island overview, from Jakarta to Bali

Read the guide Transport in Indonesia

Trains, flights and ride apps on Java

Read the guide

Solo FAQ

Is Solo worth visiting?

Yes if you want a calmer, more local Javanese city with palaces, batik and good food. It has fewer big sights than Yogyakarta, but also fewer crowds.

Is Solo or Yogyakarta better?

Yogyakarta for the temples and the busier culture scene. Solo for a quieter pace, batik villages and food. Many travelers base in Yogyakarta and visit Solo for a day.

How far is Solo from Yogyakarta?

About 1–1.5 hours by train, depending on the service. Check the timetable and book seats for intercity trains in busy seasons.

How many days do you need in Solo?

One day for the palaces and a batik village. Two nights add a food evening and a trip to Sangiran or Mount Lawu.

What is Solo famous for?

Two royal palaces, batik, gamelan music and Javanese dishes such as nasi liwet. It is the cultural twin of Yogyakarta, with a slower pace.