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 man riding a motorcycle down a street next to tall buildings

Surabaya

Surabaya is the capital of East Java and Indonesia's second-largest city. Travelers use it as a base for Bromo and Ijen, and it has a war memorial, old streets and a beef soup worth a meal.

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

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Surabaya is the capital of East Java and Indonesia's second-largest city, on the northeast coast of Java. Flights and trains bring most visitors in, and from here the road runs south to the Bromo volcano, east toward Ijen, or across the Suramadu Bridge to Madura. The city also has things to see. The Heroes' Monument marks the fighting of November 1945, and the streets around the old center keep Dutch colonial buildings. Try rawon, a beef soup darkened by keluak nut, at a local warung.

Plan one or two days for the monument, the old town and a few meals, then leave early for the mountain roads. The city is hot and humid most of the year, so April to October, the dry months, is the easier time to walk around. Traffic is heavy, so allow extra time for any road transfer you book from here.

Surabaya in five

Give Surabaya one night, not threeThe Heroes' Monument, House of Sampoerna and the old town fill a day. The real draw is what lies beyond the city, so use it as a base for East Java.East Java
Eat rawon, rujak cingur and lontong balapThese East Javanese dishes are the reason many travelers linger. Pick busy local warungs, where the rawon broth is cooked fresh and the queue is the review.
Check the train from YogyakartaTrains from Yogyakarta take roughly five hours and arrive at Gubeng or Pasar Turi stations. Book seats ahead on busy weekends and school holidays.Yogyakarta
Fly in and out of JuandaJuanda airport lies south of the center, with flights to Bali, Jakarta and regional hubs. Allow time for the road into town, which can be slow at peak hours.Getting around Indonesia
Plan Bromo from Surabaya earlyBromo is a long, early day trip or a night in the highlands. Book a driver or tour in advance, and check volcano status before you go.East Java

Things to do in Surabaya

See all attractions in Surabaya

Museum · SurabayaHouse of Sampoerna

Shopping · SurabayaJembatan Merah PlazaCome early in the day, since the plaza gets crowded later.

Museum · SurabayaMonumen Kapal Selam SurabayaPlan about 30 to 60 minutes. Most of the submarine can be seen in under an hour, so it fits easily into a morning or an afternoon.

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to SurabayaPut the places you like in Surabaya 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 (SUB), south of the center
Getting there: Flights from Jakarta and Bali; trains from Yogyakarta and Jakarta
Getting around: Ride apps, taxis and trains; short walks in the old town
Best base: The center near Tunjungan or the old town
Time needed: 1–2 days

Weather by month

Rainy days

Best
Good
Poor

JanuaryRain30 rainy daysHigh31°Low25°Wet, humid
FebruaryRain28 rainy daysHigh30°Low25°Wet, humid
MarchRain29 rainy daysHigh31°Low25°Showers
AprilRain24 rainy daysHigh31°Low26°Drying out
MayRain14 rainy daysHigh31°Low26°Dry, hot
JuneRain13 rainy daysHigh31°Low25°Dry season
JulyClear5 rainy daysHigh31°Low24°Dry season
AugustClear3 rainy daysHigh32°Low24°Dry, hot
SeptemberClear6 rainy daysHigh33°Low25°Dry, hot
OctoberClear11 rainy daysHigh33°Low26°Hot, dry
NovemberRain22 rainy daysHigh32°Low26°Showers start
DecemberRain28 rainy daysHigh31°Low26°Wet season

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

Right now in Surabaya

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

Feels like: 32°
Humidity: 74%
Wind: 14 km/h
Chance of rain: 50%

Surabaya

03:40 AM

Tuesday, November 3

GMT+7

Today32°24°50%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 32°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 50%.
Wed34°25°55%Wednesday: Drizzle. High 34°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 55%.
Thu36°26°23%Thursday: Drizzle. High 36°, Low 26°. Chance of rain 23%.
Fri37°27°72%Friday: Drizzle. High 37°, Low 27°. Chance of rain 72%.
Sat34°25°70%Saturday: Drizzle. High 34°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 70%.
Sun35°26°47%Sunday: Drizzle. High 35°, Low 26°. Chance of rain 47%.

Updated 11:54 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · 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

Bromo and Tenggerabout 4–5 hours by road each wayA volcano sunrise; most people sleep in the highlands.Read the guide
Madura islandabout 30–60 min by road across Suramadu bridgeSalt flats, bull-race culture and coastal towns.
Trowulan ruinsabout 1.5 hours by roadRemains of the Majapahit kingdom and a small museum.

Before you go to Surabaya

Bromo and Ijen toursPickup from Surabaya hotelsCompare tours

Hotels in the centerNear Tunjungan and the old townCheck availability

eSIM for ride appsEasy pickups from Juanda airportRead the guide

Cover for volcano daysEarly starts and gas closuresRead the guide

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

Rules for Surabaya, checked

Visa rules depend on your passport. Check the Directorate General of Immigration site before you fly.Source
Your passport must be valid for at least six months from the day you arrive. Airlines check this at check-in.
Drug offences carry heavy penalties in Indonesia, including the death penalty for trafficking. Carry medicines only with a prescription.
Cover your shoulders and knees, and take off your shoes, at Sunan Ampel Mosque and other mosques.
Dial 112 for any emergency in Indonesia, or 110 to reach the police.

Plan around Surabaya

East Java

Bromo, Ijen and the highland coffee towns

Read the guide Yogyakarta

The cultural city five hours west by train

Read the guide Solo

A quieter Javanese court city

Read the guide Java

The whole island, west to east

Read the guide Getting around Indonesia

Trains, flights and ferries

Read the guide All of Indonesia

Islands, entry rules and getting around

Read the guide

Surabaya FAQ

Is Surabaya worth visiting?

As a stop, yes: it has colonial streets, strong food and few tourists. Most travelers stay a night on the way to Bromo, Ijen or Bali.

How many days do you need in Surabaya?

One full day covers the Heroes' Monument, House of Sampoerna and the old town. Two days let you add Madura or Trowulan, and three suits a slow food trip.

How do you get from Surabaya to Yogyakarta?

By train, which takes about five hours, or by flight, which is shorter but adds airport time. Book train seats early for weekends and holidays.

What is Surabaya famous for?

The Battle of Surabaya of 1945, remembered at the Heroes' Monument, and East Javanese food such as rawon. It is also an industrial port city.

Can you visit Bromo from Surabaya?

Yes, but it is a long day. A night in the highlands gives a sunrise over the crater without a 2am drive, so book a tour or driver ahead.