Surabaya
Indonesia · Jawa TimurID
Capital and largest city of East Java, Indonesia
Surabaya is the capital and largest city of East Java province and the second-largest city in Indonesia, after Jakarta. Located on the northeastern corner of Java island, on the Madura Strait, it is one of the earliest port cities in Southeast Asia. According to the National Development Planning Agency, Surabaya is one of the four main central cities of Indonesia, alongside Jakarta, Medan, and Makassar. The city covers a land area of 335.93 km2, and had a population of 2,874,314 within its city limits at the 2020 census. With 3,018,022 people living in the city as of mid 2024 and over 10 million in the extended Surabaya metropolitan area, according to the latest official estimate, Surabaya is the second-largest metropolitan area in Indonesia. Surabaya metropolitan is also ASEAN's 6th largest economy ahead of Hanoi. In 2023, the city's GRP PPP was estimated at US$150.294 billion.
Read more on Wikipedia →- Population
- 3,009,286
- Coordinates
- -7.249, 112.751
- Timezone
- Asia/Jakarta
- Elevation
- 2 m
Overview of Surabaya
Part of Jawa Timur, Indonesia, Surabaya is a large metropolitan hub. The population is roughly 3,009,286. Being southern-hemisphere, the best months shift accordingly. So plan the length of your visit accordingly. The activity mix leans towards nature, culture and adventure.
Things to do in Surabaya
Nature in Surabaya
(19)Under nature, Surabaya is tagged with Beaches, Countryside, Desert, Forest and Gardens. In all, 19 activities are recorded in this category. The list follows Surabaya's own activity tags.
Culture in Surabaya
(17)The culture shortlist for Surabaya: Ancient Ruins, Architectural Buildings, Art Galleries, Bridges and Castles. These entries mirror the activity data we hold for Surabaya. Altogether 17 options are tagged here.
Adventure in Surabaya
(10)The adventure shortlist for Surabaya: Abseiling, Adventure, Adventure Parks, Amusement Parks and Boat Rides. All of it is drawn from Surabaya's recorded activities. 10 entries sit in this category, enough to fill more than a day.
Sports in Surabaya
(10)Our data lists Biking, Golf, Hiking, Hiking Trails and Hunting as sports options here. In all, 10 activities are recorded in this category. The list follows Surabaya's own activity tags.
Nightlife in Surabaya
(9)Surabaya's nightlife entries include Bars, Casinos, Clubs, Disco and Events. All of it is drawn from Surabaya's recorded activities. 9 entries sit in this category, enough to fill more than a day.
Water Sports in Surabaya
(5)On the water sports side, Surabaya offers Canoeing, Kayaking, Kiteboarding, Kitesurfing and Swimming. These entries mirror the activity data we hold for Surabaya. Small in number, simple to combine into one outing.
Family in Surabaya
(4)Family lovers get Aquariums, Playgrounds, Water Parks and Zoo. Everything listed here comes from what Surabaya is actually tagged with. A short list, but an easy way to shape a day.
Wellness in Surabaya
(3)Under wellness, Surabaya is tagged with Hammam, Therms and Wellness. Easy to slot into a wider itinerary. The list follows Surabaya's own activity tags.
Shopping in Surabaya
(2)On the shopping side, Surabaya offers Food and Shopping. All of it is drawn from Surabaya's recorded activities. These pair well with anything else on this page.
More to do in Surabaya
(1)Other activities in Surabaya covers Secret. Easy to slot into a wider itinerary. The list follows Surabaya's own activity tags.
Best time to visit Surabaya
Indoor culture and evening options make any month workable. Nature days work best across October to November and March to April. Target December to March if the water is the point of the trip.
Getting there & around
Surabaya is large enough to be served by long-distance connections and local public transport. The local time zone is Asia/Jakarta.
Similar destinations
Places near Surabaya that share the same kinds of activities.
Frequently asked questions
- What is Surabaya known for?
- Surabaya is mainly a destination for nature, culture and adventure, set in Jawa Timur, Indonesia with around 3,009,286 inhabitants.
- What can you do in Surabaya?
- You can plan around Beaches, Countryside, Desert, Forest and Gardens in Surabaya. Each is tagged in our dataset rather than guessed at.
- When is the best time to visit Surabaya?
- Indoor culture and evening options make any month workable. Nature days work best across October to November and March to April. Target December to March if the water is the point of the trip.
- Where is Surabaya located?
- Administratively, Surabaya sits in Jawa Timur, Indonesia — handy when you group several destinations into one trip.
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