View Southeast Asia on the mapA practical major city centered on commerce and industry, known as the "City of Heroes" for its role in the fierce Indonesian War of Independence. Arab quarters, Chinatown, and Dutch colonial buildings remain alongside numerous modern shopping malls, making everyday urban life more prominent than tourist development.

Surabaya

Surabaya · Indonesia · -7.20, 112.73

Indonesia's second-largest city after Jakarta and the capital of East Java. Tanjung Perak Port is a maritime hub in eastern Java and also serves as a starting point for sightseeing trips to places such as Mount Bromo.

Port highlights

About 2.9 million people in the city proper and around 9 million in the metropolitan area

Population

A tropical monsoon climate that is hot year-round. November to April is the rainy season and May to October is the dry season. The dry season has strong sunshine and dry heat.

Climate

Indonesian (the East Javanese dialect of Javanese is also widely used). English can be hard to get across outside hotels and large stores.

Language

Indonesian rupiah (IDR). Cards and QR payments are widely accepted, but local markets and street stalls mainly use cash.

Currency

June to September, the dry season. Rain is unlikely to get in the way, so it is an easy time to combine the port with inland volcano sightseeing.

Best time to visit

Local food

Rawon (a black beef soup colored with keluak nuts), rujak cingur, sate krupok, and a sweet and spicy soto said to have originated in Surabaya.

Sights

Heroes Monument (Tugu Pahlawan)Arab Quarter and Sunan Ampel MosqueOld town around Selamat Negara BridgeSubmarine Museum (Monkasel)Day trip to Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park

Monthly average high / low temperatures

32°

25°Jan

32°

25°Feb

33°

25°Mar

33°

25°Apr

33°

25°May

33°

24°Jun

33°

23°Jul

33°

23°Aug

34°

24°Sep

35°

25°Oct

34°

25°Nov

33°

25°Dec

Unit: °C · Calculated from NOAA GHCN-Daily station observations · Period: 1991–2020 · Station: SURABAYA/PERAK · about 2.4 km from port · Last checked: Oct 3, 2026 · A guide for choosing your travel month.

Local prices for travelers

Much cheaper than Tokyo

Compared with Tokyo, Japan (median of items)49 (Tokyo = 100)

Compared with Tokyo, everything is somewhat cheaper.

IDR 5,500

Water 600 ml

IDR 28,500

Coffee

IDR 16,500

Inexpensive meal

IDR 41,800

Local beer

IDR 43,000

Big Mac

Prices in Surabaya. · Amounts in the recorded local currency. No currency conversion applied. · Last checked: Oct 2026 (partly estimated) · Sources: Shop and menu prices · The Economist, Big Mac Index (CC BY 4.0)