Surabaya

Surabaya, Indonesia’s vibrant second city, offers a fascinating blend of colonial charm, wartime history, and modern Indonesian life. Situated on the northeastern coast of Java, this thriving port city has played a pivotal role in the country’s past, from its days as a key trading hub under Dutch rule to its proud legacy in Indonesia’s independence movement. Today, it remains an important cultural and economic centre, often serving as a gateway to Mount Bromo and the wider East Java region.

Surabaya rewards those who linger, with a rich mix of experiences. Stroll through the old Arab Quarter and Chinatown, where timeworn shopfronts and spice markets whisper stories of the city’s mercantile past. Visit the evocative House of Sampoerna, a living museum set in a former Dutch colonial building, which offers a glimpse into Indonesia’s clove cigarette heritage. 

Surabaya is also a city of contrasts, where glitzy shopping malls sit alongside leafy colonial boulevards. For those seeking an authentic slice of Indonesian urban life, with layers of history and culture to uncover, Surabaya makes for a rewarding and unexpected stop.