Surabaya in a day
A one-day plan for Surabaya: the Ampel Mosque, the House of Sampoerna and the Red Bridge in the old city, then the Church of the Birth of Our Lady, the Heroes Monument, the Cheng Ho Mosque and the KRI Pasopati submarine. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 1 days
Surabaya in 1 day
Day 1
Ampel Mosque
One of the oldest mosques in Java, founded by the saint Sunan Ampel, at the heart of the Arab quarter.
House of Sampoerna
Tobacco museum in a Dutch colonial building where workers hand-roll kretek cigarettes, with exhibits on the family company.
Jembatan Merah (Red Bridge)
Old bridge over the Kalimas river in the colonial trading quarter, remembered for fighting in the 1945 Battle of Surabaya.
Church of the Birth of Our Lady
Neo-Gothic Catholic church of 1900, the oldest in Surabaya, known locally as Kepanjen Church.
Heroes Monument Must see
Tall white obelisk honouring the fighters of the 1945 Battle of Surabaya, with a museum underneath.
Cheng Ho Mosque
Mosque built in the style of a Chinese temple in red and green, honouring the Muslim admiral Zheng He.
KRI Pasopati
Retired Soviet-built submarine set up as a museum on land by the Gubeng area, open to walk through.
Watch: Surabaya
A one-minute look at the plan: every stop, day by day, with the map.
When to go to Surabaya
The dry season from May to October is the best time, with less rain, though the city is hot and humid all year. November to April is the rainy season, with heavy afternoon downpours. Surabaya's anniversary in May and Heroes' Day on 10 November bring events and parades.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Surabaya on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Surabaya on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Surabaya on GetYourGuide or on Viator
- From the airport: a private transfer in Surabaya with Kiwitaxi
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for Indonesia from Airalo
Some of these are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Tips for Surabaya
- Dress modestly at the mosques, with shoulders and knees covered; women should also cover their hair.
- The Ampel Mosque is reached through a busy covered market lane in the Arab quarter; go in the morning, outside Friday prayers.
- The House of Sampoerna is free and also runs a heritage bus tour of the old city; ask about it at the entrance.
- The city is hot and humid all year; use taxis or ride-hailing cars between the stops in the middle of the day.
- The Heroes Monument has an underground museum on the Battle of Surabaya of 10 November 1945.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Ampel Mosque: consigliere ivan from Bontang, Indonesia, CC BY 2.0
- Cheng Ho Mosque: JV052Nikken, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Church of the Birth of Our Lady: Bahnfrend, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Heroes Monument: sbamueller, CC BY-SA 2.0
- House of Sampoerna: consigliere ivan from Bontang, Indonesia, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Jembatan Merah (Red Bridge): Hd. Aisya, CC BY-SA 3.0
- KRI Pasopati: Jauhsekali, CC BY 3.0
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
