Things to Do in Surabaya: History, Food & the Ampel Quarter

Surabaya is Indonesia’s second-largest city — a massive port metropolis of nearly 3 million people that receives far fewer international visitors than its historical and cultural significance warrants. The city played a defining role in Indonesia’s revolution: the Battle of Surabaya in November 1945, when Indonesian militias fought British and Dutch forces, is considered the single most important event in the independence struggle. That history is still everywhere.

1. Ampel Arab Quarter

Established by Sunan Ampel — one of the nine Islamic saints (Wali Songo) who brought Islam to Java — in the 15th century, Ampel is both a pilgrimage site and a living neighbourhood. The Grand Mosque of Ampel (one of the oldest in Indonesia) is surrounded by a dense network of alleyways selling Islamic clothing, perfume, miswak sticks, dates, prayer beads, and traditional medicines.

Entry: Free | Hours: Open daily; mosque open for all five prayers daily Best time: Friday morning when the pilgrimage crowd is at its peak

The tomb of Sunan Ampel within the mosque complex draws pilgrims from across the archipelago. Non-Muslim visitors are welcome but should dress modestly and avoid visiting during prayer times.

2. House of Sampoerna Tobacco Museum

The House of Sampoerna is a 19th-century Dutch building that served as the original Sampoerna tobacco factory and now operates as a museum and active kretek (clove cigarette) production facility. The upper floor overlooks the factory floor where women still hand-roll cigarettes at an extraordinary speed.

Entry: Free | Hours: 9am–10pm daily | Location: Jl Taman Sampoerna 6, Surabaya

The museum covers the history of kretek (Indonesia’s distinctive clove cigarettes, which account for the majority of cigarette sales in the country) and the Sampoerna family, who built one of Indonesia’s great corporate empires before selling to Philip Morris in 2005. The café on the premises is one of the best in central Surabaya.

3. Monumen Kapal Selam (Submarine Monument)

A real submarine — KRI Pasopati 410, a Soviet Whiskey-class vessel that served in the Indonesian Navy from 1962 to 1990 — lifted from the Kalimas River and converted into a museum that you can walk through.

Entry: IDR 15,000 | Hours: 9am–5pm daily | Location: Jl Pemuda, city centre

The interior is cramped in the way only Cold War submarines can be — claustrophobic by design. The torpedo room, control room, and crew quarters are all accessible. One of Surabaya’s more unusual and entertaining museums.

4. Tugu Pahlawan (Heroes Monument)

A towering 41.15-metre obelisk at the centre of Surabaya commemorating the November 1945 Battle of Surabaya. The site includes a museum underground detailing the events of the revolution through dioramas, photographs, weapons, and documents.

Entry: IDR 5,000 | Hours: 8am–4pm (closed Monday) | Location: Jl Pahlawan, city centre

The monument measures 41.15 metres — each digit representing 10 November 1945. The underground museum is the best single introduction to the events of the Indonesian revolution.

5. Kembang Jepun (Chinatown & Dutch Port District)

Surabaya’s Chinatown (locally called Kembang Jepun — “Japanese Flower”) is centred on Jalan Kembang Jepun and the surrounding streets near the old port. Chinese merchant houses from the 18th and 19th centuries line the lanes; the Hok An Kiong Temple (1865) is the most photogenic.

Entry: Free | Best time: Morning when the wet market near the temple is active

The adjacent Dutch port district (Jembatan Merah — Red Bridge area) has some of the finest colonial architecture in East Java: warehouses, counting houses, and trading company buildings that once processed the wealth of the spice trade.

6. Suramadu Bridge & Madura Island

The Suramadu Bridge — 5.4 kilometres long, the longest bridge in Indonesia when completed in 2009 — connects Surabaya to Madura Island. The crossing itself is part of the experience.

Toll: Approximately IDR 3,000 for motorcycles; IDR 11,000 for cars (westbound only) as of 2026

Madura is famous for kerapan sapi (bull racing) — a centuries-old tradition where pairs of bulls race 100 metres while guided by a jockey standing on a wooden frame. Racing season runs from August to October; the main championships are held at Pamekasan. Madura also has distinctive batik (bold geometric patterns) and one of the finest salt industries in Indonesia.

7. Ciputra Waterpark / Grand City Mall Area

For a half-day break from history and heat, the Grand City Mall complex includes Ciputra Waterpark (one of the largest in East Java) and a major shopping centre. Primarily relevant for families travelling with children.

Waterpark entry: IDR 100,000 (children); IDR 130,000 (adults) as of 2026 | Hours: 10am–6pm

8. Kebun Binatang Surabaya (Surabaya Zoo)

Founded in 1916, Surabaya Zoo is one of the oldest in Southeast Asia and home to Indonesia’s signature fauna: Sumatran tigers, Javan rhinoceros (historical collection), Komodo dragons, orangutans, and birds of paradise. Standards have improved since a period of controversy in the 2010s; it is now a reasonable zoo by Indonesian standards.

Entry: IDR 15,000 | Hours: 9am–4pm daily | Location: Jl Setail, south Surabaya

9. Taman Bungkul Park

The most pleasant public park in central Surabaya — a colonial-era garden around the tomb of Mbah Bungkul (a Sufi saint). Popular for early morning exercise, weekend markets, and food carts. A free, crowd-free contrast to the museum circuit.

Entry: Free | Hours: 24 hours | Best time: Early morning or Sunday market (8am–12pm)

10. Bromo Sunrise Tour (Day Trip)

Surabaya is one of the standard departure points for Mount Bromo — most operators collect from Surabaya hotels around midnight for a 3-hour drive to reach the Penanjakan viewpoint before dawn.

Tour from Surabaya: Approximately IDR 450,000–750,000/person shared jeep as of 2026 Return: Back in Surabaya by midday

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Getting Around Surabaya

Surabaya is a car city with limited public transit. Grab and Gojek work well for point-to-point trips. The Suroboyo Bus (BRT-style) covers the main north–south spine but routes require app knowledge. For a day of sightseeing, negotiate a half-day hired car with driver for approximately IDR 250,000–400,000 (4 hours).

Browse tours and activities in Surabaya — a local guide makes a big difference for navigating temples, wildlife sites, and the less-visited corners of the island. Travel insurance for Indonesia is strongly recommended before any trip — emergency medical cover is especially important given the distances between islands.

More Surabaya Guides

• Surabaya travel guide — the full Surabaya overview: orientation, hotels, restaurants, and getting there
• Where to stay in Surabaya — business district hotels, Kota Tua stays, and budget options near Gubeng station
• Surabaya food guide — rawon, lontong balap, and the best places to eat in Java’s second city
• Mount Bromo guide — the iconic East Java sunrise, 3 hours from Surabaya
• Kawah Ijen guide — the blue fire crater, accessible from Banyuwangi (4 hours from Surabaya)