Solo (Surakarta) is one of Java’s great cultural cities - the seat of two rival royal courts (the Kasunanan and the Mangkunegaran) that produced the island’s most refined traditions in batik, gamelan, wayang kulit shadow puppetry, and classical dance. Unlike Yogyakarta, which has developed a significant tourist infrastructure, Solo remains primarily a Javanese city that goes about its daily business - the tourist experience here is of fitting into the city rather than the city fitting around you.
If you are travelling solo or on a tight budget, compare hostels in Solo on Hostelworld for dorm beds and private rooms.
Solo is an excellent base for temple visits (Candi Sukuh and Candi Cetho are east of the city in the hills), for batik shopping (Pasar Klewer is the largest batik market in Java), and for day trips to Yogyakarta, Borobudur, or the Dieng Plateau.
Around Jalan Slamet Riyadi: the main boulevard
Jalan Slamet Riyadi is Solo’s central boulevard - lined with batik shops, banks, restaurants, and mid-range hotels. The Solo Balapan train station is at the western end, the Kasunanan Kraton is a 10-minute walk south, and the Mangkunegaran Palace is immediately north.
Prefer an area-by-area breakdown? Our Solo area and neighbourhood guide explains which part to stay in and why.
Budget (IDR 80,000–250,000 / USD 5–16 per night)
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Budget guesthouses near the Kasunanan Kraton - Small guesthouses and budget hotels around the palace and Pasar Klewer, typically IDR 100,000–250,000 per night. Basic, clean rooms and an easy walk to the main cultural sites. Check recent reviews, as quality varies widely at this price.
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Colonial-era and heritage hotels on Jalan Slamet Riyadi - A few older hotels on the main boulevard retain colonial-period architecture, typically IDR 150,000–400,000 per night. Compare live rates for the current options.
Mid-range (IDR 250,000–700,000 / USD 16–44 per night)
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The Sunan Hotel Solo - Mid-range hotel on Jalan Ahmad Yani with a pool, a restaurant and a bar, and guest scores around 8.4 on Booking.com. Rates typically from around IDR 500,000–900,000 per night (check live rates). The central location makes it an easy base for exploring the city.
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Lorin Solo Hotel - Large hotel with an outdoor pool, spa and garden grounds on Jalan Laksda Adisucipto, about 10 minutes from the airport. Rates typically from around IDR 500,000–900,000 per night (check live rates). Good facilities for the price; recent reviews note dated furniture in places.
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Novotel Solo - Accor’s Solo property at Jalan Slamet Riyadi 272, with two pools, a spa and free parking. Rates typically from around IDR 600,000–1,200,000 per night (check live rates). The best option for travellers who want brand consistency and central access; reviews note that some rooms are due a refresh.
Laweyan: the batik district
Laweyan, southwest of the Kasunanan Kraton, is Solo’s traditional batik-producing neighbourhood. The district has been the centre of batik production since the 16th century and retains many traditional merchant houses (rumah saudagar) with high walls and distinctive street architecture.
Several boutique guesthouses have opened in Laweyan in recent years - staying here puts you in the most culturally distinctive part of Solo, within walking distance of multiple batik workshops open to visitors.
- Rumah Turi Eco Boutique Hotel - Eco boutique hotel near the Laweyan batik district with free parking and an on-site café serving local cuisine. Rates typically from around IDR 350,000–500,000 per night (check live rates). A quieter, more characterful alternative to the chain hotels.
Compare prices and availability across all Solo hotels - Search hotels in Solo.
Practical notes
Kraton visits: The Kasunanan Kraton (open Sat–Thu 09:00–14:00, entry IDR 15,000) and the Mangkunegaran Palace (open Mon–Sat 08:30–14:00, entry IDR 10,000) are Solo’s two main royal palace museums. Both have live gamelan on selected mornings - check the schedule at the entrance.
Batik shopping: Pasar Klewer, adjacent to the Kasunanan Kraton, is the largest batik market in Java with hundreds of stalls selling cotton and silk batik at wholesale prices. Bargaining is expected. For fixed-price quality batik, the showroom workshops along Jalan Sondakan in Laweyan have more premium pieces.
Wayang kulit: The RRI (Radio Republic Indonesia) in Solo hosts free wayang kulit performances on certain Saturday evenings - ask at your hotel for the current schedule. The performances run from 21:00 until dawn (approximately 05:00). Attending even for an hour gives a sense of the scale and artistry of the tradition.