Is Surabaya safe?
One of Indonesia's cleaner, better-run big cities. Petty theft, heat and traffic are the main risks; violent crime against visitors is rare.
Key facts
- SoloSquare safety rating: 4/5, safe with normal care.
- US travel advisory: Level 2: Exercise increased caution, updated 2026-07-06.
- Homicide rate in Indonesia: 0.3 per 100,000 people (2022, UNODC via World Bank).
- Road deaths in Indonesia: 11.3 per 100,000 people a year (2019, WHO).
- Emergency numbers: Police 110 · Ambulance 118 · Fire 113 · All emergencies 112.
Safety in Surabaya at a glance
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Overall | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Crime | Phone snatching from motorbikes, pickpocketing in markets and buses, and occasional taxi disputes. |
| At night | Main roads, malls and food streets stay busy until late. Use Grab or Gojek after dark rather than walking quiet side streets. |
| Solo women | Comfortable for solo women with normal care. Dress modestly, expect some stares and use app taxis at night. |
| Other risks | Extreme heat and humidity; Rainy-season flooding in low areas; Aggressive motorbike traffic |
Scams, areas and local laws
Common scams
- Taxi drivers refusing meters or taking long routes
- Becak drivers charging inflated tourist prices
- Money changers short-counting rupiah or foreign notes
Take care
- Roadside phone use: snatchers on motorbikes target handsets
- Crowded markets and Tunjungan at night: pickpockets and bag cutters
Calmer areas to stay
Laws visitors break by accident
- From 2026, sex outside marriage and unmarried cohabitation are crimes, prosecuted only on a spouse's, parent's or child's complaint
- Drug trafficking can bring the death penalty; even small amounts mean prison
- Disrespecting temples or sacred sites in Bali can lead to deportation
How Surabaya compares in Indonesia
| Place | Safety |
|---|---|
| Nusa Dua | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Bali | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Ubud | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Canggu | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Seminyak | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Uluwatu | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Yogyakarta | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Gili Islands | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Nusa Penida | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Lombok | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Labuan Bajo | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Sanur | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Raja Ampat | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Mount Bromo | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Bandung | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Nusa Lembongan | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Lake Toba | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Kuta Lombok | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Amed | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Batam | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Bintan | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Malang | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Bukit Lawang | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Surabaya | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Manado | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Tana Toraja | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Jimbaran | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Jakarta | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Kuta | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Medan | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
Quick answers
Is Surabaya safe for solo female travelers?
Comfortable for solo women with normal care. Dress modestly, expect some stares and use app taxis at night.
Is Surabaya safe at night?
Main roads, malls and food streets stay busy until late. Use Grab or Gojek after dark rather than walking quiet side streets.
What is the crime rate in Surabaya?
Phone snatching from motorbikes, pickpocketing in markets and buses, and occasional taxi disputes. Nationally, Indonesia records 0.3 homicides per 100,000 people a year (2022).
What number do I call in an emergency in Surabaya?
Police 110 · Ambulance 118 · Fire 113 · All emergencies 112.
More about Surabaya
Going to Surabaya solo?
SoloSquare is where travelers, nomads and locals in Surabaya meet up for small plans: coffee, dinners, walks and day trips. Join one, or start your own in a minute.
Sources
- US State Department travel advisory
- Wonderful Indonesia (Ministry of Tourism)
- KAI (Indonesian railways)
- National Hospital Surabaya
- Siloam Hospitals
- World Bank: intentional homicides (UNODC)
- World Bank: road traffic deaths (WHO)
Safety ratings are SoloSquare's editorial judgment from official advisories, crime data and local reporting. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.