City in East Java, Indonesia
Surabaya for solo travelers
Is Surabaya good for solo travel?
Indonesia's second city: hot, orderly and clean for the country, with colonial districts, great local food and good hospitals. A business and transit hub for Bromo and Ijen, with little for a long visit.
Solo travel at a glance
| Solo travel | 3/5 · Good, with some effort |
|---|---|
| Locals | Friendly |
| English | Limited |
| Safety | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Solo women | Comfortable for solo women with normal care. Dress modestly, expect some stares and use app taxis at night. |
How to meet people in Surabaya
Language-exchange meetups, university events, cafés in Darmo, and shared tours to Bromo or Ijen; solo travelers mostly meet on the onward trip.
Good things to do alone
- Walk the House of Sampoerna museum and tobacco history
- Visit the Heroes Monument and museum
- Eat rawon, rujak cingur and lontong balap
- See the Cheng Hoo Mosque
- Wander Kota Lama's colonial streets
Where to stay in Surabaya
| Area | Good for |
|---|---|
| Tunjungan and Genteng | Central hotels, malls, heritage buildings, easy transit |
| Darmo and Raya Darmo | Quiet residential area, cafés and long-stay apartments |
| Kenjeran and Old Town (Kota Lama) | Colonial streets, markets and the Chinese temple |
| Pakuwon and West Surabaya | Malls, restaurants and modern apartments |
Solo travel across Indonesia
| Place | Solo | English |
|---|---|---|
| Bali | 5/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Ubud | 5/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Canggu | 5/5 | Widely spoken |
| Seminyak | 4/5 | Widely spoken |
| Uluwatu | 4/5 | Widely spoken |
| Yogyakarta | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Gili Islands | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Lombok | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Labuan Bajo | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Sanur | 4/5 | Widely spoken |
| Mount Bromo | 4/5 | Limited |
| Nusa Lembongan | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Lake Toba | 4/5 | Limited |
| Kuta Lombok | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Amed | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Malang | 4/5 | Limited |
| Bukit Lawang | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Manado | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Tana Toraja | 4/5 | Limited |
| Jakarta | 3/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Nusa Penida | 3/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Kuta | 3/5 | Widely spoken |
| Nusa Dua | 3/5 | Widely spoken |
| Raja Ampat | 3/5 | Limited |
| Bandung | 3/5 | Limited |
| Batam | 3/5 | Limited |
| Bintan | 3/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Medan | 3/5 | Limited |
| Surabaya | 3/5 | Limited |
| Jimbaran | 3/5 | Common in tourist areas |
Quick answers
Is Surabaya good for solo travelers?
Good, with some effort (3/5). Indonesia's second city: hot, orderly and clean for the country, with colonial districts, great local food and good hospitals.
How do you meet people in Surabaya?
Language-exchange meetups, university events, cafés in Darmo, and shared tours to Bromo or Ijen; solo travelers mostly meet on the onward trip. On SoloSquare you can also join small plans with other travelers who are there now.
Do people speak English in Surabaya?
Limited.
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.
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
- Wonderful Indonesia (Ministry of Tourism)
- KAI (Indonesian railways)
- National Hospital Surabaya
- Siloam Hospitals
Ratings are SoloSquare's editorial judgment. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.