Indonesia · 2026 itinerary
Surabaya 3-Day Itinerary
A day-by-day plan for Surabaya: the best attractions in order, where to eat, how to get around — with free hotel briefings for your stay.
Arrive & Explore the Highlights
A retired Soviet-era submarine parked in a central square. You can climb inside and see the cramped crew quarters and torpedo room. Free, but small fee to enter the sub interior.
🕐 08:00-16:00 daily
Free entry💡 Go early to avoid queues inside the sub — tight spaces get busy by 11am. The outside viewing costs nothing.
Hotels near Monumen Kapal Selam (Submarine Monument) →A museum inside a working clove cigarette factory. See the hand-rolling process and colonial Dutch architecture. Small donation suggested for the photo gallery.
🕐 09:00-16:00 daily
Free entry💡 Arrive before 10am to watch the rolling teams. The café courtyard is a calm spot for a cheap coffee.
Hotels near House of Sampoerna →Mie Hokkien Rajake · ££
Cafe Glass · ££
Deeper Into Surabaya
A restored colonial-era harbour area with red-brick warehouses, a replica of the ship 'Darat', and views over the Madura Strait. Good for photography and a walk.
🕐 Open 24 hours
💡 Best at golden hour around 4pm. Bring water — little shade and few vendors nearby.
A lively city park with skate ramps, a jogging track, food stalls and a big banyan tree. Popular with local families in the evening.
🕐 Open 24 hours
💡 Come at sunset for the street food — try rujak cingur or sate lilit from the warung on the south side.
Daun Lada
Kuningan Restaurant
Final Favourites & Departure
A large colourful Chinese-Indonesian temple complex on the waterfront, with a giant statue of Kwan Im. No entry fee, but donations accepted.
💡 Visit during a festival like Cap Go Meh (February) for lion dances and free snacks. Modest dress required inside prayer halls.
Double Happiness
Depot Sari Sop Buntut
Getting Around Surabaya
App estimates can double in surge. Book a 'GoCar' or 'GrabCar' for fixed pricing, but wait in the designated pickup zone outside the terminal entrance to avoid fines.
Buy a fixed-price coupon from the official counter inside the arrivals hall to avoid haggling. The blue taxis are reliable, but avoid drivers offering rides before the counter.
The bus stops at Purabaya terminal, not the hotel. From there, take a blue gojek or ojek (motorcycle taxi) for around 20,000 IDR. Bus is slow but dirt cheap.
Fastest option with air-con. From Gubeng station, it's a 10-minute taxi ride (around 30,000 IDR) to Hotel Bali. Pay with a prepaid ticket from the station kiosk.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 3 days enough for Surabaya?
Three days covers the main highlights well. You can see the key attractions like Monumen Kapal Selam (Submarine Monument) and get a genuine feel for the city. For a more leisurely pace or to explore neighbourhoods in depth, a 5-day trip is better.
What is the best time to visit Surabaya?
See our full best time to visit Surabaya guide — it covers weather month by month, peak vs. shoulder seasons and how to avoid the crowds.
Where should I stay for this itinerary?
A central location saves transit time between sites. Top options include Hotel Sempoerno, Weta, Remaja. See the full ranked list with free briefings for each.