Surabaya

Known fondly as ‘The City of Heroes‘ for the pivotal role that the city played in the Indonesian freedom struggle, Surabaya is one of Indonesia’s most enigmatic cities. The country’s second-largest urban settlement, Surabaya today reflects the influences of its many occupants. Arab Quarter, with its mazy grids of lanes, one of Indonesia’s largest Chinatowns, and the remaining vestiges of classically beautiful Dutch colonial-era buildings all make up Surabaya’s heritage.

Undeservedly left off of most tourists’ itinerary of Indonesia, Surabaya has much to offer any visitor that chooses to walk through its historic streets. 21st-century developmental projects aimed at alleviating the city’s traffic and pollution troubles aim to elevate Surabaya to a major tourist destination. Surabaya’s pockets of rich heritage, sprawling botanic gardens, the immaculately maintained Sampoerna Museum, beautiful churches, mosques, and markets make Surabaya a hidden-gem amongst Indonesia’s more illustrious tourist destinations.