Top 9 Things To Do In Surakarta, Indonesia

1. Visit the batik village of Laweyan

Java is the birthplace of batik, and Solo is the hub of batik production. For a lowdown on all things batik, you can head to the unmissable House of Danar Hadi - undoubtedly the finest batik museum in the world. But for a more immersive experience of the craft, follow it up with a visit to the batik village of Laweyan. Here, you can trace the historic journey of batik production inside important centres while staying at charming homestays, getting hands-on at intensive batik workshops, and shopping for classic batik designs at the birthplace of the sophisticated craft.

2. Watch puppets at Sriwedari Park

No visit to Java is complete without experiencing its shadow puppetry. Wayang kulit, one of the many puppetry forms indigenous to the region, will cast a spell on you with its haunting, stylized silhouettes. It’s best enjoyed after dark, and if you’re in Solo, you couldn’t ask for a better setting than Sriwedari Park. Apart from hosting wayang, it offers an assortment of other amusements guaranteed to keep every member of your family occupied. You’ll come away with the shadows and songs of the gamelan orchestra playing back in your mind.

Sriwedari Park

Address: Jl. Slamet Riyadi, Kecamatan Lawiyan, Solo, Indonesia

Opening hours: 9am - 10:30pm (daily)

3. Time travel at the Museum of Early Man

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If you’re a prehistory buff, then you’ve probably heard of the Java man. Discovered in the late 1930s, this famous fossil was hailed as a critical missing link between modern humans and our immediate ancestors, Homo Erectus. That excavation took place at Sangiran, just 15 km (9.3 miles) north of Solo. Don your amateur archaeologist get-up and set out to the Early Man site and Sangiran Museum. Prepare to be transfixed by evocative dioramas and an extensive collection of fossils stored in vitrines - the treasures here include the world’s largest collection of Homo Erectus fossils.

Sangiran & The Museum of Early Man

Address: Sangiran, Kec Kalijambe | 17 km northern from Solo, Sragen, Indonesia

Website: Sangiran Museum of Early Man

Opening hours: Tue - Sun: 8am - 4pm (closed on Mon)

4. Explore Puro Mangkunegaran Palace

Though it ranks below Kasunan Palace in importance, this royal residence has the fortune of being better preserved. Built back in 1757, it still functions as a residence. The striking pavilion is built from solid teak, and its roof is painted in striking colours featuring figures from the Japanese zodiac. Parts of the structure have been turned into a museum that houses the collection of the residing prince and his family. Don’t worry if you spot a leopard - it’s only stuffed. On the other hand, you will have every reason to gasp at the collection of antique jewellery and costumes plated in gold.

Puro Mangkunegaran

Address: Jl. Ronggowarsito No.83, Keprabon, Kec. Banjarsari, Kota Surakarta

Website: Puro Mangkunegaran

Opening hours: Mon - Wed, Fri - Sat: 8am - 3pm; Thu, Sun: 8am - 2:30pm

5. Peek into royal life at Keraton Kasunanan Palace

Make no mistake, Kasunanan Palace may be frayed at the edges, but it is Solo’s main palace. The kraton (palace) is aptly located at the centre of Solo City, on the banks of Java’s majestic river, the Bengawan Solo. A devastating fire in 1985 destroyed much of the structure, so it’s a wonder that this much was salvaged. Constructed in a blend of European and Javanese styles, it also houses a cultural centre and Sasono Sewoko museum that holds a collection of priceless heirlooms. It may be off-limits, but make note of the Panggung Songgo Buwono - a tower where it is said the residing sultan communes with the deity of the South Seas.

Keraton Kasunanan

Address: Baluwarti, Pasar Kliwon, Surakarta City, Central Java

Opening hours: Mon - Thu: 9am - 2pm; Sat - Sun: 9am - 3pm (closed on Fri)

6. Admire the batik displays at House of Danar Hadi

This is the finest batik museum you could ask for. The colonial structure houses an exceptional collection of batik pieces across time and countries. You have access to a guided tour of the museum that will draw your attention to the significance of specific patterns and motifs. You can take part in workshops where you get to observe craftsmen and try your own hand at batik, before rounding it off with a visit to the souvenir shop where you can pick out special pieces for keepsake. For added fulfilment, you can indulge your appetite at Soga, a traditional restaurant on-site.

House of Danar Hadi

Address: Slamet Riyadi St No.261, Sriwedari, Laweyan, Surakarta City, Central Java

Website: House of Danar Hadi

Opening hours: 9am - 4:30pm (daily)

7. Delve into mysteries at Sukuh and Cetho

Let others head to the more famous Borobodur that also happens to be in Central Java. If you’re not one for following the herd, Sukuh & Cetho temple is for you. Both of these 15th-century temples are built in the distinctive Javanese-Hindu style. Sukuh temple, located on the slope of Mount Lawu, is dedicated to the deity of fertility and features reliefs that celebrate the theme. Further up from Sukuh, Cetho temple is set in the mountains and gives a panoramic view of the city. Given the pyramidical styles of these temples, you’ll find yourself wondering whether there could be a connection with the Aztec and Mayan cultures.

Sukuh and Cetho temples

Address: Tambak, Berjo, Ngargoyoso, Karanganyar Regency, Central Java

Opening hours: 7am - 5pm (daily)

8. Rummage through history at Radya Pustaka Museum

Located in the centre of Solo, this is one of the oldest museums in Indonesia. While it is not particularly vast, you’ll get a feel for the cultural highlights of the region with its delightful collection of heritage musical instruments, wayang puppets, masks, glassware, currencies, and traditional daggers. There’s also a great collection of literature, maps, and manuscripts from the region; in fact, there’s a research library that you could explore should you want to delve further into the secrets of Indonesia.

Radya Pustaka Museum

Address: Slamet Riyadi St No.275, Sriwedari, Laweyan, Surakarta City, Central Java

Opening hours: Tue - Thu, Sat - Sun: 9am - 4pm; Fri: 9am - 11am; 12:30pm - 4pm (closed on Mon)

9. Order a serving of Nasi Liwet

Sometimes you just want to be sure you’ve tasted everything a city has to offer. If you find your visit to Solo coming to an end, don’t despair if you haven’t covered much of the culinary landscape. Nasi Liwet Bu Wongso Lemu is just the institution meant for those looking for a culinary crash course. Located in the area of Jalan Teuku Umar, the restaurant is named after a dish known as nasi liwet (rice prepared with coconut milk) - a dish it happens to be famous for. You can choose from side dishes like winter melon, tofu, or chicken. It will come to you served on a banana leaf.

Nasi Liwet Bu Wongso Lemu

Address: Jl. Teuku Umar, Solo, Central Java

Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 4pm - 1am; Sun: 4pm - 12am

10. Go trinket hunting at Triwindu

Nothing makes more sense than having an antique market right next to a palace. So, it is with Triwindu Market, which is a stone’s throw from Puro Mangkunegaran. Crammed in the aisles of a wooden, two-storey building are knickknacks and gems for both the bargain hunter and the serious collector. There’s no shortage of masterfully aged knockoffs, but the thrill is in the hunt - and if you’re determined enough, you might just sniff out a priceless artefact at a throwaway price. At Pasar Triwindu, you’ll find everything from baubles to vintage bicycles, or even that perfect corner table for your study.

Triwindu Market

Address: Jl Diponegoro, Solo 57130, Indonesia

Opening hours: 9am - 4pm (daily)

Central Java's hidden treasure

Surakarta is the kind of city that could escape the attention of those that stick to the beaten track. But for those looking for more, it offers an abundance of mystery. Explore palaces, go trinket hunting, watch puppets in the park, or lose yourself in the compelling allure of temples that seem to span centuries and continents. Strap in for a memorable adventure.