Do Tunjungan Plaza, Pasar Atom, Gubeng, and Genteng areas come to mind when you think about Surabaya? Surabaya is more than just the Central Surabaya area. While it’s true that there are many activities to do in Tunjungan Plaza, it doesn’t mean you can’t do anything in other areas of Surabaya. For instance, the western part of Surabaya shines with the glamorous-looking G-Walk culinary hub and Pakuwon Mall. Meanwhile, Eastern Surabaya has Galaxy Mall, a pop-up market heaven.
If this is your first time visiting Surabaya and you want to know how to navigate the city safely while maximizing your travel experiences, go ahead and read these tips and recommendations from a local!
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General tips
Surabaya’s area of 350.6 km (217.85 mi) and population of over 3 million people make it impossible for travelers to stay in one place while visiting Surabaya. That’s why knowing the best ways to navigate around this “City of Heroes” is essential for your travel in Surabaya. You will also need to prepare some other things before and during your travels in Surabaya. Check out this section to learn more.
1. Best ways to get around: motorcycles, cars, or public transportation
I’m a big fan of public transportation, even when I travel overseas! So, I love to maximize my use of Suroboyo Bus, Trans Semanggi, Trans Jatim, and the recently issued Wirawiri Suroboyo car. These public transportation options only accept QR payments or payments through card taps.
However, there are some areas, particularly in North Surabaya, that still lack bus stops. In these areas, private transportation options include Bluebird Group’s Bluebird taxi, the most sought-after transportation in Surabaya. Many locals and tourists also love using the Grab and Gojek apps to book motorcycle or car rides.
2. Spend a day inside shopping malls
Tunjungan Plaza and Pakuwon Mall are two malls owned by the Pakuwon Group, where locals usually spend most of their time. Many people, including myself, tend to arrive at around 10am to 10:30am. However, we usually leave these shopping malls starting at 7pm. Once, I remember I stayed at Pakuwon Mall from 9am (before the shopping mall’s opening hours) until 8pm local time. During that time, I only sat down to eat.
No wonder the fares on the Grab app are higher during those peak hours!
3. Enjoy local cuisine at the food courts in malls
The Bakmi Gili and the legendary Bakso Cak Lim are two local Surabaya stalls that can be found in the food courts of Surabaya’s shopping malls. Bakso Cak Lim is only available in the third-floor food court of Royal Plaza. Meanwhile, you can enjoy The Bakmi Gili at either Royal Plaza or BG Junction.
These two legendary Surabaya culinary delights are just a few examples. When you visit any of the food courts, you will find even more appetizing brands, such as Tahu Campur Kapasari at BG Junction or Kiet Wan Kie at Plaza Surabaya.
I recommend arriving with at least one additional person to secure a seat in any of the food courts! The seats fill up quickly on weekend nights and during the Eid Al-Fitr season.
4. Learn the diverse cultural values of Surabaya
“Semanggi” is the word that encapsulates the way Surabaya people live their lives. It not only refers to local food and the name of a bus that can only be found in Surabaya, but it also has the same sound as “semangat,” which means “cheers!”
“Merdeka ataoe mati” is yet another spirited and inspiring message we can learn from Surabaya’s heroes in the past, which the Surabaya youths today, known as Arek-Arek Suroboyo, embody. The phrase means “freedom or death.” Along with spicy foods that pack a punch, these elements shape important values that I think tourists can learn about!
Surabaya’s national football club, Persebaya, has the motto “Salam Satu Nyali, Wani!” This translates to “Greetings, One Spirit, Be Brave,” signifying a call for courage amongst their supporters. There is so much to learn from these deeply rooted values!
5. Wear high SPF in North Surabaya
The farther north you go in Surabaya, the more you will feel the sun burning through your bones. This is because Ujung, the northernmost area of Surabaya, connects to Surabaya North Quay within Tanjung Perak port.
The sun will reach its peak between 12pm and 2:30pm. That’s why it’s essential to prepare the best sunscreen and other high-SPF products you have. I use an SPF 50+++ sunscreen and an SPF 15+ lip balm, but I feel that they are not enough. So, I apply an after-sun care product when I return home.
6. Prepare both cash and electronic money for payment
Many shops in Pasar Atom, such as Chicago’s Ice Cream inside the shopping mall and the well-known Nasi Cumi Warong outside of it, only accept cash payments. On the other hand, Pakuwon Mall (PTC) closely resembles Jakarta’s shopping malls in terms of being cashless. Here, shops such as Ismaya Group’s Djournal, TPC, Tokyo Belly, Roti Jerapah, Easypizza, and others only accept cashless payments.
Therefore, when traveling in Surabaya, it is essential to prepare both cash and electronic money. In addition to bringing your Indonesian Rupiah (IDR) and debit or credit cards, I would also recommend topping up your OVO, GoPay, Shopeepay, or DANA balances!
Recommendations
Local foods, merchandise, and other gifts are my top three bucket list items whenever I visit a country, city, or area. Wi-Fi is another thing I always look for, as my work requires Wi-Fi.
Surabaya offers so many wonderful possibilities! Besides chilling out in cafes with high-speed Wi-Fi connections, such as any Tanamera coffee branch, there are other things you can do. Have you ever considered buying merchandise from a local football team? What about making friends with locals at warong stalls? Scroll through my recommendations to find out more.
7. Purchase some of Persebaya's football merchandise
Surabaya locals know Persebaya as the local football team that brings pride and power to “Bonekmania”, their loyal fans. Persebaya’s spirit of fair play is not only evident in the players’ style of play and communication, but also in the merchandise they offer. You can find the “Green Force” (an alternative name for Persebaya) represented in their merchandise.
Green Shop, located opposite Gelora 10th November stadium in Tambaksari, is not the only store where you can find Persebaya merchandise. I have discovered another store in the same building as Piring Seng restaurant, across from the iconic Hotel Majapahit in the Tunjungan area.
8. Shop for gifts at pop-up markets and pusat oleh-oleh (gift shops)
Bu Rudy has opened at least three pusat oleh-oleh (gift shops) in Surabaya. One of them is located in Dharmahusada, which is a 10- to 15-minute drive from Galaxy Mall. These gift shops mainly offer a wide range of gifts and souvenirs from Surabaya and East Java.
In addition to Bu Rudy’s shops, you can also visit Almond Crispy Cheese and Lapis Kukus Pahlawan stores. These gift shops specialize in selling authentic Surabaya pastries and cakes.
The western part of Surabaya is also filled with plenty of great gift options. However, most of these shops only operate in pop-up markets that are usually open on Saturdays and Sundays. Arkade Market, Hi Market, or Kepo Market are some of the pop-up markets I can recommend where you can find authentic Surabaya gifts!
9. Eat fresh fruits at the luxurious JW Marriott or Galaxy Mall's Fruto
Surabaya has two places where you can enjoy freshly cut fruit. The first is Pavilion Restaurant at JW Marriott Hotel, which is connected to the Lobby Lounge. The second is the Fruto stall in Galaxy Mall. Fresh fruit selections can be a healthy and affordable snack.
I usually pair the fruit with hot and unsweetened beverages because I prefer to save detox juices for meal replacements or a drink after lunch the next day. As for Marriott’s, I like to pair it with the Ginger Fizz (78,000 IDR or 4.75 USD before tax and service charge), a mocktail that includes ginger from the hotel’s own garden.
10. Enjoy Wi-Fi in restaurants and cafes
Unlike shopping malls in Jakarta or Semarang, I’ve never heard of Surabaya’s shopping malls offering free Wi-Fi access for visitors.
I love relaxing in a restaurant or cafe when I’m looking for a reliable Wi-Fi connection. However, in shopping malls, only the restaurants or cafes provide Wi-Fi, not the shopping mall itself. As a bonus, sometimes the cafes offer special prices. For example, Ismaya Group’s Djournal Coffee often offers member-exclusive discounts while providing internet access for its members.
My favorite places to go are standalone restaurants and cafes in university areas. I frequently visit Zybrick Coffee & Cantina in the Petra Christian University area in Siwalankerto. The prices for food items range from around 30,000 to 35,000 IDR (1.85-2.15 USD), and the internet speed is faster and more reliable than in shopping malls.
11. Sate late-night hunger pangs at Nasi Cumi Pasar Atom and Warong Padin
Is it already midnight and you are still craving more Surabaya foodie experiences? If so, I recommend visiting Nasi Cumi Waspada and Warung Padin, especially if your accommodation is in Central Surabaya!
Both eateries are open 24 hours a day. As the name suggests, Nasi Cumi Waspada serves mixed rice with black-inked squid, instant noodles, and spicy sambal terasi on the side. Meanwhile, Warung Padin specializes in seafood barbeque and penyetan (Indonesia’s “smashed” fried foods).
Many celebrities have eaten at these two places! Who knows, you may encounter one of them on your next visit to these 24-hour eateries.
12. Familiarize yourself with street Madurese food vendors
Central and North Surabaya are the best places to find street food vendors selling Madurese cuisine. Take, for example, Nasi Bebek Tugu Pahlawan. These vendors usually sell the same foods as the local Surabaya vendors, such as nasi goreng mawut (mixed fried rice with fried noodles), fried noodles, and others. However, Madurese cuisine tends to be spicier, smokier, and less focused on vegetables compared to Surabaya cuisine.
What’s more, Madurese cuisine includes nasi bebek (yellow-marinated duck served with jasmine rice) and nasi jagung (mixed rice with corn, served with vegetables and coconut garnish), which I would eat if I was hungry at night.
P.S.: Many of these food vendors only accept cash payments.
13. Chill and make friends while eating at the warong stalls
Surabaya’s warong tents are not only meant to fulfill the stomach’s needs at affordable prices. Many of these stalls can also top up phone and e-wallet balances. Sometimes, they have the pay later system through negotiations, especially when we’ve known the owners and assistants for a while.
Lately, I’ve been in love with anything that comes from the warong stalls on Tunjungan Street (Jalan Tunjungan). They only open from 6pm and don’t have any seating places, but that’s where things become more interesting.
I also recommend Angkringan Emak, a blue-colored warong in Pasar Tunjungan, one of the most tourist-friendly areas in Surabaya. It sells cigarettes and is a great place to socialize with other tourists.
Enjoy Surabaya's exciting offerings
You can make friends in your travels to Surabaya by visiting pop-up markets, riding public transportation, and getting used to their culture. After all, exploring Surabaya is always more fun with at least one more friend. If you’re ready to explore, follow these tips and recommendations from a local for the best experience.
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