Place of Interest at Surabaya

Surabaya being more a destination for business travelers quite honestly lacks attractions for the casual tourist within in the city itself. There are a few, but if you are going to be in Surabaya for a more than a few days or perhaps through a weekend, it would well worth your time to get outside the city for some golf. There are eight golf courses within 30-40 minutes of the downtown areas.

For non-golfers a trip through the countryside to the city of Malang or a visit to the top of Mt. Bromo to see the sunrise are a great way to see Indonesia and meet its people.

Red Bridge
Description: Known locally as Jembatan Merah, the Red Bridge is so named because the railings are painted bright red. Once the heart of Colonial Surabaya, when the Red Bridge neighborhood was in its prime, it was the geographic centre of the city, halfway between the docks in the north and the gracious suburban administrative precinct in the south. It is historically important because it was at this location during the Battle of Surabaya that the British General Mallaby lost his life.

History tells us that the end of colonialism in Indonesia has its origin at the former Hotel Oranje (currently the Hotel Majapahit/Mandarin Oriental) which opened in 1910. It was (and still is) without question Surabaya's finest hotel. Countless settlers, ship owners and cruise ship passengers, including Charlie Chaplain, were served in its palatial dining room and sipped Bols on its polished terraces. This is the location of the "Flag incident which ignited the Revolution"

Grahadi
Description: The residence of the former Dutch governor, still stands. An oasis of tranquility preserved by the presence of today's Governor of East Java. Opposite the residence stands the corpulent figure of Joko Dolog, a 13th-century statue which has long been Surabaya's trademark.

The Surabaya Zoo
Address: Jl. Setail No. 1 Surabaya.
Description: Claiming to be "the largest zoo in S.E. Asia" this "Kebun Binatang" may be of interest to some visitors. A short 15 minute drive along a tree shaded six lane road from the city centre, this is a good place to see the famous (infamous?) Komodo dragons. However, don't expect much more. The zoo is not as well maintained as it could be for animals or visitors alike. Shaded walkways are often slippery - especially after a rain, not all the birds are in cages, and the smell can often be quite pungent in the heat of the day.
Admission: Admission in a mere Rp. 6,000.- (80 US cents).
Hours: 7.00am to 5.00pm.

Kali Mas
Description: This harbor is the home to the notorious "Bugis Schooners," tall-masted sailing ships and the preferred means of transport for the Bugis sailors (the "boogie man" of nightmares). The dock complex at Tanjung Perak, the historic port of Surabaya, remains much as it was, except for its new air conditioned passenger terminal, may be of interest to some who have never witnessed a working port (and busy it is). The port is also home to the Indonesian Navy which