RegionUsable guide

East Java

Province in Java, Indonesia

Photo: No machine-readable author provided. UkPaolo assumed (based on copyright claims)., CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Overview

East Java (Jawa Timur) covers the eastern third of the island of Java, Indonesia, as well as the island of Madura and several small offshore islands.

Regions

Surabaya Metropolitan Area
Surabaya Metropolitan Area is a region of East Java in Indonesia, known locally as Gerbangkertosusila (an acronym of Gresik-Bangkalan-Mojokerto-Surabaya-Sidoarjo-Lamongan). This travel guide covers this area with the exception of Bangkalan, which is in the article on Madura.
Northwest
Northwest Region is a region in East Java.
The Horseshoe
The Horseshoe (Indonesian: Tapal Kuda) is a region of East Java in Indonesia.
Southern Mountains
Southern Mountains (Javanese: Pagunungan Kidul) is a region of East Java in Indonesia.
Madura Islands
Madura is an island off the coast of East Java.

Getting there and around

Getting there

By train
Surabaya is connected by rail from Jakarta, Semarang, Yogyakarta and Banyuwangi with many stops in between. Booking online with a credit card is possible on traveloka.
By ferry
Ferries ply the route between Gilimanuk, Bali and Banyuwangi every 20 min, 24 hr a day. The crossing itself takes about 30 min, although embarking and disembarking can take much longer.
By bus
Frequent buses travel across Java and this is a reliable, if not always a comfortable, method of travel. All of the major cities and towns in the region can be reached by bus.

Read in the guide

Getting around

By train
The region is well served by the national rail network which connects all major cities and towns.
By plane
For getting to some of the more remote parts of the province, flying can be an option.

Read in the guide

Airports and nearby hotels

Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.

Juanda International Airport

Surabaya · International · SUB

Search stays near SUB

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Cities

Surabaya

capital of the region; Indonesia's second-largest city and a huge industrial sprawl

Banyuwangi

the Ijen Crater, famous Java arabica coffee plantations and ferries to Bali

Madiun

verdant agriculture and rail industry

Malang

cool, clean air and the ancient seat of the Kanjuruhan and Singhasari Kingdom

Ponorogo

home of Reog and known for the origin place of satay

Probolinggo

gateway to the Bromo-Tengger-Semeru National Park

Baluran National Park

large forest and coastal park and relatively easy access to and from Bali

Bawean

an island with deer and a white sand beach

Show all 14

Bromo-Tengger-Semeru National Park

popular hiking destination featuring the still-rumbling Mount Bromo

Ijen plateau

see the famous Ijen crater

Meru Betiri National Park

a national park known for Sukamade, a turtle conservation beach

Pacet

mountainous district

Tretes

mountainous district

Trowulan

the site of the capital city of the Majapahit Empire

Read before you go to East Java

Articles and travel topics about East Java and Indonesia.

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Full travel guide

Every section of the guide. Open one to read it in full.

UnderstandThe spine of East Java is dominated by a series of rugged, spectacular volcanic peaks.

TalkPeople in East Java speak Indonesian as well as Javanese which they mix together at times. A significant minority also speak Madurese.

Get inSurabaya's Juanda Airport (SUB) is one of the busiest in Indonesia, with very frequent flights from Jakarta, Bali and other major Indonesian destinations.

Get aroundDriving anywhere in Java is a hazardous business for visitors not used to Indonesian driving habits.

SeeThe Bromo-Tengger-Semeru National Park is the main attraction in East Java and accounts for a large percentage of overseas tourists who visit the region.

EatWestern food is available in the large cities of Surabaya and Malang but there are so many local delights that any visitor is surely better off concentrating on these.

DrinkThere is a local type of fermented palm tree alcohol, called tuak. Other popular drinks in East Java include:

SleepSleep at Tugu Hotel in Malang city, a hotel that houses a magnificent collection of Javanese antiques. They also serves lunch or tea.

Stay safeWhen visiting any of the volcanic areas, understand and be respectful of their active nature. Never take unnecessary risks.

Go next

Sources and licences

Guide text adapted from the Wikivoyage article "East Java" by its contributors, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read on Wikivoyage · Contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Summary from the Wikipedia article "East Java", available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Wikipedia
Photo: No machine-readable author provided. UkPaolo assumed (based on copyright claims)., CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

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