Surabaya

Epic
Jawa Timur

Published

Fact-checked

Surabaya, the capital of East Java Province with an area of 338.78 km², holds an "Epic" status in the historical narrative of the archipelago...

Area
338.78 km²
Position
tengah
Number of Neighbors
3 neighbor
Coastal
No
Share:WhatsApp

History

History of Surabaya: The City of Heroes in the Heart of East Java

Surabaya, the capital of East Java Province with an area of 338.78 km², holds an "Epic" status in the historical narrative of the archipelago...

Geographic context

How this area’s terrain, climate and position shape life inside it.

Contextual Analysis: Surabaya in the East Java Landscape

Surabaya stands as an interesting spatial anomaly in East Java. With an area of only 338.78 km², this city is much smaller compared to...

Curator's note

Our editorial team’s take on what makes this place worth knowing.

Curator's Perspective: Efficiency in Density

When researching Surabaya, one fact that stands out is how this city manages extreme population density without losing...

Knowledge hub

Historical, cultural and economic background for a deeper read of the area.

GeoKepo Knowledge Hub: Exploring East Java

After delving into the urban dynamics of Surabaya, here are recommendations for further exploration in East Java and categories of interesting points of interest (POI) that are...

💡 Fun Facts

  • 1.Wilayah ini merupakan lokasi penandatanganan Piagam Lemah Tulis pada tahun 1269, sebuah prasasti kuno yang menjadi dasar penetapan hari jadi daerah tersebut.
  • 2.Terdapat tradisi unik bernama Reog Bulkiyo, sebuah tarian gagah yang diciptakan oleh prajurit Pangeran Diponegoro yang melarikan diri ke wilayah selatan ini.
  • 3.Bentang alamnya didominasi oleh ribuan bukit kapur kecil yang membentuk formasi karst unik, sehingga sering dijuluki sebagai daerah seribu bukit.
  • 4.Daerah ini dikenal sebagai produsen telur ayam ras terbesar di Indonesia yang menyuplai kebutuhan protein nasional dalam skala masif.

Destinations in Surabaya

All Destinations→
Situs Sejarah

Monumen Kapal Selam (Monkasel)

Monumen megah ini merupakan kapal selam asli KRI Pasopati 410 dari kelas Whiskey buatan Uni Soviet y...

Bangunan Ikonik

Tugu Pahlawan dan Museum Sepuluh Nopember

Sebagai simbol utama 'Kota Pahlawan', monumen setinggi 41 meter ini memperingati keberanian arek-are...

Pusat Kebudayaan

House of Sampoerna

Menempati gedung megah bergaya kolonial Belanda tahun 1862, museum ini menawarkan perjalanan sejarah...

Situs Sejarah

Jembatan Merah

Jembatan bersejarah ini merupakan saksi bisu tewasnya Brigadir Jenderal Mallaby yang memicu pertempu...

Kuliner Legendaris

Zangrandi Ice Cream

Didirikan sejak tahun 1930 oleh keluarga Italia, kedai ini adalah destinasi kuliner wajib bagi pecin...

Wisata Alam

Ekowisata Mangrove Wonorejo

Oase hijau di pesisir Surabaya ini menawarkan pelarian dari hiruk-pikuk kota melalui jalur kayu yang...

Other Names

Kota PahlawanKota SurabayaSoerabajaSurabaya KotaSurabaya, Jawa Timur
See everything near Surabaya →

Other Places in Jawa Timur

Bangkalan

Rare

Banyuwangi

Rare

Batu

Rare

Blitar

Epic

Blitar

Rare

Bojonegoro

Common

Bondowoso

Common

Gresik

Epic

Similar Places

Mamuju Tengah

EpicSulawesi Barat

Banggai Laut

EpicSulawesi Tengah

Paser

EpicKalimantan Timur

Rembang

EpicJawa Tengah

Barru

EpicSulawesi Selatan

Pangkajene dan Kepulauan

EpicSulawesi Selatan

Wakatobi

EpicSulawesi Tenggara

Serang

EpicBanten

Plan a trip to Surabaya

Best time to visit Surabaya3-day itinerary5-day itinerary7-day itinerary10-day itinerary

Compare Surabaya with...

Side-by-side data and traveller-fit comparisons. Useful for trip planning when you're choosing between two well-known Indonesian destinations.

vs Denpasarvs Badungvs Gianyarvs Yogyakartavs Slemanvs Central Jakartavs South Jakartavs Bandungvs Malangvs Banyuwangivs Magelangvs Semarangvs Medanvs Mataramvs West Manggarai

Related Travel Guides

Budget Capsule Hotels in Indonesia: The Ultimate Guide for Backpackers and Transit Travelers

Hotel Kapsul Budget di Indonesia: Panduan Lengkap untuk Backpacker dan Traveler Transit

Heritage Hotels in Indonesia: Colonial-Era Stays with Cultural Charm

Hotel Heritage di Indonesia: Menginap dengan Pesona Kolonial

Tumpak Sewu Waterfall Trek: East Java's Dramatic Semi-Circle Cascade

Air Terjun Tumpak Sewu: Keajaiban Setengah Lingkaran di Jawa Timur

Tumpak Sewu Waterfall Trek: East Java's Dramatic Semi-Circle Cascade

Air Terjun Tumpak Sewu: Keajaiban Setengah Lingkaran di Jawa Timur

First-Time Indonesia Itinerary: 10-Day Balanced Introduction

Panduan Perjalanan Pertama ke Indonesia: Itinerary 10 Hari untuk Pemula

Sleeping in History: Top Heritage Stays from Java to the Moluccas

Menginap di Sejarah: Rekomendasi Hotel Heritage dari Jawa hingga Maluku

Frequently asked questions

Where is Surabaya in Indonesia?+
Surabaya is a regency or city in Jawa Timur, situated in the tengah part of Indonesia. As an administrative division of Jawa Timur, it is governed by a local regent (bupati) or mayor (walikota) accountable to the provincial government.
How big is Surabaya?+
Surabaya covers approximately 338.78 km². Epic locations are the smallest 10% of Indonesian regencies and cities by area — 338.78 km² in this case, making their silhouettes the hardest to recognise in the daily puzzle.
Does Surabaya have a coastline?+
No, Surabaya is an inland (non-coastal) regency or city, which often means a stronger reliance on agriculture, plantations, or highland tourism rather than the sea.
How many regions border Surabaya?+
Surabaya shares its administrative border with 3 other regions. Bordering regencies typically share infrastructure, transport corridors, and cultural ties.
What is Surabaya known for?+
This region is the location of the signing of the Piagam Lemah Tulis in 1269, an ancient inscription that forms the basis for determining the region's anniversary.
What is there to do in Surabaya?+
Surabaya has 6 curated points of interest documented on GeoKepo, ranging from historical sites and cultural centres to nature attractions and legendary local cuisine. See the destinations section on this page for a full list.
How do I get to Surabaya?+
Surabaya is typically reached via inter-regency roads from the capital of Jawa Timur. Larger Indonesian cities are also served by domestic flights and inter-island ferries; check the latest schedules from official transport operators before travelling.

Sources & references

Geographical and historical data on this page is compiled from the following authoritative open sources:

  • Wikidata — Q11462 · structured geographic data, area, neighbours
  • OpenStreetMap — view on OSM · administrative boundary, geometry
  • Wikipedia (Indonesian) — Surabaya · historical context, demographics

Editorial copy is written and fact-checked by the GeoKepo team. Spot an error? Use the feedback form below.

Continue reading

Place

Mamuju Tengah

Sulawesi Barat

Place

Banggai Laut

Sulawesi Tengah

Guide

Budget Capsule Hotels in Indonesia: The Ultimate Guide for Backpackers and Transit Travelers

Guide

Heritage Hotels in Indonesia: Colonial-Era Stays with Cultural Charm

Discover Indonesia's best heritage hotels with genuine colonial-era architecture. From Hotel Majapahit Surabaya to Grand Hotel De Djokja Yogyakarta.

Guide

Tumpak Sewu Waterfall Trek: East Java's Dramatic Semi-Circle Cascade

Discover Tumpak Sewu, East Java's spectacular semi-circle waterfall. Learn how to trek to the base, find the best viewpoints, and combine with Bromo and Ijen.

Place

Paser Regency

Kalimantan Timur

The GeoKepo Team

Writers & Content Researchers

The GeoKepo team is a group of writers and researchers passionate about Indonesian geography. We are dedicated to making the archipelago easier to understand and explore, and every article is researched in depth to keep it accurate and useful.

Learn more about our team
Is this article helpful?

Keep exploring

Look around the neighbouring areas, the province, or related travel guides.

Places near SurabayaAll areas in Jawa TimurTravel guides

Or test your knowledge with the daily map puzzle. Play the map game