Travel Information

Click on Image to enlarge

Semarang is located in central Java. It is one of the biggest cities of Indonesia.

From the hills that surround the city you get great views over the sea, the rice paddies, the hills, the city and the harbour.

The old city has colonial era buildings (Dutch) and is well worth a stroll. If you have time, you should try and catch a traditional Wajang puppet performance.

Semarang is a bustling mid-size town with 1.5 million population. More a business than tourism destination, it nevertheless has its own charm with contrasting modern mid-rises, Dutch colonial architecture, China town, and small kampongs jut against each other.

The city weather is hot and humid. Wear cotton clothes. T-shirt and knee-long trousers are suggested. Some places like mosques (masjid) and temples require polite dress such as long trousers/skirts. Hot pants/mini skirts will attract attention and might be considered impolite.

Semarang is off the tourist trail and knowing basic Indonesian will be helpful (and courteous), although younger people can often speak some English.

Semarang has a number of historical and tourism sites waiting to be discovered such as Simpang Lima, Old Blenduk Church (10 minutes drive), Tawang Railway Station (15 minutes drive), Lawang Sewu “Thousand Doors Dutch Building” (10 minutes drive), Preserved Old City (15 minutes drive), Gedung Songo Temple (1.5 hours drive), Borobudur Temple (3 hours drive), Prambanan Temple (4 hours drive), Mount Merapi (3 hours drive).