Surabaya

Surabayais thecapital cityofEast Javaprovinceand thesecond-largest cityinIndonesia, afterJakarta. Located on the northeastern corner ofJavaisland, on theMadura Strait, it is one of the earliest port cities in Southeast Asia. According to theNational Development Planning Agency, Surabaya is one of thefour main central cities of Indonesia, alongsideJakarta,Medan, andMakassar.The city had a population of 2,874,314 within itscity limitsat the 2020 census.With 3,009,286 people living in the city as of mid 2023 (comprising 1,490,358 males and 1,518,928 females)and over 10 million in the extendedSurabaya metropolitan area, according to the latest official estimate, Surabaya is thesecond-largest metropolitan areain Indonesia.Surabaya metropolitanis alsoASEAN's 6th largest economyahead ofHanoi. In 2023, the city'sGRPPPP was estimated at US$150.294 billion.
The city was settled in the 10th century by theKingdom of Janggala, one of the twoJavanesekingdoms that was formed in 1045 whenAirlanggaabdicated his throne in favor of his two sons. In the late 15th and 16th centuries, Surabaya grew to be aduchy, a major political and military power as well as a port in eastern Java, probably under theMajapahitempire.At that time, Surabaya was already a major trading port, owing to its location on theRiver Brantasdelta and the trade route betweenMalaccaand theSpice Islandsvia theJava Sea. During the decline of Majapahit, the lord of Surabaya resisted the rise of theDemak Sultanateand only submitted to its rule in 1530.Surabaya became independent after the death of Sultan Trenggana of Demak in 1546.
From the 18th century until the mid-20th century, Surabaya was the largest city in theDutch East Indiesand the main trading hub for the Indonesian archipelago, competing withShanghaiandHong Kong.
Surabaya has been one of the busiest trading city ports in Asia.Principal exports from the port includesugar,tobacco, andcoffee.Its rich history as a trading port has led to a strong financial infrastructure with financial institutions such as banks, insurance, and export-import companies. The economy is influenced by the recent growth in international industries and the completion of theSuramadu Bridge. The city is home to a largeshipyardand numerous specialized naval schools.TheBank of Indonesiahas also made plans for Surabaya to be theIslamic financialcenter of Indonesia.
The name Surabaya, derived from theJavanesephrase "sura ing baya," translates to "bravely facing danger."Its origins trace back to thePaliwords "sura," referring to the figure "Asura" fromBuddhist beliefs, andbhaya, meaning "fear," "perils," or "danger." This name is connected to a prophecy byJayabaya, a 12th-century psychic king of theKediri Kingdom, whose name itself means "conquering fear or perils, drawn from the Pali words "jaya" or "vijaya" (victory or conqueror) andbhaya(fear or peril). Jayabaya predicted a battle between a giantwhite sharkand a giant whitecrocodilein the region.
The event is sometimes interpreted as foretelling theMongol invasion of Java, a major conflict between the forces ofKublai Khan,Mongolruler ofChina, and those ofRaden Wijaya'sMajapahiton 31 May 1293,which is now considered the date of the city's founding.
The two animals are now used as the city's symbol, with the two facing and circling each other, as depicted in a statue appropriately located near the entrance to thecity zoo.
Some people considerJayabaya's prophecy as being about thegreat warbetween native Surabayan people and foreign invaders at the start of the war of independence in 1945. Another story tells of two heroes who fought each other to be the king of the city. The two heroes were named Sura and Baya. Thesefolk etymologies, though embraced enthusiastically by its people and city leaders, are unverifiable.
Surabaya was previously known asSoerajabaya, a name written using thevan Ophuijsen spelling system, an older form of Indonesian orthography.
The Kingdom ofJanggalawas one of the twoJavanesekingdoms that were formed in 1045 whenAirlanggaabdicated the throne of theKingdom of Kahuripanin favor of his two sons. The earliest historical record of Surabaya was in the 1225 bookZhu Fan Zhiwritten byZhao Rugua, in which it was called Zhòng Jiā Lú (重迦庐).The name Janggala is derived from theOld Javanesename Hujung Galuh (lit.'Cape Diamond'or'Cape Gemstone'). Hujung Galuh was located on the estuary ofBrantas Riverand today is part of modern Surabaya city andSidoarjo Regency.
By the 14th and 15th centuries, Surabaya was one of theMajapahitports or coastal settlements, together withTuban,Gresik, and Hujung Galuh (modern Sidoarjo).Ma Huandocumented theearly 15th-century visitofZheng He'streasure shipsin his 1433 bookYingya Shenglan.
Ma Huan visited Java during Zheng He's fourth expedition in 1413, during the reign of Majapahit kingWikramawardhana. He describes his travel to the Majapahit capital. He first arrived at the port ofTupan(Tuban) where he saw large numbers of Chinese settlers migrated fromGuangdongandZhangzhou. Then, he sailed east to the thriving new trading town ofKoerhhsi(Gresik),Supaerhya(Surabaya), and then sailing inland into the river by smaller boat to the southwest until he reached the Brantas river port ofChangku(Canggu). Continuing to travel by land to the southwest, he arrived inManchepoI(Majapahit), where the Javanese king stayed.
The Surabaya area was once the main gateway to the capital of the Majapahit Kingdom from the sea, at the mouth ofKali Masriver. The anniversary of the city of Surabaya was set on May 31, 1293, commemorating the victory of the Majapahit led byRaden Wijayaagainst theMongol invasion. Mongol troops who came from the sea were described asSura(sharks/brave) and Raden Wijaya's troops who came from the land were described asBaya(crocodiles/danger), literally translating to brave to face the dangers that come threatening. So the day of victory is commemorated as the anniversary of Surabaya.
By the late 15th century,Islambegan to take its root in Surabaya. The settlement ofAmpel, located aroundAmpel Mosquein today's Ampel subdistrict, Semampir district, north Surabaya, was established by Islamic proselytiserSunan Ampel.
In the late 15th and 16th centuries, Surabaya grew to aduchy, a major political and military power in eastern Java. The Portuguese writerTomé Piresmentioned that a Muslim lord was in power in Surabaya in 1513, though likely still a vassal of the Hindu–Buddhist Majapahit.By that time, Surabaya was already a major trading port,owing to its location on the Brantas River delta and the trade route betweenMalaccaand theSpice Islandsvia theJava Sea.During the decline of Majapahit, the lord of Surabaya resisted the rise of theDemak Sultanateand only submitted to its rule in 1530.Surabaya became independent after the death of SultanTrengganaofDemakin 1546.
Following the collapse ofDemak, Surabaya was conquered by theMataram Sultanate, under the leadership ofPanembahan Senopatiin 1598, and invaded byPanembahan Seda ing Krapyakin 1610, An article by the VOC in 1620 described Surabaya as a rich and powerful region.
The Duchy of Surabaya entered conflict with and was latercapturedby the more powerfulSultanate of Mataramin 1625 underSultan Agung.It was one of Mataram's fiercest campaigns, in which they had to conquer Surabaya's allies, Sukadana andMadura, and to lay siege to the city, blocking the flow of the Brantas River, Sultan Agung forced Surabaya to surrender. With this conquest, Mataram then controlled most of Java, except theBanten Sultanateand the Dutch settlement ofBatavia.
The expandingDutch East India Companytook over the city from a weakened Mataram in November 1743. In consolidating its rule over Surabaya and, in time, the rest of East Java, the Dutch collaborated with leading regional magnates, includingNgabehi Soero Pernollo(1720–1776), his brotherHan Bwee Kong,Kapitein der Chinezen(1727–1778), and his nephew,Han Chan Piet, Majoor der Chinezen (1759–1827), all from the powerfulHan family of Lasem.
In the 18th and 19th centuries, Surabaya was largest city in the Dutch East Indies, becoming a major trading center and hosting the most extensive naval base in the colony. Surabaya also served as the center of Java's plantation economy, industry, supported by its natural harbor.
During the Dutch East Indies era, Surabaya was the capital of the Surabaya Residency, whose territory encompasses what is now theGresikRegency,Sidoarjo,Mojokerto, andJombang. In 1905, Surabaya received the status of municipality (gemeente). In 1926, Surabaya was designated the capital of the province of East Java. Since then Surabaya developed into the second largest city in theDutch East IndiesafterBatavia.
Before 1900, the city center of Surabaya revolved around theJembatan Merah(lit.'Red Bridge'). In 1910, a modern port facility was built in Surabaya, now known as Tanjung Perak Harbor. Until the 1920s, new settlements such as Darmo, Gubeng, Fields, and Ketabang grew.
In 1920, a census recorded that Batavia had become the largest city. In 1917, a revolt occurred among the soldiers and sailors of Surabaya, led by theIndies Social Democratic Association. The revolt was firmly crushed, and the insurgents were given harsh sentences.
Japanoccupied the city in 1942, as part of theJapanese occupation of the Dutch East Indies, and it was bombed by theAlliesin 1944. After thesurrender of Japanat the end ofWorld War II, Surabaya was seized by Indonesian nationalists. The young nation soon came into conflict with the British, who had become caretakers of the Dutch colony after the Japanese surrender.
TheBattle of Surabaya, started after theArek-Arek Suroboyo(lit.'Teenagers of Surabaya') killed British BrigadierAubertin Mallabyon 30 October 1945, nearJembatan Merah, allegedly with a stray bullet. The Allies gave an ultimatum to the Republicans inside the city to surrender, but they refused. The ensuing battle, which cost thousands of lives, took place on 10 November, which Indonesians subsequently celebrate asHari Pahlawan(Heroes' Day). Theincidentof the red-white flag (theDutch flagat the top of Yamato Hotel's tower that was torn into the Indonesian red-white flag) byBung Tomois also recorded as a heroic feat during the struggle over the city.
The city is known asKota Pahlawan(lit.'The City of Heroes') due to the importance of the Battle of Surabaya in galvanising Indonesian and international support forIndonesian independenceduring theIndonesian National Revolution.
Afterthe independence era, population growth and rapid urbanization forced Surabaya to develop towards the east and west as it is today. The increase in vehicles, the growth of new industries and the proliferation of housing carried out by real estate companies occupying the outskirts of the city have resulted in traffic jams not only in the downtown area but also frequently in the suburbs. Surabaya grew from a relative poor city in the late 19th century into a metropolis in the late 20th century, and became one of the fastest growing metropolitan areas in Southeast Asia. Surabaya also managed to become one of the most organized metropolitan cities in Indonesia with the cleanest air.
On 13 May 2018, three churches in Surabaya and one apartment complex in the neighboring regency of Sidoarjowere bombedin a series of terrorist attacks initiated byJamaah Ansharut Daulah, the Southeast Asian branch ofISIS, followed by a bombing on Surabaya Police Department HQ the next day. 28 people were killed, including the assailants. 57 people were injured; several of whom where in a critical condition.
The first confirmed case ofCOVID-19inEast Javawas in Surabaya, on 17 March 2020.In May 2020, Surabaya became the epicenter of the pandemic in Indonesia.
Surabaya the capital of East Java province, extends over 350.56 km(135.35 sq mi), itsmetropolitan areacovers 6,310.06 km(2,436.33 sq mi), which includes the satellite cities ofMojokerto,Gresik,Sidoarjo,Bangkalan, andLamongan, and has an estimated population of 9.96 million as of 2023, making it theSecond largest urban area in Indonesiaand theTop 50 largest in the world.Surabaya ranks11th among the Indonesian cityin thehuman development index. Surabaya's offer business and employment opportunities, along with its ability to offer a potentially higherstandard of livingcompared to other parts of the country, have attracted migrants from across the Indonesianarchipelago, making it a melting pot of numerous cultures.
The city is referred to asKota Pahlawan(the city of heroes) due to the significance of theBattle of Surabayaduring theIndonesian National Revolution. The city is one of the important financial, commercial, industrial, transportation, and entertainment hubs of the archipelago.Arguably the second most significant city after Jakarta, the city is also home to Indonesia's second-busiest seaport, thePort of Tanjung Perak, which is located in northern Surabaya. The city is also known for being one of the cleanest and greenest in Indonesia.
Architecture in Surabaya is a mixture of colonial, Asian, Javanese, modern, and post-modern influences. There are many colonial-era relics still standing today, such asHotel Majapahitand Surabaya Post Office. As a relatively old city in Indonesia andSoutheast Asia, most colonial buildings were built around the 17th century to the early 20th century.These buildings show the influence of Dutch or European style in the Middle Ages.
Before theSecond World War, there were many shophouses in the old part of the city, mostly two-storey.They display the influence of European and Chinese traditions. Although some have been dismantled for new construction, there are still many old buildings that are preserved as cultural heritage and city icons, which are around the area of Kembang Jepun Street, Karet Street, Gula Street, Slompretan Street, and Rajawali Street.
After the independence of Indonesia, the center of Surabaya's architectural development was concentrated only in the area of Jembatan Merah and its surroundings. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, modern and post-modern style buildings were increasingly emerging in Surabaya. Along with economic development, such buildings have continued to grow. In the 2010s, Surabaya has become a center ofskyscrapersandhigh-risesin East Java and central regions of Indonesia, such as The Peak Residence – Tunjungan Plaza 6 (215 meters) and One Icon Residence–Tunjungan Plaza 5 (200 meters).
Surabaya is among the cleanest and greenest cities in Indonesia.This can be seen by theurban parkswhich are equipped with fountains in almost everyneighborhoodarea.These parks include Bungkul Park, Harmoni Park, Pelangi Park, Surya Park, Mundu Park, Undaan Fruit Park, Jayengrono Park,and others. Bungkul Park was awarded the Asian Townscape Award 2013 from the United Nations as the best park in Asia because of its very complete and integrated facilities, starting from the economic area (street food centers), green open area, parks,disability-friendlyarea,free internet(Wi-Fi), and routinegarden maintenance management.
The city of Surabaya is very outstanding in the field of environment.The city has won many awards in the field of environment and city planning both nationally and internationally.These awards have included Adipura, Adipura kencana, Adiwiyata, Wahyu Tata Nugraha, and other green awards, the Adipura Cup, which Surabaya won several times in the 1980s and 1990s, the Adipura Kencana trophy, the cleanestmetropolitan citycategory in the 1990s and in the period of 2010 to 2017, seven consecutive times, as well as the Adipura trophy, plenary in 2016.The city also received several awards from the central government as one of the major cities with the best air quality in Indonesia.Surabaya in 2012 has won the award "City of the Best Participation in theAsia Pacific" by Citynet for the success of the city government and people's participation in managing the environment. Surabaya has also been awarded the ASEAN Environmentally Sustainable City Award or "the city with the best sustainable environmental management in ASEAN" in 2011 and 2014.In 2018, Surabaya won the Lee Kuan Yew City Prize along withHamburg,Kazan, andTokyo, on the basis of the ability to maintain and manage villages in the middle of the city with excellentgovernment managementandcommunity participationamid the rapidly developing city.Surabaya became the first city in Indonesia to receive this award.On the other hand, however, there are not a few areas in Surabaya that appear less organised, especially in the neighborhoods of Southern and Northern Surabaya.This is the concern of the city government to reorganise the environment of the region.
Surabaya features atropical wet and dry climate(Köppen:Aw), with distinctwetanddry seasons. The city's wet season runs from October through May, while the dry season covers the remaining four months. Unlike many cities and regions with a tropical wet and dry climate, average high and low temperatures are very consistent throughout the year, with an average high temperature of around 31 °C and average low temperatures around 23 °C. Summer months (December to February) are the wettest months, while spring months (September to November) are the hottest months.
Surabaya is acitywith amayor–council form of government. The city government is responsible for the provision of public education, public health facilities, public safety, civic services, public welfare and public transportation.
The city council, namely theSurabaya City Regional House of Representativesis the unicameral legislative body consisting of 50 members.Both the mayor and the city’s legislative officials are directly elected by the locals every five years, with an exception that the city’s mayor can only have a twoconsecutive-term limit.
The current mayor isEri Cahyadi, who was elected in 2020 and has served the city since 26 February 2021. The city's first female mayor isTri Rismaharini, who has led Surabaya to achieve many regional, national and international awards during her ten-year tenure, from 2010 to 2020. In 2012, Surabaya was awarded the "ASEAN Environmentally Sustainable City Award".
Besides representatives to the city council, Surabaya also sends 8 delegates to the East Java provincial parliament. On a national level, Surabaya is consolidated with the neighboringSidoarjoRegency to form the East Java I constituency for theIndonesia House of Representatives. Together, they send 10 delegates to the lower house of the national legislature.
The city administration maintains a central command center since 2016, integrating all civic services including Satpol PP, Bakesbangpol and Linmas, Hygiene and Parks Service, Transportation Agency, Public Works Agency of Highways and Extermination, ambulance and fire services.All services can be accessed by dialling 112 number. The city is dubbed as the champion of a smart city in Indonesia and won Indonesia Smart City Index (IKCI) in 2015 and 2018.Surabaya also received an award at the Guangzhou International Award for Urban Innovation in the Online Popular City category and Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize in 2018.
Surabaya is divided into thirty-onekecamatan(districts),and subdivided into 154kelurahan(urban villages). The districts are grouped into five areas: Central, North, South, East, and West. The districts are listed below with their areas and their populations at the 2010 Censusand the 2020 Census,together with their official estimates as at mid 2023.The table also includes the locations of the district administrative centres, and the number ofadministrative villages(all classed as urbankelurahan) in each district.
Notes: (a) except the 2kelurahanof Simomulyo and Simomulyo Baru, which have the postcode of 60281.
Surabaya is the second-most populous city in Indonesia, with 2,874,314 inhabitants recorded in the chartered city limits (kota) in the 2020 census;the official estimate as at mid 2023 was 3,009,286.With the extended metropolitan development area calledGerbangkertosusila(derived fromGresik-Bangkalan-Mojokerto-Surabaya-Sidoarjo-Lamongan) adding more than 12 million inhabitants in several cities and around 50 districts spread over noncontiguous urban areas including Gresik, Sidoarjo, Mojokerto, and Pasuruan regencies. The central government of Indonesia recognises only the metropolitan area (Surabaya, Gresik, and Sidoarjo) as Greater Surabaya (Zona Surabaya Raya) with a population of 8,319,229 (2015), making Surabaya now the second-largest metropolitan area in Indonesia.The city is highlyurbanised, with industries centralised in the city, and contains slums.  As a leading education center, the city is also home for students from around Indonesia.
Surabaya is an old city that has expanded over time, and its population continues to grow at roughly 2.2% per year. In recent years, more people have moved to Surabaya from nearby suburbs and villages in East Java.
Javanese peopleform the majority in Surabaya, with about 83 percent of the population, while theMadureseandChineseare significant minorities, each making up about 7 percent of the population.Smaller groups includeArabs, especially theHadhrami peoplewho originate from theHadhramautregion inYemen,Armenians, andJewish people. Surabaya also has ethnic populations from other parts of Indonesia:Sundanese,Minang,Batak,Banjar, andBalinese.
As one of Indonesia's educational destinations, Surabaya is also the residence of students from various regions of the country, who may form communities based on the region they come from. Most come from the Eastern part of Indonesia, including those who arePapuan,MinahasanorBugis, as well as people fromTimorand others.
Because it is a regional trade hub, many foreigners (expatriates) live in Surabaya, especially in the western part of the city. There are communities ofKoreansand westerners in the city.
Most citizens speak a dialect of EastJavanesecalledSuroboyoan, a subdialect of theArekandialect. A stereotype of this dialect concerns equality and directness in speech.The use ofregisteris less strict than the standardizedCentral Javadialect.The Suroboyoan dialect is a mixture of bothIndonesianand Javanese, also with some significant influence from foreign languages such asMadurese, which has formed a distinctive dialect known as Suroboyoan. The Suroboyoan dialect is actively promoted in local media, such as in local TV shows, radio, newspapers, and traditional dramas calledLudruk.The speakers of Suroboyoan dialect are well known for being proud of their distinctive dialect and consistently maintain it wherever they go.
Although around 85% of citizens in Surabaya adhere toSunni Islam, other major religions includeChristianity(Roman Catholicism,Protestantism, andOrthodox), of whom the majority are Roman Catholics. The influence ofHinduismis strong in basic Surabayan culture, but only a minority of the population adheres to Hinduism, mostly among the ethnicIndianandBalineseminorities. Also, a significant population of Chinese Indonesians adhere toBuddhismandConfucianism, and a small community ofDutch JewsfollowJudaism.
The city had an influential role as a major Islamic center in Java during theWali Sangaera.The prominent and honored Islamic figure in Surabaya wasSunan Ampel(Raden Rahmat).His tomb is a sacred religious site in the city and is visited by Surabayans and pilgrims from different parts of Indonesia. The largest Muslim organisation in Indonesia,Nahdlatul Ulama, was established in Surabaya on 26 January 1926.Al-Akbar Mosqueis the largest mosque in the city andone of the largest mosque in the world.
Christianity as a whole is mainly practised byChinese Indonesians, as well as nativeJavanese,Bataks, andAmbonesewho attend either a Roman Catholic or Protestant church.A minority of Javanese worship at the Gereja Kejawen, a syncretic religious movement that combines Christianity with the traditional religion of Java.Around 15 churches are in Surabaya; they vary in size. TheChurch of the Birth of Our Lady, also known as Gereja Kepanjen, was built in 1815 as the first church in Surabaya and is one of the oldest churches in Indonesia.Graha Bethany Nginden, is amegachurchwhich is one of the largest churches in Surabaya, Indonesia andSoutheast Asia.The main Orthodox Church in Indonesia, St Nikolas Church, is also based in Surabaya. TheOrthodox ChristianCenter Surabaya was opened on 15 October 2008.
Once the major religion in Surabaya and across the archipelago during the Janggala and Majapahit era,Hinduismplayed a major role in traditional Surabayan culture.Small Hindu communities still exist, most commonly in the eastern sections of the city.Surabaya was the location of the onlysynagoguein Java,but it rarely obtained aminyan(quorum). The synagogue was demolished in 2013 by unidentified people while the city council was in the process of registering it as a heritage site.In the years before its demolition, it had been the site of many anti-Israel protests.A Jewish cemetery exists in the city.
Since the early 1900s, Surabaya has been one of the most important and busiest trading city ports in Asia.Principal exports from the port includesugar,tobacco, andcoffee.Its rich history as a trading port has led to a strong financial infrastructure with modern economic institutions such as banks, insurance, and sound export-import companies. The economy is influenced by the recent growth in international industries and the completion of theSuramadu Bridge. The high potential and economic activities make the city an attractive destination to foreign investors.
The city is home to a largeshipyardand numerous specialized naval schools.TheBank of Indonesiahas also made plans for Surabaya to be the Islamic financial center of Indonesia.
As the provincial capital, Surabaya has numerous offices and business centers; as a metropolitan city, it became the center of economic, financial, and business activities in East Java and beyond. Also, Surabaya is the second-largest port city in Indonesia after Jakarta.  As a trading center, Surabaya is not only a trade center for East Java, but also facilitates areas inCentral Java,Kalimantan, and Eastern Indonesia. Surabaya's strategic location in almost in the center of Indonesia and just south of Asia makes it one of the critical hubs for trading activities in Southeast Asia.It is currently in the process of building high-rise skyscrapers, including apartments, condominiums, and hotels to attract foreign capital. Surabaya and the surrounding area are undergoing the most rapidly growing and the most advanced economic development in Indonesia. The city is also one of the most essential cities in supporting Indonesia's economy.
Most of the population is engaged in services, industry, and trade. Surabaya is a fast-growing trading center. Major industries include shipbuilding, heavy equipment, food processing and agriculture, electronics, home furnishings, and handicrafts. Many major multinational companies are based in Surabaya, such asSampoerna,Maspion,Wings Group,Unilever Indonesia,Pakuwon Group,Jawa Pos Group, andPAL Indonesia.
Surabaya has plenty of shopping centers like other major cities of Indonesia, ranging from traditional markets to most modern shopping malls. Outlets of local and international brands have a presence in modern shopping malls. There were about 100 hectares/one million square metres of retail space in Surabaya by the end of 2016.There are many dedicated markets for electronic goods, gadgets and computer hardware.
Some important shopping malls of the city which areCiputra World Surabaya,  City of Tomorrow, Royal Plaza Surabaya,Pakuwon City Mall,Galaxy Mall, Grand City Mall,Marvell City,Pakuwon Mall, andTunjungan Plaza.
Until 2009, the growth of road length in Surabaya was only about 0.01% per year. This is not comparable to the growth of motorized vehicles which reaches around 7–8% annually. Congestion that occurred in Surabaya was triggered by the growth of vehicles that were not proportional to the capacity of the road. To reduce congestion, the city government has built many new roads, including the construction of a frontage road on Ahmad Yani road which is divided into east and west sides of 4 km each. This slow lane is planned to penetrate to the Buduran area,Sidoarjo Regency. In addition, the municipal government has completed the construction of the Middle East Ring Road (MERR) or Dr. Ir. H. Soekarno Boulevard, which is a 10.98 km ring road between the Kenjeran area to Tambak Sumur that connects theSuramadu BridgeandJuanda International Airport; and the 780-meter Suroboyo Bridge that crosses the sea which is now a tourist icon in the Kenjeran Beach area. The city government has also intensified the construction of massive box culverts in Surabaya to reduce congestion while anticipating flooding.
The municipal government is also working on the construction of two new ring roads, namely the 17 km Outer East Ring Road (OERR) between the Kenjeran area to Gunung Anyar which also connects the Suramadu Bridge andJuanda International Airportand the West Outer Ring Road ( West Outer Ring Road (WORR) along 26.1 km between the Romokalisari area to Lakarsantri which connects the southern area of Surabaya with Teluk Lamong Harbor Terminal. In addition to building the ring road, the city government has completed the construction of an underpass on Jalan Mayjen Sungkono, and plans to build an underpass and flyover on Jalan Ahmad Yani. The problem of flooding is also a serious threat to city residents. To anticipate the occurrence of flooding, the city government has built many pump houses spread across several points in Surabaya, including Mulyorejo and Jemursari. In addition to pump houses, the city government has also built many parks that are used as sources of water absorption as well as areas for residents to interact, as well as carry out intensive cleaning and maintenance of major rivers in Surabaya. To accommodate the needs of pedestrians and tourists, the Surabaya city government has built bicycle lanes on many protocol roads in Surabaya, as well as pedestrian paths that are almost evenly distributed throughout the Surabaya area.
The highways that are connected to Surabaya are theSurabaya-Gresiksegment which connects Surabaya with Gresik and the northern part of East Java,Surabaya-Mojokertowhich connects Surabaya with the western part of the province,Surabaya-Gempolwhich connects Surabaya with the southern part of the province, as well asWaru-Juanda Airportwhich connects Surabaya with Juanda International Airport. In 2018, PresidentJoko Widodoinaugurated final segments of theTrans-Java Toll Road, fully connectingJakartaand Surabaya with expressways.The Surabaya-Gempol section is connected to theGempol-Pandaansection. The Gempol-Pandaan section is connected to theGempol-Pasuruansection which connects Surabaya with theHorseshoe(Indonesian:Tapak Kuda) area in East Java and thePandaan-Malangsection which connects Surabaya with Malang, the second largest city in East Java.
TheSuramadu Bridge(abbreviated ofSurabaya-Madura) connects Surabaya andMadura Islandover the Madura Strait. A 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) highway has been proposed to be built from the Suramadu Bridge to Madura International Seaport-City in Pernajuh village, Kocah district,Bangkalan,Maduraat the cost of approximately Rp. 60 billion (US$7 billion). This container port was built to ease the burden on Surabaya's overloaded Tanjung Perak Port.
Transportation in Surabaya is supported by land and sea infrastructure serving local, regional, and international journeys. Air transport is located atJuanda International Airport, inSedati,Sidoarjo. Intracity transport is primarily by motor vehicles, motorcycles and taxis with limited public bus transport available. Recently Surabaya has been declared as one of the cities with the worst congestion in Indonesia, according to a surveySurabaya is also a transit city betweenJakartaandBalifor ground transportation. Another bus route is between Jakarta and the neighboring island ofMadura.
Surabaya has three major train stations, beingSurabaya Kota(also known as Semut),Surabaya Pasar Turi, andSurabaya Gubeng. TheArgo Bromo Anggrekoperated byKereta Api Indonesia(KAI) connects Surabaya from Surabaya Pasar Turi Station toGambir Stationin Jakarta. Both economy and executive class trains are served to and from Surabaya.Surabaya commuter railhas 7 separate lines (as of 2023) that connect Surabaya with surrounding regencies. Their services, also operated byKAI Commuter, have extended into Lamongan, Mojokerto, Sidoarjo, and Pasuruan. Surabaya will become the final destination for aWhoosh High speed railinitiative which connectsJakartato Surabaya. The Indonesian government currently have a cooperation contract with the investors, and will begin construction in soon.
The main bus terminal isPurabaya Bus Terminal(located in Bungurasih,Waru,Sidoarjo), the other major terminal is Osowilangon in Tambak.In Surabaya it is served by city buses suchSuroboyo Bus,Trans Semanggi Suroboyo, Trans Jatim,shuttle bus service(Wira Wiri Suroboyo), and Share taxis is calledAngkotas a means of choice for residents of Surabaya and surrounding cities for their daily activities. Surabaya has a number of terminals in the city, including Joyoboyo Terminal, Bratang Terminal, Jembatan Merah Bus Stop, Ujung Baru Bus Stop, and so on. These terminals are meeting points between city buses and other modes of transportation within the city. Since 7 April 2018, the Surabaya city government has launched a city bus system named Suroboyo Bus which serves important points throughout the city.The Suroboyo Bus payment system is unique because it uses plastic waste making Surabaya the second city in the world to implement this system in mass transportation after theBeijing subwayin 2014. Suroboyo Bus has small stops scattered throughout the city.
Surabaya'sJuanda International Airportis a passenger and cargo airport which also serves as Surabaya's Naval Airbase, operated by the TNI-AL (Indonesian Navy) and located just outside Surabaya, on the outskirts of Sidoarjo. This airport has served Surabaya for many years and currently has two terminals, with domestic flights served from Terminal 1 and all international flights andGaruda Indonesia's domestic flights serviced from Terminal 2.
Port of Tanjung Perakis the main trading port of Surabaya andEast Javaas a whole. It is one of the busiest ports in the country. It is the second-largest port of trade, container and passenger traffic in Indonesia after thePort of Tanjung Priokin Jakarta. Because of its strategic position and the existence of surrounding advantageous hinterlands, the port constitutes the center of inter island shipping for Eastern Indonesia.
Javanese culture in Surabaya has distinctive characteristics compared to other regions, the uniqueness of its characteristics which is more egalitarian and open. Surabaya is known to have several distinctive arts, namely:
In addition to the art above, the call culture ofarekorrek(a distinctive call from Surabaya) is also a unique characteristic. There are other distinctive calls as well, namely Cak for men and Ning for women. In an effort to preserve culture, Cak & Ning Surabaya is selected once a year, and the selected finalists are tourism ambassadors and icons of the young generation of the city.
Cak Durasim Festival (FCD) is held annually, which is an art festival to preserve the culture of Surabaya and East Java in general. The Cak Durasim Festival is usually held at Cak Durasim Building.There is also the Surabaya Art Festival (FSS) which raises all kinds of art forms such as theatre, dance, music, literary seminars, painting exhibitions. Event organisers usually aside from art groups in Surabaya also come from outside the city. Also enlivened is the screening of movie screens and T-shirt exhibitions. The Surabaya Art Festival is held once a year in June and is usually held at the Youth Hall.
In addition to Javanese culture, there has also been a mixture of various cultures such as from Madura, the Arab world, India, the Malay world, China and Europe. The Surabaya Cross Culture is an annual art and culture festival that show various cultures outside Indonesia.
As a metropolitan city, all types ofIndonesian cuisineand other international cuisines have a presence.However, as the capital ofEast Java, cuisines from the rest of the province dominate the culinary culture of the city. East Javanese cuisine includes a variety of processed fruits, crispy tempeh,Bakpaotelo,BaksoMalang, Rawon, tahu campur lamongan, Cwie noodles, tahu takwa, tahu pong, getuk pisang, pecel madiun,wingko,tape, nasi krawu, otak-otak bandeng, bonggolan, shrimp crackers, shrimp paste or petis, Tempeh Chips, tahu tepo, Nasi lethok, sego tempong, salad soup, pecel rawon, Suwar-suwir, tape proll, gaplek, lodho, goat satay, and pecel tulungagung.
Surabaya is famous for Rawon, Rujak cingur, Semanggi, Lontong Balap, clams satay, mussels, and rice cake.
Surabaya is a barometer and center ofassociation footballdevelopment in Indonesia. The city has many association football clubs founded in Surabaya, butGelora Bung Tomo Stadiumis the home ofPersebaya Surabaya. The first club was founded by the youth ofHoogere Burger School(HBS) John Edgar with the Victoria club in 1895.Others included Scoren Is Ons Doel (SIOD), Sparta, Rapiditas and Thot Heil Onzer Ribben (THOR). These are the pioneers of association football in Surabaya. The clubs then took management under Oost Java Voetbalbond (OJVB) in 1907. Two years later, the OJVB changed toSoerabajasche Voetbalbond(SVB). Starting in 1914, SVB was based on the Nederlandsch Indische Voetbalbond (NIVB), created byDutch football federation(KNVB). The SurabayaChineseand native people also founded their association football clubs by ethnicity. Oei Kwie Liem founded Hoa Soerabaja in 1914, while the Bumiputera through R Pamoedji and Paidjo founded theSoerabajasche Indonesische Voetbalbond(SIVB) on 18 June 1927 (now Persebaya), which three years later co-founded thePSSI.
In 1950, the working-class people and office men foundedSoerabajasche Kantoor Voetbalbond(SKVB).The association football sector in Indonesia and specifically Surabaya became more developed, and the football association of Indonesia founded a semi-professional competition in 1979, which was named the Main Football League (Galatama). A new team emerged from Surabaya, NIAC Partners and the Salim Group Association. Besides Galatama, PSSI also formed a women's soccer competition called the Women's Football League (Galanita). Surabaya also has a women's soccer team, which was founded in 1977 and named Puteri Puspita. Clubs from Surabaya have also gained attention from the rest of the world. Persebaya has competed against European teams including Lokomotiv Moscow, Sturm Graz, Grasshoppers, Salzburg, Stade de Reims, Ajax Amsterdam, PSV Eindhoven, AC Milan, and lastly, Queens Park Rangers (QPR). Aside from European teams, there are several national teams outside the country competing against Persebaya, including Yugoslavia Olympics, Malaysia, Mozambique, Uruguay, Thailand, South Korea, and the Japanese national team.
NIAC Mitraalso competed against Arsenal and won theAga Khan Gold Cupcompetition in 1979 in Bangladesh. The achievements of NIAC Mitra in the Galatama competition included three championships in 1980–1982, 1982–1983, and 1987–1988, and finishing as runners-up in 1988–89. However, NIAC Partners officially dissolved and withdrew from the Galatama competition held by PSSI in 1990 because they considered the policies issued by PSSI irrelevant. After being disbanded, the demands of the Surabaya community to revive the NIAC Partners were channelled when the Jawa Pos party weighed in and changed the name of the NIAC Partner to the Surabaya Partner.When the Union competition was merged with Galatama in 1994, the new Persebaya was able to win in 1997 and 2004. Persebaya was listed as the first team capable of winning the Indonesian League twice. Mitra Surabaya was only able to exist until the 1998–1999 season and it was re-established again in another city,Tenggarongand has not used the name of Surabaya again.
Recently, only Persebaya has stable fans and achievements. Persebaya has won theIndonesian Premier Divisionthree times–twice when the division was the first tier and once as the second tier. Fans refer to themselves as Bonek, an abbreviation forBondo Nekat(which translates as "equipped by bravery"). The city is the home ofCLS Knights Indonesia, a basketball club which participated in IBL (Indonesia basketball league) & Asean Basketball League.
Surabaya has amulti-purpose stadium,Gelora Bung Tomo Stadium.  The stadium is used mostly forfootballmatches. It is the new home stadium of Persebaya, replacingGelora 10 November Stadium.It was the venue of a match between Persebaya 1927 against then–EnglishPremier LeagueclubQueens Park Rangers, held on 23 July 2012.
Another prevalent sport is badminton. There are numerous schools and clubs in the city that train students of various ages to reach the next level of the Badminton League.Many children start out their career from Surabaya and have made it to the national and sometimes international level.
One of the largest circulating national newspapers in Indonesia,Jawa Pos, is headquartered in Surabaya; alongside its media conglomerate Jawa Pos Group. Major newspapers includeSurabaya PagiandSurya.
Surabaya is served by many radio and television networks. Radio networks affiliates include the publicRRISurabaya,Gen FMSurabaya 103.1 andPrambors FMSurabaya 89.3; as well as local stations Suara Surabaya 100.0, EBS FM and Radio Merdeka 106.7. Local television stations includeJTV(both are regional stations serving East Java, which are based in the city), Jawa Pos TV, Surabaya TV and Nahdlatul Ulama-affiliated TV9.
One of the most well-liked educational locations in Indonesia is Surabaya, which is home to about 40 higher education institutions. In addition to various state-funded and -managed Junior High Schools (SMP Negeri), State High Schools (SMA Negeri), and State Vocational Schools (SMK), there are hundreds of public and private schools in the city. The city is home to at least seventeen universities, six of which are owned by the state, and sixty-four professional schools. These universities provide everything from natural, technology, and social sciences to tourism instruction.
Major universities and institutes, including those with technical or religious specializations (arranged by significance), can be found in Surabaya. Which are includedUniversitas Airlangga(UNAIR), a prominent Indonesian public research institution with locations inBanyuwangiand Surabaya.The national public research universitySepuluh Nopember Institute of Technology(ITS), which emphasizes science, engineering, and vocational education. TheState University of Surabaya(UNESA), a prominent institution that trains teachers and offers courses in law, technology, and economics.One of Indonesia's leading private Christian universities,Petra Christian Universityoffers courses in economics, technology, design, engineering, literature, and education. It is Indonesia's oldest significant Christian institution, having been founded in 1961.Major technical public institution,Electronic Engineering Polytechnic Institute of Surabaya(PENS-PPNS), Surabaya.Yayasan Nala is the manager of Hang Tuah University, which was established by the Indonesian Navy.Bhayangkara University, which is connected to the East Java Indonesian Police Department.State Islamic University of Sunan Ampel(UINSA), a public islamic university studies.Founded in 1968, theUniversity of Surabaya(UBAYA) is a private institution that offers psychology and pharmacy studies.Wijaya Putra Universitya private university founded in 1984.Wijaya Kusuma University Surabaya, is the oldest private medical school in eastern Indonesia, located in Surabaya. The Faculty of Medicine was founded in 1986 after being established in 1981.Widya Mandala Catholic University, a private Catholic institution in Surabaya, which recently constructed a third campus in the eastern section of the city and houses facilities for healthcare studies. Among them is Widya Mandala Catholic University.
Additionally, there are several international schools here, which isSurabaya Intercultural School, Surabaya Japanese School (スラバヤ日本人学校), Surabaya Taipei International School (印尼泗水臺灣學校) , Surabaya European School, Merlion School, Ciputra School, and Spins Interactional School.
Surabaya has cooperation between cities throughout the world as well as several state representative offices here, such as the General Consulates andConsulates, considering that this city is ranked second in terms of population and economy. And some of this list are overseas representative offices and citytwin townssuch are:
Surabaya istwinnedwith:
Surabaya also has a friendship agreement with: