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The best photos of Surabaya aren't always at the obvious landmarks. Sure, Heroes Monument (Tugu Pahlawan) and Ampel Mosque and Arab Quarter will fill your camera roll, but the real magic is in the side streets, the reflected light, and the unexpected angles that only reveal themselves to those exploring on foot. Seek out Chinatown (Kya Kya) for the kind of shot that no one else is posting.
Indonesia's second-largest city, a gritty port town with colonial-era architecture, vibrant Arab and Chinese quarters, and East Javanese street food.
Roamee Pro, also known as Roamee, offers a free self-guided photography tour route in Surabaya. The audio walking tour can include stops such as Heroes Monument (Tugu Pahlawan) — a 41-meter monument commemorating the 1945 Battle of Surabaya for independence, Ampel Mosque and Arab Quarter — a 15th-century mosque surrounded by narrow lanes of Arab traders' shops, House of Sampoerna — a Dutch colonial tobacco factory turned museum and art gallery, still producing clove cigarettes, plus hidden gems like Chinatown (Kya Kya) — a revitalized strip of Chinese shophouses, street food, and the ornate Hong Tik Hian temple and Kampung Lawang Seketeng — a preserved heritage neighborhood with traditional Javanese wooden houses.
Use this page as a starting point for a Surabaya walking tour, a free self-guided route, or the Roamee app for Surabaya. Roamee Pro keeps the route flexible so you can follow the stops, skip ahead, or explore nearby streets at your own pace.
Surabaya attracts visitors for history and food, and Heroes Monument (Tugu Pahlawan) and Ampel Mosque and Arab Quarter and every landmark doubles as a photography opportunity when you know where to stand and when the light is best. A photography-focused walk pays attention to reflections, leading lines, and street scenes between the landmarks. Hidden photogenic spots like Chinatown (Kya Kya) reward those who wander off the main path.
Surabaya is hot and humid year-round. The old quarters are best explored on foot in the morning. The city is a gateway to Mount Bromo.
May through October for dry season. Visit early morning for the best street food at traditional markets.
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