Semarang — City map

Pusat Kota (Central)

The lower-city core around Simpang Lima, Tugu Muda, Lawang Sewu, Pasar Johar and the Pecinan, climbing south into the hillside neighbourhoods of Candisari and Gajahmungkur. An informal Metroloka grouping of kecamatan; the city's own spatial plan uses ten BWK planning areas.

• 1Bandeng Juwana Elrina
  Oleh-oleh shop
• 2Lunpia Gang Lombok
  Lumpia
• 3Pasar Semawis
  Night market
• 4Toko Oen
  Dutch-era restaurant & ice cream
• 5Dharma Boutique Roastery
  Heritage roastery
• 6Tekodeko Koffiehuis
  Heritage coffee house
• 7Perpustakaan Provinsi Jawa Tengah
  Provincial library
• 8Jalan Pandanaran souvenir strip
  Oleh-oleh street
• 9Pasar Johar
  Traditional market
• 10Lawang Sewu
  Colonial landmark & museum
• 11Simpang Lima
  Town square
• 12Taman Indonesia Kaya
  Arts park

Pesisir Utara (North coast)

The flat coastal strip from Kota Lama, Stasiun Tawang and the Tanjung Emas port west past Ahmad Yani airport to the Mangkang bus terminal in Tugu, the part of the city most exposed to rob (tidal flooding). An informal grouping; the city's own spatial plan uses ten BWK planning areas.

• 13Spiegel Bar & Bistro
  Heritage bistro
• 14Klenteng Sam Poo Kong
  Chinese temple complex
• 15Kota Lama Semarang
  Colonial old town
• 16Bandar Udara Internasional Jenderal Ahmad Yani
  Airport
• 17Stasiun Semarang Tawang
  Train station
• 18Terminal Mangkang
  Bus terminal

Sisi Timur (East)

Low-lying eastern suburbs of housing estates, markets and factories along the roads toward Demak and Purwodadi, with the Terboyo industrial area in Genuk near the coast. An informal grouping; the city's own spatial plan uses ten BWK planning areas.

• 19Masjid Agung Jawa Tengah
  Mosque

Quick facts

• Home to about 1.74 million people (BPS projection for 2026), the capital of Jawa Tengah
• 373.78 km² in 16 kecamatan and 177 kelurahan, from 2 m below sea level on the coast to 340 m in the southern hills
• Official birthday: 2 May 1547, a date chosen to match Maulid Nabi (12 Rabiul Awal 954 H)
• The economy grew 6.49% in 2025, led by manufacturing (28.07% of GRDP) and construction (27.13%)
• Lowest poverty rate in Jawa Tengah: 3.80% in March 2025, against 9.48% for the province
• Indonesia's railways began here: work on the Kemijen–Tanggung line started on 17 June 1864 and it opened on 10 August 1867

Getting around

• Trans Semarang (BRT) and feeders — Rp3,500 cashless or Rp4,000 cash; Rp1,000 for school and university students, veterans, seniors over 60 and children 5–17; free for Semarang-resident school and university students who register online
• Airport access (Ahmad Yani, SRG) — Trans Semarang standard fare (Rp3,500 cashless, Rp4,000 cash); airport partner taxis charge their own rates
• Trans Jateng (Kedungsepur corridors) — Rp5,000; Rp1,000 for students, veterans, workers, seniors and people with disabilities (Governor's decree No. 100.3.3.1/124/2025, effective 15 May 2025)
• Ride-hailing (Gojek, Grab and others) — Motorbike: Rp8,000–10,000 for the first 4 km plus Rp2,000–2,500 per km; car: Rp3,500–6,000 per km where no local rule applies (Kemenhub Zone I)

All transport options

Top experiences

1. Kota Lama Semarang
2. Lawang Sewu
3. Klenteng Sam Poo Kong
4. Lunpia Gang Lombok
5. Toko Oen

Best time to visit

July–September (driest months)

In 2025 July had just 53 mm of rain over 6 days and August 105 mm over 7, with the longest sunny spells of the year. Good for Kota Lama walks and trips into the hills, but daytime highs passed 35°C every month from June to November.

The eve of Ramadan (Dugderan)

The Dugderan carnival welcomes the fasting month with a parade from Balai Kota to the Masjid Agung Jawa Tengah, with the egg-laying Warak Ngendog as its symbol; in 2026 it ran on 16 February. It follows the Islamic calendar, so it falls earlier each year.

Early May (Hari Jadi Kota Semarang)

The city celebrates its 2 May birthday. For the 479th in 2026, Trans Semarang buses were free on every corridor from 1 to 5 May and entry to the city's tourist attractions was free on 2 May.

October–March (wet season)

Rain peaks around January: January 2025 brought 420 mm over 25 rainy days and October 419 mm. Downpours and high tides can flood the low north of the city, so plan museums and malls and check conditions before heading to Kota Lama or Tawang.

Travel tips

• Trans Semarang buses cost Rp3,500 cashless or Rp4,000 cash; students, seniors over 60, veterans and children pay Rp1,000, and changing buses at a transit halte is free.
• Most Trans Semarang corridors run about 05:30–17:40; after that the night corridor M links Terminal Mangkang and Simpang Lima until 23:00.
• Provincial Trans Jateng buses to Bawen, Kendal and Grobogan cost Rp5,000 (Rp1,000 for students, workers, veterans, seniors and disabled riders), and each change of corridor is charged again.
• Check your ticket's station: executive trains use Semarang Tawang, while economy trains such as Kertajaya, Matarmaja and Airlangga stop only at Semarang Poncol.
• Trans Semarang corridor 5 stops at Ahmad Yani airport, at a halte linked to the terminal by a bridge, on its way between PRPP and Victoria Residence.
• The lower city is hot and humid: plan Kota Lama and Pecinan walks for early morning or late afternoon, and carry water.