Surakarta, Indonesia
Surakarta is a town of 526,870 people in Central Java, Indonesia, founded in February 16, 1745.
Why visit Surakarta
Townapedia lists 25 museums and landmarks, 14 parks and trails, 168 places to eat, 61 places to stay and 4 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Indonesian Art Institute Surakarta, Muhammadiyah University of Surakarta, Monumen Pers Nasional and Lokananta.
Weather in Surakarta
Forecast from MET Norway (CC BY 4.0). Full forecast
About Surakarta
Surakarta (Javanese: ꦯꦸꦫꦏꦂꦠ, Pegon: سوراكارتا), known colloquially as Solo (Javanese: ꦱꦭ, romanized: Sålå), is a major city in Central Java, Indonesia. The 46.72 km2 (18.04 sq mi) city adjoins Karanganyar Regency and Boyolali Regency to the north, Karanganyar Regency and Sukoharjo Regency to the east and west, and Sukoharjo Regency to the south. On the eastern side of Solo flows Solo River (Bengawan Solo). Its metropolitan area, consisting of Surakarta City and the surrounding six regencies ("Greater Solo Area", formerly Special Region of Surakarta), was home to 6,899,402 inhabitants according to the official estimates for mid 2025, 529,079 of whom resided in the city proper (comprising 260,347 males and 268,732 females).
From the Wikipedia article Surakarta (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Travel tips from other travellers: Surakarta on Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Things to do4
Indonesian Art Institute Surakarta
School · 2.3 km
Indonesian university of the performing arts in Surakarta, Indonesia
Muhammadiyah University of Surakarta
School · 6.6 km
University in Surakarta, located in Central Java
Polytechnic ATMI Surakarta
School · 7.4 km
Higher education institution in Surakarta, Indonesia
Sebelas Maret University
School · 2.8 km
National university in Central Java, Indonesia
Museums and landmarks25
Monumen Pers Nasional
Museum · 1.8 km
Jalan Gajah Mada, Surakarta
Mo-Su 08:00-15:00
Museum Pura Mangkunegaran
Museum · 1.5 km
Jalan Letnan Jenderal S. Parman, Solo
National Press Monument
Monument and historic site · 1.8 km
Monument and museum to press in Surakarta, Central Java, Indonesia. A place where you can see a glimpse of the history of the...
Radya Pustaka Museum
Museum · 2.3 km
This museum was founded in the Kepatihan palace on October 28, 1890. The Radya Pustaka Museum has a collection consisting of various...
Tumurun Museum
Museum · 2.3 km
Museum in Surakarta, Central Java, Indonesia
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13 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds14
Taman Kota Punggawan
Park · 1.8 km
Jl. Gajahmada, Punggawan, Kec. Banjarsari, Surakarta
2 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes168
Wedangan Mantap
Restaurant · Indonesian · 1.4 km
Jalan MGR. Sugiyopranoto
Mo-Fr 07:00-12:30, 16:00-22:30; Sa 07:30-12:30, 16:00-22:30; Su 16:00-22:30
Mojopahit Coffee Shop & Eatery
Cafe · Coffee Shop, Regional, Sandwich, Chicken, Seafood, Fish And Chips · 1.3 km
No.8 Jalan Majapahit IV, Nusukan, Kec. Banjarsari, Surakarta
Mo-Su 11:00-23:00
Moro Seneng
Restaurant · Seafood · 1.9 km
79 Jalan Dokter Soepomo, Mangkubumen, Solo
Mo-Su 11:30-22:30
RM Miroso
Restaurant · Asian, Chinese · 1.7 km
18 Jalan Imam Bonjol
Mo-Su 09:00-21:30
Blue Bake Houf
Cafe · Sandwich, Coffee Shop, Pastry · 2.0 km
35 Jalan Jenderal Gatot Subroto, Surakarta
Kampoeng Baroe Resto
Restaurant · Breakfast, Tea, Coffee Shop, Friture, Indonesian, Noodles, Diner, Chicken · 1.6 km
57 Jalan Ronggowarsito
Mo-Su 09:00-22:00
Kedaton Sumber Hidangan Solo
Restaurant · Indonesian · 1.4 km
8 Jalan Grogolan
Mo-Su 11:00-22:00
Kuliner KULKASE MARNI
Restaurant · Indonesian · 0.9 km
133 Jalan Letnan Jenderal S. Parman, Surakarta
Mo-Su 19:00-21:00
Nasi Liwet Wongso Lemu
Restaurant · Regional · 1.7 km
Jalan Teuku Umar
Mo-Su 18:00-23:00
156 more on the map.
History
Hominid habitation in the region of Surakarta is evidenced from roughly one million years ago, the age of the "Java Man" skeleton found 80 kilometres upstream. Another famous early hominid from this area is called "Solo Man".
The Surakarta area was part of the Mataram kingdom and at this time a village called Wulayu seems to have already existed in or around the present-day city of Surakarta, as evidenced by a ferry charter issued by Balitung in A.D. 904. The Majapahit Empire renewed this ferry charter in 1358.
By the 18th century, the village had acquired the name of Sala. This name is said to be derived from the sala tree. As the Javanese pronunciation "Sala" ([sɔlɔ]) was considered difficult to pronounce by the Dutch, the name later morphed into "Solo" ([solo]).
In 1745, based on astrological calculations and Dutch commercial interest, Surakarta was chosen to be the new capital of the Mataram Sultanate which was on the verge of becoming a vassal state of the Dutch East India Company. The formal name is derived from the previous capital Kartasura. The official court history claims that Surakarta originally stood on a lake, which was drained by the favor of the mythical queen of the southern sea, Kanjeng Ratu Kidul.
From the History section of Surakarta on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay61
Mahalaya The Legacy Solo
Motel and hotel · 1.0 km
Jalan Letjen S. Parman No 32, Surakarta
Solo Heritage Hotel
Motel and hotel · 1.8 km
Jalan Brigjend. Slamet Riyadi, Surakarta
Churches and places of worship160
Shopping25
Gas and EV charging6
Schools, colleges and libraries76
Universitas Bina Sarana Informatika Kampus Surakarta
School · 0.9 km
43 Jalan Letnan Jenderal Sutoyo, Surakarta
Healthcare38
Map of Surakarta
250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Getting there and nearby towns
Adi Sumarmo Airport (SOC) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 9 km away.
- Grogol 5 km south, about 5 min by car
- Jaten 8 km east, about 8 min by car
- Baki 8 km southwest, about 8 min by car
- Colomadu 9 km west, about 9 min by car
- Kartasura 10 km west, about 10 min by car
- Ngemplak 13 km west, about 13 min by car
- Gatak 15 km west, about 15 min by car
- Delanggu 18 km west, about 18 min by car
- Yogyakarta 58 km southwest, about 58 min by car
- Semarang 77 km northwest, about 1 h 15 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB.
Reviews, tips and questions
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Sources and licences
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, coordinates, regions and time zone
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Rumah Sakit TRIHARSI, Kota Surakarta - panoramio, sugeng widodo, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Simpang Apotik BALAPAN, Surakarta - panoramio, sugeng widodo, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Taman di pojok seberang Terminal Bus Tirtonadi, Surakarta - panoramio, sugeng widodo, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Gereja Katolik St Antonius Surakarta, Fhikri Latifi, CC BY 4.0
- HWD ISI Surakarta 2018 SISKS Paku Buwono XIII MURI, ISI Surakarta, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Landscape Gedung Siti Walidah UMS, Yntskr, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sebelas Maret University entrance gate, Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0
- Lokananta Studio, Alifarkat, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Museum Radyapustaka-Surakarta01, Meursault2004, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Monumen Pers Nasional, Surakarta (panorama), Crisco 1492, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Mangkunegaran Palace Java362, Arabsalam, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 印尼中爪哇省梭羅市鎮國寺(2023年6月23日), Cun Cun, CC BY-SA 4.0
- National Press Monument, Solo (panorama) Diliff, National_Press_Monument,_Solo_(panorama).jpg : Crisco 1492 derivative work: Diliff, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Gerbang Depan Vastenburg, Igornababan, CC BY-SA 4.0
- A big tree in my school, Reynaldo Rafael, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Catholic church santa perawan maria regina purbowardayan solo indonesia - panoramio, businesssolo, CC BY 3.0
- MAGHRIB DI MASJID RAYA SYEIKH ZAYED, SOLO, Iryanaraya, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Feeder Batik Solo Trans FD8 at Panggung B Bus Stop, Fadly kurniadi, CC0
- Solo Balapan sore hari - panoramio, Ivo Guntay, CC BY 3.0
- Tumpang koyor Bu Mul, Kepatihan Kulon, Solo, nugroho adhi, CC BY 2.0
- Solojebres train station 120827 0132 slo, Wibowo Djatmiko ( Wie146 ), CC BY-SA 3.0
- Jebres train station solo indonesia - panoramio, businesssolo, CC BY 3.0
- Sta SK 120827 0134 slo, Wibowo Djatmiko ( Wie146 ), CC BY-SA 3.0
- Solojebres train station 120827 0143 slo, Wibowo Djatmiko ( Wie146 ), CC BY-SA 3.0
- Solojebres train station 120827 0148 slo, Wibowo Djatmiko ( Wie146 ), CC BY-SA 3.0
- Solojebres train station 120827 0130 slo, Wibowo Djatmiko ( Wie146 ), CC BY-SA 3.0
- Fasad depan Stasiun Solo Jebres, Candramawa99, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Stasiun Solo Balapan 2025, Rizal Febri, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Stasiun Jebres (4), Ozymandros Caelum, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Solo Balapan Station, Christophe95, CC BY-SA 4.0
- KA 91 Lodaya di Stasiun Solo Balapan, Alfi Aunur Rahman Putra Dwi Idajanto, CC0
- Anggrek Stasiun Solo Balapan, Candramawa99, CC BY 4.0
- Stasiun Solo Balapan, A2613, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Anggrek Stasiun di Solo Balapan, Candramawa99, CC BY 4.0
- Taxi ngetem di pojok Taman seberang Terminal Tirtonadi, Solo - panoramio, sugeng widodo, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Sungai Pepe 3, Christophe95, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sungai Pepe 4, Christophe95, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Bale Dalem Panti Putra Pura Mangkunegaran, Fhikri Latifi, CC BY 4.0
- Dalem Panti Putra Pura Mangkunegaran, Fhikri Latifi, CC BY 4.0
- IndependentdayinSolo, srejeki, CC BY-SA 4.0
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