Often referred to as the ‘City Of Heroes' in honour of those who fought the fierce battle of independence in 1945, Surabaya's patriotic history goes back to the 13th century. Raden Wijaya, its first king, fought against the Tartar troops from mainland China and drove them out of Indonesia. This event in Surabaya marks the city's anniversary celebrated on 31st of May, every year. In 2008, Surabaya celebrated its 715th anniversary! While staying at a Surabaya hotel, a Surabaya tour to some of monuments and museums to honour its war history is a worthwhile experience.
Surabaya is the cleanest city in Indonesia, one that's equipped with modern infrastructure, new-age facilities, and hotels in Surabaya to suit your pocket and taste, thus qualifying as a top tourist getaway!
Take the opportunity to book one of the hotels in Surabaya from this site using our map of Surabaya to help provide a guide to a convenient location. Delving into Surabaya's history of heroic battles or visiting some unique sites of culture and beauty can be assisted by booking Surabaya tours that we have on offer.
Today, Surabaya is one of Indonesia's fastest growing cities, a hub for business activity in eastern Indonesia and home to the East Java provincial government. Home to the Eastern Armada, one of two in the Indonesian Navy, Surabaya's maritime heritage is reflected by the Submarine Monument, a retired Russian submarine called Pasopati that has been turned into a museum ship in the city centre, one of the things you should see and do in Surabaya.
There's an interesting story behind the name ‘Surabaya'. The local people here believe that the name is derived from the words suro or sura (shark) and boyo or baya (crocodile) which, according to local myth, fought each other for the title of ‘the strongest and most powerful animal' in the area.
Today, these animals find pride of place on the city's coat of arms, which depicts them confronting each other. A similar scene has been recreated in a statue near the entrance of the local zoo which opened in 1916 and which was the first in the world to breed orangutans in captivity.
Another interesting fact that sets the city apart from other cities across the world is that unlike many cities that evolved from early settlements into chaotic metropolises, Surbaya is a planned city, which should make it that be easier getting to and from your Surabaya hotel.
Also called the ‘Indamardi City,' which means it has facilities for industry, trade, navy and education, Surabaya is spread over 30,000 sq m of land, is home to three million people, and has a density of 10,000 persons per sq km.
The people of Surabaya comprise a motley crew of ethnicities - Malaysian, Chinese, Indian, Arabic and European. Innumerable ethnic groups reside here, the major ones being Javanese and Madurese. During your time on tour in Surabaya you'll find that typically, the Javanese tend to be more reserved, and seem more conformist, in all aspects of their lifestyle. On the other hand, the Madurese tend to be more open and straightforward, and honour is very important to them.
The two main religions practised by the local people are Islam and Christianity. In fact, the city is home to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Surabaya. Other religions include Hinduism, Konghucu, Buddhism, Judaism, and the ancient religions of Java. Surabaya is also home to the only synagogue in Indonesia, but rarely does it obtain a minyan. You also have a Jewish cemetery in the city.
While staying at your hotel in Surabaya you may notice that the people here speak a unique dialect of Javanese called Suroboyoan. This dialect uses less register than the Central Javan dialect, and is actively promoted in local TV shows, radio and traditional dramas called Ludruk. The Madurese language also tends to influence the Surabayan dialect of Javanese spoken in the streets.
Today, this city continues to grow in population by 1.2% every year. Yet, in recent times, the local people have started moving away from the city to the suburbs, which offer a better quality of life, providing amenities like premier golf courses and better security.
