Flights to Surabaya, East Java

Surabaya is the capital of East Java and Indonesia's second-largest city, a busy port that has traded along the Madura Strait for centuries. Business travellers come for its factories, shipping and trade fairs, while visitors use it as the jumping-off point for Mount Bromo, Madura and the highlands around Malang. Searching for flights to Surabaya from Singapore puts you on one of the most established regional routes into Java, and Traveloka lets you compare fares, times and cabin options on one screen before you book.

About Juanda International Airport, Surabaya

Location

Juanda International Airport (SUB) sits south of the city in Sidoarjo Regency, close to the coast of the Madura Strait. It is the main gateway for the whole of East Java, so it handles domestic hops across the archipelago as well as regional international services. Toll roads connect the airport with central Surabaya and with the highway heading towards Malang.

Terminals

Juanda has two passenger terminals. Terminal 2 handles international flights along with some domestic routes, while Terminal 1 is used mainly for domestic services. Because the two buildings are separate, check the terminal printed on your e-ticket before you set off, and allow extra time if you are changing between an international and a domestic flight.

Getting to and from the airport

Airport buses run from Juanda to the Purabaya bus terminal at Bungurasih and to points in the city, which suits travellers on a budget. Metered taxis wait outside both terminals, and ride-hailing apps are widely used across Surabaya for pick-ups and drop-offs. Traffic on the toll road can build up at rush hour, so leave a buffer on your way back for a departing flight.

Direct and connecting flights to Surabaya

Direct services link Singapore and Surabaya, and a number of other Asian cities also fly straight into Juanda. To see only nonstop options, use the direct-flight filter in the search results and then sort by departure time or fare. If the timing does not suit you, a one-stop itinerary through Jakarta, Bali or Kuala Lumpur can open up more choice, especially on busy weekends.

Travellers heading to Malang or Mount Bromo often still land at Juanda, because it offers far more connections than the smaller airports in the region. Compare the total journey, including the road transfer onward, rather than the flight alone.

When to fly to Surabaya

Surabaya is hot and humid all year. The drier months usually run from around May to October, when skies are clearer and trips up to Bromo for the sunrise are more reliable. From roughly November to April the wet season brings heavy afternoon downpours, though mornings are often fine and the city carries on as normal.

From Singapore, demand climbs during the June and December school holidays and around Chinese New Year. Inside Indonesia, the Lebaran holiday at the end of Ramadan sends millions of people home to their families, and flights into East Java fill up fast in the days either side of it. Booking early for those periods, or travelling just outside them, gives you a wider choice of seats.

Popular places in Surabaya

House of Sampoerna

This old Dutch colonial building in the north of the city is part museum and part working factory. You can watch the traditional hand-rolling of kretek cigarettes from a gallery and learn how the family business grew. The surrounding streets of the old town are worth a slow walk afterwards.

Heroes Monument

The tall white Tugu Pahlawan honours the Battle of Surabaya, a turning point in Indonesia's fight for independence. An underground museum beneath the park tells the story with dioramas and wartime photographs, and it is a good place to understand why Surabaya calls itself the City of Heroes.

Suramadu Bridge and Madura

The long Suramadu Bridge carries traffic across the strait to Madura Island. Many visitors drive over for the views and to try Madurese food on the other side, including the island's well-known satay and duck dishes. The bridge is lit up in colour after dark, which makes the crossing back into the city a highlight.

Ampel and the old Arab quarter

The narrow lanes around the Sunan Ampel Mosque form one of the oldest parts of Surabaya. Pilgrims visit the tomb of the saint, while stalls sell dates, prayer beads, perfume oils and snacks. Dress modestly and remove your shoes where signs ask you to.

Submarine Monument

Monumen Kapal Selam is a real Soviet-built submarine that once served in the Indonesian navy, now resting on the riverbank near the Gubeng area. You can climb inside and walk through the cramped compartments, which children tend to enjoy as much as adults.

Where to stay in Surabaya

The area around Jalan Tunjungan and the city centre keeps you close to shopping malls, heritage buildings and evening food streets. Gubeng, near the main railway station, is handy if you plan to continue by train to Malang or Banyuwangi. West Surabaya, including Darmo and the newer townships further out, is quieter and popular with business visitors who want larger rooms and easy access to modern malls. If you have an early departure, the Sidoarjo side near Juanda cuts the morning drive.

Food to try in Surabaya

Rawon

A deep black beef soup coloured and flavoured with keluak nuts, rawon is the dish most people associate with East Java. It is served with rice, bean sprouts, salted egg and a spoon of sambal on the side.

Lontong balap

Rice cakes, bean sprouts, fried tofu and lentho fritters sit in a light broth, topped with fried shallots and sweet soy sauce. Stalls around the city serve it with satay made from small clams.

Rujak cingur

This is not a fruit salad in the usual sense. Rujak cingur mixes vegetables, fruit, tofu, tempeh and sliced cow's snout in a thick dressing of black shrimp paste and peanuts, and locals swear by it.

Tahu tek

Fried tofu, potato and rice cake are chopped with scissors straight onto the plate, then covered with a peanut and shrimp paste sauce. It is a favourite night-time snack from street carts.

Whether you are heading to Surabaya for meetings, family or a volcano sunrise, compare your options on Traveloka, set a Price Alert for your dates and keep your e-ticket on your phone so you are ready to go.