Surabaya City Tour: Culture and History

Immerse yourself in the rich culture, history, and cuisine of Surabaya on this private city tour. Explore Arab town, historical buildings, temples/mosques, and traditional markets, and indulge in a delicious meal at a local restaurant. Customize your itinerary and get a glimpse into the local way of life. Book now!

Duration: 7 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Surabaya - Our representative tour guide will pick you up at any location in Surabaya (airport/port/hotel). With our private and comfortable vehicle, we’ll embark on a journey through Surabaya, delving into its history, getting to know its inhabitants, and of course, sampling delicious local cuisine at a reputable eatery. The excursion lasts…
What's Included
  • Admission fees
  • Bottled water
  • Entrance fees
  • Private tour guide during tour
  • Lunch at restaurant
  • Private Transportation with driver & fuel (SUV/Minivan Air conditioned)
  • Surcharges on fuel
  • Parking fees
What's Not Included
  • Gratuities
Additional Information

Surabaya City Tour
Embark on a city tour of Surabaya, where you can delve into its rich history, vibrant culture, and delicious cuisine. A personal tour guide will lead you to the city’s most captivating spots, including the Arab Quarter, historical landmarks, temples or mosques, and traditional markets. Be sure to enjoy a delightful meal at a charming…

Location
Surabaya
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.9
(89 Ratings)
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Indianaworldtraveler
Apr 17, 2026
Surabaya Highlights - Wonderful tour with Agus to the Dutch European section of city, Chinatown by Tuk tuk including the Chinese Temple of three religions, the Arabic section of the city including the market and the mosque and ending with a terrific lunch. Our driver (Andre?) was very skilled and the vehicle was new with AC. We probably skipped a few aspects of the tour as we were limited by ship time in port. Agus spoke excellent English. Just do it!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Molly
Mar 26, 2026
Great private Surabaya City Tour from the cruise ship - Review: Exceptional Surabaya City & Food Tour Our day in Surabaya was absolutely seamless, thanks to our guide, Salsa, and our driver, Andre. If you are visiting the region—especially if you are coming in via cruise ship—we cannot recommend this duo highly enough. Expert Guiding & Deep Knowledge Salsa is a true asset to her tour company. Her English is excellent, and she shared a wealth of knowledge that went far beyond a standard "sightseeing" script. We gained a deep understanding of: • Indonesian History: Specifically the fascinating journey toward independence. • Cultural Diversity: She provided insightful facts regarding the many local religions that coexist in the city. • The Highlights: We covered an impressive amount of ground, including the local temples, the Russian submarine, Chinatown, and the War Museum. Authentic Flavors The food was a highlight of our trip! Salsa treated us to an excellent local coffee and a wonderful seafood lunch that felt authentic and high-quality. Flawless Logistics The logistics were handled with total professionalism: • Prompt Service: Our driver, Andre, was incredible. Every time we stepped out of a location, he was immediately available and waiting for us. He was incredibly polite and professional throughout the day. • Cruise Friendly: One of our main concerns was our cruise ship schedule. Salsa and Andre managed our time perfectly, ensuring we saw everything on our list while getting us back to the port with ample time to board. Salsa’s passion for her city and Andre’s efficiency made for an unforgettable day. Five stars!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sandra_p
Mar 12, 2026
Book this one (cruise excursion) - This was a perfect cruise ship excursion. There is not much to do in Surabaya, but our guide tailored the tour perfectly to fit our taste. We visited two temples, ate lunch and went to a spa. We were able to do whatever we wanted with the time provided with a guide and driver. We do not enjoy museums so we focused more on other activities. Salsa was our guide. She entered each location with us to be sure that there were no language barriers. What we thought would be a very lackluster day turned out to be one of our favorites so far!
Review provided by Viator
Michael_b
Jan 23, 2026
Immersive Surabaya - Our tour guide, Budi, was a wealth of information and bridged the gap between existing culture and historical perspective. He was particularly adept at involving us in each of the sites we visited and activities we participated in. We started at the national Bank Museum, where we were also able to interact with local school children. After visiting several other buildings, we took pedicabs to Chinatown and visited a temple, where we also not only watched puppet shows pertaining to historical reenactments, but we are also able to personally participate in puppet shows. We also met the gentleman who created, carved and dressed the puppets. Budi also took us to various altars and described in detail various religious customs and traditions. We also visited the local spice market, and were given pieces of candy by Budi to distribute to the local vendors, a process that they really seemed to enjoy. We also visited an Arab market and the mosque associated with it, followed by a visit to another Buddhist temple in an amusement park complex, and participated in a custom where we released birds into the wild ourselves after making wishes. Following a delicious lunch at a very nice local restaurant, where we also tasted a "snake" fruit for the first time,we visited the Heroes Monument before returning to our ship. What made the experience even more special was that Budi frequently took pictures and videos of us, and provided those to us via WhatsApp at the conclusion of our tour. All in all, the tour was a very enjoyable experience, made even more special by the fact that we participated so much in local traditions and customs.We highly recommend this tour and Budi (along with his very professional driver).
Review provided by Viator
Carlotta_s
Jan 16, 2026
Fabulous day in Surabaya with wonderful guide Nabila and expert driver Krishna - Another very successful Viator day. We had tour guide, Nabila and driver Krishna take us around Surabaya. First of all we discussed our interests and then they escorted us to many places in the city. Nabila was adorable, informing us of local history, as well as customs, and traditions on the Island. She was a delightful tour guide. Our highlight was a short ride on a becak, (like a tuk tuk) followed by a visit to a local genuinely original market. Krishná was an expert driver who was always ready to pick us up. He found the best parking spot right outside the market. An excellent day was had.
Review provided by Viator
Leon_p
Jan 15, 2026
Outstanding Tour Guide! - Salsa was an absolute. She is well informed of the history and local culture. We enjoyed every minute with her.
Review provided by Viator
Travelover44
Jan 15, 2026
Surabaya…Who knew? - We left our cruise ship today for a private tour of Surabaya and it was a wonderful experience. Amur was an excellent guide, and we learned so much about Indonesia, the history of Surabaya, its inhabitants and local culture. Amur’s English was very good and the itinerary was carefully planned and executed! I especially liked the visit to the local food market, the tuk tuk ride and a taste of local cuisine!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Thomas_b
Jan 15, 2026
Lots of fun! - Very interesting and informative. Friendly guide, tasty lunch. Sensitive to my need to be back to the cruise ship on time.
Review provided by Viator
Nizam_i
Dec 31, 2025
A great way to learn about Surabaya's long history in 7 hours - The tour was well organised and our guide, Pak Agus, was extremely knowledgeable and kind. Highly recommended if you want to know more about the city's 1100-year history.
Review provided by Viator
Spinet114
Dec 27, 2025
Quick yet in depth Surabaya - Our guide and Driver were excellent we experienced a well rounded view of Surabaya, he answered any questions we had and slipped a personal request stop seamlessly into the plan for the day.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
From $51
up to 15 guests
2 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).