Surakarta
Surakarta
Surakarta (Dutch: Residentie Soerakarta) is a region of Central Java in Indonesia.
Cities
- Boyolali — a predominantly rural regency with spacious greens and hilly areas around Mount Merapi
- Karanganyar
- Klaten
- Solo (also called Surakarta) — a bustling city that has retained its authentic traditional Javanese nature
- Sragen
- Sukoharjo
- Wonogiri
Other destinations
- Tawangmangu — a hill station on the slopes of Mount Lawu
Understand
Most of the area in this region is formerly Surakarta Sunanate's territory.
Get in
By plane
The Surakarta area is served by Adi Soemarmo International Airport (IATA: SOC) in Boyolali.
By train
You may use electric multiple unit from Yogyakarta. The train run to schedule daily.
Get around
By car
Trans-Java Toll Road pass through some cities like Boyolali, Solo, and Sragen. The other cities connected by good provincial roads.
See
See kraton (Javanese palace) in Solo and a UNESCO World Heritage List, Sangiran early man site in Sragen, as well as ancient temples in Boyolali and Tawangmangu.
Do
Climb Mount Lawu through Tawangmangu and Mount Merbabu through Boyolali. Swimming in natural springs in Klaten.
Eat
Javanese food is abundant in the area. You may eat mie ayam (chicken noodle soup), tongseng (spicy goat soup), and sate buntel (minced meat wrapped in fat satay).
Drink
Because of Islamic dietary laws, most eating places do not offer alcohol, and only few licensed hotels and restaurants will offer national and international brands of beer and wines in Solo. You may drink fresh milk in many stalls in the city of Boyolali.
Stay safe
Beware, if you speak English or even Indonesian language, they will charge you even more pricey compared to locals or people who speak Javanese. Get ready to be ripped off if you are a foreigner as they thought all foreigners must be filthy rich.