Surabaya Private Tour: Arab Street, Markets & Local Food

Walk through Surabaya's layers: colonial buildings, a working market, and the stories behind them

A private Surabaya city tour with an English-speaking guide covers Arab Street, the House of Sampoerna tobacco museum, a traditional market, and the Heroes Monument, with pickup from your airport, hotel or port and lunch included. You set the pace and can modify stops based on what interests you most, and the tour runs 5–6 hours with the option to extend at no extra cost.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Surabaya city and culture

• Pick up at any Surabaya location
• Visit Arab Street and Islamic heritage
• Explore Traditional Market
• Visit House of Sampoerna Tobacco Museum
• Visit Monument of Hero and Museum
• Visit Majapahit Hotel historical building
• Lunch at local restaurant
• Shop for souvenirs

The Experience

Your guide picks you up from your airport, hotel or port and drives you through Surabaya in a private, air-conditioned vehicle. The tour moves through the city's main layers: Arab Street and its Islamic heritage sites, the House of Sampoerna—a restored tobacco factory that is now a museum—the Heroes Monument, and the Majapahit Hotel, a colonial-era building that anchors the city's architectural history. A traditional market stop lets you see how locals shop and eat, and lunch at a local restaurant is included so you taste the food people actually cook here rather than what's plated for visitors.

Because this is a private tour, you can ask your guide to linger at any stop, skip something that does not interest you, or add a destination if time allows. The standard route runs 5–6 hours, but you can extend it without paying extra if you want to spend more time at a particular site or neighborhood. Your guide speaks English and knows the history, culture and daily life of the city well enough to answer questions as you move through it.

What’s included

• Private air-conditioned vehicle with driver and fuel.
• English-speaking private tour guide.
• admission to House of Sampoerna, Heroes Monument and other listed sites.
• lunch at a local restaurant.
• bottled water.
• parking fees.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleStroller friendly

Operated by East Journey Travel

Is this one for you?The tour moves at your pace through stops you can modify, so if you want to understand Surabaya's history and see how people actually live here without following a fixed schedule, this private format lets you linger where you want and skip what does not interest you.

Traveler reviews

4.90★★★★★★★★★★

99 verified traveler reviews

5 ★92

4 ★5

3 ★1

2 ★1

1 ★0

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What is the House of Sampoerna and why is it on this tour?

The House of Sampoerna is a restored colonial-era tobacco factory in Surabaya that now operates as a museum. It sits on the tour because it shows how the city's economy and architecture developed during the Dutch colonial period, and it is one of the few places where that history is preserved and accessible to visitors.

Can I change the stops or spend more time at places I want to see?

Yes. Since this is a private tour, you can request changes to the itinerary before or during the day. Your guide will adjust the route based on your interests, and you can extend the tour beyond the standard 5–6 hours at no additional cost if time permits.

What kind of food will I eat at the included lunch?

Lunch is at a local restaurant and features dishes that Surabaya residents eat regularly. Your guide can recommend options based on what you want to try, whether that is seafood, rice dishes, or regional specialties.

Where does the pickup happen, and what if I am arriving late?

Pickup happens at your airport, hotel or port in Surabaya. Coordinate the exact time and location with your guide when you book, and let them know if your flight or ship is delayed so they can adjust the meeting time.

Is there a lot of walking on this tour?

The tour involves moderate walking through neighborhoods, markets and museum spaces. Arab Street and the traditional market require standing and moving through crowds, but the pace is set by your group and your guide can suggest rest stops or shorter versions of any section.

What is included in the price, and what costs extra?

The price includes the private guide, transportation, all entrance fees to the sites listed, lunch at a restaurant, bottled water, parking and fuel. Souvenirs and any personal purchases at shops are extra.