Surabaya, the capital of East Java Province, is notable as the City of Heroes with a rich past and stunning tourist destinations.
One activity to include in your Surabaya itinerary is Kota Lama Surabaya (Old Town of Surabaya). This landmark holds a strong historical value including many fascinating stories and buildings that are silent witnesses to the struggle of Surabaya residents in defending Indonesia's independence; starting from the colonial period to the independence era.
Explore Kota Lama Surabaya with Toerwagen
The glory of the past has been revived through the revitalisation of Surabaya’s Old Town which has been open to the public since July 2024. Revitalisation not only repairs the historic buildings but also restores the original function of these buildings that were once used as government offices or trade centres. These buildings are nowadays repurposed to increase tourist and economic attraction for the city.
The four main zones (European, Chinatown, Arab, and Malay) each carry unique characteristics reflecting Surabaya’s cultural and historical diversity. If walking under Surabaya’s scorching heat is not up your alley, the local government provides a Toerwagen tour using a special, open-air electric car to explore the vastness of the Old Town area following a predetermined route in a short time, yet still get an in-depth experience of the history and beauty.
Head to a red phone booth to purchase your ticket worth Rp20,000 per person and wait until your ride arrives. The sun was about to call it a day when vibrant vintage cars, renditions of the early 1900s, picked 12 of us up.
Each vehicle will be driven and accompanied by an experienced tour guide to bestow a deeper insight into the significance of each location visited. Ours took the Toerwagen to the main street, conveying Surabaya’s past behind each building passed from the left side of the road to the right side - including the Kalisosok Prison area, De Javasche Bank, the International Building, the Red Bridge Plaza, and the Arcadia Hotel.
The golden hour illuminated our sights. Tourists and locals alike posed for their socials against the white, colonial buildings. Passerbys on modern vehicles enthusiastically waved at us. The guide took a turn which led to a quaint, uncrowded street donned in thick Dutch nuances.
Amidst the nostalgia is the Siropen Syrup Factory which has existed since 1923. This syrup factory has gone through managerial changes but the building and syrup-making have not. The Japanese once took over the factory, followed by the Dutch, until Indonesia eventually gained its independence.
A variety of the old-school syrup was on display. Only certain people, such as merchants, nobles, the Dutch, and guests of honour were allowed to purchase back in the olden days. It’s obviously a different case at present. One bottle of Siropen syrup is priced at Rp35,000, while a glass serving of the syrup starts from Rp7,000.
The tour continued traversing more historical landmarks. We stopped by Pos Bloc Surabaya, known to be where Indonesia’s first president, Ir. Soekarno, attended Hogere Burgerschool (HBS). Inside is a museum featuring an old-school orange motorbike used to deliver mail, a typewriter, etc. This site will be a creative space, connecting art and culture with the community through education, participation, and economic development for the surrounding community.
Toerwagen’s lights on greeted nightfall as we ended the tour passing by the Church of the Holy Virgin Mary and a State-Owned Enterprise building towards the pick-up point. Getting a glimpse of Surabaya’s Old Town with the Tourwagen is an ideal way to experience the city's mosaic of history, culture, and beauty.
Surabaya's Old Town also offers a variety of tour packages such as European-themed clothing rentals, electric bicycles, and tours using vintage Jeep cars. The area is set to expand, including connectivity with Kya-Kya and the Arab Village on Jalan KH Mas Mansyur, as well as plans to add mass transportation for tourism. Create fond memories and learn with your loved ones while visiting Surabaya.
