Semarang is the capital of Central Java province in Indonesia. It is a bustling, growing mid-sized city with a population of almost 1.7 million in 2020. It is more an administrative and business town than a tourist destination. It nevertheless has its own charm, with contrasting modern mid-rises, a significant set of Dutch colonial architecture, Chinatown, and "kampung" all jutting against each other.
Photos: Wikimedia Commons contributors.
The city's name is said to derive from the Javanese words "asem" and "arang", which could be translated as "scarce tamarind." Semarang lies on the province's northern coast. Semarang's topography is marked by a narrow coastal plain, rising sharply inland. The city sprawls up from the coast, and the higher areas see some of the highest rate of residential development, due to the slightly cooler climate. The sea is slowly reclaiming the coastal lowlands during the monthly rob or high tides, causing flooding up to more than a kilometer from the coast. The coastal location can make the climate uncomfortably hot and humid.
There are big and medium-sized buses operated by city government-owned company called TransSemarang buses with designated stops on raised platforms (locally known as shelter). Despite being called a BRT system, the buses do not travel in designated lanes. There are eight routes: Koridor : Penggaron (Bus Terminal)-Mangkang (Bus Terminal) Koridor 1M: Mangkang (Bus Terminal)-Simpang Lima (night service, 18:00-23:00) Koridor : Sisemut (Bus Terminal)-Terboyo (Bus Terminal) Koridor : Pelabuhan (Port)-Elisabeth (via Peterongan) Koridor : Pelabuhan (Port)-Elisabeth (via Simpang Lima) Koridor : Cangkiran-Stasiun Tawang (Tawang Station) Koridor : Meteseh-Ahmad Yani Airport-PRPP Koridor : Diponegoro U…
1 Gua Kreo (Kreo Cave), Jl Raya Goa Kreo, Kandri, Gunung Pati (Any taxi driver will know the place), ☏ +62 852 9179-4931. Daily 06:00–18:00. A modest cave formation surrounded by a man-made lake with a resident band of long-tailed macaques. Can get crowded on the weekend, but you may have it all to yourself on a weekday. Near the cave, there is Waduk Jatibarang or Jatibarang reservoir with a beautiful sight. Rp3,000. (updated Dec 2017) 2 Lawang Sewu, Jl Pemuda, Sekayu (right on the Tugu Muda roundabout). 07:00-21:00. Lawang Sewu means 'a thousand doors' in Javanese. It has a lot of them, but probably not that many.
1 Marina Beach (Pantai Marina), North Semarang. Facilities: swimming pool, children's playground, beach volleyball, water sports. (updated Oct 2022) 2 Taman Lele, West Semarang. Facilities: children's playground & pool, cultural and art shows, also animal shows. (updated Sep 2022) 3 Taman Puri Maerokoco (Grand Maerakaca), ☏ +62 24 7606286. 07:00-18:00. Tawangmas PRPP, a Central Java Miniature like Indonesia Miniature of TMII (East Jakarta). Facilities: cultural and art shows, boat, water bike, small train, fishing pond. It also contains Kampoeng Laut, a famous over-the-water restaurant. On the other hand, you also can walk around the mangrove forest there.
Semarang's choice of foods is large as other cities, you can find Japanese, Italian, Thai, Korean, Indian, and more. Semarang has many special foods that cannot be found in other cities, including: Babat gongso, beef tripe in a sweet and spicy sauce. Badak sambel, a veggies fritter in a spicy peanut sauce. Empal kelem, beef in thick spiced gravy. Kue jongkong singkong, a cake made from grated cassava. Mie kopyok, noodle in a garlic soup. Petis bumbon, boiled eggs cooked in fish paste sauce called petis banyar. Petis kangkung, boiled water spinach mixed with shrimp paste sauce and lime juice. Tahu gimbal, tofu dish with cabbage and gimbal (shrimp fritter) in a peanut sauce. Tahu petis, t…
In Semarang, it is not easy to find bars. However, lately a few stylish venues have sprung up, mainly catering to the trendy young population. There are a few bars and cafes around Simpang Lima (right downtown). After sunset, please avoid small tents selling homemade tea (teh poci) as lots of hookers looking for targets, especially rich-looking travelers. 1 Club 123, Jalan Pemuda 123 (in the basement of Novotel Semarang), ☏ +62 24 356 3000, club123@novotelsemarang.com. 21:00 - 02:00. 2 Marabunta Resto and Bar, Kota Lama (Old Town). Using one of the old historic buildings in the old town. During the Dutch colonial period in Indonesia, this building was used as a city theater building.
Semarang is moderately safe. People are nice to strangers, helpful and friendly. Never touch anyone's head (especially teenagers and older men) as it is considered as "insult" and might invite troubles. In the crowded buses, trains or small cars used as public transportation, "unintended touch" is tolerated. Never look at someone (especially young men) straight in the eyes more than 3 times as it might be considered as "challenging them to fight" (this applies especially in bigger towns/cities). Villagers are more friendly to strangers. Semarang is neither a small city nor huge city if compared to Jakarta.
Guide content from Wikivoyage contributors (CC BY-SA) — abridged; the full article has much more.
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