Solo Indonesia – Your Quick Travel Guide

In a nutshell

The city of Solo is also known as Surakarta and is located in Central Java. Solo is also known for being the ‘sister city’ of the more famous Yogyakarta and both places are steeped in local history as they used to be part of the Mataram Kingdom in the days of old.

Why go to Solo

One of the main reasons to visit Solo is to take in a more relaxed and less touristy city compared to Yogyakarta. This part of Indonesia is also known for its amazing Javanese culture, so if you are looking for a place to see some real Indonesian history then this is the place to do it.

There are a whole host of heritage attractions to see here such as the Keraton Kasunan which is the former palace of the Pakubuwono Kings that dates from 1675. This also has a museum attached and is built in the Javanese and European styles. You can also visit Puro Mangkunegaran which is the former home of the Mangkunegara Princes which was built in 1757 and has a museum, art gallery and cultural center on site.

If you like art then you can also visit places such as the Museum Batik Danar Hadi which has gorgeous batik textiles that are made using an ancient wax technique. Solo is also blessed with parks that you can stroll in and you can also check out other religious attractions such as Hindu temples and gorgeous mosques. The city is also blessed with a number of spaces where you can take in traditional dances and cultural shows.

When to go to Solo

As Solo is in Java it has similar weather patterns to much of the region in the form of a wet and a dry season. The rainy season generally falls in the autumn and winter time, with heavy rains expected from October to April. As Solo is a nice city to explore on foot, you may want to give the rainy season a miss when you visit.

Where to stay in Solo

Solo doesn’t have as wide a range of hotels as other cities in Indonesia but you can still find a range of good choices here to suit different budgets. There are some homestays and budget hotels dotted around the city and you can expect to get your own room with a private bathroom for about USD 20 although not all hotels have hot water.

If you have a budget of around USD 50 per night, then you can stay in one of the many boutique hotels that have sprung up in recent years in Solo which usually come with hot water, Wi-Fi and a swimming pool.

At the top end, you can expect to pay upwards of USD 60 per night to stay in a four star hotel and these usually have facilities such as a spa, a swimming pool, and spacious rooms which come with Wi-Fi. These are a good option if you want a little luxury at an affordable price.

Where and what to eat in Solo

As with all Indonesian cities, finding food is not a problem in Solo. You can find a huge range of delicious street food here and some local bites to try include Gudeg Solo which is a kind of local curry and Nasi Liwet which is a rice based dish with accompaniments like curries. You can also buy sweet drinks and ice-based desserts from street food carts which only cost a few dollars and will cool you down on a hot day.

If you are looking for fine dining then many of the hotels in Solo also have restaurants attached where you can try local or international fare. The real star of the show here is Javanese food but you will also find a number of Chinese restaurants here as well as international chains like Pizza Hut.

How to get around Solo

One of the great charms of Solo is that is one city in Indonesia that is fairly easy to walk around. The main street in town is called Jalan Slamet Riyadi and this has a paved section called Citywalk which allows you to take in the sights and sounds of the city on foot. This part of town is also known for its hotels, shops and restaurant and is completely pedestrianized at the weekend when several colorful markets also set up here.

Other ways to get around Solo include taking local taxis which are relatively cheap and the best known taxi company is Bluebird which has fares that start at IDR 7,500.

Another way to get around, if you are not in a hurry, is to take a traditional becak which is a pedicab that offers you a slow but interesting way to see the city. Make sure you haggle however as rivers are known to inflate prices, and a short trip of a few blocks should only cost around IDR 10,000.

Another choice is to use a Gojek which is a motorcycle taxi that can be booked through the Gojek app.

How to get in and from Solo

By air

Solo is serviced by Adisumarmo International Airport which is not very large but which a range of domestic flights to and from other cities in Indonesia such as Yogyakarta and Jakarta which are the most popular. You can also fly to other destinations around Indonesia such as Denpasar, Surabaya, Bandung and even Lombok. There are also some international flights to destinations such as Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.

By train

Another option to get to Solo is to take a train and this can be one of the most scenic ways of getting to the city. There are trains from Jakarta which takes around eight hours if you choose the express service although there are also regular train services which take longer. Tickets for this service vary but are between around IDR 200,000 and IDR 300,000 depending on the class you choose. You can also travel to Solo by train from neighboring Yogyakarta which is only 60 kilometers away and you can take a commuter train between Yogyakarta and Solo which only costs IDR 10,000. You can also take an express train for IDR 50,000.

By bus

Alternatively you can also take a bus to Solo from places such as Jakarta which takes about ten hours and costs IDR 100,000 but this can be a rather time consuming and uncomfortable option. It is however one of the cheapest ways of traveling around Indonesia. There are also bus services between Solo and Yogyakarta which will set you back around IDR 20,000, and Solo and Surabaya which costs around IDR 60,000 and takes around five hours. If you are traveling as part of a group then you may wish to hire a private car and driver to take you to Solo and you can rent a seven seat car in places like Yogyakarta, and prices are negotiable.

Is Solo a safe place to visit?

Solo is a fairly safe city to visit and violent crime is rare, particularly targeting foreigners. There is however some low-level crime which you need to be vigilant about things such as snatch thefts. This involves gangs of thieves on motorbikes who may try to grab your bag or other valuables. There is also a risk of other low level crime such as pick pocketing.