What's on in Surabaya, Indonesia through the year

Quiet — travelers describe it as quiet, Christmas and New Year

Nothing new starts in January.

Still on: Christmas and New Year (18 Dec – 5 Jan)

Quiet — school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it, one of its worst months for weather

Nothing new starts in February.

Peak crowds — Ramadan and the mudik exodus, Lebaran (Idul Fitri) break in Indonesia

• Holiday

  Ramadan and the mudik exodus

  5 Mar – 15 Apr · usuallyRamadan & EidCrowdedClosuresBook early

  East Java's biggest city empties east and west for the holiday week. Gubeng and Pasar Turi stations run at capacity for days and the toll road to Malang stops moving. Source ↗

Busy — Ramadan and the mudik exodus, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in April.

Still on: Ramadan and the mudik exodus (5 Mar – 15 Apr (usually))

Shoulder season — school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

• Season

  Dry season

  15 May – 15 Oct · usually

  Dry, glaring and the practical window for the drive out to the Tengger crater rim — but also when the city is at its hardest to walk in, and it is not an easy city to walk in.

Busy — Mid-year break in Indonesia, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in June.

Still on: Dry season (15 May – 15 Oct (usually))

Peak crowds — travelers describe it as peak season, Mid-year break in Indonesia

Nothing new starts in July.

Still on: Dry season (15 May – 15 Oct (usually))

Busy — Independence Day, school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it

• Holiday

  Independence Day

  17 AugNational holidayCrowdedClosures

  Flag ceremonies and street games across the kampungs, and the panjat pinang greasy-pole climbs that this city takes more seriously than most. Source ↗

Still on: Dry season (15 May – 15 Oct (usually))

Busy — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, one of its best months for weather

Nothing new starts in September.

Still on: Dry season (15 May – 15 Oct (usually))

Shoulder season — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in October.

Still on: Dry season (15 May – 15 Oct (usually))

Busy — Heroes Day

• Holiday

  Heroes Day

  10 NovNational holidayCrowded

  The commemoration of the 1945 Battle of Surabaya, fought in these streets — parades, sirens and a city that treats the date as its own rather than the nation's. Source ↗

Peak crowds — Christmas and New Year, Year-end break in Indonesia

• Holiday

  Christmas and New Year

  18 Dec – 5 JanChristmas & New YearCrowdedBook early

  The school holidays and the year-end break together, when everything with wheels heads for Bromo and Malang and the trains out are booked a month ahead. Source ↗