Accommodation in Semarang

Budget

If you want to travel with backpackers style, you can go to Jalan Kauman and you'll find a lot of hostel there. With less than u$20 you can get a nice, clean, and air-conditioned room in Hotel Bali and Rahayu at Jalan Imam Bonjol.

Mid-range

• Hotel Merbabu, Jl. Pemuda 122-124, ☎ +62 24 3547491, 3547492, 3554991, 3557982 (fax: +62 24 3547491, 3547492, 3554991, 3557982). checkout: 13.00. Rooms from single bed to family room for 4 people. Room facility (for standard rooms and above): air-conditioning, telephone, television, indoor bathroom, hot water. Also, a refrigerator for deluxe rooms and above. Rp50.000-Rp370.000. 
• Santika Hotel, Jl. Jend. Ahmad Yani No. 189, (semarang2@santika.com, fax: +62-24 8414 083). 2-star hotel in prime location.
• New Metro Hotel, Jl. Haji Agus Salim 2-4, ☎ +62 24 3547 371 (info@metrohotel.co.id, fax: +62-24 3510 863). Newly-refurbished 3-star hotel. Close to Pasar Johar traditional market.

• Candi Baru, Jl. Rinjani 21 (Start at Simpang Lima, the modern shopping centre. All taxi drivers know where this is. From here take Jalan Pahlawan, when it leads uphill it changes name: Jalan Diponegoro. After 500 metres you will see on the left a remarkable pink building with two towers. Here you turn right into Jalan Argopuro, past the post office, at a three-forked junction turn right. Another 200 metres and Hotel Candi Baru is on your left. Don’t confuse it with the Rinjani Hotel on the right.), ☎ +62 24 315 272. Another dutch colonial style-hotel in Semarang's hilly district. Also the host of OnOn Pub (an expatriat favourite gathering, so you could find some information about Semarang on their bulletin board) and Black Canyon Cafe, a Thai Cafe chain.

• Hotel Grasia-the Family and Convention (Hotel Grasia Semarang), Jl. S.Parman 29 (Coordinat 7.0'18S : 110.24'34E), ☎ +62 24 8 444 777 (grasia@indosat.net.id, fax: +62 24 8 317 288). checkin: 13.00 pm; checkout: 12.59 pm. Three-star hotel in Gajahmungkur (@the old european village area)--include: buffet breakfast,pick-up service from/to airport,car wash,unlimited internet hotspot IDR367000.

• Hotel Muria-The Family and Convention (Hotel Muria Semarang), Jl. Dr. Cipto 73 (Coordinate 6.58'41S : 110.26'5E), ☎ +62 24 351 3622 (muria@indosat.net.id, fax: +62 24 351 5843). checkin: 1.00 pm; checkout: 12.59 pm. The two-star hotel near Chinese business area for the Family and Convention located in Rejosari Semarang--include: 6 representative meeting rooms,buffets breakfast, pick up service from/to airport, car wash,unlimited internet Hotspot IDR 290000. 

Splurge

• Hotel Ciputra, Jalan Simpang Lima, ☎ +62 24 8449 888 (semarang@swiss-belhotel.com, fax: +62 24 8447 888).. Managed by Swiss-Belhotel, this hotel has an unbeatable location in Simpang Lima area overlooking the town square. It is connected to Semarang's largest shopping mall, Mall Ciputra. 

• Grand Candi Hotel, Jl. Sisingamangaraja No. 16, ☎ +62 24 8416 222 (fax: +62 24 8412 688). The only five-star hotel in Semarang, Grand Candi Hotel is in an upscale residential area on the hill. It is located next to a golf-course and has several excellent restaurants.

• Novotel Semarang, Jalan Pemuda No. 123 Semarang 50132, ☎ +62 24 3563 000 (reservation@novotelsemarang.com, fax: +62 24 3584 252). The latest international chain to open in Semarang, Novotel is in the CBD area.

• Horison Hotel, Jl. KH Ahmad Dahlan No. 2, Simpang Lima, ☎ +62-24-8450045 (info@horisonsemarang.com, fax: +62 24 8419 009). Located in Simpang Lima area, connected to Plaza Simpang Lima shopping center.

• Patra Semarang, Jl. Sisingamangaraja (From Jalan Sisingamangaraja, turn into Jalan Ungaran. It leads straight to Patra Jasa Hotel), ☎ +62 24 8414 141 (reservation.semarang@patra-jasa.com, fax: +62 24 8314 448). This resort style hotel is in the hilly area of Candi Baru

• Santika Premiere Semarang (formerly Graha Santika Hotel), Jl. Pandanaran No. 116-120, ☎ +62 24 8413 115, 8413 121 (semarang@santika.com, fax: +62 24 8413 113). A four star hotel close to the city center.

• Hotel Ibis, near simpang lima, 4 star hotel

• Hotel Quest, kranggan, 3 star hotel

• Hotel Gumaya, Gajah Mada, 4 star hotel

• Hotel Dafam Semarang, Jl. Imam Bonjol 188 Semarang, ☎ +62 24 3554111 (info@dafamsemarang.com, fax: +62 24 3545111). The affordable three-stars hotel for business and leisure travelers who seek new standard of comfortable accommodation.

Festival in Semarang ( Seasonal )

 The Festival only seasonal, so pay attention to time a visit.

• Semarang Fair, Jalan Sriwijaya no 29 Semarang. Visit this annual which showcases various cultural entertainment. It is held every July.
• Jateng Fair, at PRPP Marina. Annual showcases of Central Java Promotions and Development. It's held between June and July.
• Wayang Orang Ngesti Pandowo, Jalan Pemuda. Watch Javanese theatrical performances.
• Jaran Sampo, Tay Kak Sie and Sam Po Kong Temples. Attend the biggest ceremony of the Chinese community in Java, featuring a colourful procession and dances of decorated horses and 'liong' (dragon).
• Dug Der Festival, Johar, kota lama, polder tawang. Annual festival, one week before fasting month, or puasa. The name is derved from the sound of Bedug (Dug), and Bamboo Canon (Der). At the end of the festival there's "Ngarak Warak", means procession to brings Warak across the city's main street (normally from the Mayor's office to the Johar Market). Warak is a mythology animal, part giraffe, part lion, part chinese dragon, part horse part bird. It's the icon of the festival. You could buy the toy on the festival, normally these warak will be laying an egg, thus the name "Warak Ngendog".
• Semawis Night Market, Gg. Warung, Chinatown. Weekly night market, during Friday, Saturday and Sunday night. You could walk along the Gang Warung, and enjoy the hawker style local food, also some souvenir from semarang. There's also annual, larger Semawis Market before the Chinese New Year. Check the website for more information.

Tourist Spots in Semarang

Religious tours :

• Sam Po Kong Temple, Jl. Simongan No. 129, ☎ +62 24 7605 277. The beautiful Sam Po Kong temple (Gedung Batu) was built to respect the Muslim Chinese commander named Cheng Ho of Ming Dinasty who visited Semarang in the early 15th century. It was extensively renovated in 2006 to celebrate the 600th anniversary of Cheng Ho's voyage to Semarang.
• Gereja Blenduk, Jalan Letjen Suprapto 32. The name means "domed church". A beautiful Protestant church built in 1753, it is the oldest church in Semarang. It has a baroque organ, a rarity in Indonesia.

Cultural tours :

• Taman Budaya Raden Saleh. at Jalan Sriwijaya No.29, is a beautiful garden located at the city centre. It has a total area of 89,926 square meters. Suitable for the family recreation.
• Wayang Wong Ngesti Pandowo. Inside Taman Budaya Raden Saleh, Jl. Sriwijaya No. 29 Ki Narto Sabdho building. A weekly show of Javanese drama, with stories from folklore, mahabarata, ramayana, etc.

Historical tours :

• Kota Lama (The Old Town or Oudstadt) has a lot of old Dutch colonial buildings. This was where the old walled city located. The wall is no longer there, but many of the old building remains.
• Stasiun Tawang. The oldest major railway station in Java, completed in 1870. 
• Tugu Muda is one of Semarang's landmarks. This monument commemorates the 5 days of fierce battle (October 14-19, 1945) between Indonesian freedom fighters and Japanese soldiers who refused to surrender. 
• Lawang Sewu which means A Thousand Doors was built as the headquarter of the local railway company. During World War II, it was used as the Japanese army's headquarters. The building is now undergoing restoration although it is still open to the public. 

Museums : 

• Museum Ronggowarsito, Jl. Abdurrahman Saleh No. 1, ☎ +62-24-7602389, 8AM-2PM, except on Monday. Javanese culture and art. Rp2.000 (Mar 2008).

• MURI (Museum Rekor Indonesia), Jl. Setiabudi no.179 Srondol. Monday to Friday, 8AM-4PM. Indonesian Record Museum.

• Nyonya Meneer. Jamu (traditional Javanese drink) museum. Jl. Kaligawe. Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 10AM–3PM
• Mandala Bhakti. Military museum. Jl. Mgr.Sugiyopranoto Semarang.

Amusement parks :

• Water Blaster (Water Boom). Entry through Graha Candi Golf Real Estate, with its dazzling hills view and quite an exotic feels of high breeze.

• Catfish Park (Taman Lele). Kecamatan Tugu. Open daily. Facility: children playground, cultural and art shows, animal shows.

• Marina Beach. North Semarang. Facility: swimming pool, children playground, beach volley ball, water sports.

• Ngaliyan Tirta Indah, jalan Raya Ngaliyan Kecamatan Ngaliyan. Facility: swimming pool, beautiful plantation, flower garden, sports centre.

• Puri Maerokoco and Kampoeng Laut. Tawangmas PRPP, a clone of TMII (Jakarta). Facility: cultural and art shows, boat, water bike, small train, fishing pond.

• Sodong, 20 km from Semarang. Facility: beautiful plantation, fishing pond, swimming pool.

• Mangkang Zoo, located in the West Semarang. It's newly opened. There a lot of animal preserve there but it lacks of attraction.

Get Around in Town

By mini bus / bus

There are plenty of mini bus (locally called angkot/daihatsu) and medium-sized bus called Damri in the city. These mini bus go to different destinations as follows:

• Damri No.1 Route: Terboyo-Banyumanik
• Damri No.2 Route: Terboyo-Mangkang
• Damri No.5 Route: Johar-Kompleks Perumnas

As September 2009 There is Bus rapid transit (BRT) called Trans Semarang planned route:

• Corridor I: Penggaron-Mangkang 

By taxi

Taxis are very safe and comfortable, and reasonably priced (starting price of Rp5000).
List of taxi companies:

• Astria, Jl Jatisari 1, Semarang 50235, ☎ 62-24-7460940.
• Centris Multipersada, Jl Majapahit 583, ☎ 62-24-6723624.
• Kosti, Jl Pamularsih 15, Semarang 50148, ☎ 62-24-7613333.
• Pandu Persada Saranamukti, Jl Kaligawe Km 4/46, ☎ 62-24-6591234.
• Puri Kencana, Jl Rogojembangan Raya 68, ☎ 62-24-6705050.

By car

Fuel for your car (if you rent a car) are "Premium", "Pertamax" and "Pertamax Plus" for gasoline fueled car and "Solar" for diesel engined car. It is not self service, you cannot fill in the gasoline yourself. The gas station has their employees who will help you and you have to pay to them for the fuel according to the fuel meter reading.

How to Get to Semarang

By plane

Semarang's Airport is Achmad Yani International Airport, quite nearby from the city centre. Daily flights are available to many major cities in Indonesia. Batavia Air operates the only international flight to Singapore 4 times a week. 

 

By train

There are two main railway station in Semarang, Stasiun Tawang and Stasiun Poncol.  Semarang is connected to Jakarta, Bandung and Surabaya by trains. Interestingly, there is no comparable railway service to Yogyakarta, although a railway line exists.

 

By car

Semarang can be reached by car from Jakarta. It takes around 10 to 12 hours Depending on the road in traffic. You can choose to leave early in the morning from Jakarta to Arrive in Semarang the next 12 hours. Over night the drive is faster yet more Challenging and even dangerous for "Pantura" non-familiar drivers. Pantura derives from "Coast" which means Beach and "North" which means North.

 

By bus 

Many bus services from Jakarta to Semarang. You can choose to go in the day with AC or night also with AC too. You can choose bus operators such as : "Rosalia Indah", "Raya", "Kramat Jati", Safari Dharma Raya as the good reputed bus serving Jakarta to Semarang.