Free Holiday While Learning: Explore Five Museums in Surabaya

Surabaya isn't just about skyscrapers, crowded streets, and the tempting aroma of rawon. Behind the hustle and bustle of East Java's largest metropolitan city lie numerous spaces offering tranquility, knowledge, and nostalgia, all available to enjoy without spending a single penny on entrance fees.

A cheap holiday doesn't mean a cheap experience. Five museums in the heart of Surabaya invite visitors to trace stories of the past, get to know great figures, and even feel the atmosphere of the struggle for independence.

1. Museum Surabaya Siola: Tracing the Footsteps of the City of Heroes

At the legendary end of Jalan Tunjungan stands the historic old building known as Gedung Siola. Built in 1877 by English businessman Robert Lidlaw, this building, originally named Whiteaway Laidlaw, is one of the silent witnesses to Surabaya's long journey.   

Today, the interior of the building has been transformed into the Surabaya Siola Museum, home to around 1,000 collections of objects and photos that record the city's journey. From documentation of mayors since 1916, traditional clothing, puppets, replicas of ancient kitchens, Dutch-language documents, to population archives from the Dutch East Indies era.

Not only that, there are replicas of WR Supratman's violin, ancient currency, tube televisions, old radios, even becaks and bemos that were once the transportation of Surabaya's residents.

Location: Jl. Tunjungan No.1, Genteng, Surabaya
Open: Tuesday-Sunday, 8 AM–3 PM Western Indonesia Time

2. Surabaya Underground Museum: Art, Technology, and an Aesthetic Public Space

Imagine walking underground, but not in a station or parking lot, rather in a modern art gallery. That's the unique experience offered by the Surabaya Underground Museum on Jalan Gubernur Suryo No. 15.

This place spans 1.46 hectares, covering the Balai Pemuda area, the underground section of Jalan Yos Sudarso, up to the Persil Pemuda 17 land.

Here, visitors can enjoy art exhibitions, creative installations, and aesthetic public spaces perfect for relaxing, taking photos, or just reflecting for a moment away from the city's noise. Free, cool, and instagrammable.

3. HOS Tjokroaminoto Museum: From the House of the Nation's Teacher

On Jalan Peneleh Gang VII, stands the historic house belonging to HOS Tjokroaminoto. In this house, great names like Soekarno, Musso, and Kartosoewirjo once lived, discussed, and ignited the flames of the national movement.

Today, the house is a simple yet meaningful museum. Inside, visitors can see HOS Tjokroaminoto's personal belongings, Sarekat Islam archives, and documentation of the struggle of the figure known as the "Teacher of Great Leaders."

4. Bung Karno's Birthplace Museum: Traces of the Proclamator

Still in the city center, precisely at Jalan Pandean IV No. 40, stands the Bung Karno's Birthplace Museum, where the first President of the Republic of Indonesia was born and spent his childhood.

This museum has three main rooms: the Soekeni Room, the Koesno Room, and the Srimben Room, each displaying snippets of Bung Karno's life story through photos, videos, and augmented reality technology.

Visitors can "interact" with the journey of the Proclamator's life.

5. Surabaya Education Museum: Learning from Era to Era

If you want to see the face of Indonesian education in the old days, the Surabaya Education Museum could be the choice. Located at Jalan Genteng Kali No.10, which was formerly the Taman Siswa School building.

This museum presents collections about the development of education from the Pre-Literate Era to the Independence period.

From wooden blackboards, old-fashioned textbooks, to replicas of colonial classrooms, everything makes visitors feel as if they've gone back in time.

Suitable for students, researchers, or anyone who wants to learn in a fun way.

Exploring Without Cost But Full of Meaning

Walking from one museum to another in Surabaya can be a fun little adventure.

Besides being easily accessible by public transportation, several locations can even be accessed just by walking.

Exploring free attractions in Surabaya isn't just about saving money, but also the best way to get to know the soul of this city up close, from its struggle era, culture, to the living modern spirit.