Recommendations for Tourist Attractions in Surabaya for Backpackers

Tourist spots in Surabaya are a list of places you can visit when traveling in Surabaya, also known as the city of heroes. Nowadays, being a backpacker is quite common, especially in tourist areas with relatively high accommodation costs like in major cities such as Jakarta, Denpasar, and Surabaya. Specifically for the Surabaya area, although the prices of food and accommodation are relatively cheaper compared to other cities, they are still quite expensive for the pockets of backpackers. Fortunately, there are many tourist spots in Surabaya that can be visited at affordable prices, making it not too burdensome.

As a city with the title of the cleanest city, Surabaya is very concerned about cleanliness and the neatness of its urban layout. Therefore, it is not surprising that the Surabaya city government is actively building many city parks that can be used by the general public for free. 

Interestingly, many of them are turned into unique thematic parks that are often used as educational tourist spots. Thanks to the presence of many green open spaces, there are many cheap and nice tourist spots in Surabaya that can be enjoyed by tourists. 

Some examples of tourist spots in Surabaya include:

1. Pakal City Forest

Although not yet well-known among the people of Surabaya itself, this park, built since 2008, still attracts the interest of tourists. With an area of about 13 hectares, this place has many comfortable resting spots. In addition, over time, the local government has started to add various other facilities such as playgrounds, flower gardens, and fish ponds. 

This is certainly commendable considering that not many large cities have adequate green open spaces. Besides being filled with neatly arranged trees, this park also has a biogas power plant used for the park's needs, making it more environmentally friendly.

2. Keputih Bamboo Forest

In addition to parks, Surabaya also has tourist attractions in the form of bamboo forests like those in Japan. Interestingly, the green area that is now filled with thousands of lush bamboo trees used to be a slum garbage dump. 

After the place was closed and transformed into a green area, this area began to be arranged to provide comfort for visitors. If you visit there, you will find a beautiful sakura flower garden and various beautiful photo spots that are a shame to miss.

3. House of Sampoerna

Want a cheap educational tour? You can visit this place to learn about the history and development of the tobacco industry in the country. Interestingly, to get there, you can use the free bus provided by the local government known as the Surabaya Heritage Track. This is certainly very helpful, isn't it?

In this museum, which is intentionally built with traditional Javanese architecture, you not only learn about the development of tobacco but also see various tools used in tobacco production since ancient times. The attractive interior and exterior design adds to this museum as it can be a beautiful photo spot.

4. De Javasche Bank

If the first bank museum is in Central Java, then in Surabaya, East Java, there is a currency museum also often called the Bank Indonesia Museum. This museum, opened in 2012, is a building with 3 floors that clearly displays the history of the banking system in the country. 

This museum consists of 3 main parts: a room containing collections of old currency, a room containing restored collections, and a room that stores the cultural treasures of the Indonesian nation. Besides its history, this museum is also highly recommended because of its beautiful design, making it a popular spot for photos.

5. Gunung Anyar Mangrove

If you want another nature tour in Surabaya, you can visit this mangrove forest. Like similar tourist attractions in Wonorejo, this mangrove forest area is directly managed by the Surabaya city government. As a form of service to visiting people, a long walking track has been provided that penetrates the forest.

In addition, this forest also provides various interesting photo spots that you can use at will. However, you need to remember to always be careful, not to make noise, and do not litter because this forest is an educational nature tourism area that is also inhabited by various other fauna.

6. Seedling Garden

For those who love animals, you must visit this tourist spot. You can feed animals like deer that are intentionally allowed to roam freely to interact with visitors. In this place, you can not only interact with animals for free but also enjoy the beauty of the surrounding nature. 

This tourist spot can be considered a child-friendly tourist destination because there are many facilities made specifically for children, such as outbound games and play areas dedicated to small children and toddlers.

In addition to cultural and nature tourism, there are also various famous culinary tourist spots, but unfortunately, sometimes the prices offered are too high, so you need to bargain. Additionally, you should be careful when choosing culinary places. It is better to buy from trusted places that have a fixed price list. Also, avoid dressing excessively because the weather in the city can get very hot. 

That is a list of tourist spots in Surabaya that can be visited for free or for a fee. Although there is an entrance fee, the rates for entering these areas are guaranteed not to break your holiday budget. Always remember to comply with the regulations in each tourist spot and do not damage plants or public facilities just for taking photos.