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Voykit pocket guide · Indonesia
Blitar
Give Blitar one night, two if you want Kelud and the beaches: it is a Sukarno pilgrimage town plus Candi Penataran, not a resort.
Blitar is a quiet regency capital in East Java, about 2 hours by road from Malang. It is the burial place of Indonesia's first president, Sukarno, and the gateway to Candi Penataran, the largest ancient Hindu temple in East Java, and the active volcano Mount Kelud. Sights sit outside the town, so you need transport or a becak driver for a half day. Most travellers pass through on the Malang–Yogyakarta rail line; one night covers the grave, the museum and the temple, two nights adds Kelud or a beach.
- Country
- Indonesia
- Best months
- Apr–Oct (dry season)
- Avoid
- Nov–Mar (rain); check Kelud status after any eruption
- Stay
- 1–2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- IDR
- Money
- Rupiah (Rp) in small notes for warungs, parking, offerings and drivers; large cards are common in tourist restaurants but not everywhere.
- Daily spend
- Budget Rp250,000–450,000 excl. bed (2026 estimate) · Mid Rp450,000–900,000 excl. bed (2026 estimate) · High Rp900,000+ excl. bed (2026 estimate) (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Telkomsel, XL and Indosat sell tourist SIMs at airports; foreign phones must be IMEI-registered if staying over 90 days — check.
- Emergency
- General 112 · Police 110 · Ambulance 118/119
- Plugs
- Types C, F · 230 V · 50 Hz · European round pins.
- Tipping
- Warung: Nothing.; Restaurants: Often 10% service + tax on the bill; nothing more needed.; Drivers and guides: Rp50,000–100,000 a day.; Spa: Rp20,000–50,000.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap; refill stations common in Bali.
- Toilets
- Western in hotels and cafés; squat toilets with a water scoop elsewhere; paper in the bin.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee or tea at a warung | Rp8,000–20,000 |
| Nasi or mie goreng plate | Rp15,000–35,000 |
| Bottled water 600 ml | Rp4,000–8,000 |
| Candi Penataran entry | Rp5,000 |
| Becak short hop in town | Rp10,000–25,000 |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | Rp100,000–200,000 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- MLG · Abdul Rachman Saleh, Malang
- Small airport with limited routes; road time to Blitar check
- SUB · Juanda, Surabaya
- The main gateway for East Java; road and rail times to Blitar check
Typical fares
- Blitar → Malang, bus
- about 2 h
- Blitar → Surabaya, bus
- about 4 h
- Becak Sukarno loop
- around Rp150,000 per person (2026 estimate, check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
The centre is walkable. Candi Penataran is about 10 km (6.2 mi) north: minibuses leave from Jalan Veteran and take about 30 min. The same Penataran minibus can drop you near Sukarno's grave on the way; ask the driver for "Makam Bung Karno". A becak driver will run a half-day loop of the Sukarno sites from the main grave car park; agree the total first. For Kelud, arrange a motorbike or car at Candi Penataran.The centre is walkable. Candi Penataran is about 6.2 mi (10 km) north: minibuses leave from Jalan Veteran and take about 30 min. The same Penataran minibus can drop you near Sukarno's grave on the way; ask the driver for "Makam Bung Karno". A becak driver will run a half-day loop of the Sukarno sites from the main grave car park; agree the total first. For Kelud, arrange a motorbike or car at Candi Penataran.
See and do
Known for
- Makam Bung Karno (Sukarno's grave)
- Candi Penataran
- Mount Kelud
- Istana Gebang (Sukarno's boyhood house)
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Candi Penataran | Minibus from Jalan Veteran, about 30 min | About 1 h |
| Mount Kelud | Motorbike or car arranged at Candi Penataran | About 1.5–2 h |
| Tambakrejo Beach | Car or motorbike south from Blitar, about 30 km (19 mi)Car or motorbike south from Blitar, about 19 mi (30 km) | About 1 h |
| Malang | Bus or train, about 2 h | About 2 h |
Sleep
- Town centre (Jalan Merdeka / Jalan Veteran)
- Losmen and mid-range hotels, restaurants and the station within walking distance; best for one night.
- Hotel Tugu area (Jalan Merdeka 173)
- The up-market option in a converted colonial building; rates check.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Permisi / Maafper-mee-see / ma-af |
| Thank you | Terima kasihte-ree-ma ka-see |
| How much is it? | Berapa harganya?be-ra-pa har-ga-nya |
| Can I pay by card? | Bisa bayar pakai kartu?bee-sa ba-yar pa-kai kar-too |
| Where is the toilet? | Di mana toiletnya?dee ma-na toy-let-nya |
| Take me to this address | Antar saya ke alamat inian-tar sa-ya ke a-la-mat ee-nee |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Light handshake then hand to chest; smile; avoid: Firm grips
- Left hand: Give and receive with the right; avoid: Passing anything with the left
- Temples: Sarong and sash; step around offerings; avoid: Standing higher than priests
- Keeping calm: Patience; indirect requests; avoid: Anger in public
- Pointing: Thumb; avoid: Index finger
Scams and watch-outs
- Mount Kelud is active: check the current alert level before going up.
- Tambakrejo Beach is not safe for swimming.
- The exit from Sukarno's grave runs through a hot, dark, crowded warren of stalls; leave by the entrance gate if that bothers you.
- Foreigner prices at becak tours are quoted higher than local rates: agree the total first.
Blitar is a quiet town; the practical issues are road safety on scooters, the active volcano at Kelud, and south-coast beaches that are not safe for swimming. Keep valuables out of sight and agree becak and motorbike totals before you set off.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Blitar yet. Suggested stay: 1–2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Makam Bung Karno (Sukarno's grave)
- Candi Penataran
- Mount Kelud
- Istana Gebang (Sukarno's boyhood house)
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Indonesia.travel — East Java: www.indonesia.travel/gb/en/destinations/java/east-java
- PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI): kai.id/
- Wikivoyage: Blitar, revision 5268470 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5268470
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/blitar). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.