Major city · Indonesia
BaweanPulau Bawean
Go for 2–3 nights if you want an island with no tourist strip: ferry from Gresik 4 h, Rp200,000–250,000, and rent a scooter on arrival.
Bawean is a hilly island 150 km north of Surabaya in the Java Sea, reached by a 4-hour express ferry from Gresik or a 9-hour vehicle ferry from Paciran. There is no resort strip: you sleep in Sangkapura or Tambak, rent a scooter or hire an ojek, and spend the days on waterfalls, hot springs, beaches and the island's endemic deer. Two or three nights covers it; the rainy season runs December to March.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- IDR
- Best months
- Apr–Nov
- avoid Dec–Mar (rainy season)
- Airport
- BXW
- Nights
- 2–3
Rules in force · 6Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore…
- Southeast Asia ↗Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Brunei and Myanmar; never carry a bag or parcel for anyone.
- Southeast Asia ↗Carry a passport valid for at least six months from entry with two blank pages; airlines refuse boarding on less.
- Indonesia ↗Buy the visa on arrival or e-visa only on the official Immigration portal; lookalike sites charge extra.
- Indonesia ↗Complete the All Indonesia digital arrival and customs form before landing; it is free.
- Indonesia ↗Foreign visitors to Bali pay a one-off tourist levy; keep the payment proof on your phone.
- Indonesia ↗Riding a motorbike needs a valid licence that covers motorbikes (an international permit alongside your own) and a helmet; check your insurance covers it.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Official sites
Emergency numbers for Bawean112 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Bawean, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Rupiah (Rp) in small notes for warungs, parking, offerings and drivers; large cards are common in tourist restaurants but not everywhere.Indonesia-wide
- SIM or eSIMcheckTelkomsel, XL and Indosat sell tourist SIMs at airports; foreign phones must be IMEI-registered if staying over 90 days — check.Indonesia-wide
- Tap waterNot drinkable from the tap; refill stations common in Bali.Indonesia-wide
- TippingRestaurants: Often 10% service + tax on the bill; nothing more needed.Indonesia-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets C/F. US/Canada (A/B): adapter · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 230 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Indonesia-wide
- SafetyBawean is quiet and low-crime, and the real risks are practical: ferry cancellations in the rainy season, empty ATMs, basic medical care…
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsWestern in hotels and cafés; squat toilets with a water scoop elsewhere; paper in the bin.Indonesia-wide
- Emergency numbers112 General emergency · 110 police · 118 ambulance (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysBali shuts completely for Nyepi; government offices close Friday midday for prayer; Lebaran slows the country for two weeks.Indonesia-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportcheckBXW Bawean Airport (Harun Thohir) (Small field with Airfast Indonesia flights from Surabaya; schedules change often — check before booking.).
- Getting aroundNo public transport worth using.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- CoffeeCoffee or tea at a warungRp5,000–15,000
- Budget bedGuesthouse or homestay room, a night, per roomRp200,000
- Mid-range bedGuesthouse or homestay room, a night, per roomRp300,000
- High-end bedGuesthouse or homestay room, a night, per roomRp500,000
A day, not counting the bed: Budget Rp250,000 · Mid Rp450,000 · High Rp900,000
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- BXW Bawean Airport (Harun Thohir) (Small field with Airfast Indonesia flights from Surabaya; schedules change often — check before booking.)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Avoid
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Feb
Avoid
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Mar
Avoid
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Apr
Best
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
May
Best
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Jun
Best
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Jul
Best
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Aug
Best
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Sep
Best
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Oct
Best
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Nov
Best
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Dec
Avoid
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Best: Apr–Nov. Avoid: Dec–Mar. Month by month →
Warmest May (32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)), coolest Jan (24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C) low), wettest Jan (19 rain days), driest Aug (3). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Bawean: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
19 rd
Feb
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
17 rd
Mar
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
15 rd
Apr
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
11 rd
May
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
8 rd
Jun
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
6 rd
Jul
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
4 rd
Aug
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
3 rd
Sep
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
4 rd
Oct
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
8 rd
Nov
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
13 rd
Dec
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
18 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
No public transport worth using. Rent a motorcycle or hire an ojek (motorcycle taxi) by the day; agree the price before you set off. Roads are narrow and hilly, and fuel is sold in roadside kiosks. Distances are short — Sangkapura to Tambak is roughly 30–40 minutes by scooter.
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Gili and Noko islets
goDoor to door: Half day
Charter a fishing boat from Sangkapura or Tambak; snorkelling gear is not provided
Reefs and sandbars east of the island; agree the boat price and return time first.
Lake Kastoba
goDoor to door: 2–3 h
Scooter or ojek to the trailhead, then walk
Crater lake about 400 m up in the middle of the island; paths are muddy after rain.
Deer Reserve (Penangkaran Rusa Bawean), Suwari
goDoor to door: 1–2 h
Scooter or ojek from Sangkapura
The only place the Bawean deer lives; a fenced enclosure, so sightings are not guaranteed.
Gresik or Surabaya
overnightDoor to door: 5–6 h
Express ferry from Bawean to Gresik, about 4 h
Too far for a same-day return; treat it as your exit, not a day trip.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Sangkapura
Main town and both ferry terminals; guesthouses, warungs, ATMs and the market are here. Best for a first visit.
Tambak
Northern coast, closer to Labuhan and Mayangkara beaches and the Kepuhlegundi hot spring; a homestay or two, fewer services.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- Rp250,000–400,000 excl. bed
- Mid
- Rp400,000–700,000 excl. bed
- High
- Rp700,000+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Hotel double room1 × 3 nights × Rp400,000 | Rp1,200,000 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 3 days × Rp450,000 | Rp2,700,000 |
| Express ferry Gresik → Bawean, one way2 × Rp250,000 · check | Rp500,000 |
| Scooter rental, one day2 × Rp100,000 · check | Rp200,000 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × Rp150,000 | Rp300,000 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | Rp490,000 |
| Trip total≈ Rp898,000 per person per day, bed included | Rp5,390,000≈ US$350 |
2026 estimate in rupiah; ferry and flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee or tea at a warung | Rp5,000–15,000 |
| Nasi campur or grilled fish with rice | Rp20,000–50,000 |
| Wedang jaguar (ginger and palm-sugar drink) | Rp10,000–20,000 |
| Ojek ride across SangkapuraAgree the fare first; no meters. | Rp15,000–30,000 |
| Scooter rental, one day | Rp75,000–150,000 (check) |
| Guesthouse room | From Rp200,000 (check) |
| Boat charter to the islets, half day | Rp400,000–800,000 per boat (check) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- The rainy season (Dec–Mar) can cancel ferries and flights; build a buffer day before an onward flight.
- Bring cash: BRI and Bank Jatim ATMs exist in Sangkapura but can be empty or offline.
- Ferry and flight schedules change with weather and seasons — confirm the day before you travel.
- Medical facilities are basic; serious cases are evacuated to Surabaya. Carry your own medication.
- Scooter riding here is not for beginners: steep grades, sand on bends, and few street lights.
Emergency numbers
- General emergency
- 112
- Police
- 110
- Ambulance
- 118
- Fire
- 113
Pocket card
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BaweanPulau Bawean
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
Ke alamat ini, yaTo this address, please
Emergency
- General emergency112
- Police110
- Ambulance118
- Fire113
Embassy
No embassies on Bawean; the US consulate-general and most others are in Surabaya, embassies in Jakarta.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Express ferry Gresik → Bawean: Rp200,000 executive / Rp250,000 VIP, about 4 h (check)
- Slow vehicle ferry Paciran → Bawean: departs about 22:00, about 9 h (check)departs about 10:00 PM, about 9 h (check)
- Ojek across Sangkapura: Rp15,000–30,000
- Scooter rental, one day: Rp75,000–150,000 (check)
Say or show
- Permisi / Maaf — Excuse me / Sorry (per-MEE-see / ma-AF)
- Terima kasih — Thank you (te-ree-ma KA-see)
- Berapa harganya? — How much is it? (be-RA-pa HAR-ga-nya)
- Bisa bayar pakai kartu? — Can I pay by card? (BEE-sa BA-yar PA-kai KAR-too)
- Di mana toilet? — Where is the toilet? (dee MA-na TOY-let)
- Saya mau sewa motor — I want to rent a motorbike (SA-ya mau SE-wa MO-tor)
Phone area code 0325. Bring cash: ATMs in Sangkapura can be empty.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Bawean. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Apr–Nov · avoid Dec–Mar (rainy season) · month by month →
- 1 airport and 2 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 4 day-trips, door to door
- 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Ferry and flight contract for BXW: Express Bahari and Airfast schedules field-checked, weather-cancellation fallback, overnight rung.
- Four scooter clusters with rescue anchors: Sangkapura town, the Kastoba and waterfall interior, the Tambak north coast, and the eastern islets.
- Place pages with verified cutoffs (Lake Kastoba, the deer reserve, Lachchar and Patar Selamat waterfalls, the hot springs) and eat pages with last orders.
- Rainy-season and hostile-arrival fixtures so gates A–D can go green.