Major city · Indonesia
Jepara
Give Jepara 2 nights: one for the carving and weaving showrooms, one for Kartini Beach and Panjang Island. Skip it if you only want beaches.
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- IDR
- Best months
- May–Sep (check: dry-season timing not confirmed by sources)
- avoid Dec–Feb rain; Lebaran week when buses and ferries fill up (check)
- Airports
- SRG · JOG
- Nights
- 2
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.
Jepara is a working coastal town on Java's north coast, known for wood carving and furniture workshops and as the main departure point for the Karimunjawa ferries. The town itself is small and low-key: a museum, a beach with an ocean park, a short boat hop to Panjang Island, and villages of weavers and carvers south along the Semarang road. It suits travellers already moving along the north coast, not a dedicated long stay.
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Jepara, 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
- SafetyJepara is a provincial town; the practical risks are scooter traffic, unlit roads at night and boat or becak trips with no agreed price.
- 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 or 119 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.
- AirportcheckSRG Semarang (Ahmad Yani) (Nearest useful airport; road transfer to Jepara is long — allow 2–3 h (check).).
- Getting aroundNo reliable taxi rank: use Gojek for rides, becak for short hops, or rent a motorbike from a dealer or hotel.
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 warungcheckRp5,000–15,000 (≈ under US$1)
- Street or quick mealPlate of nasi or mie at a food stallcheckRp15,000–35,000 (≈ US$1–3)
- Museum or sight ticketKartini Beach entryRp5,000–7,500 (≈ under US$1); ocean park Rp12,500–17,500 (≈ US$1–2)
- Budget bedDouble room, fan or AC, a night, per roomRp150,000 (≈ US$10)
- Mid-range bedDouble room, fan or AC, a night, per roomRp350,000 (≈ US$25)
- High-end bedDouble room, fan or AC, a night, per roomRp800,000 (≈ US$50)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget Rp400,000 (≈ US$25) · Mid Rp800,000 (≈ US$50) · High Rp1,600,000 (≈ US$100)
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 →
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
- SRG Semarang (Ahmad Yani) (Nearest useful airport; road transfer to Jepara is long — allow 2–3 h (check).) · JOG Yogyakarta International Airport (YIA) (Longer road transfer; shuttle vans run from Yogyakarta, roughly 4–5 h (check).)
Weather and climate
Jepara: 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°C86°F
24°C75°F
19 rd
Feb
30°C86°F
24°C75°F
17 rd
Mar
31°C88°F
24°C75°F
15 rd
Apr
32°C90°F
25°C77°F
12 rd
May
32°C90°F
25°C77°F
9 rd
Jun
32°C90°F
24°C75°F
7 rd
Jul
32°C90°F
23°C73°F
5 rd
Aug
33°C91°F
23°C73°F
4 rd
Sep
33°C91°F
24°C75°F
5 rd
Oct
33°C91°F
24°C75°F
9 rd
Nov
32°C90°F
24°C75°F
14 rd
Dec
31°C88°F
24°C75°F
18 rd
High / low °C°F · rd = rain days
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
No reliable taxi rank: use Gojek for rides, becak for short hops, or rent a motorbike from a dealer or hotel. Distances in town are short; Troso village is about 12 km south on the Semarang road, so plan transport for that trip.
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Karimunjawa
overnightDoor to door: 2–6 h by sea, plus boarding time (check)
Ferry from Kartini Beach; fast boat or slow ferry depending on the day (check sailing days)
Not a day trip: stay at least two nights on the islands. Check sailing days and book ahead.
Troso village
goDoor to door: About 30 min each way (check)
Scooter or car south on the Semarang road, about 12 kmScooter or car south on the Semarang road, about 7.5 mi
Weaving showrooms and home workshops along the main street; go on a weekday morning.
Panjang Island
goDoor to door: About 30–45 min including the crossing (check)
Short boat from Kartini Beach (check boat availability and return times on the day)
Shallow water and a small pilgrimage grave; agree the return time with the boatman.
Kudus
goDoor to door: About 1.5–2 h (check)
Bus or car east along the north coast road
Kretek tobacco town with old mosques and a distinct food scene.
Rembang
cautionDoor to door: About 2 h (check)
Bus or car northeast along the coast
Better as a stop on the way to or from Surabaya than a return day trip.
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Town centre (Alun-Alun / Jl A. R. Hakim)
Walkable to the Kartini Museum, the tourist information centre and food stalls; best for one or two nights without a vehicle.
Kartini Beach / ferry terminal side
Closest to the Karimunjawa boats and the ocean park; useful if you have an early sailing.
North-coast beach side
Guesthouses near Bandengan and other beaches are a short ride out of town; availability is limited — check before you book, and you need a scooter or car.
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- Rp350,000–600,000 (≈ US$25–40) excl. bed (check)
- Mid
- Rp600,000–1,200,000 (≈ US$40–75) excl. bed (check)
- High
- Rp1,200,000 (≈ US$75)+ excl. bed (check)
Trip budget
| Double room, fan or AC1 × 2 nights × Rp350,000 | Rp700,000 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × Rp800,000 | Rp3,200,000 |
| Semarang shuttle van, one way2 × Rp30,000 · check | Rp60,000 |
| Motorbike rental, one day2 × Rp75,000 · check | Rp150,000 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × Rp150,000 · check | Rp300,000 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | Rp441,000 |
| Trip total≈ Rp1,213,000 per person per day, bed included | Rp4,851,000≈ US$300 |
check; one cited hotel rate dates from 2016
2026 estimate in rupiah; flights excluded. Lodging and transport figures are rough — check current rates. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee or tea at a warungcheck | Rp5,000–15,000 (≈ under US$1) |
| Plate of nasi or mie at a food stallcheck | Rp15,000–35,000 (≈ US$1–3) |
| Pindang serani (fish soup) at a local restaurantcheck | Rp25,000–50,000 (≈ US$2–4) |
| Es gempol | Rp9,000–10,000 (≈ under US$1) |
| Kartini Beach entry | Rp5,000–7,500 (≈ under US$1); ocean park Rp12,500–17,500 (≈ US$1–2) |
| Becak or short Gojek ride in towncheck | Rp10,000–30,000 (≈ US$1–2) |
| Semarang–Jepara shuttle van, one way | Rp25,000–35,000 (≈ US$2–3) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Small non-AC buses from Semarang have no luggage hold: a bag on a seat can be charged as a second passenger.
- Wooden furniture and carvings are bulky: confirm shipping and export paperwork before you pay.
- Ferry seats to Karimunjawa sell out in holidays: book ahead and check sailing days.
- Some cheaper hotel rooms have a bucket shower only: ask before booking.
Emergency numbers
- General emergency
- 112
- Police
- 110
- Ambulance
- 118 or 119
- Fire
- 113
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
JeparaJepara
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
Ke alamat ini, yaTo this address, please
Emergency
- General emergency112
- Police110
- Ambulance118 or 119
- Fire113
Embassy
No embassies in Jepara; most are in Jakarta, with consulates in Surabaya and Bali.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Semarang–Jepara shuttle van: about Rp25,000–35,000 (≈ US$2–3), about 2 h
- Semarang–Jepara taxi, bargained: about Rp275,000 (≈ US$17)
- Yogyakarta–Jepara shuttle van: about Rp165,000–190,000 (≈ US$11–12)
- Kartini Beach entry: Rp5,000–7,500 (≈ under US$1)
Say or show
- Permisi — Excuse me (per-mee-see)
- Terima kasih — Thank you (te-ree-ma ka-see)
- Berapa harganya? — How much is it? (be-ra-pa har-ga-nya)
- Terlalu mahal — Too expensive (ter-la-lu ma-hal)
- Di mana toilet? — Where is the toilet? (dee ma-na toy-let)
- Saya mau ke sini — I want to go here (sa-ya mau ke see-nee)
Tourist information centre: Jl. A. R. Hakim No. 51, open 07:00–14:30.
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 Jepara. 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: May–Sep (check: dry-season timing not confirmed by sources) · avoid Dec–Feb rain; Lebaran week when buses and ferries fill up (check) · month by month →
- 2 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 5 day-trips, door to door
- 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for SRG and JOG: last shuttle departures field-checked, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
- Walking clusters with rescue anchors: Alun-Alun and museum, Kartini Beach and ferry terminal, Troso road showrooms.
- Place pages with verified hours (Kartini Museum, tourist information centre) and eat pages with last orders.
- Karimunjawa ferry fixture: sailing days, ticket windows and weather-cancellation fallback.