Major city · Indonesia
Cirebon
Give Cirebon one night, two at most: the sultan palaces, batik workshops and the empal gentong trail fill a day and a half, then move on.
Cirebon is a port city on Java's north coast where Sundanese, Javanese, Chinese and Arab influences met, and the old sultanate left three palaces, a coral grotto and a pilgrimage grave. It sits on the Jakarta–Semarang rail and motorway line, so it works as a one-night stop between Jakarta and Central Java rather than a destination in itself. Food is the strongest reason to get off the train: nasi jamblang, empal gentong, mie koclok and tahu gejrot are all local and cheap.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- IDR
- Best months
- May–Sep (drier, less rain)
- avoid Dec–Mar (wettest), and the Idul Fitri holiday week when trains and hotels fill
- Airports
- CBN · CGK
- Nights
- 1–2
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.
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
Emergency numbers for Cirebon112 ▾
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 Cirebon, 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
- SafetyCirebon is a normal Indonesian provincial city and feels safe by day; the real issues are traffic, uneven pavements, heat and wet-season flooding.
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.
- AirportCBN Cakrabhuwana Airport (Small regional field; most travellers arrive via Jakarta (CGK) or Bandung by train or car…
- Getting aroundAngkot minivans run fixed routes with no timetable or marked stops: raise a hand to board, shout "Kiri!" to get off, about Rp3,000 a ride.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- CoffeeCoffee or es cuingRp10,000–25,000
- Street or quick mealTahu gejrot from a street stallAbout Rp5,000
- SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a weekRp100,000–200,000
- Museum or sight ticketKeraton Kasepuhan entry, foreignerRp50,000 weekdaysRp70,000 weekends
- Budget bedHostel or guesthouse bed, a night, per personRp120,000
- Mid-range bedBudget-chain double room, a night, per roomRp450,000
- High-end bedBudget-chain double room, a night, per roomRp800,000
A day, not counting the bed: Budget Rp300,000 · Mid Rp650,000 · High Rp1,400,000
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
- CBN Cakrabhuwana Airport (Small regional field; most travellers arrive via Jakarta (CGK) or Bandung by train or car — check current scheduled flights) · CGK Soekarno–Hatta (Jakarta) (Rail from Jakarta Gambir or Pasar Senen takes about 3 h; road 2.5–4 h depending on traffic)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Avoid
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Feb
Avoid
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Mar
Avoid
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Apr
not flagged
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
May
Best
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Jun
Best
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Jul
Best
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Aug
Best
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Sep
Best
34°C (93°F)93°F (34°C)
Oct
not flagged
34°C (93°F)93°F (34°C)
Nov
not flagged
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Dec
Avoid
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Best: May–Sep. Avoid: Dec–Mar. Month by month →
Warmest Sep (34°C (93°F)93°F (34°C)), coolest Jun (22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C) low), wettest Jan (18 rain days), driest Sep (2). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Cirebon: 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
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
18 rd
Feb
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
15 rd
Mar
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
15 rd
Apr
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
11 rd
May
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
8 rd
Jun
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
6 rd
Jul
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
4 rd
Aug
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
3 rd
Sep
34°C (93°F)93°F (34°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
2 rd
Oct
34°C (93°F)93°F (34°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
5 rd
Nov
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
11 rd
Dec
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
16 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
Angkot minivans run fixed routes with no timetable or marked stops: raise a hand to board, shout "Kiri!" to get off, about Rp3,000 a ride. Gojek and Grab cover ojek and car trips across the city. Becak and ojek are fine for short hops; if you take a metered taxi, Central Taxi and Bhinneka Taxi usually use the meter, others may not. A car with a driver is the easy option for the palaces and Sunyaragi.
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Mount Ciremai National Park
overnightDoor to door: 1.5–2 h
Car or ojek south via Linggajati, then park road
Highest peak in West Java; a summit climb needs a guide and a pre-dawn start, so sleep near Linggajati.
Linggajati
goDoor to door: About 1 h
Car or angkot south from Cirebon
Site of the 1946 agreement, now a small museum; pairs with the Ciremai foothills.
Indramayu
goDoor to door: 1–1.5 h
Train or car northwest along the coast
Beaches and offshore islands on the Java Sea.
Kuningan
cautionDoor to door: About 1 h
Car or bus south-east
Cooler hill town; mostly a staging point for Ciremai.
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.
Around Cirebon station (Kejaksan)
Walkable to the station and the Alun-Alun; best for a one-night rail stop with bags.
Jalan Cipto Mangunkusumo corridor
Hotel strip with the CSB Mall and the nasi jamblang and nasi lengko stalls; central for food.
Near the Kasepuhan palace
Old-town side, quieter, closest to the palaces and the batik workshops.
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
- Rp250,000–450,000 excl. bed
- Mid
- Rp450,000–900,000 excl. bed
- High
- Rp900,000+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Budget-chain double room1 × 1 night × Rp450,000 | Rp450,000 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × Rp650,000 | Rp1,300,000 |
| Train Jakarta → Cirebon, one way2 × Rp200,000 | Rp400,000 |
| Car with driver, half day1 × Rp500,000 | Rp500,000 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × Rp150,000 | Rp300,000 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | Rp295,000 |
| Trip total≈ Rp1,623,000 per person per day, bed included | Rp3,245,000≈ US$200 |
2026 estimate in rupiah; flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Angkot ride in the city | About Rp3,000 |
| Tahu gejrot from a street stall | About Rp5,000 |
| Mie koclok | From Rp25,000 |
| Nasi jamblang or nasi lengko plate | Rp15,000–35,000 |
| Coffee or es cuing | Rp10,000–25,000 |
| Keraton Kasepuhan entry, foreigner | Rp50,000 weekdays / Rp70,000 weekends |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | Rp100,000–200,000 |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Hot and humid year-round: light cotton clothes; cover shoulders and knees at mosques, palaces and the Sunan Gunungjati grave.
- Rain peaks Dec–Mar; carry a poncho and expect flooded kerbs.
- Not every taxi driver uses the meter: agree the fare or use an app.
- Angkot routes are not signposted for visitors: ask your hotel which one to take.
- Kejawanan Beach is a working fishing shore, not a swimming beach.
Emergency numbers
- General emergency
- 112
- Police
- 110
- Ambulance
- 118
- Fire
- 113
Pocket card
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CirebonCirebon
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
Ke alamat ini, yaTo this address, please
Emergency
- General emergency112
- Police110
- Ambulance118
- Fire113
Embassy
Most embassies are in Jakarta; Australia, the US and others keep consulates-general in Surabaya or Bali. Check your embassy's Jakarta page for the nearest consular help.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Train Jakarta Gambir → Cirebon: about Rp150,000–250,000, about 3 h
- Angkot in the city: about Rp3,000
- Car with driver, half day: about Rp500,000
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)
- Berhenti di sini — Stop here, please (ber-hen-tee dee see-nee)
- Kiri — Turn left (kee-ree)
- Bisa bayar pakai kartu? — Can I pay by card? (bee-sa ba-yar pa-kai kar-too)
Area code 0231.
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 Cirebon. 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 (drier, less rain) · avoid Dec–Mar (wettest), and the Idul Fitri holiday week when trains and hotels fill · 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
- 4 day-trips, door to door
- 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for CBN and the Jakarta rail alternative: last departures, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
- Walking clusters with rescue anchors: station and Alun-Alun, the Cipto Mangunkusumo food strip, the Kasepuhan old town, Sunyaragi.
- Place pages with verified hours and foreigner ticket prices (Kasepuhan, Kanoman, Sunyaragi, Sunan Gunungjati grave) and eat pages with last orders.
- Wet-season and Idul Fitri fixtures so gates A–D can go green.