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.
- 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.
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.
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…
- 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 (≈ under US$1)
- Budget bedGuesthouse or homestay room, a night, per roomRp200,000 (≈ US$13)
- Mid-range bedGuesthouse or homestay room, a night, per roomRp300,000 (≈ US$19)
- High-end bedGuesthouse or homestay room, a night, per roomRp500,000 (≈ US$35)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget Rp250,000 (≈ US$16) · Mid Rp450,000 (≈ US$30) · High Rp900,000 (≈ US$55)
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
- BXW Bawean Airport (Harun Thohir) (Small field with Airfast Indonesia flights from Surabaya; schedules change often — check before booking.)
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°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
31°C88°F
25°C77°F
11 rd
May
32°C90°F
25°C77°F
8 rd
Jun
31°C88°F
25°C77°F
6 rd
Jul
31°C88°F
24°C75°F
4 rd
Aug
31°C88°F
24°C75°F
3 rd
Sep
32°C90°F
25°C77°F
4 rd
Oct
32°C90°F
25°C77°F
8 rd
Nov
32°C90°F
25°C77°F
13 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 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.
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 & 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.
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- Rp250,000–400,000 (≈ US$16–25) excl. bed
- Mid
- Rp400,000–700,000 (≈ US$25–45) excl. bed
- High
- Rp700,000 (≈ US$45)+ 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 (≈ under US$1) |
| Nasi campur or grilled fish with rice | Rp20,000–50,000 (≈ US$2–4) |
| Wedang jaguar (ginger and palm-sugar drink) | Rp10,000–20,000 (≈ US$1–2) |
| Ojek ride across SangkapuraAgree the fare first; no meters. | Rp15,000–30,000 (≈ US$1–2) |
| Scooter rental, one day | Rp75,000–150,000 (≈ US$5–10) (check) |
| Guesthouse room | From Rp200,000 (≈ US$13) (check) |
| Boat charter to the islets, half day | Rp400,000–800,000 (≈ US$25–50) 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 (≈ US$13) executive / Rp250,000 (≈ US$16) 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 (≈ US$1–2)
- Scooter rental, one day: Rp75,000–150,000 (≈ US$5–10) (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 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.