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Voykit pocket guide · Indonesia
Trowulan
Spend a half‑day at Trowulan: bus from Surabaya (≈1.5 h, Rp12 000) or hire a driver (≈Rp500 000) to see the ruins and museum.
Trowulan is the archaeological heart of the Majapahit empire in East Java. The scattered brick temples, Candi Tikus, Bajang Ratu and the museum fit into a half‑day visit; most travellers base themselves in Surabaya or Mojokerto.
- Country
- Indonesia
- Best months
- Apr–Oct
- Avoid
- Nov–Mar (rainy season, flooding)
- Stay
- 0.5 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 Rp150,000–250,000 excl. bed · Mid Rp250,000–400,000 excl. bed · High Rp400,000+ excl. bed (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
- Police 110 · General emergency 112
- 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 |
|---|---|
| Trowulan Museum entry | Rp2,500 |
| Sandals (local market) | Rp10,000 |
| Bakso (meatball soup) at warung | Rp10,000–15,000 |
| Ice cream (cheap) | Rp1,000 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- SUB · Juanda International Airport
- About 70 km (43 mi) north of Trowulan; bus or car hire neededAbout 43 mi (70 km) north of Trowulan; bus or car hire needed
Typical fares
- Bus Surabaya → Trowulan
- Rp12,000, ~1.5 h (check)
- Driver hire for a day
- ≈Rp500,000, includes all sites
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
Hire a local driver (≈Rp500 000 per day) to reach scattered sites; public bus drops at Trowulan junction, then walk 1 km (0.6 mi) to museum.Hire a local driver (≈Rp500 000 per day) to reach scattered sites; public bus drops at Trowulan junction, then walk 0.6 mi (1 km) to museum.
See and do
Known for
- Majapahit ruins
- Candi Tikus bathing pool
- Bajang Ratu gate
- Trowulan Museum
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Surabaya | Bus from Surabaya terminal, ≈1.5 h, then 1 km (0.6 mi) walkBus from Surabaya terminal, ≈1.5 h, then 0.6 mi (1 km) walk | ≈2 h total |
| Trawas | Car hire or local driver, ≈45 min | ≈1 h |
Sleep
- Surabaya
- Many English‑speaking hotels, 1‑h drive to Trowulan.
- Mojokerto
- Closer (≈30 km (19 mi)), fewer options but budget‑friendly.Closer (≈19 mi (30 km)), fewer options but budget‑friendly.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| How much is this? | Berapa harganya?berapa harganya |
| Where is the museum? | Di mana museumnya?di mana museumnya |
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
- Traffic can add 1 h to the 60 km drive from Surabaya; allow 2.5 h total.
- Seasonal flooding of the Brantas River may close some paths – check locally.
Trowulan is generally safe; watch for traffic on rural roads and occasional river flooding.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Trowulan yet. Suggested stay: 0.5 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Majapahit ruins
- Candi Tikus bathing pool
- Bajang Ratu gate
- Trowulan Museum
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikidata – Trowulan coordinates: www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q123456
- Wikivoyage: Trowulan, revision 5307110 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5307110
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/trowulan). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.