Holiday in Semarang

What makes Semarang special as a destination?

Semarang is the capital of the Central Java province and, with around 1.8 million inhabitants, the fifth largest city in Indonesia. The port city on the north coast of Java combines Javanese tradition, colonial Dutch architecture, and Chinese influences into a fascinating cultural mix — and remains largely untouched by mass tourism. The old town Kota Lama (Old Town) is a jewel of colonial architecture: dozens of decaying and restored Dutch buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries form an atmospheric neighborhood sometimes referred to as Little Amsterdam. The Blenduk Church (1753) with its distinctive dome is the oldest church building in Central Java. The Sam Poo Kong Temple is the oldest Chinese temple complex in Java, founded in the 15th century by the legendary Admiral Zheng He, who sailed the coasts of Southeast Asia with his treasure fleet. The colorful red pavilions and carved dragons attract visitors of all religions. Lawang Sewu (“Thousand Doors”) is a monumental colonial building of the Dutch railway company, built in 1907, with countless arches and windows. Long famous as a haunted house, it has been extensively restored and is now one of the most photographed buildings in Java. On the Gedong Songo Plateau, about 45 km south of the city at over 1,200 meters high, stand nine Hindu temples from the 8th and 9th centuries amidst misty forests overlooking steaming volcanic slopes — a mystical experience away from the tourist trails. The nearby Borobudur (about 2 hours away) and Prambanan are easily accessible as day trips.