15 Things to do in Solo. No. 10 is my Favourite!

There are two old dynasties in Central Java, the Sultanate of Yogyakarta and the Sultanate of Solo (also known as Surakarta). Yogyakarta is like the famous older brother of Solo. Tourists visiting Indonesia quickly learn all about Yogyakarta, and its attractions and things to do. In the mad rush to explore Indonesia, Solo often gets overlooked.

Part of the reason for this is that Solo is more famous for business than tourism. That’s a shame, because there are a lot of great things to do in Solo. Here is a list of some of the best things that you can do and see in and around Surakarta/Solo. I hope after reading the article you’ll agree that Solo is also a great holiday destination.

Booked Your Accommodation in Solo? This will help:

1. The Best Hotels in Solo for Every Budget

Let’s start, shall we?

1. Batik at Klewer market

Are you a big fan of batik cloth? Solo is famous for the quality of its batik. Klewer market is a traditional market where you can find a lot of different varieties and quality of batik. I remember my mom always included a visit to Klewer market in Solo on her itinerary every time we visited our grandma in Boyolali. You’re guaranteed to find some nice batik here if you look.

2. Hunting for some antique at Pasar Triwindu

Pasar Triwindu is the antique/flea market of Solo. The market is located in the city center and is heaven for people who are interested in antiques (Javanese daggers, leather puppets, decorations, etc). Of course you do have to be careful when shopping here. Just like Jalan Surabaya in Jakarta there are a lot of fake products sold here. Still, shopping in Pasar Triwindu is an enjoyable experience. Exploring Pasar Triwindu feels just like walking through a museum. The market is relatively tidy and clean. It is quite nice for window shopping, or just taking some photos and just enjoying an afternoon stroll if you are looking for things to do in Solo.

3. Get lost in Laweyan Batik Village

If you are in search of classic batik then you need to visit Laweyan Batik Village. This village is famous for its history – in the past a lot of wealthy batik businessmen lived here. Visiting Laweyan feels a tiny bit like you are stepping back into the past. You can walk through the small alleys, see old spots/buildings that are very attractive and also do a bit of boutique shopping. When you visit Laweyan you can learn how to make batik, see how batik is created and do some batik shopping.

4. The Old Royal Palace

You can visit Mangkunegaran Palace (Pura Mangkunegaran) and Kasunanan Palace (Keraton Surakarta Hadiningrat). I didn’t have the chance to visit Mangkunegaran Palace, and only visited Kasunanan Palace. The Palace grounds cover a large area. It’s a nice place to visit and the environment is very relaxing. However, the museum is falling apart and in desperate need of renovation.

5. Grand Mosque Kraton Surakarta

The old mosque (Masjid Agung Kraton Surakarta) is one of the most famous landmarks in Solo. I remember visiting it often when I stopped by to see my relatives in Surakarta during my childhood. The mosque has a traditional Javanese design, and the interior is large, airy and spacious.

6. Jaladara Steam Train

If you are driving along Slamet Riyadi road, you can’t miss the old railway of Sepur Kluthuk Jaladara. Locals usually call it the Jaladara steam train. It’s a traditional steam train from the colonial era and it’s painted black. You can still ride on the train. The journey starts from Purwosari station and cuts across the city of Surakarta ending at Sangkrah station. Early reservation is needed if you want to ride the train, which is already more than 100 years old.

7. Cengklik for Sunset Lovers

Cengklik reservoir is located in Boyolali. It is to the west of Adi Sumarmo airport of Solo. The reservoir is a perfect place for sunset lovers and people who love photography. You can take great photos of the reservoir at sunset with a view of Mount Merapi and Merbabu in the background.

8. Visit the White Buffaloes!

When we were exploring the area around the palace I was introduced to white buffaloes, which are said to be descendants of the sacred buffalo – Kyai Slamet. It reminded me a bit of the special buffalo in Tana Toraja. Kyai Slamet and his descendants are considered special to the people who live in Surakarta and the surrounding communities. There is a local tradition that involves the buffaloes. On the first of Suro (Javanese calendar), at midnight, a parade is held for the white buffaloes.

9. Culinary Adventure

Solo is famous for its food! Some of the highlights that you should try include the Nasi Liwet, Serabi Solo and Buntel satay. This type of food is easy to find around the city. A very touristy place to eat Nasi Liwet is at the Nasi Liwet Wongso Lemu – around Keprabon. Though it is busy with tourists, and locals say it’s a bit expensive, it is tasty!

Nasi Liwet is steamed rice cooked in coconut milk and chicken broth and served with a bit of this and that. For example, you might find a slice of omelette, shredded chicken, a boiled egg (pindang version), tempe and vegetables.

One traditional snack to try in Solo is Serabi Notosuman. This Indonesian pancake is made from rice flour with coconut milk. Sometimes it comes with shredded coconut and wrapped in coconut leaves. Serabi Notosuman is baked with charcoal. Toppings, like chocolate, can be added to the Serabi. Another speciality of Solo is Sate (satay) Buntel, which is made from minced goat meat wrapped in goat fat. This is is served with soy sauce and slices of tomato, cabbage, red onion and chilli.

10. Sukuh, Cetho and waterfalls

Sukuh and Cetho temple were my favourite places to visit around Solo. The temples are located at the foot of Mount Lawu, about 1000 meters above sea level. The temperature at this altitude is cool and the views are amazing. I’d really suggest visiting Cetho temple. Cetho Temple has the same traditional design as you see in the temples in Bali.

If you decide to visit Karanganyar area for the Sukuh and Cetho temple you should also visit Jumog Waterfall and/or Sewu Waterfall (Grojogan Sewu Tawangmangu). The best time to visit these waterfalls is during the rainy season.

11. Enjoy a Festival!

Central Java is famous for its culture. The highlight of the annual calendar is the Solo Batik Fashion festival, which is held in October. Another highlight is the traditional Javanese ceremony Satu Suro, which also held in October. If you are interested in checking out some of the cultural events in the city then visit the official Central Java website or the Solo event website.

12. Human Puppet Show at Sriwedari

Wayang Orang is a human puppet show. It’s a traditional type of act that combines a play with puppetry and masks. You can see a show at the Sriwedari building, Slamet Riyadi street no 275, Brigjen, Surakarta. This is a great place to go at night if you are interested in local culture. You can watch a performance every evening Monday – Saturday. There are more or less 60 performers in a show. If you are interested in learning more about this show, check out the Facebook page: Wayang Orang Sriwedari.

13. Chill Out in the Malls

Solo has several malls scattered around the city. There is the Solo Paragon, Hartono Mall and Solo Grand Mall to name few. These malls are popular with the locals and it’s a nice place to grab a coffee or just do some window shopping. It’s a good way to pass the time if you have run out of things to do in Solo.

14. Saturday Night Market Ngarsopuro

If you happen to be in the city on the weekend then visit the famous Saturday Night Market Ngarsopuro. The market is famous for its food. Locals also really like to hang out here. Besides the food, you can also find souvenirs, crafts and some clothing stalls at the market.

15. Workshop – Batik, Leather Puppets, keris (Javanese Dagger), Masks (topeng)

When I was in Solo I visited the Javanese dagger, leather puppet, batik and mask workshops. The two workshops that impressed me the most were the Javanese dagger workshop and the leather puppet workshop. It was very interesting to see how these two things are made. My visit to various workshops in Solo was arranged by The Royal Surakarta Heritage. They carefully crafted and chose the most interesting workshops to visit in the city.

Booked Your Accommodation in Solo? Here are the best 3 hotels in the city for Every Budget:

1. Luxury Hotel – Alila Solo
2. Mid Range Hotel – Royal Surakarta Heritage
3. Budget Hotel – Amarelo Solo

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What do you think? Are there any things to do in Surakarta/Solo that I missed? I am sure there are, right? Let me know what you’d recommend in the comments below.