Getting Around, Semarang Travel, Transport and Car Rental

(Semarang, Central Java, Indonesia)

As a large and modern city, the transport infrastructure in Semarang is well developed, with travel options including frequent buses, trains, taxis and even ferries.

Bus transport in Semarang is surprisingly comprehensive and quick, with air-conditioned buses providing a cheap way to travel to Cirebon (six hours), Jepara (two hours), Kudus (one hour), Pekalongan (three hours), Surabaya (nine hours) and also Wonosobo (four hours).

Achmad Yani International Airport (SRG) / Arriving by Air

Address: Jalan Puad Achmad Yani, Semarang, Indonesia, ID
Tel: +62 024 608 735
Flights in and out of Semarang's airport are fairly limited and only of a domestic nature, with the one exception of daily flights to Singapore. Airlines here link the Indonesian cities of Bandung, Jakarta, Pangkalanbun, Pontianak, Surabaya and Yogyakarta, from where a larger selection of international destinations and ongoing flights are offered. Located on the western outskirts of the city and right on the coastline, Achmad Yani Airport may be on the small side, but it does cater well for passengers, providing modern facilities, a hotel reservation service, currency conversion, taxi transport and car rental.

Car Rental

Being sited in Central Java and surrounded by an extensive network of modern roads, Semarang rental cars are becoming more and more popular with holiday makers. At times of light traffic, it is quite feasible to travel between Semarang and Jakarta in no more than ten hours, heading in a westerly direction and passing Kendal, Pekalongan and Cirebon, using both the Pantura Road and the Cikampek toll road. Fuel stations are commonplace along all main roads.

Buses and Coaches

The Terboyo bus station is to be found 4 km / 2.5 miles to the east of central Semarang and close to the road heading to Kudus, offering buses around the city and beyond. Luxury buses and cheap minibuses are also popular methods of transportation, with their agents being based within the Losmen Jaya area. Of note, some minibuses will take you as far afield as Denpasar on the neighbouring island of Bali, using a ferry connection to cross the sea.

Trains

Strong railway links to other Indonesian cities are on hand at Semarang's busy Tawang railway station, which is conveniently located on the Jakarta / Cirebon / Pekalongan/ Surabaya route and features glimpses of the Java Sea along the way. Regular trains travel between Jakarta (the fastest of which lasts around six hours), as well as Tawang and Surabaya. Overnight trains are often used to cover long distances, while for economy class, consider using the city's Poncol railway station.

Taxis

Holiday makers wishing to make full use of available taxi transport in Semarang will find that local taxis are comfortable, convenient, safe and really quite inexpensive. Taxi drivers should always use their meters to calculate the fare as they drive and if they insist on asking for a fixed price before you depart, simply decline their offer and look for another taxi.

Boats and Ferries

Tel: +62 024 354 0381
Situated close to the Tawang train station and standing on the Jalan Mpu Tantular, the Pelni office is the place to come for the latest information about boat transport options and current ferry times. Ferries from Semarang provide a very scenic and relaxing way to travel to your chosen destinations, and from this part of Java, ferries connect the Banjarmasin, Ketapang, Makassar, and the ports of both Kumai and Sampit, on the Indonesian island of Kalimantan (Borneo).