Getting Around, Solo Travel, Transport and Car Rental

(Solo, Central Java, Indonesia)

One of the most enjoyable and fun ways to travel around the city of Solo is by 'becak', which are bicycle rickshaws and although slow, are quite entertaining. Becak transport is available at the train station, bus terminal and around central Solo, and is usually hired on an hourly basis.

Solo is a particularly quiet Javan city when it comes to traffic, meaning that it is fairly trouble-free to travel around, especially if you choose to rent a car and driver. Other transport options include bicycle and motorbike rental, which can often be arranged through your hotel or homestay, and even at some cafes.

Adisumarmo (Adi Sumarmo) International Airport (SOC) / Arriving by Air

Address: Bandara Adisumarmo, Solo, 57108, Indonesia, ID
Tel: +62 0271 780 715
Located some 10 km / 6 miles to the north-west of central Solo, the Adisumarmo International Airport offers excellent connections to Jakarta, with numerous daily flights, as well as limited connections to Singapore and Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur). However, this facility is relatively underused, following a substantial upgrade to nearby airports in Semarang (Achmad Yani International Airport) and Yogyakarta (Adisucipto International Airport).

Car Rental

Renting a car is always popular with confident drivers and if you are looking for this level of freedom without the hassle of navigating the roads of Central Java, then many hire cars come complete with their very own driver, although a tank of fuel is not usually included in the price. As well as renting a car at Solo's airport, vehicle hire can also be found locally, on roads such as the Jalan Ir Sutami, the Jalan Kratonan and the Jalan Sungai Sambas.

Buses and Coaches

Buses are one of the cheapest and best ways to get around the Solo region. The Tirtonadi bus station is to be found just 3 km / 2 miles from the city centre and offers economy bus transport to both Prambanan (one and a half hours) and Semarang (two and a half hours), as well as to East Java destinations such as Malang (seven hours), Pacitan (four hours) and Surabaya (six hours).

For air-conditioned minibuses in Solo, use the Gilingan minibus station, where transport links are almost as extensive as those offered by the larger buses. If required, door-to-door minibuses can be arranged and provide an unbeatable way to travel to Jakarta, Malang, Semarang, Surabaya and Yogyakarta, as well as to Denpasar on the island of Bali (using a ferry crossing). Minibus tickets can be purchased all over the city, at travel agencies, cafes, hotels and even through some homestays.

Trains

Conveniently for long-distance travellers, the city of Solo resides on the busy Jakarta / Yogyakarta / Surabaya railway line, with most arriving and departing trains generally stopping at Balapan, the city's main train station. If you are looking for rail transport headed to Yogyakarta, the business trains tend to be the most regular and reliable, usually departing at least five times a day and offering a journey time of just one hour. Express train transport is available between Solo and Jakarta on a daily basis (around eight hours), while further trains run to destinations such as Balapan and Bandung. If you are looking for economy train transport to Jakarta, then check out the Jebres railway station, which stands on the north-easterly side of Solo and is quite comparable to bus services price-wise, although perhaps not as comfortable.

Taxis

Taxis are by far the easiest and more convenient way to travel around the Solo area. It is even possible to hire your own personal taxi during your entire stay, after first negotiating a favourable price. If you need to reach the Adisumarmo Airport, or even the nearby airports in Semarang or Yogyakarta, taxi transport is quite affordable and well worth considering, particularly if you can find another passenger to travel with you and therefore share the cost.