The 13 Best Day Trips from Pekalongan

How far each place is, what to see there, and a plan for the day.

Free day-by-day itinerary in seconds. No account needed to start.

There are 13 good day trips from Pekalongan, Indonesia, led by Semarang, Jepara, Surakarta. The closest is Pemalang, about 35 min by car, and 1 of them fit into half a day. Below: drive times, distances, what to see, and a sample day plan.

Built from 13 nearby places, with sights from real traveler trips, on Packy AI. Last updated November 2026 by the Packy AI Travel Team.

Day trips from Pekalongan

  1. 1

    Semarang, Indonesia

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 20 min by car83 km east of Pekalongan

    Known for Kelenteng Sam Poo Kong.

  2. 2

    Jepara, Indonesia

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 50 min by car115 km east of Pekalongan

    Known for Fort Japara.

  3. 3

    Surakarta, Indonesia

    Long day or overnight
    About 2 hr 20 min by car148 km south-east of Pekalongan
  4. 4

    Yogyakarta, Indonesia

    Full-day trip
    About 2 hr by car127 km south-east of Pekalongan
  5. 5

    Cirebon, Indonesia

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 55 min by car125 km west of Pekalongan
  6. 6

    Tegal, Indonesia

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 10 min by car59 km west of Pekalongan
  7. 7

    Cilacap, Indonesia

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 50 min by car119 km south-west of Pekalongan
  8. 8

    Purwokerto, Indonesia

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 30 min by car77 km south-west of Pekalongan
  9. 9

    Salatiga, Indonesia

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 35 min by car103 km south-east of Pekalongan
  10. 10

    Pemalang, Indonesia

    Half-day trip
    About 35 min by car32 km west of Pekalongan
  11. 11

    Plumbon, Indonesia

    Full-day trip
    About 2 hr 5 min by car134 km west of Pekalongan
  12. 12

    Astanajapura, Indonesia

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 50 min by car116 km west of Pekalongan
  13. 13

    Purwodadi, Indonesia

    Full-day trip
    About 2 hr 10 min by car139 km east of Pekalongan

A sample day: Pekalongan to Semarang

  1. 08:30Leave Pekalongan
  2. 09:50Arrive in Semarang (1 hr 20 min drive)
  3. 10:05Kelenteng Sam Poo Kong
  4. 12:05Lunch
  5. 13:20Explore the old town, markets and cafes of Semarang
  6. 15:50Head back to Pekalongan
  7. 17:10Home in Pekalongan

Good to know

Frequently asked questions

What are the best day trips from Pekalongan?
The best day trips from Pekalongan are Semarang, Jepara, Surakarta, Yogyakarta, Cirebon. The closest is Pemalang, about 35 min away by car.
What is the closest day trip from Pekalongan?
Pemalang is the closest, 32 km west of Pekalongan, roughly 35 min by car. Best as a half-day trip.
Where can I go within an hour of Pekalongan?
One place is within about an hour's drive of Pekalongan: Pemalang (35 min).
What is the biggest city near Pekalongan for a day out?
Semarang is the largest city in day-trip range, 83 km east of Pekalongan and about 1 hr 20 min by car. With that much to see, start early or stay the night.
Where can I go for a weekend from Pekalongan?
For a weekend away from Pekalongan, pick the places far enough to be worth a night: Surakarta (148 km, 2 hr 20 min), Purwodadi (139 km, 2 hr 10 min), Plumbon (134 km, 2 hr 5 min), Yogyakarta (127 km, 2 hr). Closer places on this list work better as a single day.
How far is too far for a day trip from Pekalongan?
Up to about two hours each way keeps the day relaxed. The farthest place on this list is Surakarta at 148 km, around 2 hr 20 min by car, which is better as a long day or an overnight stay.

Ready to plan your Pekalongan trip?

Free day-by-day itinerary in seconds. No account needed to start.