The 13 Best Day Trips from Surakarta

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

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There are 13 good day trips from Surakarta, Indonesia, led by Semarang, Jepara, Yogyakarta. The closest is Klaten, about 35 min by car, and 4 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 Surakarta

  1. 1

    Semarang, Indonesia

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 30 min by car77 km north-west of Surakarta

    Known for Kelenteng Sam Poo Kong.

  2. 2

    Jepara, Indonesia

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 40 min by car109 km north of Surakarta

    Known for Fort Japara.

  3. 3

    Yogyakarta, Indonesia

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 5 min by car58 km south-west of Surakarta
  4. 4

    Pekalongan, Indonesia

    Long day or overnight
    About 2 hr 20 min by car148 km north-west of Surakarta
  5. 5

    Madiun, Indonesia

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 30 min by car77 km east of Surakarta
  6. 6

    Salatiga, Indonesia

    Half-day trip
    About 50 min by car45 km north-west of Surakarta
  7. 7

    Purwodadi, Indonesia

    Half-day trip
    About 1 hr by car53 km north of Surakarta
  8. 8

    Magelang, Indonesia

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 20 min by car68 km west of Surakarta
  9. 9

    Klaten, Indonesia

    Half-day trip
    About 35 min by car30 km south-west of Surakarta
  10. 10

    Kedungwuni, Indonesia

    Long day or overnight
    About 2 hr 15 min by car146 km north-west of Surakarta
  11. 11

    Pati, Indonesia

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 25 min by car92 km north of Surakarta
  12. 12

    Depok, Indonesia

    Half-day trip
    About 1 hr by car50 km south-west of Surakarta
  13. 13

    Wonosobo, Indonesia

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 40 min by car105 km west of Surakarta

A sample day: Surakarta to Semarang

  1. 08:30Leave Surakarta
  2. 10:00Arrive in Semarang (1 hr 30 min drive)
  3. 10:15Kelenteng Sam Poo Kong
  4. 12:15Lunch
  5. 13:30Explore the old town, markets and cafes of Semarang
  6. 16:00Head back to Surakarta
  7. 17:30Home in Surakarta

Good to know

Frequently asked questions

What are the best day trips from Surakarta?
The best day trips from Surakarta are Semarang, Jepara, Yogyakarta, Pekalongan, Madiun. The closest is Klaten, about 35 min away by car.
What is the closest day trip from Surakarta?
Klaten is the closest, 30 km south-west of Surakarta, roughly 35 min by car. Best as a half-day trip.
Where can I go within an hour of Surakarta?
4 places are within about an hour's drive of Surakarta: Klaten (35 min), Salatiga (50 min), Depok (1 hr), Purwodadi (1 hr).
What is the biggest city near Surakarta for a day out?
Semarang is the largest city in day-trip range, 77 km north-west of Surakarta and about 1 hr 30 min by car. With that much to see, start early or stay the night.
Where can I go for a weekend from Surakarta?
For a weekend away from Surakarta, pick the places far enough to be worth a night: Pekalongan (148 km, 2 hr 20 min), Kedungwuni (146 km, 2 hr 15 min), Jepara (109 km, 1 hr 40 min), Wonosobo (105 km, 1 hr 40 min). Closer places on this list work better as a single day.
How far is too far for a day trip from Surakarta?
Up to about two hours each way keeps the day relaxed. The farthest place on this list is Pekalongan at 148 km, around 2 hr 20 min by car, which is better as a long day or an overnight stay.

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