The Remnants of Ancient Kingdom
Absorb yourself in history with a becak ride through the old city. Historically, Solo has been a center of power in Central Java. In 1745 the Mataram court was transferred here from Kota Gede, and, since then, the city has built on its reputation as a cultural hub. From Solonese dance, wayang puppetry through to hand-crafted batik Solo remains a city that prides itself on its artistic traditions of elegance and refinement.
Today, Solo is part of the province of Central Java. With a population of over 550,000 people, Solo is a densely populated city. But while people may live close together there are no high rise buildings, so this city has a community atmosphere that is difficult to find in any other city in Indonesia.
Get Around
The handiest way to get around Solo is by becak. The compact size of the city means walking is an option however the streets are crowded and noisy and not well paved.
Bicycles are a good option for those who are willing to brave the traffic and can be rented from tourist offices in town. For a more traditional experience, try renting a horse-drawn carriage.
Taxis are available though they can be difficult to find away from the main tourist areas. Rental cars are available for hire and can be organized through some of the bigger hotels in Solo.
Get There
Solo has a large airport, the
Surakarta-Adi Sumarmo Wiryokusumo International Airport, which has daily
flights traveling from most major cities throughout Indonesia.
International flights also fly from here to Malaysia and Singapore.
AirAsia flies from Kuala Lumpur to Solo and SilkAir from Singapore.
From Yogyakarta, you can travel to Solo by express minibus which takes around one hour. The cheaper but more crowded public buses also travel by this route. Night buses travel from Jakarta to Solo and take around 12 hours.
The train goes regularly between Solo and Jakarta and the trip takes between 11-12 hours. The train continues to Surabaya. Domestic airlines that fly in and out of Solo include Garuda Indonesia, Lion Air, and Sriwijaya Air.
