Semarang Metropolitan Area

Semarang Metropolitan Area (Dutch: Residentie Semarang) is a region of Central Java in Indonesia, known locally as Kedungsepur (an acronym of Kendal-Demak-Ungaran-Salatiga-Semarang-Purwodadi).

Cities

 * — the capital of Central Java province, an ancient seaport with preserved colonial legacies
 * — The center of the once-mighty Demak Sultanate
 * — a regency with various natural lowlands and highlands tourist spot
 * — capital city of Grobogan Regency
 * — a hill town at the foot of Mount Merbabu
 * — the capital of Semarang Regency

Other destinations

 * — a historic town with the remains of the old steam locomotives
 * — a hill station and gate district to Mount Ungaran
 * — a hill station and gate village to Mount Merbabu

Talk
Javanese is the local language in Semarang, though virtually everyone speaks Indonesian as well. As it is still rather off the tourist trail, English is not widely spoken, so learning at least the basics of Indonesian or Javanese before you visit goes a long way.

By plane
The Semarang Metropolitan area is served by Ahmad Yani International Airport in Semarang.

Get around
Semarang Metropolitan Area is served by Trans Semarang bus rapid transit, comprising at least eight main corridors. Another bus rapid transit, the provincial-owned Trans Jateng has two corridors southward and westward in Semarang Metropolitan Area, linking Semarang Tawang Station (Semarang City) to Bawen Bus Terminal (Semarang Regency) and Mangkang Bus Terminal (Semarang City) to Bahurekso Bus Terminal (Kendal Regency). The eastern part of Semarang metropolitan area is served by Kedungsepur commuter rail. The train links Semarang Poncol Station in Semarang to Ngrombo Station in Grobogan through Brumbung District in southern of Demak. The fare is Rp10,000.

See
See old buildings built in the Dutch colonial era in the kota lama (old town) of Semarang. Besides that, you may visit the Old Hindu Temple in hill station of Bandungan, Curug Sewu Waterfall in Kendal, Great Mosque of Demak, also continuously eruption Bledug Kuwu mud volcano in Grobogan.

Do
Climb Mount Ungaran through Bandungan and ride a steam train in Ambarawa Railway Museum in Ambarawa.

Eat
International and Indonesian food can be easily found in Semarang with almost all dishes being Halal. Outside the city of Semarang, each city provides typical Javanese cuisine.

Drink
Alcoholic drinks are very difficult to find in minimarkets, you can visit bars or lounges in Semarang.

Go next

 * Jepara-Rembang
 * Surakarta
 * Pekalongan