Semarang Old Town
Semarang Old Town
4
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500 within 3 miles
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49 within 6 miles
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
586 reviews
Excellent
204
Very good
256
Average
114
Poor
10
Terrible
2
Ems24_13
Jakarta, Indonesia156 contributions
Sep 2020 • Couples
The city’s decision to restore the old town is brilliant. The ambience along that road is great, mixed people from rich to less so. The restaurants along the road have made the area really special and lively.
When we walked at daytime we could see many more old buildings along the smaller connecting road that has so much potential to become shops or restaurants or cafe. I hope they continue building and restoring them.
When we walked at daytime we could see many more old buildings along the smaller connecting road that has so much potential to become shops or restaurants or cafe. I hope they continue building and restoring them.
Written September 7, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nomi Adnyana
Denpasar, Indonesia67 contributions
Nov 2020 • Friends
There is often one exotic historic area in every city waiting to be explored. In Semarang, Central Java, the area is named Kota Lama (Old Town) or Outstadt.
Situated in the intersection of Jl. Pemuda and Jl. Imam Bonjol, Kota Lama is also known as Little Netherlands. Established in the 18th century when Indonesia was a Dutch colony, its location is currently separated from a residential area.
Situated in the intersection of Jl. Pemuda and Jl. Imam Bonjol, Kota Lama is also known as Little Netherlands. Established in the 18th century when Indonesia was a Dutch colony, its location is currently separated from a residential area.
Written November 29, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Siti Magfiroh
1 contribution
Mar 2019 • Friends
I visited this place in the night with my 2 friends. This place so wonderful at night, because the lamp on. Many people also visited this place, because of that we can't walking in there and then there's no more chairs so we have dificulty to sit and take a break in there. We must to looking for chairs to take a break:( this is so tired because we must to walking far away in there to found chairs
Written February 19, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Widya Yuwanda
Jakarta, Indonesia8 contributions
Jan 2020 • Family
Really appreciate the effort from Semarang government to have restoration of old buildings. The area is fantastic especially at night. So many spot for taking good pictures and taking selfies. Around the area, there are also several coffee shop and restaurant for you to hangouts.
Written January 9, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Satria F
Yogyakarta Region, Indonesia16 contributions
Jan 2020 • Family
I have visited Kota Lama last year, unfortunately was closed undergo renovation, this week we went there and to be honest shouted out to Semarang's Government...well done!!! The renovation was nicely done, new painted wall, restored some cracked building, new street decos around, definetely bring back the colonial ambience of Little Netherland with modern touch.
However what could be better if to make car free zone in certain hours or by providing better parking area for those tourist's car/bus.
For Millenials, this is your spot...very InstaGramable & great place for just gathering or just have a walk.
Love to come back in near future👍
However what could be better if to make car free zone in certain hours or by providing better parking area for those tourist's car/bus.
For Millenials, this is your spot...very InstaGramable & great place for just gathering or just have a walk.
Love to come back in near future👍
Written January 4, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
42carl
Seminyak, Indonesia3,288 contributions
Oct 2024 • Solo
With my mum on memory lane in Semarang, the old town is beautiful and it still breathes the sphere and architecture of the Dutch past from tempo doeloe . It’s beautiful to see and walk here. Although some old houses needs to be renovated cause you see the trees on the rooftop 😛
Written October 25, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ellen P
Jakarta, Indonesia414 contributions
Jan 2020 • Friends
Went here on a Saturday evening with a couple of friends. Apparently every Friday & Saturday evening the roads in the area are closed, so we parked our car nearby & walk there. It is obviously a popular place for the locals, as many of them were there. The area itself has a romantic ambience, with many colonial buildings & street lights. Some of them have been renovated
& become eateries, some are still dilapidated. There are many choices for food there, from middle priced restaurants to very economical hawkers. There is also an antique market near the park. Over all it is a nice place to hang out.
& become eateries, some are still dilapidated. There are many choices for food there, from middle priced restaurants to very economical hawkers. There is also an antique market near the park. Over all it is a nice place to hang out.
Written January 12, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Stefanus Wijaya
15 contributions
Dec 2019 • Family
This place recently got huge renovation in order to provide better access for pedestrian to enjoy this old town and reminiscence the glorious old Semarang during colonial era. Great place for photographer for hunting. It has several coffe shop, cafe, and restaurant nearby.
Written February 17, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ignatius R
Seminyak, Indonesia18 contributions
Feb 2018 • Couples
Its always nice to walk down in the paved streets on the afternoon after a long busy day in Semarang.
Shady and windy lanes, a lot of trees, clean and friendly environment, with a lot of awesome and wonderful old building, everyone is chilling around, as it was before, this old town used to be a central of the Dutch activities during their colonization in Indonesia, and Semarang was one of the main important city for a government and Business purposes.
Grab some beer or a cup of coffee while sitting on the park near by, get your phone away and read a book instead, don't mind with the cars and motorbike noises, and pretending as if you were living in 18th century is one of many you could do here.
Shady and windy lanes, a lot of trees, clean and friendly environment, with a lot of awesome and wonderful old building, everyone is chilling around, as it was before, this old town used to be a central of the Dutch activities during their colonization in Indonesia, and Semarang was one of the main important city for a government and Business purposes.
Grab some beer or a cup of coffee while sitting on the park near by, get your phone away and read a book instead, don't mind with the cars and motorbike noises, and pretending as if you were living in 18th century is one of many you could do here.
Written June 25, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Raymond W
Townsville, Australia4,525 contributions
Dec 2019 • Family
I last visited Semarang around a decade ago and added a lot of the historic buildings of Semarang Old Town as sights on this website. At that time, the whole area was very neglected with cracks spreading in the walls of major monuments. What a change the last decade has brought. The two main buildings along the canal have been beautifully restored. Many rotting old buildings are now freshly painted and looked after. And the area is immensely popular with local tourists.
However, popularity has brought new problems. There is now a hectic atmosphere along the main street, with non-stop traffic, honking horns and souvenir sellers everywhere. The Old Town risks becoming a circus.
Furthermore, every second building is now either a cafe, eatery or bank, with modern signage and flashing neon. At the same time, fig trees or mere neglect continue to open cracks in facades of old buildings down side-streets. A judicious mixture of conservation and development will need to be maintained if the Old Town is not to escape death by decay, only to be finished off by death by over-commercialisation.
However, popularity has brought new problems. There is now a hectic atmosphere along the main street, with non-stop traffic, honking horns and souvenir sellers everywhere. The Old Town risks becoming a circus.
Furthermore, every second building is now either a cafe, eatery or bank, with modern signage and flashing neon. At the same time, fig trees or mere neglect continue to open cracks in facades of old buildings down side-streets. A judicious mixture of conservation and development will need to be maintained if the Old Town is not to escape death by decay, only to be finished off by death by over-commercialisation.
Written December 19, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Selamat pagi mau nanya jarak antara pasar johar dengan taman kotalama jauhkah?bisakah ditemouh dengan berjalan kaki terimkasih mohon dijawab
Written August 1, 2019
Dari Pasar Johar Semarang Ke Daerah Kota Lama Semarang jaraknya Kurang lebih 500 M s.d 700 M..bisa di tempuh dengan jalan kaki cukup lumayan juga. Terima kasih
Written August 1, 2019
berapa jarak kota lama dr statsiun tawang..bisakah di tempuh dengan berjalan kaki thanks
Written July 7, 2019
Stasiun Tawang sebetulnya ada di Kota Lama. Tetapi sebagai referensi, misalnya Anda ingin mengunjungi Taman Srigunting Kota Lama, berjalan kaki memerlukan waktu sekitar 10 menit. Sementara berjalan kaki ke Taman Garuda Kota Lama perlu waktu 5 menit. Bawa topi/payung akan sangat berguna.
Written July 8, 2019
Hi,
Semarang city is quite big if you want to explore by yourself. It's so many beautiful history place and some hidden place that not anyone know the location.
I suggest you to hire some private tour to explore Semarang City. You can contact Mr Edu from Java Private Tour, his the famous one in Java Island. You can browse in google or find the Java Private Tour in Tripadvisor as well.
Written February 14, 2019
Went to a warung (cafe) in the old town last visit. The building seemed to be an old warehouse or church with very high ceilings, rooms with long tables & central hallway, serving traditional Indo food to locals. Can anyone tell me the name & address of this place.
Thank you
Kjay
Written July 15, 2018
Thank you for the info
One more question------We hired a car with driver for the day but can't find his details either. Can anyone recommend a reliable driver with car for 1 day off a cruise ship
Kjay
Written July 21, 2018
Adolfo J
Province of Cordoba, Argentina
Hola Jean, voy a estar dos días en Samarang, antes de viajar a Borneo, te agradecería me orientes sobre lugares interesantes a visitar en la ciudad y en los alrededores. Gracias por tu ayuda.
Written June 3, 2018
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