Central Java Road Trip Ideas for a Wonderful Family Vacay

Central Java Road Trip – It’s obvious that the world is huge and there are plenty of wonderful places to explore. Unfortunately, in 2020, we are forced to stay at home most of the time — because of the obvious reason we all know as well ? — Well, think of this condition as a blessing in disguise. We can go local and explore magnificent attractions we never knew existed in Indonesia.

Rather than flying on a commercial flight, you can opt for road transportation. Let’s see… what about planning for a road trip across Central Java? If you go by a private car, you don’t need to interact with many people, so you can practice social distancing easily! 

Central Java Road Trip 

Which country is best for a road trip? One of the best countries in the world to embark on a road trip journey is in Indonesia, my dear ❤️. Now, how long should you spend in Indonesia? The answer depends on which part of the country you want to explore.

In this article, we’ll give you some inspiration about where to visit, what to eat, and where to stay in Tegal, Pekalongan, Semarang, and Solo! Four interesting cities that you can explore with your fam-bam ? in a week or more? (You decide :D)

Best Stopover Destinations in Central Java

How are you going to travel from one city to another? Simple. You can open tiket.com app and click To Dos section. In the section, search for City to City, a new service from tiket.com that enables you to travel from one city to another easily. Hopefully, City to City can be useful for you to plan your getaway in Central Java. Check out City to City service at tiket.com here.

Here’s the map to show you the best stopover destinations in Central Java with the distance and travel time needed by car.

First Stop: Tegal

Depending on your preference, you can go from one city to another using your own car, a train, or public transportation. If you are leaving from Jakarta, you can book a train from the capital city to Tegal at tiket.com and start your journey in Central Java from there.

Tourist Attractions in Tegal

1. Alun-Alun Kota Tegal

Alun-Alun is an Indonesian word that means a large, central, open lawn square in a city. It is usually a place where people get together to hang out and have fun. The place is being revitalized now. It is soon will become a beautiful place full of flowers.

2. Tegal Grand Mosque ?

Near Alun-Alun Tegal, there is a Tegal Grand Mosque. This is an artistic mosque that is used by Moslems to pray. You can visit this museum and see the beautiful architecture there. For Moslems, you can get inside and pray. The mosque is very spacious. It’s a nice place to worship God.

You can find many local culinary around the mosque. If you are looking for a peaceful place in town, you can visit this mosque.

Culinary

1. Tahu Pletok

In Tegal, there is a popular snack that you can find almost on every side of the road, which is called Tahu Pletok. Tahu Pletok is yellow-shaped tofu in a triangular shape. This street food is stuffed with tapioca starch, chopped chives, and several other spices. When you are going on a road trip to Tegal, you MUST try this street food! Yummy! ?

2. Kupad Glabed

Kupat Glabed is a unique local food in Tegal. The food consists of pieces of kupat (rice balls), small slices of tempe, vegetables, chili, and yellow crackers noodles. The soup is made with thick coconut milk and cornstarch.

When you stop by Tegal, you can find this popular food at Ibu Wartini kiosk, located at Jalan Ayam No 1. It is a popular joint in Tegal. 

Hotel Recommendation in Tegal

Bahari Inn Tegal

This 3-star accommodation is suitable for you who want to have an enjoyable stay with a low budget. The hotel features free Wi-Fi, an outdoor pool, and a free scheduled shuttle service to the Tegal train station.

What you can do in the hotel is to relax with your friends or family. You can mingle in the on-site karaoke or enjoy the mouthwatering dish at Cafe Nelayan. The accommodation is only 15 minutes’ drive from Alam Indah Beach and Tegal Grand Mosque.

Second Stop: Pekalongan

After you have done exploring Tegal, you can head to Pekalongan, a city in Central Java that has lots of nice places to explore as well such as waterfalls, mountains, and parks. Pekalongan is known as the city of Batik. We’ll tell you why in a second!

Tourist Attractions in Pekalongan

Museum Batik ?️

Pekalongan has a distinctive and varied Batik style. In this city, there is even a Batik museum! Inside this museum, there are more than 1000 batik collections. It has modern and traditional collections from Indonesia, such as from Sumatera, Kalimantan, to Papua.

It is not an ordinary museum because, at that place, you can also learn how to make batik directly from the craftsmen. Aside from that, the museum also features a batik shop, a library, and seminar rooms.

Third Stop: Semarang

For the third stop during your road trip in Central Java, you can visit Semarang, the capital of Central Java. Semarang is a big city, you can stop by for a couple of days here. Now, what are the top attractions in Semarang? What are the most popular things to do in Semarang with kids? Let’s find out!

Tourist Attractions

1. Dusun Semilir

One of the newest attractions in Semarang is Dusun Semilir. This new attraction becomes a hit because of its Instagrammable architecture. The main buildings are shaped like stupas (a prayer hall for Buddhists). In Dusun Semilir, you and your kids, nieces, or nephews can do many activities such as playing with the animals at the Pet Village, eat some snacks, or just take pictures!

Don’t forget to buy some souvenirs there! There are many local souvenirs such as batik, keychains, fridge magnets, and so on. You can easily book a ticket to Dusun Semilir at tiket.com.

2. Sam Poo Kong

Another popular tourist attraction in Semarang is Sam Poo Kong. This temple was constructed in the early 15th century by Zheng He, a Chinese Muslim explorer. Its unique architecture — a combination of traditional Chinese and Javanese architecture — is what attracts visitors to come. What’s unique is that Sam Poo Kong does not belong to any specific religion; everyone can come there to pray.

It’s up to you whether you prefer to come here in the morning or in the evening. If you come in the evening, you can stroll around and see the colorful status and surroundings. 

3. Pagoda Avalokitesvara

This Buddist temple has beautiful architecture. It looks similar to the Ci En Pagoda in Taiwan. This pagoda has a height of 45 meters, with 7 floors. When you get in, you can see the statue of Dewi Kwan Im that welcomes visitors. Inside the pagoda, there are statues of Siddhartha Gautama and a sleeping Buddha. Pagoda Avalokitesvara is a favorite photo spot for international and local tourists alike.

Accommodation in Semarang

Louis Kienne Hotel Pandanaran

The night has come and it’s time for you to have a good night sleep in a cozy accommodation. In Semarang, you can book a room at Louis Kienne Hotel Pandanaran, an affordable hotel located at a strategic location. It’s only less than 300 meters away from a popular tourist attraction: Lawang Sewu.

Each room is equipped with a TV, a desk, tea/ coffee making facility, and bathroom amenities. You can enjoy your family time in the room, or visit the on-site restaurant. Prefer to eat in the room? Just pick up the phone and call the receptionist to get what you need 🙂

Culinary

Semarang Chicken Rice

It’s a must to eat Nasi Ayam Semarang (Semarang Chicken Rice) because it is so delicious! There are many food stalls that sell this food. Basically, one portion consists of steamed rice topped with coconut milk soup, chicken meat, satay, and other secret ingredients. The price is very affordable, around 10,000 – 15,000 IDR/ portion! 

We have some recommendations of where to eat delicious Semarang chicken rice:

• Nasi Ayam Semarang Bu Pini

Address: Gg. Pinggir No.75, Kranggan, Kec. Semarang Tengah (Open in Google Maps) 

• Nasi Ayam Bu Wido

Address:  Jl. Melati Selatan, Brumbungan, Kec. Semarang Tengah, Kota Semarang, Jawa Tengah 50135

Wanna get more inspiration about Semarang? Check out here! 

Fourth Stop: Solo

Here comes the last stop! Solo. There are many reasons to visit this historic city. It is the hub of Javanese culture. You can get an authentic Javanese experience by exploring this city. Keep scrolling to know more about Solo.

Tourist attractions in Solo

1. Keraton Surakarta Hadiningrat

Keraton Surakarta Hadiningrat is a royal palace in Solo. Currently, it remains the primary residence of the royal family. It’s a famous landmark in this city that you can explore (only some parts of it because some areas are closed to the public).

You can take a tour to visit Keraton and see the ornate architecture or visit the museum. There are a variety of royal relics in the museum.

2. Balekambang Park

A great place to do recreational activities with family is Balekambang Park. This 9.8-hectare park is an open space for the public. You can walk through the paths under the shady trees and have a quality time with your friends or family.

There are a rabbit park, a fishing pond, an outbound area, and other facilities such as mushola, toilet, park bench, and so on. If you just want to have a relaxing evening, drop by at this park.

Accommodation in Solo

Alila Solo

End your road trip journey in  Central Java by staying in a luxury hotel! After all, you deserve a break! Alila Solo is a 5-star hotel located in the heart of Surakarta. It is only 20 minutes away from Keraton Surakarta Hadiningrat.

When you are staying at this hotel, you can enjoy a buffet breakfast and lunch at the Epice Restaurant. The facilities are exceptional. Inside the room, there are a TV, tea/coffee making facilities, and even a separate dining room or living room (depending on which type of room you book).

Get Behind the Wheel, Enjoy Your Road Trip in Central Java! 

After reading this article, we hope you are inspired to travel to Central Java. When you go on a road trip, remember to follow health protocols. Wear a face mask at all times, wash your hands regularly, and don’t forget to bring wet wipes/ an alcohol-based hand sanitizer in your bag! Enjoy your family trip!

*All prices are valid at the time of writing