Exercise Increased Caution
“Exercise increased cautionin Indonesia due to risk of natural disasters, unrest, and terrorism. Some areas have increased risk.”
Updated Tue, 07 Jul 2026
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Is Surabaya safe? 🇮🇩
Indonesia · Safety report last updated
As of October 2026, Surabaya scores 67/100 on the IsMyTripSafe composite safety index — verdict: mostly — take normal precautions. Surabaya is generally safe for travelers, but requires increased caution due to potential civil unrest and environmental hazards. The main risks for visitors are pickpocketing (moderate risk) and robbery (moderate risk). The U.S. State Department rates it Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution).
Safety Report
IsMyTripSafe.com
Surabaya 🇮🇩
Indonesia · Assessed 13 October 2026
67
/ 100
What drives this score
Crime65/100FairCrime index 36.5 / 100 · city-level
Sentiment65/100FairMixed but leaning positive
Advisories75Good
Stability61Fair
Health59Fair
01 · Official Guidance
Advisories
Good
No advisory against travel
“Volcanic eruptions Volcanic eruptions occur frequently across Indonesia. In the event of a volcanic eruption, follow the latest advice issued by the local authorities, including on areas to avoid, exclusion zones and actions to take if air quality is affected.”
Updated 2026-10-07T10:44:39Z
Full advisory →Exercise a high degree of caution (with regional advisories)
“Canada's official risk level for Indonesia: exercise a high degree of caution (with regional advisories).”
Updated 2026-09-24T08:53:34.2730629-04:00
Full advisory →02 · Evidence Signals
Crime
Fair
Mugging & robbery risk
Moderate risk
62
City SignalCity Web Research
Pickpocketing & theft risk
Moderate risk
78
City SignalCity Web Research
Visitor safety sentiment
60 / 100 (Mixed but leaning positive)
60
City SignalCity Web Research
Urban scale factor
2.9M residents
55
City SignalCity Geocoding
Homicide rate
0.3 / 100kHomicide rate · per 100kJapan0.2Indonesia0.3Switzerland0.6World avg5.2United States5.8Brazil19.3South Africa43.7
100
Robbery / mugging
ModerateWorry about mugging or robbery is moderate, with some reports of property crime. Exercise caution, especially at night.
Pickpocketing
ModeratePickpocketing and bag-snatching can occur in crowded areas and on public transport. Be vigilant in busy markets and tourist spots.
▸ 3 more indicators▾ Hide extra indicators
03 · Environment
Health & Air
Fair
04 · Institutions
Stability
Fair
05 · Field Research
Current Situation
Moderate
Traveller sentiment score
Mixed but leaning positive
65/100
Reported feel60Mixed but leaning positive
Robbery risk62Moderate risk
Pickpocket risk78Moderate risk
While many visitors feel safe walking in daylight, a significant portion express concern about walking alone at night. Overall sentiment suggests a need for vigilance, particularly after dark.
Surabaya is generally safe for travelers, but requires increased caution due to potential civil unrest and environmental hazards.
While Surabaya has a low homicide rate and most visitors feel safe during the day, there have been recent reports of anti-government protests, some of which have turned violent. Travelers should be aware of potential disruptions and exercise caution, particularly at night. Air quality can also be poor, and Indonesia faces risks of natural disasters.
Recent developments
- Jul 2026Dozens arrested in Surabaya protests against Prabowo policies, with some turning violent.— The Star
- Jun 2026Four charged after an anti-government protest in Surabaya turned violent.— The Straits Times
- Jun 2026Dozens arrested in Surabaya protests, with KontraS reporting 24 arrests.— Tempo.co English
- Sep 2025Widespread protests across Indonesia may affect mobility and immigration processing.— Fragomen
Common scams
- Taxi meter manipulation (insist on using the meter or agree on a fare beforehand)
- Fake police demanding fines for minor infractions
Full briefing
Surabaya presents a mixed safety profile for travelers, with a low violent crime rate but recent concerns regarding civil unrest. While official advisories recommend exercising increased caution due to potential terrorism, natural disasters, and unrest, the city itself has seen specific incidents of protests.
Recent news indicates that anti-government demonstrations have occurred in Surabaya, with some escalating to violence and leading to arrests, as reported by The Straits Times and Tempo.co English in June 2026. Travelers should remain aware of local political sentiment and avoid large public gatherings, especially after dark, as concerns about walking alone at night are noted in Numbeo surveys.
Environmental factors also warrant attention. Air quality in Surabaya can be poor, with US AQI readings often in the unhealthy range for sensitive groups. Additionally, Indonesia is prone to natural hazards, including wildfires, though current alerts are located at a significant distance from the city. Travelers should monitor air quality and be prepared for potential health impacts.
Was this Surabaya, Indonesia report helpful?
06 · Neighbourhoods
Safest areas and areas to avoid
Our field research rated 8 Surabaya districts for visitors: 4 safer, 4 needing caution. See them plotted on the Surabaya safety map.
RungkutcautionIndustrial area; exercise caution, especially at night.
SemampircautionDensely populated; be aware of petty crime.
WonocolocautionCan experience petty crime; stay alert.
KenjerancautionCoastal area; be mindful of surroundings, especially in less populated spots.
GubengsaferGenerally safe and a commercial hub.
TandessaferResidential area with low reported crime.
SukolilosaferMixed residential and commercial, generally safe.
TegalsarisaferCentral business district, generally secure.
07 · After Dark
Is Surabaya safe at night?
63% of people in Indonesia say they feel safe walking alone at night in their area (UN SDG survey, 2020).
Worry about mugging or robbery is moderate, with some reports of property crime. Exercise caution, especially at night.
After dark, be most careful around Rungkut, Semampir, Wonocolo, Kenjeran. Stick to busy, well-lit streets and licensed taxis or ride-hail late at night.
08 · Questions
Surabaya safety FAQ (2026)
Is Surabaya safe right now (2026)?
Surabaya is generally safe for travelers, but requires increased caution due to potential civil unrest and environmental hazards. While Surabaya has a low homicide rate and most visitors feel safe during the day, there have been recent reports of anti-government protests, some of which have turned violent. Travelers should be aware of potential disruptions and exercise caution, particularly at night. Air quality can also be poor, and Indonesia faces risks of natural disasters. (Assessed 13 October 2026.)
Is Surabaya safe for women, families and solo travelers?
Safety is not one number, and this Surabaya report does not pretend it is: the score is re-weighted for who is travelling. A woman travelling alone, a family with children and a solo backpacker face different street-level risks, so the headline score shifts and the report leads with the findings that matter for that group. Personalize this report in one click to see the 2026 score and safety briefing for your specific travellers.
Which areas of Surabaya should tourists avoid?
No districts were flagged as no-go areas for visitors at the last assessment.
What are the most common scams in Surabaya (2026)?
- Taxi meter manipulation (insist on using the meter or agree on a fare beforehand)
- Fake police demanding fines for minor infractions
How does Surabaya compare with other places in Indonesia (2026)?
Surabaya ranks #9 of 9 Indonesia destinations we've assessed, scoring 67/100. See the Indonesia safety overview for the full list.
How is this surabaya safety score calculated (2026)?
The score blends 14+ public data sources — government advisories, UNODC/World Bank crime statistics, FBI crime data for U.S. cities, WHO health data, live air quality and disaster alerts — with AI field research over current local reporting. The databases carry the bulk of the weight; the traveller-sentiment score from field research carries the rest. Full methodology.
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Raw data: surabaya.json (CC BY 4.0).