Hotels in Solo

Solo: Java's Royal Court City

Solo (officially Surakarta) sits in central Java, Indonesia, roughly 65 km east of Yogyakarta along the Bengawan Solo river. The city is home to two rival royal courts — the Keraton Surakarta, founded in 1745, and Pura Mangkunegaran, established in 1757 — making it one of the few Indonesian cities to preserve dual palace traditions on the same street grid. Classical Javanese gamelan, wayang kulit shadow puppetry, and batik textile production remain active, not ceremonial, here.

Where to Stay

Hotels cluster around Jalan Slamet Riyadi, the main boulevard running west to east, and near Pasar Klewer, the city's largest batik market. Budget guesthouses occupy the Kampung Batik Laweyan quarter — a 15th-century weaving district with workshop-residences. Mid-range and business hotels line Slamet Riyadi within walking distance of both kraton complexes.

Practical Tips

• Getting there: Adi Soemarmo Airport serves domestic routes; the journey to city-centre hotels takes about 30 minutes by taxi.
• Transport: Batik Solo Trans (BST) buses run along Slamet Riyadi for under IDR 5,000 per trip.
• Batik shopping: Pasar Klewer operates daily; arrive before 11:00 for the widest selection and cooler temperatures.
• Currency: ATMs are plentiful on Slamet Riyadi; smaller batik workshops prefer cash.