Pekalongan Travel Guide

Situated in central Java, the small city of Pekalongan feels more like a large village than a city as there is a strong sense of community here and very welcoming locals.

Worth It?: Only if you want to watch the local batik fabric being woven or decorated.
What to Do: watch batik fabric being printed with traditional designs, wander around the city streets.
Best Time to Go: during the dry season between May and September.
How Long?: A day or less is plenty to time to explore Pekalongan.
Trivia: Pekalongan is one of the main centers for hand-waxed and stamp-printed b atik fabric on the island of Java .

That said, there is actually very little to draw tourists to this area. It is a good place to experience traditional Indonesian life and relax for a while but not much to explore. Dating back to the 12th century, Pekalongan has some interesting buildings, and walking or cycling around the city is a good way to kill an hour or two.

The people of Pekalongan are well known for their local food and drink, specializing in delights such as coconut wine and red and white cane sugar. Needless to say, there are plenty of good restaurants in the city, and with so much to choose from, this is a good place to indulge in a meal and perhaps a glass or two of the local tipple.

Travel to Pekalongan - Getting There

The easiest way to get to Pekalongan is by flying into the international airport in Jakarta and then taking a 40-minute bus ride to the town. There are also regular buses from other major towns and cities in central Java such as Demak and Jepara.

Pekalongan Things to Do

Pekalongan Attractions

City streets

the streets themselves are the city's biggest attraction as there are many historical buildings to see and watching the locals get on with their daily life is a fascinating insight into the country.

Pekalongan events

Pekalongan Batik Festival: the area goes crazy in the middle of September, with people decorated large pieces of batik cloth is different motifs.