Top 8 day trips things to do in Semarang

1. Private shore excursion to Borobudur Temple from Semarang Port

Eight to nine hours with private transport — a visit to UNESCO-listed Borobudur Temple, scenic rice field views along the route.

2. Borobudur and Prambanan temples day tour from Yogyakarta

Ten-hour tour with hotel pickup — explore Borobudur and Prambanan temples with options for lunch, avoiding peak crowds.

3. Private shore excursion to Borobudur Temple from Semarang Port

Four hours — a private car to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Borobudur Temple from Semarang Port, with English-speaking driver included.

“Borobudur is stunning! The tour was organized excellently. Atok, our driver, was knowledgeable about the area and its culture. I highly recommend this experience.”— Safari42795733483

4. Cycling tour of Surakarta village

Three hours of guided cycling — rice fields, local industries, and crossing rivers on traditional boats or bamboo bridges.

“The trip was fantastic. Cycling through rice fields and small villages was enjoyable. Key highlights included exploring various small-scale industries, which provided insight into local life and allowed us to meet the residents. We toured a rice-cracker workshop, a bronze gong production site, and a facility that produces alcohol for pharmaceutical use, which still tasted decent. Our guide, Ajib, was excellent and had clearly prepared well, ensuring we could enter all locations while adhering to COVID-19 social distancing guidelines. The tour concluded with a lovely lunch featuring local dishes.”— 193lexv

5. Private tour of Borobudur Temple from Semarang with upper level access

Four hours by private SUV or minivan from Semarang Cruise Port — includes guided access to Borobudur's upper levels and panoramic views of the temple.

“Our guide Agung and driver Avan greeted us punctually at the cruise port. Although the SUV was clean and appeared to be in good condition, we had trouble with the back seat belts. After a 10-minute effort, they managed to fix one belt, but the other side only had a shoulder harness, which made me uncomfortable, so Agung kindly took that seat and I sat in the front. The journey to Borobudur lasted over two hours, and we appreciated the scenic countryside along the way. Agung spoke excellent English and was very friendly and knowledgeable, which made the drive enjoyable. The temple was enormous and impressive, and they provided sandals that turned out to be nice souvenirs. We had a small group with a temple guide and explored up to the second-highest level, which was fascinating. We truly loved the temple experience! Afterward, although we declined lunch since we weren’t hungry, Agung recommended a batik demonstration, which was captivating, and we ended up purchasing shirts. We returned to the port with ample time. Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed the tour and were particularly impressed with Agung as our guide.”— Becky99917

6. Borobudur and Mendut Temple excursion from Semarang port

Six hours round trip from Semarang port — visit Borobudur and Mendut Temples, local snacks included, with an English-speaking guide and all entrance fees covered.

“Maxi, our tour guide, was outstanding. He customized our experience to fit our preferences and was very knowledgeable and pleasant. This excursion was far better than the one offered by the cruise. I strongly suggest booking independently from the cruise line.”— Vacationer237050

7. Private city tour of Semarang

Five hours of guided exploration by private vehicle — Dutch colonial architecture, Lawang Sewu, a mosque, and lunch at a local restaurant included.

“Nane proved to be an outstanding guide. We strongly recommend her! She was knowledgeable, friendly, and punctual. East Journey comes highly recommended.”— N9222XZmonicab

8. Private tour of Semarang for cruise passengers

Four-hour private tour — explore historic and modern Semarang with local food tastings included.

“We had a fantastic day with Uke in Semarang. The scheduled stops were great, and at my request, Uke took us to a batik fabric shop. Being able to tailor our tour was a bonus, especially while seeing large tour buses. Our lunch was excellent, featuring a variety of dishes that we thoroughly enjoyed. Experiencing a local meal was a highlight. Opting for this private tour is highly recommended, and having Uke as your guide along with Mr. Y-U as your driver will make it even better.”— Claudia_W