Solo Indonesia – Top-4 Tourist Attractions and Activities

The city of Solo is far less visited by tourists than other parts of Indonesia which is a shame as there is a lot to see here – especially if you are a fan of period architecture. The city is home to a number of houses that would have belonged to the former royal families of Solo and you can tour there and check out the lavish antiques on display. Several of the museums also have cultural shows such as dances and gamelan orchestras which mean that you can soak in all the culture of Java before you leave.

1. Museum Batik Danar Hadi

Museum Batik Danar Hadi, or the House of Danar Hadi as it is also known, is one of the main attractions in Solo and is known for having a collection of more than 10,000 pieces of batik. These textiles are made by dripping wax patterns onto cloth and then dying the fabric in a range of colors and this is said to be one of the largest batik collections of its kind in Indonesia. As well as the museum there is also a batik workshop on side where you can see how traditional batik pieces are made. The building itself is also beautiful and dates from the 19th century when it would have been the home of a Javanese family.

It costs IDR 25,000 to visit the museum and you can also take a guided tour in English which will explain the history of the museum and the process of making intricate batik textiles.

2. Keraton Kasunanan

The Keraton Kasunanan is also known as the Palace of the Pakubuwono Kings and is one of the prettiest heritage buildings in Solo. The palace dates from 1675 and is a mix of traditional Javanese and European colonial architecture, so if you are interested in period history then this is the place to go. They have a museum and a small art gallery here as well as a cultural center that has displays like traditional dance performances. Many of the displays here feature antiques such as textiles and family heirlooms related to the royal family and you can also hire a guide to take you around and explain some of the history.

Tickets to enter cost IDR 15,000.

3. Puro Mangkunegaran

Puro Mangkunegaran is the Palace of the Mangkunegara Princes and this means that this is one of the other famous royal palaces in Solo. Dating from 1757, we found that this palace was more impressive in size and style than Keraton Kasunanan and we highly recommend visiting if you want to see how people would have lived here n the days of old.

It costs IDR 15,000 to enter and you can see a mix of royal memorabilia as well as art work on display. The palace also centers around a large square so this makes a nice place to come for a walk in the afternoon.

4. Sriwedari Park

Sriwedari Park is a great attraction and is made up of a small amusement park which has some rides and a playground for kids which is a good place to come in the daytime. It is even better in the evening however as you can enjoy traditional Wayang Kulit puppet shows and you can also watch Javanese music and theater shows at night. These tell some of the famous Javanese folk takes and there is also an art center here and a food court selling tasty Javanese fare.

We loved going in the evening and walking around watching some of the shows and sampling the delicious food for which Solo should be far better known.