Life in Semarang

**Tautvile** · 10-09-12, 12:55

Hi,

We're two girls just moved to Semarang for a year and this question includes everything:
Best places to party or just hang out and have a beer?
Some traditional/local markets?
Shopping/entertanment streets?

Just, getting around and enjoying the city to it's best

Thank you and if there's someone else living here- would be nice to meet you!

**Huckleberry** · 10-09-12, 14:05

You can find many traditional markets in Semarang. The largest one is Pasar Johar. You can find local delicacy in every local market. If you are adventure enought, try tiwul, sego jagung, tempe gembus, urap, etc. I also suggest you to try Soto Semarang which easy to find since they are everywhere, Lumpia gang Lombok, Nasi Ayam jalan Mataram or jalan Melati, Bandeng Presto on jalan Pandanaran, tahu pong on jalan Gajah Mada. But I remind you that Semarang delicacy mostly taste sweet because we love to use sweet soy sauce alot.

As for shopping, there are some good locations but do not compare it with mall in Jakarta or Surabaya. Paragon on Jalan Pemuda, Citraland and Simpanglima Mall in Simpanglima and DP Mall on Jalan Pemuda. E Plaza in Simpanglima is pretty decent entertainmen place. However night life in Semarang is quite dull.

You can also visit Lawang Sewu in Tugu Muda, toko Oen on jalan Pemuda, Railway museum in Ambarawa, Coffe plantation Banaran in Bawen.

Hope you can have wonderful stay in Semarang.

**annchen** · 10-09-12, 14:59

You can also visit Chinatown (Pecinan) which is quite close to Pasar Johar. It's open only on weekends in the evening. For partying there's another club called Hugo's in Simpang Lima (apart from E-Plaza). And there is one more club in Semarang, but I've never been there and I'm not sure about the name... maybe Liquid or so... I nice western place to hang out is Basilia in Simpang Lima. I think they also sell beer. It's located at one end of Ciputra Mall (close to the big mosque... or just ask the security guys).

**pimawola** · 10-09-12, 19:40

Originally Posted by Huckleberry

You can find many traditional markets in Semarang. The largest one is Pasar Johar. You can find local delicacy in every local market. If you are adventure enought, try tiwul, sego jagung, tempe gembus, urap, etc. I also suggest you to try Soto Semarang which easy to find since they are everywhere, Lumpia gang Lombok, Nasi Ayam jalan Mataram or jalan Melati, Bandeng Presto on jalan Pandanaran, tahu pong on jalan Gajah Mada. But I remind you that Semarang delicacy mostly taste sweet because we love to use sweet soy sauce alot.

As for shopping, there are some good locations but do not compare it with mall in Jakarta or Surabaya. Paragon on Jalan Pemuda, Citraland and Simpanglima Mall in Simpanglima and DP Mall on Jalan Pemuda. E Plaza in Simpanglima is pretty decent entertainmen place. However night life in Semarang is quite dull.

You can also visit Lawang Sewu in Tugu Muda, toko Oen on jalan Pemuda, Railway museum in Ambarawa, Coffe plantation Banaran in Bawen.

Hope you can have wonderful stay in Semarang.

oh my god almost of the place u have mentioned it, lol...

but i have a better idea. if you bored of semarang, just drive away to the north of central java. there is nice beach called Bandengan. its one and half hour driving from semarang. thats my favorite beach. there are 3 or 4 nice resorts which have big swimming pool. you can just swimming on the beach, getting your skin tanned, snorkling, or even just for relaxing. there is so many water sport as well. like flying fish, banana boat, or jet ski.

and the best one is Karimun java island. but its a little far away cause we need to go there by ferry. hmmmm, would be nice to visit this island oneday.

anyway enjoy semarang, i love this city much more than Jakarta..

**annchen** · 11-09-12, 05:02

yep bandengan is nice... and i can totally recommend karimun jawa. there is a slow bost from jepara which takes about 6 hours and only costs about 30.000 rp. the fast boat leaves from semarang and is more expansive more than 100.000rp. but its's totally worth it. the only problem is that in winter there usually is no ferry service as the sea is too rough.

you can also visit gedong songo for a daytrip or go to the water park in the candi area (it's called waterbom i think... but not sure).

there also is a bowling place in Javamall on the top floor and there are cinemas in E-Plaza, Ciputra and Paragon. And of course lots of karaoke places everywhere... apple karaoke at the back of ciputra mall has special offers for 25.000rp/hour plus tax at noon. and it's only a couple of meters from the roti shop where you get 3 small bread buns for 1.000rp. i love the ones with icing sugar.