The blue dome
Visible from afar.
Ardhan Febriansyah — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Indonesiagood — CC BY 4.0 · Indonesiagood — CC BY 4.0 · Indonesiagood — CC BY 4.0
Surabaya's largest mosque and one of Indonesia's largest after Istiqlal in Jakarta, opened in 2000 and able to hold tens of thousands of worshippers in its hall and courtyards. It catches the eye from afar with a huge blue dome ringed by smaller domes and a soaring minaret visible across much of southern Surabaya. The prayer hall is vast and lit by large windows, decorated with Arabic calligraphy, ornament and green carpets, and its mihrab is one of the mosque's finest features. A lift in the minaret carries visitors to a gallery at the top, overlooking the city, the toll road and the green suburbs, for a token fee. Entry to the mosque is free and it is open most of the day, with a small market around it selling halal food, clothes and books, busy on Fridays and holidays. Non-Muslims visit outside prayer times in modest dress. It is an essential stop for every Muslim visitor to Surabaya, and the loveliest time is Maghrib prayer followed by a ride up the minaret to see the city lights. It is a little way from the centre, so take a taxi.
Visible from afar.
A view over the city.
Holds tens of thousands.
Jalan Masjid Al-Akbar, south Surabaya, beside the toll road
Very: most people are Muslim, with historic mosques like Sunan Ampel, an old Arab quarter and halal food everywhere.