The small market town of Ambarawa is located between Semarang and Magelang in Central Java and while only really appealing as a stop-off, the nearby Pening Lake is well worth a look.
The town used to be a vital cog railway link into the mountains of Central Java, between Semarang and Magelang which was known as the Semarang-Ambarawa-Magelang line. The railway ceased operating in 1977 although people can visit the excellent Ambarawa Railway Museum and take a ride on a wooden carriage.
Nearby Pening Lake is a must-see on a visit to Ambarawa. It’s only a few kilometers south of town and can be hiked to easily enough. The lake has fantastic mountain views and is also a popular spot to see sunrises from - on the Love Hills (Bukit Cinta). Ambarawa also has a good market while nearby Bandungan also has an interesting flower market.
Getting There & Away
Semarang receives flights from Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta Airport, the nearest major airport to Ambarawa. Flight time is under an hour; transfers to Ambarawa take about an hour via taxi to cover the 50km distance. Yogyakarta, farther south, also has a domestic airport.
Things to Do
Ambarawa Attractions
- Ambarawa Railway Museum
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The main attraction in town includes old engines on display and rides into the mountains in wooden carriages.
- Ambarawa market
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Not really worth the effort to get here but has a great range of flowers and food vendors.
Side trips from Ambarawa
- Rawa Pening Lake
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The main attraction in the region is this stunning lake a few kilometers to the south of ambarawa.