Pekalongan
Kota Pekalongan · Indonesia
Pekalongan is a city of Central Java, Indonesia. It was formerly the seat of Pekalongan Regency on the northern coast of the province, but is now an independent municipality within the province. It covers a land area of 45.25 km2 and had a population of 281,434 at the 2010 Census and 307,150 at the 2020 Census; the official estimate as of mid-2025 was 324,564. The city is Central Java's most important port, and is known for its batik. Since December 2014, Pekalongan has been a member of UNESCO's World's Creative Cities Network, the first Southeast Asian city to be added to the list.
Read more — WikipediaThe best months to visit are July–September.
The sea is warmest in May, at about 30°C (86°F).
Swimming season (water ≥ 21 °C): January–December.
October is the hottest month, with highs around 33°C (91°F).
July is the coldest month, with lows around 22°C (71°F).
The wettest month is January, with rain on about 18 days.
August is the sunniest month, with about 9.6 hours of sunshine a day.
In October, it’s warmer here than in 78% of places in Indonesia.
16-day forecast
- Feels like
- 32°
- Humidity
- 80%
- Wind
- 3 km/h SE
- Gusts
- 5 km/h
- Cloud cover
- 7%
- Pressure
- 1014 hPa
- UV index
- 0 (now)
- Sunrise / Sunset
- 05:17 / 17:34
Next 48 hours
Pollen forecasts are only available in Europe.
Best time to visit Pekalongan
Average conditions for each month, from long-term climate normals (1961–2020).
Month by month
| Climate | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average high | 30° | 31° | 31° | 32° | 32° | 32° | 32° | 32° | 32° | 33° | 32° | 31° |
| Average low | 22° | 22° | 22° | 23° | 23° | 22° | 22° | 22° | 22° | 23° | 23° | 23° |
| Sea temperature | 29° | 29° | 29° | 30° | 30° | 30° | 29° | 29° | 29° | 29° | 30° | 30° |
| Rainfall (mm) | 614 | 417 | 287 | 161 | 140 | 88 | 80 | 71 | 66 | 113 | 138 | 264 |
| Rain days | 18 | 17 | 17 | 14 | 11 | 9 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 9 | 15 | 18 |
| Sunshine per day (h) | 5.2 | 6.3 | 6.9 | 8 | 8.6 | 8.7 | 9.4 | 9.6 | 9.3 | 8.8 | 7.8 | 6.8 |
| Daylight (h) | 12.5 | 12.3 | 12.2 | 12 | 11.8 | 11.7 | 11.8 | 11.9 | 12.1 | 12.3 | 12.4 | 12.5 |
| Humidity (%) | 86 | 85 | 85 | 83 | 83 | 83 | 82 | 80 | 79 | 78 | 81 | 84 |
| Wind (km/h) | 9 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Go score | 65 | 70 | 69 | 74 | 78 | 84 | 92 | 91 | 87 | 79 | 71 | 69 |
The go score (0–100) favours daytime highs of 22–27 °C, mild nights, plenty of sunshine and few rainy days.
Climate normals: WorldClim 2.1 (1970–2000) · CRU CL 2.0 (1961–1990) About this data: Climate normals
What to do in Pekalongan, month by month
When each activity is at its best, judged from the climate averages.
Rainy season: December–April Dry season: May–November (Based on average monthly rainfall)
| Activities | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beach & swimming | Poor | Poor | Poor | Poor | Poor | Fair | Good | Good | Good | Fair | Poor | Poor |
| Sightseeing & city walks | Poor | Poor | Poor | Poor | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Poor | Poor |
| Diving & snorkelling | Poor | Poor | Poor | Fair | Fair | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Poor | Poor |
| Photography & sunsets | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Good | Good | Good | Fair | Fair | Fair |
Good Fair Poor · Estimated from long-term averages of temperature, rain days, sunshine and sea temperature.
How each activity is rated
- Beach & swimming — Good: sea ≥ 24 °C, highs ≥ 26 °C and at most 6 rain days (or under 40 mm of rain in the month). Fair: sea ≥ 21 °C, highs ≥ 23 °C and at most 10 rain days (or under 80 mm).
- Sightseeing & city walks — Good: highs of 15–27 °C and few rain days. Fair: 11–33 °C.
- Diving & snorkelling — Good: sea ≥ 25 °C in a dry spell. Fair: ≥ 22 °C, or ≥ 20 °C near known dive sites.
- Photography & sunsets — Good: at least 7 hours of sunshine a day and few rain days. Fair: 5 hours or more.
Pekalongan: tourist crowds by month
How busy it gets through the year — and the months with good weather and fewer visitors.
Best value months
Good weather, fewer visitors, usually lower prices.
November–March
- Jan65
- Feb70
- Mar69
- Nov71
- Dec69
An estimate: months with a go score of 60 or more and below-average tourist numbers.
Updated: About this data: Crowds & prices
Pekalongan: sea water temperature
Wave height: 0.2 m
Swimming seasonJanuary–December
Average sea temperature by month
Pekalongan travel guide
What to see, do and eat, and where to stay — from an open, community-written travel guide.
Pekalongan is a city on the north coast of Central Java.
The seat of the Pekalongan regency, today it is one of the most important port cities in Central Java, Indonesia. Pekalongan is known for its batik and is listed as one of the UNESCO Creative Cities in the category "Crafts and Folk Arts".
By car Pekalongan is along the North Coast of Great Post Road or well-known as Jalur Pantura. By train is served by regular trains to the west (Tegal, Cirebon, and Jakarta) and to the east (Semarang and Surabaya). There is one daily train to Bandung.
By ride-hailing app There are some online ride-hailing apps such as Gojek. You may choose to go by motorcycle or car.
Pekalongan is very well-known among collectors and experts for its traditional cloth, so it makes sense to visit this museum while you're there. The museum covers batik motifs from throughout Indonesia.
A spectacular natural waterfall.
Rafting and kayaking
Textile Buy one of the famous batik in Indonesia, Batik Pekalongan.
Covered bazaar is known for its vendors of traditional batik apparel for men, women & children.
There is a soto dish from Pekalongan called tauto.
Nasi megono is a typical rice dish of Pekalongan Regency made from pieces of young jackfruit with a blend of grated coconut. It is usually served with mendoan, black cooked squid, balado egg, tempeh orek, cucumber, and chili sauce.
Try some local drinks.
A local lemonade drink with various flavour.
Campground Hotel
There is a swimming pool.
The telephone area code of Pekalongan is 0285.
East Batang Kendal West Pemalang Tegal
Landmarks nearby
Mountains, castles, museums, beaches and heritage sites within 25 km.
Pekalongan: practical information
Plugs, money, emergency numbers, safety and typical prices: what to know before you go.
- Voltage
- 127 V · 50 Hz
- Driving
- Drive on the left
Indonesian Rupiah
IDR · Rp
1 USD ≈ 17,985.3 IDR
- Languages
- Indonesian
- Calling code
- +62
- Meal, casual restaurantIDR 136,700≈ $7.60
- CappuccinoIDR 37,100≈ $2.10
- Beer (0.5 l)IDR 52,450≈ $2.90
- Bottled water (1.5 l)IDR 17,300≈ $1.00
- Taxi, 5 kmIDR 93,700≈ $5.20
- Public transport ticketIDR 18,000≈ $1.00
- Mid-range hotel, per nightIDR 1,298,350≈ $72.00
Estimated from Indonesia’s consumer price level — real prices vary by place and season. Prices are about 31% of US levels.
- Dec 25Christmas Day
- Jan 1New Year's Day
4 earthquakes of magnitude 5 or more within 100 km in the last 51 years.
Strongest: M5.3 (1988).
How to get to Pekalongan
Nearest airports
- SRGJenderal Ahmad Yani AirportSemarang78 km
- CXPTunggul Wulung AirportCilacap110 km
- YIAYogyakarta International AirportYogyakarta121 km
- JOGAdisutjipto International AirportYogyakarta130 km
- SOCAdisoemarmo International AirportSurakarta138 km
Distances
- Jakarta322 km 5 h 34
- Surabaya342 km 5 h 55
- Bekasi305 km 5 h 18
- Bandung228 km 3 h 57
- Medan1,688 km 29 h 15 · 2 h 49
estimate
Hotels in Pekalongan
Hotels and holiday rentals with live nightly prices.
We may earn a commission when you book through this map, at no extra cost to you.
Places with a climate like Pekalongan
Matched on temperature and rainfall across the whole year.
Semarang
Mahajanga
Manacapuru
Itacoatiara
Monkayo
Puerto Maldonado
Wildlife around here
The species recorded most often within 25 km, and the months they’re seen.
Climate in Pekalongan
Add a free climate card for Pekalongan to your website or blog. Copy the code below.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Pekalongan?
Based on climate normals, the best time to visit Pekalongan is July–September.
What is the weather like in Pekalongan in October?
In October, Pekalongan averages a high of 33°C (91°F) and a low of 23°C (73°F), with 113 mm of rain on about 9 days.
How warm is the sea in Pekalongan?
The sea is warmest in May (about 30°C (86°F)). Swimming season: January–December.
What is the rainiest month in Pekalongan?
January, with rain on about 18 days.
What is the nearest airport to Pekalongan?
Jenderal Ahmad Yani Airport (SRG), about 78 km away.
What power plugs are used in Indonesia?
Plug types C, F, at 127 V.
What currency is used in Indonesia?
Indonesian Rupiah (IDR).
What is the emergency number in Indonesia?
112.
Is Indonesia safe to visit?
US travel advisory: Exercise increased caution. UK travel advice: No travel warnings.
When is Pekalongan most crowded?
The busiest months are July–August.
When is Pekalongan least crowded?
The quietest months are December–January and March.
When is the best time to visit Pekalongan without the crowds?
May and October: good weather with fewer visitors than in peak season.
What time zone is Pekalongan in?
Asia/Jakarta (UTC+7).
What is the population of Pekalongan?
About 324,564.