Semarang is the capital of Central Java and a busy port city on the north coast. It rarely features on tourist itineraries, which is a shame — the old Dutch quarter (Kota Lama) has atmospheric colonial architecture including the Blenduk Church and the landmark Lawang Sewu ("Thousand Doors") building. The Chinese temple of Sam Po Kong is another highlight, and the Tay Kak Sie Temple in the Pecinan district is the oldest Chinese temple in the city. Tugu Muda stands at the center of the colonial government quarter. The Great Mosque of Central Java, with its retractable courtyard umbrellas, is one of Indonesia's most architecturally inventive modern mosques. Arrivals by train pull into the magnificent Tawang station, built in 1914 and one of Java's finest colonial buildings.
The city is the main gateway to Karimunjawa islands and a useful stopover on the train route between Jakarta and Surabaya. Ambarawa and Salatiga are easy day trips to the south.