Kasunanan Palace, Surakarta Hadiningrat

the place is nice for solitude time, its quite. just sit under the tree would relax ur muscle. they offer water from their well and give it free, bring ur tumbler! the guide would give u alot of information. nice place for for grounding on their yard (they use beach sand)

This was a big disappointment compared to Pura Mangkunagaran: a guide who rushed us through the place, with little knowledge about this palace except what the travel guide told us already before we arrived. Hefty price for the entry (50k/person) - cash only!

The official Surakarta Hadiningrat Palace residence of the Kasunanan Surakarta located in the heart of Solo City, blends traditional Javanese architecture with subtle European touches. Inside, a museum displays royal heirlooms, golden chariots, traditional attire, and historical collections from past kings. Stepping into the palace grounds, you are immediately greeted by a serene and sacred atmosphere. Friendly guides share stories from each room, making the visit more meaningful. The collection is impressive, although certain parts of the building could use more maintenance. Visitors are expected to dress modestly and follow the rules, such as refraining from entering restricted areas or taking photos in prohibited spots. The soft sound of gamelan music and the lingering scent of aged wood in every corner add to the magical charm. Despite minor shortcomings, the historical value and unique atmosphere make the Surakarta Hadiningrat Palace well worth visiting—especially for history and culture enthusiasts who wish to experience the living heritage of a Javanese kingdom firsthand.

Solo Keraton is still in an active palace in Solo, the King and Queen still live in this place, but tourist can go only visit some parts of the palace which is the backyard. If you are willing to visit, better bring fan, umbrella, sunscreen and use shoes. Don’t use sandal, because they will ask you to take off and walk barefoot inside the keraton.

If you'd like to learn more about the history of Surakarta (Solo) during the kingdom period, I recommend visiting this Royal Palace (Keraton). They provide a guided tour experience where you'll be able to see the Palace's Courtyard, Museum, and Event Hall. The Palace has many more inner areas however it's restricted for tourists; mostly those are the private residences of the Royal Family Members. If you're wearing sandals, you need to take them off and explore the Palace Yard barefoot, but shoes are allowed (not sure the thought process behind it). Sarong is provided for those who are wearing shorts or skirts to cover up. Tickets: IDR 35k for locals, IDR 60k for foreigners, and additional IDR 50k if you bring a professional camera. Open from 09 AM - 3 PM daily.

This palace is such a beautiful one, as you can see they don't even change a thing of the building and it's still traditional also beautiful ✨ you can really feel different energy here where it's very positive and calming one, especially when you're going inside the Keraton area with all the trees around. The museum also look super traditional and our tour guide was super smart and friendly, he explained everything clearly and not boring at all✨

I am sorry Solo but this is the worst ever. I had high expectations visiting the place but you let me down. Admission cost of IDR 35k is too high with what I have been experiencing; I felt being robbed. Guide was provided however you need to join with the others; I thought the guide was for myself only. The museum section is so old and feels like it is not being well maintained. The other area for explore is kind of garden surrounded by the “pendopo”. That’s it. No more exploration area. I prefer Jogja than Solo; visiting Keraton wise.

One of the relics of the ancient kingdom in Surakarta. Still well maintained. The addition of guards or courtiers in full dress makes it more instagramable. Unfortunately I couldn't see inside, so I don't know what the actual condition of the palace is.