Tegal Regency, that capital is Slawi, covers an area of 878,78 square kilometers and consists of eighteen sub districts and more than 278 villages.
Tegal is a town of medium size on the north coast. Jalan Achmad Yani, one of the busiest streets in the center of town, in lined with shops where one can find kinds of articles, from basic household necessities to fashionable ready-to-wear clothing.
On the road to Slawi is the Tegal Plaza, a large shopping center with shops, a supermarket and handful of movie theatres. The alun-alun in front of the regent's residence and office is Tegal's center town square. In small restaurant around the square one can get Kupa Glabed, a food specific of Tegal.
The Chinese influence has left an imprint on a number of aspects of life in Tegal. The town's Chinese Temple, known as Klenteng, is 250 years old. Wayang Kotehi, the ancient Chinese theatre, is performed on its grounds during the Cap Go Meh Holiday.
Tegal is located sixty kilometers to the north of Pekalongan, the second major town in the area. The grave of Amangkurat I, one of the early rulers of ancient Mataram, is found in Tegalarum Village, not far away. The man-made lake of the Cacaban reservoir, Moga, Tuwel and Bumijaya are popular holiday resort in the mountains south of town.
Kaliguci Hot Spring is another place in Tegal, which is much visited by the people to have a bath in order to cure any skin disease.