[1] It is surrounded on the landward side by, but is administratively separate from, Pasuruan Regency.

Pasuruan is divided into four districts (kecamatan), tabulated below with their areas and their populations at the 2010[2] and 2020[3] Censuses, together with the official estimates as at mid 2023.

Pasuruan can be reached from Surabaya by bus or local commuter train, which took at least 2 hours.

The city has an active railway station as a stop for intercity trains and local commuter from Surabaya Kota.

In the past, this city had the local steam tram company named Pasoeroean Stoomtram Maatschappij served from 1896 to 1969.