The Ultimate Yogyakarta Guide: Temples, Culture, and More
- Margaux Delang
- 26 sep 2024
- 6 minuten om te lezen
Yogyakarta is a vibrant, bustling city on the island of Java. It's known as a true student hub, largely due to the presence of Indonesia's largest university. As a result, Yogyakarta offers countless options for nightlife, dining, and entertainment. In our opinion, it's an essential part of any journey through Indonesia. Additionally, Yogyakarta serves as an excellent base for exploring the island's largest and most impressive temples.
On Jalan Persatuan and Jalan Affandi, two of the busiest and most renowned streets in Yogyakarta, you'll find numerous shops and restaurants. In addition to local cuisine, there are plenty of other options available, including pizza, burgers, and more.
What Can You Find on This Page?
Taman Sari Water Castle
Kota Gede
Taste Kopi Luwak
Watch Silver Crafting
How to get there
After our two-day trek, we stayed one more night at Garden Inn before departing early the next morning by taxi to Medan Airport. From there, we caught a domestic flight to Jakarta, where we arrived late in the evening. We opted to spend one night at a very inexpensive hostel (Wisma Talenta Mitra RedDoorz ) as close to the train station as possible, as we were taking a train to Yogyakarta the next morning at 6 am. This might have been a less efficient option, as there are also domestic flights available from Medan to Yogyakarta.
We always booked our trains through 12GO. We used it to book the train from Jakarta to Yogyakarta as well. The train journey takes approximately 6 hours, but you can also opt to take an overnight train, allowing you to sleep onboard until you reach your destination.
Things to do
Visit Prambanan
Through our hostel, we connected with a driver who could take us to the Prambanan Temple upon our arrival in Yogyakarta in the afternoon.
The Prambanan temple complex in Central Java is the largest Hindu temple in Indonesia. Of the original 244 temples, only three have been restored to date. Most of the remaining temples still lie in ruins, but the complex is definitely worth a visit.
The price of an entrance ticket to Prambanan is higher for tourists than for locals. Tourists pay approximately 22 euros per person for entry.
You can explore Prambanan with a guide, often by purchasing a combination ticket for Prambanan and Borobudur. This option typically saves you around 5 euros, and both entry tickets are valid for 2 days. If you prefer not to have a guide, you can also visit Prambanan independently. You can easily spend several hours here. Since we arrived in the afternoon, there were fewer crowds, and given the timing, we chose to stay a bit longer to witness the beautiful sunset.
Visit Borobudur
Borobudur is the largest Buddhist temple in the world, an absolute must-see. Consisting of 9 tiers, with the top 3 being circular, Borobudur features a grand stupa surrounded by dozens of smaller stupas on its upper tier. Hidden within these stupas are Buddha statues, adding to the temple's allure. While the structure itself is stunning, its surroundings elevate the experience even further. Borobudur is nestled amidst lush green jungle, with the towering and active Mount Merapi volcano looming nearby, reaching almost 3,000 meters in height.
You have the option to visit the temple at sunrise, but for this, you need to purchase special tickets, which are more expensive than regular ones. These tickets are sold by the Manohara Resort, and the current price is €30. Ticket sales open at 4 a.m., and from 4:30 a.m. onwards, you're allowed entry. There is no maximum limit on the number of tickets sold per day. The regular ticket for Borobudur costs around €22 per person, granting access during the regular public opening hours.
We departed in the morning with the same driver as the previous day, heading towards Borobudur, about an hour's drive away. Borobudur can only be visited with a guide. Visitors are assigned a time slot and provided with special slippers to wear during the tour. Everyone waits together at the entrance, and when your time slot arrives, you're guided through the temple complex by a local guide.
If you choose to visit both Prambanan and Borobudur in one day, it's definitely possible. In this case, it's recommended to visit Borobudur early in the morning, as it's particularly beautiful at sunrise. You can then visit Prambanan in the afternoon when there are fewer crowds, and it's also stunning at sunset.
Explore the city
Since we returned quite early to our hostel from the Borobudur temple, and our night train wasn't until 11:30 PM, we decided to explore more of Yogyakarta city center. Using Grab, we arranged for a driver to take us to the city center. We quickly struck up a conversation with this friendly driver, and he suggested taking us to the best spots according to his opinion for the rest of the day.
Taman Sari Water Castle
Located near the Kraton, Tamansari was once a garden for the Sultan of Yogyakarta. Originally serving multiple purposes, now only a few buildings remain, including a mosque, resting and bathing spaces, and underground tunnels accessible to tourists. With its blend of Eastern and Western architecture, this royal escape holds a unique charm and history. The most renowned spot in Tamansari is Umbul Pasiraman, where the Sultan and his Princesses bathed and rested, with a fascinating tale behind its origins.
Umbul Pasiraman was designed for the Sultan to relax and search for a wife, symbolized by throwing a rose from the tower, caught by a Princess who would become his consort. Other pools like Umbul Binangun and Umbul Muncar were for the Sultan's daughters and potential wives. Besides the pools, visitors can explore an underground tunnel and a circular mosque, Sumur Gumilang, where the Sultan prayed.
Taman Sari Water Castle, once a royal garden, now offers a glimpse into Yogyakarta's history. The central bathing complex is well-preserved, while other areas are now part of the Kampung Taman settlement. Since 2017, it's been a tentative World Heritage Site. Unfortunately, due to COVID, the Sumur Gumuling mosque is closed to tourists. Tamansari is open from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, with an entrance fee of 15,000 IDR (approximately 1.20 euros) per person.
Expect to spend no more than an hour inside.
Kota Gede
Taste Kopi Luwak
Watch Silver Crafting
Tip for Contacting a Driver in Yogyakarta
During our time exploring Yogyakarta, we had the pleasure of being chauffeured around by Angung Nobel, also known as A-G. He skillfully guided us to the places mentioned above and ensured a memorable experience throughout. If you're in need of a reliable driver in Yogyakarta, we highly recommend contacting him via WhatsApp at +62 815-6840-8840.