1 – 4 day Yogyakarta Itinerary – Jogja things to do and travel tips!
This one or two day Yogyakarta itinerary is based on the amazing trip I had to Java!
This guide includes the best things to do in Yogyakarta, including the full costs of the best places to visit and attractions. We’ll also discuss where to eat, how to get around Yogyakarta, what scams to watch out for, and what to wear and expect!
Things to do on with one to four days in Yogyakarta
Are you planning on visiting Yogyakarta?
Also commonly known and pronounced as ‘Jogjakarta’, this city is often considered the cultural heart of Java with a budding ex-pat community (although I was surprised to see very few Westerners here). There are many traditional activities to discover here, and the palace here is still home to the royal family – yep, there’s still a monarchy in Indonesia. Was anyone else completely oblivious to this?
Although Yogyakarta, also known as Jogja or Yogya, is arguably missing the charm of places such as Penang (Malaysia), Chiang Mai (Thailand) or Hoi An (Vietnam), Yogyakarta’s most well-known activity – watching the sunrise over the world’s largest Buddhist temple – knocks any single attraction in most Asian cities out of the water. I’m talking about Borobudur, an experience I’ll never forget.
But don’t just stop there – Yogyakarta has more to offer than first meets the eye and is an integral stop on any Java itinerary.
Day One itinerary: Exploring the Kraton area in Yogyakarta
The main area to explore in Yogyakarta city is called the ‘Kraton’, a group of palaces built for the sultans of Yogya. You could spend a whole day exploring here.
It’s an excellent introduction to the city, and since much is within walking distance, it’s a somewhat relaxed way to explore if Yogyakarta is your first stop in Java.
Walking around the walls is free, so no transport costs are necessary unless your accommodation isn’t within walking distance, in which case grab a local bus or download the go-jek taxi app – like Uber but it’s super cheap, especially for scooter taxis. Plus the app is more reliable in Java than it was in Bali (where taxi drivers would accept and then try to negotiate the cost in half… uh).
Although it won’t blow you away in the same way other palaces in Asia will, an excellent reason to visit is that the cost includes daily traditional performances such as gamelan or puppetry.
The grand palace entry cost: 12K IDR (around 1.2 AUD, 65p or 0.85 USD)
Kraton Yogya Opening Times: 08:30am – 1:30pm daily
Tamansari – The Water Palace
The 18th-century ‘water palace’ – so-called after its pleasure pools – is still not fully repaired after being damaged by war and an earthquake. On its own, the sight admittedly looked worse for wear (but still worth visiting).
Thankfully, the ticket also included entry to ‘Sumur Gumuling’, an underground mosque. It was fun walking around this area and exploring the tunnels. The location reminded me of Escher – anyone else?
Entry cost: 12K IDR (1.2 AUD, 0.65 GBP, 0.84 USD)
Opening Times: 09:00am – 03:00pm
Museum Sonobudoyo
I was advised this was the best museum for tourists in the city due to the many artefacts on display and, rather importantly, explanations in both Indonesian and English. Honestly, I mostly visited to escape the heat. Can’t fault a good air con!
Artefacts on display include kulit puppets, batik, costumes and topeng masks. The kulit puppets take 12 days to make before they start colouring them. They are used for traditional shadow puppet theatre; you can see a traditional performance at the museum or all around Yogyakarta.
Museum Entry Cost: 10k IDR (1 AUD, £0.54, 0.71 USD)
Opening Times: 08:00am – 1530pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Weekends.
08:00am – 02:00pm on Fridays.
Closed on Mondays and Public holidays.
If you have 2 days for your Jogja itinerary, I recommend doing the above activities on your first day. On your second day, you can arrange a visit to the amazing Borobudur temple.
Day two in Yogyakarta: Borobudur and Prambanan day trip
The key reason to visit Yogyakarta is undoubtedly to see Borobudur, the world’s largest Buddhist temple. It’s also easy to combine this with Prambanan, a prominent Hindu temple, in one day. I’m keeping this brief as I’ve linked my full Borobudur sunrise tour below if you want more information!
This tourism powerhouse is hardly an Indonesia hidden gem, but it’s one of those places that is famous for a good reason, and you’d be sorry to skip it! In fact, the buzz of watching the sunrise with the excited crowd only added to the magic.
Borobudur at Sunrise
To view Borobudur at sunrise, you can either get picked up from your accommodation in Yogyakarta (via tour or private driver that morning) or stay overnight in Borobudur beforehand.
Once you’ve arrived, you will begin the day at Manohara Hotel around 04:40 to pick up the ticket, which is just a few minutes walk to the temple. The sunrise ticket is ONLY available from Manohara Hotel: https://www.manoharaborobudur.com/en-gb
They will organise the ticket for you if you are on a tour. If you are going at the regular entrance time of 6am or after, you can just buy a regular ticket when you arrive.
Prambanan Temple
Prambanan is a huge Hindu temple that can be a combined day trip with Borobudur. Since Java is now predominantly Muslim, it’s a massive reminder of how multicultural and diverse Java’s history is. Prambanan was built around the 9th century and, unfortunately was damaged by several earthquakes. Despite the piles of cordoned-off rubble, thankfully, the main structures are still intact and are very impressive.
COST OF BOROBUDUR SUNRISE TICKET: 475K IDR
Unfortunately, the entrance cost has recently gone up. It is 350K IDR for Indonesian visitors. You can only buy the sunrise ticket from Manohara. For up-to-date tickets costs, including for children and students, please see here: https://www.manoharaborobudur.com/en-gb
COST OF REGULAR TICKET (after 6am): 325K IDR
COST OF A BOROBUDUR AND PRAMBANAN COMBINED TICKET: 520K IDR
PRAMBANAN ONLY TICKET: 325K
For my FULL guide to visiting Borobudur and Prambanan, you can read my more detailed guide. I’ve included my personal experience, full costs and full information on how to get there and book tickets:
Borobudur Sunrise Guide; How to Get There, Costs and Visiting Prambanan
Things to do with 3-4 days in Yogyakarta
If you have three or four days in Yogyakarta, you can explore the city beyond the key tourist spots of the Kraton and Borobodur. This thriving city is full of local activities and charming workshops that can help you learn more about it’s history, alongside those who live here today.
Unique, eco-friendly tours
Join Via Via on a unique street art tour or to take a bicycle ride to a local Javanese village. Their tour programme is both simple and unique simultaneously, with an emphasis on tours that benefit the local community.
Look up local and unique tour experiences with Via Via Jogja.
Take a local workshop
Batik courses are found around the Kraton area, a great way to meet locals and get stuck in with an immersive activity. Or head to Kota Gede, a district famous for silver, and see the silver artisans hard at work.
Chill out with a massage
Take advantage of cheap southeast Asia while avoiding the harsh midday heat. The cheapest I could see for a reputable, highly reviewed spa was (example costs) 65k for a one hour massage or 90k for a 90 min massage.
Markets in Yogyakarta
Should you need to pick anything up, Malioboro Mall and the adjacent market Street should handle all your needs. There are many long skirts and long pants at the ready if you’ve realised how much you’ll stand out in a Muslim city wearing shorts!
Watch a traditional Javanese performance
There are many options around Yogyakarta to choose from. Museum Sonobudoyo is one option close to the city centre, which shows puppet shows (wayang kulit) at 8pm every day. It lasts for 2 hours, and you can purchase tickets at the museum.
Want to do something special? Watch a traditional Javanese ballet at the unforgettable setting of Prambanan, a huge Hindu temple just outside the temple. Read more information here: Ramayana at Prambanan tickets
Day trips from Yogyakarta
Finally, with four or more days in Yogyakarta, there are so many fantastic day trips from the city!
I definitely recommend these so you get to see the wild side of Java beyond the city – especially if you don’t have time to explore the other natural Java highlights, such as Mount Bromo, Tumpak Sewu, Mount Ijen, and Karimunjawa.
MOUNT MERAPI aka an active volcano
This is one of the most popular day trips from Yogyakarta on a tour, sometimes combined with Borobudur, or with a scooter. Be careful to check what tours include before booking them! For example, some tour reviewers complained that combined trios didn’t include the price of the jeep for Mt MERAPI, and they had to pay extra. You can hike or take a fun jeep ride up the mountain.
DIENG PLATEAU aka the Javanese Highlands
There is so much to do in Java that you might find choosing activities difficult! I saw the photos of Dieng and thought it looked so pretty, but ultimately there were other areas I wanted to explore more (cough cough, I booked an overnight bus to the paradise island Karimunjawa instead!)
Jomblang Cave – a caving adventure
Exploring the depths of Jomblang Cave is a must-do for adventurous travellers in Java. This natural cave system is best known for the 90-metre vertical shaft that travellers can descend down, and the famous light beams that bounce through the caverns.
Alongside the adventurous descent into the cave, you’ll also learn about the cave’s geological history, alongside the stalactites, stalagmites and rock formations that have been naturally sculpted underground.
Visiting Jomblang Cave on a caving expedition is definitely not an adventure you’ll forget in a hurry.
Click here for a full list of tours from Yogyakarta with GetYourGuide.
How to get around Yogyakarta
For solo and budget travellers, I highly recommend downloading the go-jek and grab taxi apps. (Like Uber.) They can be used for both motorcycle taxis and regular taxis. The prices are so cheap, and they seemed more reliable here than in Bali.
I recommend staying close to the Kraton area so you can mostly get around on foot. When it was too far or too hot, I used go-jek (motorbike taxi), one journey cost me 4K IDR and the other cost me 8K IDR.
Private cars are from around 400K IDR (40 AUD / 22.5 GBP / 28 USD) for sunrise or 500K IDR for a full day if booked in advance, negotiable in person. This is ideal for custom itineraries and groups.
Scooter rental shouldn’t cost more than 50K (5 AUD / 2.83 GBP / 3:53 USD) to 60K IDR per day and can often be rented directly from your accommodation.
HOW TO GET TO AND FROM YOGYAKARTA
FLY:
You can fly into Yogyakarta from various transport hubs in Indonesia (including Jakarta and Bali), and they are cheap direct flights from Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. Yogyakarta’s Adisucipto International Airport is around a 35-minute taxi ride from the city. You can also get a train from the airport to the city.
TRAIN:
The extensive train network around Java is one of the reasons why it’s an excellent destination for travellers! You can book train tickets online at 12Go Asia or ask your accommodation to help you book. I recommend this as a relatively comfortable but still budget-friendly way to travel.
LOCAL BUS:
Ah, you have no idea how fondly I look back at my local bus journeys across Java! Crowded, hours long and filled with locals walking down the aisle trying to sell snacks, sometimes while carrying a baby under one arm, the buses are largely a tourist-free zone. But it’s kinda fun in its own way, and I felt safe as a solo traveller (though I only did this in daylight hours). Tickets are purchased directly at any city’s bus station.
PRIVATE CAR/SCOOTER RENTAL:
As listed above, this is another way to travel cross-country around Java as well as the inner-city. Remember Java is huge (much, much bigger than Bali) with less English-speaking citizens, so don’t choose to travel long distances here by scooter unless you have a motorbike license.
TOURS:
Organised tours can take you directly from Yogyakarta to many key attractions in Java, such as Mt Bromo, but can work out expensive. One for people with a higher budget and a time constraint.
BACKPACKER-FRIENDLY SHARED CARS:
Unexpectedly, I was able to get a shared car/minibus to my next destination after Yogyakarta – the paradise island of Karimunjawa. For more information about this, I’ve written a separate blog post here: How to get to Karimunjawa
WHERE TO STAY:
Hostels: I stayed at Yogyakarta BnB Malioboro, which was walking distance from the palace, Museum Sonobudoyo, and plenty of cafes. I could also book tours and onward travel directly from my hostel – they were really helpful. From $5pn including breakfast for a dorm or from $7 for private rooms.
Budget: There are tons of cheap guest houses, but Hotel Graha Kinasih Kotabaru is among the best-reviewed, with air-conditioned rooms with terraces, laundry services, breakfast, and a 24-hour front desk. From $32pn.
Hotel: For air-conditioned rooms and an outdoor swimming pool to cool off, Eastparc Hotel Yogyakarta is the perfect way to escape the hustle and bustle. Facilities include a garden, restaurant, fitness centre, breakfast, and more. Lovely, air-conditioned rooms have a private balcony. From $105pn.
Eco: Yabbiekayu Eco-bungalows is a family-friendly holiday park. Stunning bungalows in a natural setting have open-air baths. Yoga and cooking classes are offered onsite and you can eat at the onsite restaurant. It’s a bit far from town, but they can arrange a driver for tours into the city and Borobudur.
Alternatively, check Booking.com for more hotel options!
WHAT TO WEAR IN YOGYAKARTA
While beautiful Indonesia is a multicultural set of islands, Java is predominantly Muslim. Whilst the folk here are super friendly, and the famous temples here are NOT Muslim, and thus there are no rules for clothing, dress respectfully and for the heat.
WHEN TO VISIT YOGYAKARTA
Dry season in Java is April to October and note that temperatures can get very sticky after around 10am – at least that was my experience visiting in April. I highly recommend organising rest/travel days in Java on weekends where possible as it is highly populated so attractions can get densely crowded with local tourists on weekends.
SIM CARDS
If you need to buy a new sim card or top up an Indonesian sim card, you can do this at the Telkomsel stall at Loop Station. (Search loop station on google maps, it’s conveniently located next to the ‘kraton’ area.)
SCAMS TO WATCH OUT FOR IN YOGYAKARTA
I encountered the below scams on my first day! I have since googled them, and they seem to be common scams.
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THE ‘ART SHOW’
A guy will ask where you’re from and seem interested… Then he will start telling you about a nearby art show (he told me about a student art show). I just said no thank you and walked away. He told me ‘oh but it’s the last night!’ and looked very disgruntled when I continued walking off. Apparently, they get a commission if you buy something (usually a batik) and you’re really pressured. This scam has gone on for 30 years and the art show is always open. The next day, he saw me again and ran across the road towards me shouting ‘the art shows still on!’ and pointed in a different direction to the day before… Erm… No.
2. ‘GOVERNMENT TAX’
After you’ve paid entry to an attraction and gone in, some random guy who doesn’t work there will start yelling at you that you have to pay ‘government tax’ because you’re a tourist. Check correct prices beforehand and otherwise move on.
3. THE PUSHY BECAK
Not a scam but the becak drivers are VERY pushy. Don’t make eye contact or they will follow you down the streets like it’s a sport hahaha. Which is a weird sight since a becak basically looks just a bike attached to a giant adult pushchair… Just no.
WHERE TO EAT IN YOGYAKARTA
Warungs: Head to a local warung for the cheapest (and best!) food. They’ll be easy to spot all around the city. I like to find ones which are busy with tourists and locals alike, so you know the food is good. While in Yogyakarta, look out for gudeg jogya, a traditional pulled jackfruit stew.
Vegans and vegetarians: Fortunate Coffee was just around the corner from my hostel. Giving them a shout-out because the staff were SO FRIENDLY, the fully vegan and extensive menu was great (mostly their take on Asian dishes, but they had Western options too), and they let me sit there for hours on a rainy day with my laptop, sipping on good coffee.
Mediterranea: Treat yourself at low prices; this very highly rated restaurant is popular with Western tourists for its ambience and – you guessed it – Mediterranean menu. https://mrbykamil.com/
TRAVEL SUSTAINABLY IN JAVA
To avoid using plastic bottles in Southeast Asia, I used to a Water To Go bottle.
The filters used in their BPA free water bottles are created based on technology originally developed for the NASA space programme. These provide safe water from any non-salt water source in the world.
Read more on their website and use the code HAG15 if you like what you see to get 15% off.
COMPLETE JAVA TRAVEL GUIDES
A Guide to Karimunjawa – Java’s Paradise Island
COMPLETE JAVA TRAVEL GUIDE & ITINERARY
I’ve never read anyhting about it online. Now I definitely would like to go there as well! Thank you for writing this blog post, Cassie, will save it so I can find it easier later!
Fantastic guide! I want to see that musuem!
I have never heard of Yogyakarta! Kudos for reusable waters bottles and vegan and vegetarian recommendations! I also appreciate the costs and insider travel tips!
I cannot wait to visit Indonesia again! I haven’t had the opportunity to discover Java yet. Thanks for all the tips and the scams to avoid!