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Yogyakarta, in central Java, is Indonesia's leading center of Javanese culture and the only Indonesian region still headed by a sultan, who also serves as governor. The city is known for batik, shadow puppetry, gamelan music and its universities, and it sits between the active volcano Mount Merapi and the Indian Ocean coast.
Most visitors come for the great temples nearby. Borobudur, a vast Buddhist monument built in the eighth and ninth centuries, rises in carved terraces crowned by stupas. Prambanan, a Hindu complex of soaring spires, is often paired with Ratu Boko, a hilltop site popular at sunset. In the city, the Kraton Ngayogyakarta Hadiningrat is the sultan's palace, with performances of traditional music and dance, and Taman Sari preserves the remains of a royal water garden. Malioboro Street and Beringharjo Market bustle with batik, snacks and street life, and the Tugu monument marks an old ceremonial axis. Kotagede is known for silverwork and quiet old lanes. Jeep tours climb the slopes of Mount Merapi, and adventurous travelers descend into Jomblang Cave to see a shaft of light fall onto the forest below.
Yogyakarta suits culture-minded travelers, students of Javanese arts and budget-conscious backpackers. The dry season is best for temple visits, ideally early in the morning before heat and crowds build.
WiserMap travel guideYogyakarta Indonesia Borobudur Prambanan and the KratonPlan a Yogyakarta trip: Borobudur and Prambanan temples, the Kraton and Taman Sari, Malioboro, Merapi, gudeg, where to stay, when to go and how to get around.Read the guide
The world's largest Buddhist temple, built in the 9th century about an hour northwest of Yogyakarta, with 2,672 relief panels and 504 Buddha statues. Climbing the upper terraces is limited to small guided groups with special footwear. Book in advance, and arrive early in the morning.
A 9th century Hindu temple compound and UNESCO World Heritage Site east of the city, with soaring central towers dedicated to Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma. The Ramayana ballet is performed on an open-air stage with the temples behind it on many evenings. Combine with the nearby Sewu temple.
An archaeological site on a hilltop south of Prambanan, thought to have been a palace complex, with a large stone gateway, bathing pools and terraces. It is known for its sunset views toward Prambanan and Mount Merapi. Combined tickets with Prambanan and a shuttle between them are available.
The palace of the Sultan of Yogyakarta, built in the 1750s and still home to the royal family. Visitors can see pavilions, royal heirlooms and gamelan instruments, and there are traditional performances on some mornings. Guides explain Javanese court culture. It closes in the early afternoon.
The Water Castle, a former royal garden built in the 18th century next to the Kraton, with bathing pools, an underground mosque reached by tunnels and ruined pavilions. The surrounding village has batik workshops and murals. Go in the morning, and hiring a local guide at the gate helps.
A white monument at a busy crossroads north of Malioboro, built in 1755 and later rebuilt, marking the line linking Mount Merapi, the Kraton and the southern sea in Javanese cosmology. It is a popular photo spot, especially at night when it is lit. Take care with the traffic around it.
Malioboro is Yogyakarta's main shopping street, full of batik shops, street vendors and becak pedal rickshaws, and lively with food stalls at night. Beringharjo Market at its southern end is a large traditional market good for batik and snacks. Bargain politely at the stalls.
The old capital of the Mataram Sultanate, in the southeast of the city, with traditional Javanese houses, narrow lanes, an old mosque and royal graves. It is famous for silver workshops where you can watch artisans and buy jewelry. Wear modest dress for the mosque and tomb areas.
A museum on the north side of the Alun-Alun Utara square with a strong collection of Javanese culture, including wayang puppets, masks, batik, gamelan, weapons and ancient bronzes. On many evenings it stages wayang kulit shadow puppet shows. It is close to the Kraton, so see both together.
One of the most active volcanoes in Indonesia, north of the city. Jeep tours explore the lava fields and villages destroyed in the 2010 eruption, with a small museum of belongings found in the ash. Hiking to the summit is often banned, so check the alert level before going.
A vertical cave in Gunung Kidul, about two hours from the city, where visitors are lowered by rope about 60 meters into a sinkhole forest. A walk through the cave leads to a chamber where a beam of light falls from above around midday. Visits must be booked, and numbers are limited.
A wide black sand beach on the south coast about an hour from the city, linked to the legend of Nyi Roro Kidul, queen of the southern sea. It is popular for sunset, horse cart rides and the sand dunes of Parangkusumo nearby. Swimming is dangerous due to strong waves, so stay out of the water.
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