Where to go in Yogyakarta
For first-timers visiting Jogja or Yogya, it is always a question of what to do and where to go in Yogyakarta, and this article shares some basic information about the many places of interest around here. Yogya, as the locals call this place in short, is located in central Java Island and is well known for several attractions.
Where to go in Yogyakarta?
For most travellers, the first thing that comes to mind is, of course, one of the greatest Buddhist monuments in the world: Borobudur, which has stood magnificently since the 9th century.
Next is the impressive Prambanan Temple, which also dates back to the 9th century and is of Hindu origins. Both temple complexes are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and for the city lover, there is the famous Malioboro Street for shopping in Yogyakarta.
I will not highlight the two main temples, Borobudur and Prambanan, as there is much information on them, but there are some other interesting places to visit in Yogya, which I will highlight below.
 |
| An Andong or Horse Carriage along Malioboro Street in Yogyakarta. |
1. Malioboro Street Shopping
This place is probably Indonesia’s answer to Bangkok’s street shopping scene, where traders can be found on every corner of Malioboro Street. However, the items sold here are mostly apparel, jewellery, and tons of souvenirs, and they are great for those who want to get some.
The thrill is to walk the entire street length and then take an Andong (Horse Drawn Carriage) and Becak (Trishaw with a rider at the back), the primary traditional means of transportation around here. On weekends, the place is jam-packed with thousands of locals and tourists who are seen all over the shopping streets.
There are hotels, traditional massages and tour agents on the side streets. At the same time, there are a few shopping malls where you can get fast food and many other items along Jalan Malioboro Street Shopping.
 |
| An intricate European-styled gazebo at the Kraton Palace grounds. |
2. Kraton of Yogyakarta
Those who are into history and culture should not miss the Kraton Palace, which has the rich cultural history of the Sultan of Yogyakarta. This massive palace complex is located in the city of Yogyakarta and is also the main seat of the Sultan of Yogyakarta and his family.
The Palace also serves as a cultural centre for the Javanese people and contains a museum that displays the sultanate’s artefacts. The palace’s architecture is quite interesting. Elements of European and Dutch influence are infused into the designs around the Palace grounds, which were built in 1756.
Keraton Palace
Address: Jl. Taman, Kraton, Yogyakarta 55133
Opening hours: 08:00 – 14:00
Entrance Fee: 3000 IDR (US$ 0.25)
 |
| The pools were on maintenance when I visited the Taman Sari Water Castle. |
3. Taman Sari Water Castle
The Sultan’s luxury playground and royal gardens, a magnificent aristocratic area with beautiful water pools and lush landscaping, and you thought you would have to see this is Europe?
In Yogyakarta, it is just two kilometers from Kratron, where the Taman Sari Water Castle is located. The exquisite gardens are also said to have been built by a Portuguese architect between 1758 and 1765. There are four main areas, so expect to spend at least an hour or two here.
The Sultan and his family once used it as a royal bathing area inside the main central bathing complex, which had two swimming pools. Nowadays, this place serves as an essential element of the Yogyakarta Sultanate history.
Keep a lookout for two concrete gates leading to the bathing complex. One is located on the western side, called Gedhong Gapura Hageng, and one is located on the eastern side, called Gedhong Gapura Panggung. Here, the gates are decorated with beautiful ornaments of stylized birds and flora. It is a great place to get your photo taken.
Taman Sari Water Castle
Address: Jl Komp. Taman Sari. Yogyakarta 55133
Opening hours: 08900 – 15:00
Entrance Fee: 7000 IDR (US$ 0.50)
 |
| Underground Mosque in Yogyakarta. |
4. Underground Mosque in Yogya (Sumur Gumuling)
It is probably the only unique mosque in the world that is located underground and inside a local village near the Kampoeng Cyber area. In short, you can walk here from the Taming Sari Water Castle, but moving around here is quite a maze, so getting a map or asking someone if you are going alone is best.
The beauty of the Underground Mosque, or Sumur Gumuling, is that it was built around the 18th century by the Sultan of Yogyakarta, and it is said to be his private prayer place.
 |
| Look out for the entrance to the Underground Mosque. |
Getting here is an adventure as you enter through what looks like a tomb entrance, walk down along a tunnel resembling a very European catacomb, and then arrive in a circular room, the main prayer area.
The technology from the 18th century is pretty amazing, as the acoustics of this place are well planned. This is also a great place to visit and for photography, as it is truly one of a kind here. Again, the directions to get here are not easy, but you can always ask the locals there and remember to dress decently for the Underground Mosque in Yogya.
Underground Mosque in Yogyakarta
Address: Jl. Komp. Taman Sari, Yogyakarta 55133
Opening hours: 08:00 – 14:00 (to 12.00 on Fridays)
Entrance Fee: Free
 |
| Map of Kampoeng Cyber in Yogyakarta. |
5. Kampoeng Cyber
Known as Kampoeng Cyber RT 36, this traditional Indonesian village is one of the show models for a modern and developed town with a strong community working together.
With around 45 families, the Cyber Village is Indonesia’s first Internet-saturated community in the main Taman Sari area. It is also one of the popular tourist destinations in Yogyakarta, and you will need to go through this village to get to some of the attractions.
 |
| Artist at work in Kampoeng Cyber. |
The name Kampoeng Cyber was coined after almost all its residents connected to the Internet, mainly to sell their local handmade Batik and many other items using online and social media methods.
As you walk around the village, you will also see many wall murals and street art in the homes of these locals. Some of them are very nicely done. While exploring this area, you will also have the opportunity to see into the homes of some of these locals who are painting art or hand-making Batik.
When you ask some of them, they are very friendly and allow you to go into their homes to take photos of them and their work.
Something unique that caught my eye was a notice stating that Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg had visited Kampoeng Cyber in October 2012. When I walked through Kampoeng Cyber, I was very impressed with the initiatives taken to beautify and have an identity for themselves.
It was also the way to the Underground Mosque, and a visit here is highly recommended.
Kampoeng Cyber
Address: Jl. Taman, Kraton, Yogyakarta 55133
Opening hours: All Day
Entrance Fee: FREE
 |
| Ratu Boko Temple in Yogyakarta. |
6. Ratu Boko Temple
One of the lesser-known temple complexes, due to not having any prominent megastructures, is Ratu Boko Temple Complex near Prambanan Temple. This is now considered one of the very important archaeological sites, and ongoing work is being done as visitors explore it.
If you love history and culture, this is also one of the must-visit places in Yogyakarta. Ratu Boko in Javanese means “Stork King”, and the entire temple complex lies 196 meters above sea level on a hill where you can see Prambanan Temple in the distance.
If you trek to the top part, you can get an aerial view of the entire area. Many people come here for the sunset photos as it is not as crowded as the other temples. There are English-speaking private drivers (supir) that you can rent with a car for around Rp600,000 for 12 hours, and they will take you to these places.
The entrance fees are not included; this is one of the easiest options for moving around from temple to temple here.
Ratu Boko Temple Complex
Address: Jl. Taman, Kraton, Yogyakarta 55133
Opening hours: 09:00 – 21:00
Entrance Fee: 110,000 IDR (US$ 8.50)
 |
| The Ramayana Ballet Show in Prambanan, Yogyakarta. |
7. Ramayana Ballet
One of the world’s must-see theatre shows is the Ramayana Ballet, which is held in the Prambanan Temple Complex in Yogyakarta. This stunning show is hands down a world-class performance that brings visitors through the world of a Hindu Poem but in the Javanese version.
The Ramayana Ballet showcases over 200 dancers that take you through a magical performance in the open-aired stage area with the natural background of Prambanan Temple. There are also indoor shows on selected dates, and the two-hour show starts at 7.30 PM on selected days. Therefore, you are advised to book ahead or ask your tour company about the preferable dates.
This means you should be visiting Prambanan Temple Complex around 3 to 4 in the afternoon, and just after sunset, take a walk over to the show theatre area, which is about a 10-minute walk from the main temple, and your tour bus or guide will pick you up from the theatre area.
Ramayana Ballet
Address: Jl Jogja-Solo Km 16 Yogyakarta
Phone: +62 274 496 408 / +62 274 497 771
Show Time: 19:30 – 21:30
Ticket Prices: 125,000 to 325,000 IDR (US$ 9.50 to $25.00)
More: Ramayana Ballet
 |
| At the Yogya Street Parade 2015. |
8. Yogyakarta Street Parade
If you are visiting Yogyakarta in October, remember to ask about the Yogyakarta Street Parade, which takes place on a weekend. In 2015, the Yogya Street Parade was held on 19 October, therefore, it will be better to ask about this year’s parade.
During this procession, the main roads are closed for a cultural parade showcasing Indonesia’s many different cultures and people in one massive street parade. An event not to be missed, it takes place from around 6.00 pm till about 11.00 pm and provides a perfect photography moment for those into photography.
If you are staying at the Phoenix Hotel in Yogyakarta, it is just outside the main road of the hotel, which is really convenient.
Yogyakarta Street Parade
Address: Jl. Jend Sudirman, Yogyakarta
Show Times: Month of October, 18:00 – 23:00
Entrance Fee: Free
 |
| Yogyakarta Batik Museum and Workshop. |
9. Batik Museum in Yogyakarta
Not to be confused, there are some Batik Museums in Yogyakarta, and most are shops with workshops showing tourists how Indonesian Batik is made.
However, the Ministry of Tourism organized this trip, and we were taken to the right place. Visitors can engage in a Batik drawing and colouring experience. The museum is also located about 1.5 kilometres from Jalan Malioboro.
The Batik Museum in Yogyakarta is also one of the oldest, having been established in 1979 by the Hadi Nugroho family. It is also said to be the most complete Batik museum in Yogya. Therefore, if you love all things Batik, this is the place to visit and try your hand at Batik painting.
Batik Museum in Yogyakarta
Address: Jl. Dr. Sutomo No. 13 A, Yogyakarta
Open: Mon-Sat, 09:00 – 15:00
Tel: +62 274 562 338
Entrance Fee: Free
 |
| Borobudur Temple at around 5.00 am for the sunrise tour. |
I visited the places above on one of my trips around Indonesia under the Ministry of Tourism during the campaign Wonderful Indonesia and #INATopBucketList team. We explored different regions around Indonesia, where we visited Bandung, Yogyakarta, Bali, and the world-famous Komodo Island.
For more information on Yogyakarta or other beautiful places, you can also check the official Indonesia Tourism Website. There are many other places of interest around Yogyakarta but I am yet to visit them, and perhaps the next time around I would have the opportunity to visit some of these other places.
As a travel writer and Travel Social Media Influencer, I do my best to share my experiences in a more informative manner rather than trying to rank for keywords. If you have any comments or feedback, please do share them with me in the comment form below. I trust that the next time someone asks you where to go in Yogyakarta, you can share this with them.
Share this content:
0 comments