One of the cultural highlights in Indonesia is visiting the Borobudur temple and the Prambanan temple complex. These impressive UNESCO World Heritage sites are located near Yogyakarta, on the island of Java, and are an absolute must-see during your trip. In recent years, however, the rules have become stricter for visiting these temples. For example, you are no longer allowed to climb Borobudur alone or during sunrise. In this travel guide you will discover everything you need to know to visit both temples in one day and get the most out of your experience!
What are Borobudur and Prambanan
Borobudur and Prambanan are both temple complexes located on the island of Java in Indonesia. Borobudur is the largest Buddhist temple in the world and literally translated means “temple on a hill. The gigantic structure consists of 9 floors representing the Buddhist vision. Namely, you start at the bottom with daily life and walk up to the top representing Nirvana. Once at the top you will find 72 stupas built around a large stupa, with the mountainous landscape of Java in the background. Inside the stupas you will find images of Buddha, and legend has it that if you touch these Buddhas, you will receive eternal happiness.
Prambanan, in turn, is the largest Hindu temple complex in Indonesia. The complex consists of three main temples dedicated to the gods Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma. These are surrounded by hundreds of small temples or remnants thereof. Prambanan therefore means “many priests. Both Borobudur and Prambanan are UNESCO sites and absolutely worth seeing!
Where are the temples Borobudur and Prambanan located
Both temples are located on the island of Java in Indonesia. The best way to visit Borobudur and Prambanan is from the city of Yogyakarta. Borobudur is about an hour and a half drive from Yogyakarta and Prambanan 45 minutes. Yogyakarta can be reached by flying into the international airport, presumably after a stopover in capital Jakarta or Bali. You can also reach Yogyakarta by train from Jakarta. Planning to tour Java in Indonesia? Then this is the ideal Java travel itinerary by train!
Borobudur and Prambanan visits in one day
You can easily visit Borobudur and Prambanan on your own in one day. Your base is the city of Yogyakarta in Java from where you have several options to visit the temple complexes. If you want to visit both temple complexes in one day, keep in mind that both complexes are about 45km apart. Because of the heavy traffic in this region, it will take you about an hour and a half from Borobudur to Prambanan (or vice versa).
Organized day tour
The most hassle-free way to visit Borobudur and Prambanan is with an organized day tour. You have to book a ticket in advance, and with an organized tour you are sure of your seat. Often these tours also pick you up at your hotel and transportation to both temples is included, as is a guide! Note that some tours do advertise a sunrise at Borobudur. However, this sunrise is not at Borobudur itself but from a nearby hill and, according to many, not worth the effort. Therefore, the tour below is ideal choice!
Private tour with your own driver
We chose this option so that you can explore Borobudur and Prambanan at your own pace. This is because you choose what time you want to leave and how long you want to stay at the temples. Via your hotel or via this link you can book your driver for a full day. Your driver will then wait for you at the temples until you have finished your visit. If you would like a guide, you can often book one as well. Count on about IDR 800,000 (€45) for a whole day. An extra charge may apply, for example if you wish to leave before sunrise.
Public transportation
If you are traveling on a more limited budget but do not want to be tied to a tour, public transportation is an alternative to a driver. However, we do not recommend this as it is extremely time consuming and complex. Optionally, you can travel to Borobodur a day early to stay close to the complex. The bus from Yogyakarta to Borobodur leaves from the bus terminal Jobur, in the north of the city. After an hour on the bus, you will need to transfer to another van. The bus driver will normally help you with this.
Driving a scooter yourself
If you like an adventure, you can also always rent a scooter and drive yourself to the temples. The advantage is that you are sometimes faster than by car, and once you leave Yogyakarta behind you, you drive among vast rice fields and local villages. On the other hand, riding a scooter in Yogyakarta can be nerve-wracking, and traffic is incredibly chaotic in Indonesia. Also keep in mind that they drive on the left in Indonesia.
Visiting Borobudur: rules & tips
You could climb the Borobudur temple by yourself without a guide and at any hour of the day until 2020. Unfortunately, this caused a lot of damage to the temple, after which the government decided to apply stricter rules. The temple was reopened in 2023 with the new rules in place. Now you can only climb the temple with a guided tour, where you are given special slippers to protect the temple. Only 1,200 people are allowed on the temple per day. You book your time slot in advance which allows a maximum of 150 people on the temple at a time per hour.
1) Arrange your ticket online
If you book a tour, be sure to check if your ticket to Borobudur is already included in the price. Often this is not the case, but a seat is reserved for you and you pay on the spot. Are you visiting Borobudur independently without a tour? Then you need to book your ticket online via
Ticket prices Borobudur:
- Borobudur Temple Ground Ticket: IDR 375,000 (~ €20)
- Borobudur Temple Structure Ticket: IDR 455,000 (~ €25)
Tickets can only be booked seven days in advance. When you book, you must also choose a time slot. We recommend going for the earliest time slot (8:30 a.m.) or the latest (3:30 p.m.). Then the light is often soft and it is not so hot. These time slots do sell out the fastest, so be sure to set your alarm so you can book tickets on time. When you book a time slot you will see names next to it such as “Mandela” or “Kalyanamitra. This simply reflects the breakdown of the groups, but each group does the same tour.
2) Borobudur opening hours.
The gardens surrounding the Borobudur temple, which you can visit with the “Temple Ground Ticket,” can be visited daily between 6:30 am and 5:30 pm. The Borobudur temple itself is open from Tuesday to Sunday between 08:30 and 15:30. During your booked time slot you will climb the temple with your group and guide for one hour. Once at the top, you will have 10 minutes free to walk around and take pictures on your own. After you come down from the temple structure, you will have plenty of time to explore the grounds on your own.
TRAVEL TIP: On Mondays, the temple is closed for maintenance so you cannot climb it. However, you can still go into the surrounding gardens and admire the temple that way.
Visiting Prambanan: rules & tips
The rules for visiting the Prambanan temple complex are less strict. After your visit to Borobudur, drive on toward Prambanan. This is an hour and a half drive, but ideal for a rest. After your visit to Borobudur, make a stop at Warung De’menake. This cozy restaurant offers an extensive and fresh Indonesian buffet. Then continue your drive to Prambanan.
1) Arrange your ticket online
If you booked a tour for Borobudur and Prambanan, then your ticket for Prambanan is already included in the tour. If you also visit Prambanan independently, it is best to buy your ticket online in advance. You do this on the same official website where you can buy your ticket to Borobudur. Unlike Borobudur, you don’t have to choose a time slot here; your ticket is valid for the entire day. A ticket to Prambanan costs IDR 400,000 (~€22).
TRAVEL TIP: Are you a student and have a student ID card? Be sure to show this when you buy your tickets, as you will receive a discount!
2) Opening hours of Prambanan
The Prambanan temple complex is open daily from 6:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (last entrance: 5 p.m.). On Mondays, the main temple of Prambanan (Candi Shiva Mahadeva) is also closed for maintenance. So you can’t visit it on Mondays, but you can visit the other temples on the complex. We recommend visiting Prambanan in the afternoon until closing time, this way you already have the first light of sunset. Allow at least two to three hours for exploring the temple complex.
3) Which temples to visit in Prambanan
The Prambanan temple complex is large, and you’ll find as many as 240 temples so it can be somewhat overwhelming. There are small shuttles around the grounds that can take you quickly from one temple to another. There is a small extra charge for this. If you are visiting the Prambanan temple complex, be sure to check out the following temples:
- The three main temples: Candi Shiva Mahadeva, Candi Vishnu and Candi Brahma
- Sewu temple
- Lumbung temple
- Bubrah Temple
Where to stay for Borobudur and Prambanan
The ideal base to visit the Borobudur and Prambanan temples is Yogyakarta, the cultural capital of Java. Yogyakarta is an hour and a half drive from the temples.
- Budget ($): Via Via Guesthouse or Snooze
- Comfort ($$): Omah Manis or Nextdoor Rooms
- Luxurious ($$$): Gallery Prawirotaman or Greenhost Boutique Hotel
Tips for visiting Borobudur and Prambanan
With this complete travel guide to visiting Borobudur and Prambanan, you now know everything you need for a successful day trip! Here are some final tips before you visit Java’s world-famous temples:
- Drones are prohibited at both temples. Your backpack will be checked at the entrance, and if you do have one with you then temporarily hand it over. Lockers are available.
- It can get incredibly hot during the day and there is limited shade at both temples. So provide plenty of water, snacks, your sunglasses and a hat.
- Try to go on a weekday. Many Indonesians also visit the temples on weekends and it can get very crowded.
- Adapt your attire, as you are visiting religious complexes. Be respectful and cover your knees and shoulders.
- The best time to visit Java, Indonesia is during the dry season, from April through September.
Do you have any questions about your visit to Borobudur and Prambanan? Let us know in a comment below! Looking for more information for your next trip? Please do not hesitate to contact us or feel free to email info@snoezelsontheroad.com
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