Yogyakarta is a bustling city located on the island of Java in Indonesia. This is the cultural heart of the island, where you will find plenty of beautiful Javanese art and architecture. Discover more about the history of Java, attend a batik workshop or visit the lively Malioboro street where you will find numerous stores and street food. Furthermore, it is the base to visit the world-famous temples of Borobudur and Prambanan. Find out here what are your best things to do in Yogyakarta in 3 days, how to visit and where to stay!
10 best things to do in Yogyakarta
Yogyakarta is perhaps the nicest city on the island of Java in Indonesia. There is a lot to see and experience, so we recommend staying here for at least 3 days . In this travel guide, we give you the best sights in Yogyakarta for 3 days so you are sure not to miss anything.
Day 1: Historic Yogyakarta
Today is devoted to the historic part of Yogyakarta in Java. A fun way to see much of the city is to jump on the back of a traditional rickshaw. These big tricycles can be seen all over town and you are bound to be accosted once you walk down the street. Negotiate a good price and get dropped off at today’s first stop.
1) Taman Sari water castle
Located in the heart of Yogyakarta, Taman Sari Water Castle was once the bathhouse of the sultan and his harem. To reach the water castle, you first walk through underground passages after which you emerge into the complex’s courtyard. Be sure to come at opening time at 9 a.m. as it can get very crowded here. Once inside the water castle, be sure to first go left through the tower where you will find a second pond. By the way, you can also walk up the tower where you’ll have a nice view of the entire Taman Sari water castle. Allow about an hour to visit the castle.
Opening hours Taman Sari water castle: daily from 9am to 3pm | entrance fee: IDR 25000 (€1.40)
2) Old gateway
When you leave Taman Sari Castle you come to an incredibly beautiful wall which was once the entrance gate to the complex. This stone wall is full of beautiful details and inside you will even find a small kind of chapel. Around it you can get lost in the narrow streets of the district where you can see the everyday life of Yogyakarta going on. It is also in these streets that you will find the Sumur Gumuling mosque with its many steps. However, this mosque can no longer be visited and is closed to the public.
3) Sultan Palace (Kraton)
After visiting the Taman Sari water castle, hop back on the back of your rickshaw and be dropped off at your next stop: the Sultan’s Palace or Kraton Palace. This impressive complex takes you through the history of how the sultans and their harems lived in Yogyakarta. Today, the Kraton is a piece of living history and tradition. It is still used, both as the home of the sultan and for other important ceremonial and cultural functions of the court of Yogyakarta. Temporary exhibitions are also held here, which are included in your ticket.
Sultan palace opening hours: daily from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. except Friday (until 11 a.m.) | entrance fee: IDR 25 000 (€1.40)
TRAVEL TIP: Visit the castle between 9am and 11am. That’s when a traditional dance performance is held, which is included in your admission ticket.
4) Fort Vredeburg
This museum is located in the original fort built by the Dutch from the colonial era of Indonesia (hence the Dutch name). Completely renovated and reopened in June 2024, this museum is worth a visit for the architecture alone. When you visit the museum you are taken through the long road Indonesia took to become independent. This is all depicted with detailed dioramas, very interesting to do in Yogyakarta!
Opening hours Fort Vredeburg: daily from 08h to 20h | entrance fee: IDR 50 000 (€2.80)
5) Malioboro Street
End your first day in Yogyakarta on Malioboro Street. This busy state is adjacent to Fort Vredeburg and will undoubtedly excite all your senses. This is the street that never sleeps, and especially at night there is a lot going on here. While local food stalls sell all kinds of street food, you will undoubtedly be drawn to check out a batik store. Furthermore, you will see countless street performers giving their best performance while rickshaws and carriages pass by. Don’t be surprised if you become the center of attention here either, as the locals love having their picture taken with tourists. Be sure to also take a look at the Beringharjo Market.
Day 2: Temples Yogyakarta
This day will undoubtedly be one of the most enjoyable days on your journey through Java in Indonesia, as today you will visit the world-famous temples of Borobudur and Prambanan. This travel guide tells you everything you need to know for visiting Borobudur and Prambanan!
6) Visit Borobudur (must-visit Yogyakarta)
An hour and a half’s drive from Yogyakarta lies Borobudur, the largest Buddhist temple in the world. Literally translated, Borobudur means “temple on a hill” and it consists of 10 layers which represents the Buddhist vision. In fact, you start at the bottom with everyday life and walk up to the top representing Nirvana. Once at the top, you will find 72 stupas built around a dome, with the mountainous landscape of Java in the background. You can still climb the temple only with a guide, and only a limited number of people are allowed in daily. So be sure to buy your ticket online on time and go for the first time slot to get ahead of the scorching heat of the afternoon.
7) Visiting Prambanan
After Borobudur, you can meet your private driver ask to stop at Warung De’maneke first. Here you will find a giant elaborate buffet of Indonesian food. Furthermore, it is also a good place to take a breather from the impressions of Borobudur. After that, you continue driving for an hour and a half toward the temples of Prambanan. This in turn is the largest Hindu complex in Indonesia and reminded us very much of Angkor Wat in Cambodia. Here you do get to walk around freely to admire the various temples. Be sure to allow 2-3 hours for your visit and go in the afternoon. This way you can catch the sunset at Prambanan before driving back to Yogyakarta.
Day 3: Cultural Yogyakarta
Take a slow start today and enjoy a good breakfast or book a massage at your hotel such as at Gallery Prawirotaman. Today you will look for street art on the streets of Yogyakarta and unleash your own creative spirit during a Batik workshop.
8) Batik workshop: the perfect souvenir
We found making our own Batik creation to be one of the most fun things to do in Yogyakarta. Batik is a traditional Indonesian textile art and has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. We attended a workshop at Batik Seno and can only recommend this. Here they show you how to create a batik artwork on a canvas and then get started yourself. Using a traditional batik pen filled with beeswax, you follow the lines of your drawing. Then you color your artwork and the batik process is done. When it is dried and ironed it is ready to hang in your home!
9) Street art in the Mantrijeron neighborhood.
On the way to Batik Seno you may have already seen some, but in the Mantrijeron neighborhood you will find plenty of fun street art. Walking through the streets you will see everywhere how local artists have gone all out. The result is a colorful cacophony of small tags to large detailed murals that are beautiful to see. You will also find a lot of nice warungs, restaurants and bars in this area.
10) Sample Indonesian cuisine
When we think of Indonesia, we think of food. From nasi goreng to soto ayam and rendang, Indonesian cuisine is some of the best there is. Then again, typical of Yogyakarta is Wedang Ronde. This hot ginger drink with peanuts and rice balls is considered the city’s soul drink. Indonesians drink this especially when they are sick, and we safely believe that you will get better quickly after this spicy drink. In Yogyakarta, you’ll find a wide range of local restaurants and warungs. The choice is vast, but these are some nice restaurants you should definitely try out while in Yogyakarta:
- Via Via Jogja
- Warung Bu Ageng
- Warung Heru
- Black Forest Cafe
- Mediterranean Restaurant by Kamil (not Indonesian but highly recommended!).
Where to stay in Yogyakarta
The best neighborhood to stay in Yogyakarta is around the street Jalan Prawirotaman. We found this a very cozy neighborhood with nice bars and restaurants where live music is played at night. Here you will also find plenty of nice accommodations for every budget. A second option is to stay close to Malioboro Street and the historical sights in Yogyakarta.
- Budget $: Via Via Guesthouse or Snooze
- Comfort $$$: Omah Manis or Nextdoor Rooms
- Luxury $$$$: Gallery Prawirotaman or Greenhost Boutique Hotel
How to get around in Yogyakarta
In Yogyakarta you will see a rickshaw driving everywhere that you can jump on the back of. However, it is advisable to negotiate the price well before you leave. Alternatively, you have Grab, but be aware that it can get incredibly busy in Yogyakarta at night and you may be stuck in traffic chaos for a long time. Finally, you can also rent your own scooter, but traffic in Yogyakarta can be very challenging to drive by yourself.
How to visit Yogyakarta in Java
Yogyakarta is located in Central Java. For many, a tour of East Java also starts here and, presumably after a stopover in Jakarta or from Bali, you fly into Yogyakarta airport. A second option is to travel by train. Java has an excellent train network and traveling by train is very comfortable. From the larger cities of Jakarta, Bandung and Malang, you can take the train towards Yogyakarta.
Best travel time Java, Indonesia
Indonesia has a tropical climate and therefore has two seasons: a dry season and rainy season. The dry season in Indonesia is from May through October, and this is therefore the best time to travel to Java. It is warm throughout the year, with temperatures between 25°C and 30°C.
Still have questions about what to do in Yogyakarta, Java? Let us know in a comment! Looking for more information for your next trip? Please do not hesitate to contact us contact or feel free to email info@snoezelsontheroad.com
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