4 / 5 - 3 reviews
How to get there
8 hours by road from Jakarta / 50 minutes from Jakarta by plane
When to go
All year round
Minimum stay
One day
Yogyakarta (Indonesia)
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Marine Faure
Practical information about Yogyakarta
Reviews of Yogyakarta
Yogyakarta is the capital of Central Java.
My suggestion:
Go and discover the cloth printing techniques used in a batik workshop!
Summary:
Yogyakarta, or "Yogya", as it is commonly known, is the capital of Central Java. Much less stifling than Jakarta, this city accommodates many students and represents a huge cultural centre.
Indeed, in a few days of going all over the city, I was able to visit several artists workshops, puppet theatres, as well as the Kraton Yogyakarta, the ancient palace of sultans.
There are also ballet, poetry and music schools. I really like batik (a technique for printing on cloth) and I got a chance to watch students learn the techniques in one of the multiple batik workshops in Yogya.
I also went on a half-day excursion to Borobudur, one of the largest Buddhist temples in the world. You will also be able to visit the Hindu temple, Prambanan.
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Marine Faure
Central city of Java island, Yogyakarta is a nerve centre and point of passage for us tourists, a place to stop at to visit nearby Borobudur and Prambanan, notably.
My suggestion:
If your luggage is not too heavy, you can forego catching a taxi next to the train station as it is close to the streets with all the guesthouses. If you can, share it with other passengers as the taxis charge exorbitant prices.
Summary:
It is difficult to travel through Indonesia and more particularly Java without making a stop in Yogyakarta . It is sort of the meeting point in Indonesia for backpackers . As it is in the centre of Java island, you are obliged to pass this point, especially as the railway line leaving from Jakarta passages through here (and the train is an important means of locomotion in Indonesia). This was the case for me twice, first on the way to Dieng Plateau via Borobudur, then again on the way back to the other side on our way to Bromo volcano and then Bali.
Concretely, there is not much to see in Yogyakarta itself. Still, I visited it a little, strolling through the alley ways of the guesthouse neighbourhood and the market, but this has mostly shops and a city atmosphere. This stop was in essence a rest stop for me, marking a little pause by spending a night here each way. My only regret, not having seen the flower garden of the sultan's palace (Taman Sari), which dates from the 13th century.
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Romain Beuvart
City located in the centre of Java island in Indonesia.
My suggestion:
Do not miss the Sunday morning bird market.
Summary:
Yogyakarta never leaves a traveller visiting Indonesia indifferent. You either like it or not, but you will always be curious about and wonder at this huge, surprising city. I remember particularly having adored the Sunday morning bird market, when the little furry animals are hooked right at the top of extremely tall masts so that they can sing far from the crowd.
Yogjakarta is one of the most festive cities in Indonesia . Do not miss going to explore the bars and clubs in the town centre, get the locals to recommend the in places to you.
The area surrounding Yogyakarta city is particularly beautiful: Merapi volcano's steep relief lends itself to lovely hikes.
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Nina Montagné
206 travellers' photos
