Welcome to my Yogyakarta Itinerary! Here, you will learn how to see some of the best sights that Yogyakarta has to offer. More importantly, I will show you how you can fit them all into just a few days, and still have the chance to catch a bit of night time culture afterward.
There are several reasons that I decided to create this itinerary. First and foremost, however, was to create and inspire you to visit Yogyakarta. It is an amazing city and region, and one that every tourist interested in Indonesia should experience.
Yogyakarta is a city in Central Java, Indonesia. It is the second largest tourism destination in Indonesia, yet many people have never even heard of it. This is simply because most visitors only ever go to Bali. Foreign tourism companies only advertise trips to Bali, and Yogyakarta is left out in the cold.
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I am here to change all of that. Yogyakarta is every bit as wonderful as Bali, and in many ways it is more so. Many visitors will even tell you that it is BETTER than Bali! Just check out THIS article to read a few reasons why.
In this Yogyakarta Itinerary, I have created a 3 day trip that will show you a lot of the highlights of this unique city. A lot of this has been built around its incredible culture and history, and showcases temples, palaces and ruins. At the end I will add some extra options such as daytrips that you can use to supplement other activities if you like, or simply add on extra days to create a longer itinerary.
Let’s take a look.
Table of Contents
- Day #1 Yogyakarta Itinerary
- Day #2 Yogyakarta Itinerary
- Day #3 Yogyakarta Itinerary
- Beyond the 3rd day
- Day Trips
- Tours
- Where to stay in Yogyakarta
- Summary
Day #1 Yogyakarta Itinerary
My Yogyakarta Itinerary begins with a look around the central city of Jogja (Yogyakarta). This is where you will be staying, and is the heart and soul of the entire region. Central Jogja is where the Sultan lives. His family and descendants have been in residence there for hundreds of years, and the entire city was built around his palace and surrounding structures.
You can make your own way easily around to everything on this first day Itinerary. If you have hired a scooter, then it will only be a few minutes ride between spots. Otherwise, hire a Becak, as they will be available all around this area.
WHY NOT check out all the wonderful options available on KLOOK? Have a look now at THIS LINK.
Keraton Yogyakarta
Our first stop is the Keraton. This is the Royal Palace, and even though it is open and you can actually wander around the grounds taking photos, it is still fully functional and used by the Sultan and his family.
Getting to the Keraton is easy. It is located right in the middle of Jogja, and you will pass by it many times as you move about the city. Click HERE for a Google maps location.
When you arrive at the Keraton, visit the ticket office under the large tree and pay your entrance fee. This will include a guide, and some of them speak very good English, so make sure you ask. The guide will meet you by the main gate, and then escort you around the entire complex. They will you a full history lesson and explain everything you would ever want to know about the Sultan and his amazing home.
Taman Sari Water Castle
The Water Castle is just around the corner from the Keraton, so it will only take you a couple of minutes by scooter, or is a short trip in Becak. HERE is a Google location.
It is a similar deal at Taman Sari as at the Keraton. Pay your entrance fee, and a guide will be allocated to you. On this occasion you might be in a larger group, but once again they have English speaking guides. Last time I was there, I was the only foreigner in the group, and the guide would explain everything in Indonesian, then give me the English version. It was like I had my own private guide.
Taman Sari is an amazing place, and one of my favorite places around Jogja. This is where the Sultan once bathed with his wives and mistresses. There is an underground Mosque, and some very interesting tunnels and ruins. Most of the area is inhabited these days by the locals, and it is not all flooded with water like it was in its Heyday. You CAN still see how amazing it once was, though, and it is still at the top of my list of places I like to return to when I visit Jogja.
As a matter of fact, the place we choose to stay when we are in Jogja is right up the street from Taman Sari. We can actually see it from the front door. This is not coincidence. I LOVE Taman Sari!
Malioboro Street Walk
Once you arrive in Yogyakarta, you will learn very quickly about Malioboro Street. Jalan Malioboro is the VERY center of Jogja, and the main intersection is actually called “Nol Kilometer” (Zero Kilometer). This is a major hangout for locals, and every night, especially weekends, the intersection is packed with crowds getting photos, chatting, or just sitting and enjoying the ambience.
Once you leave Taman Sari, head down to Malioboro Street. It is 2.5 km long, and entirely lined with markets, food stalls, and shops. There are becaks and Andongs (horse and carts) everywhere. You can spend the entire late afternoon and early evening browsing and strolling your way down the street, enjoying its unique vibe.
Just in case, HERE is a Google maps link to Malioboro Street Nol Kilometer.
Alun-Alun Kidul
From Malioboro Street, set your GPS for THIS location. Alternatively, jump in a Becak and ask to be taken to Alun-Alun Kidul, or Alkid for short.
This place is something like I have seen nowhere else, especially on the weekends. At night time it comes totally alive, and gets almost as packed with people as Nol Kilometer does.
At the center of Alkid are two massive trees in a park. There is a local legend that says if you can walk between the trees blindfolded, then basically your wishes will come true. As a result, you will see many people attempting it as their friends look on and call out encouragement. There is also a lot of laughter as they veer wildly off track and miss the trees altogether. Trust me, its not that easy!
All around Alkid at night time you will see people sitting on the grass eating dinner. The street that encircles the park is alive with street food, and colorful neon cars drive around the street adorned with Hello Kitty and a myriad of other characters. These are pedal powered and available for hire to anyone.
Alun-Alun Kidul is a great way to relax for the evening, but make certain to not linger too long, because it’s an early start in the morning!
Day #2 Yogyakarta Itinerary
On Day#2 of the Yogyakarta Itinerary, you will be waking early to head to see one of the Wonders of the World. So make certain you are well rested. It will be an early start.
Before I get into the itinerary, I just want to make this one note. This day on the Yogyakarta itinerary is BIG one, and involves quite a bit of travel. You can do it by yourself, and hire a scooter or even a car and make your own way. I will provide Google maps links for each location. You can also create your own tour, that will pick you up and drop you at your hotel, and take you to all the locations. This is a great option, but a bit more expensive. So it depends on your budget. I inserted a link in the text above, and will put a link at the end of this days itinerary for you as well.
Borobudur Sunrise
Visiting Borobudur has to be on the list of ANY visitor to Jogja. It is simply amazing, and has been named in many lists as one of the 7 Wonders of the World.
Borobudur is the single largest Buddhist Structure in the world, and its setting in a lush green valley surrounded by active volcanoes only adds to how incredible this place is. On top of that, seeing the sunrise from the top of the temple, as it rises up over the spires of Borobudur is a sight that you will never forget.
If you take the tour, the entrance ticket is included in the price, which is good because a sunrise ticket is a lot more expensive than a normal ticket. That’s one expense you will not have to worry about. If you would like a guide around the area though, it will cost you extra.
If you have not had breakfast, there are some nice little warungs outside the main gate, along with markets and street food carts.
Take a look at some special prices for Borobudur tickets combined with Prambanan at THIS LINK.
For a Google Maps location of Borobudur, click HERE.
UPDATE MARCH 2024 – As of right now you can’t get to Borobudur for sunrise. The temple is fully closed, and even access the was once possible through hotels on site has been stopped. There are still sunrise tours, but these will take you to nearby viewpoints where you can see the temple, not from on the temple itself.
Jeep Merapi
Once you leave Borobudur, set your GPS for THIS location.
There are many places to get a Jeep Tour of Merapi, and if you are on a tour they will take you to one of the best. Most are owned by the same company anyway.
Doing a Jeep tour is a bit of a gimmick, but it is a great way to get up close and personal to the most active volcano in the world. It will take you to a few interesting places along the way, with some really great views of the mountain (if there is no cloud). What I really liked about this trip was seeing some of the results of the most recent eruptions, and really getting a feel for how devastating a volcano can be. Even just the intense heat wave that rolls down the mountain causes death and destruction.
The tour doesn’t really leave the sealed or dirt roads, but is an easy way to find some of the museums and places to see around the slopes of Merapi. It will also finish with a run through the local river, so get the go pro and cameras ready for a bit of fun!
Prambanan Temple
Next stop on our Day #2 Yogyakarta Itinerary is the incredible Candi Prambanan. This is a massive Hindu Temple located not too far out of Jogja, and actually rivals Borobudur for how absolutely incredible it is.
Candi Prambanan is over a thousand years old, and consists of many structures made entirely of stone. The highest central structure is actually higher than even Borobudur! Most of the temple structures were destroyed a long time ago by a series of earthquakes, and are now being painstakingly rebuilt. This involves teams of archeologists, and takes many years to complete just one structure with all the original pieces.
This only makes Candi Prambanan even more amazing, and walking through the ruins provides an incredibly surrealistic experience. My best suggestion here is to get a guide, even if you are on a tour. They will take you to places in the temple that you cannot normally go, and explain things about Prambanan that you normally would not find out.
Click HERE to read my full guide to Candi Prambanan.
Click HERE for a Google maps location.
Day #3 Yogyakarta Itinerary
Day #3 on my Yogyakarta Itinerary takes you to some more amazing ruins and temples around the Jogja area. We will conclude the day at one of the most popular new Sunset Spots on the surrounding hills that the locals love.
If you are all “templed out”, then take a look below at some of the other day trips I recommend, that you can easily substitute for this version of Day #3. The wonderful thing that I love about itineraries, is that they can be changed and altered depending upon your personal requirements and tastes.
Candi Sambisari
First stop on Day #3 will be Candi Sambisari. This temple is pretty close to Candi Prambanan. Click HERE for Google maps location.
Candi Sambisari is a beautiful Hindu temple. It is not quite on the scale of Prambanan, but even the casual tourist can see the similarities. It sits in a hollow that you access from all sides via stairs down to the level of the temple. The surrounding slopes are beautifully grassed, which makes it a very nice temple to visit and sit on the grass to relax for a bit.
The reason this temple is in a hollow is not because that was how it was built. The entire complex was actually completely buried, possibly by an ancient eruption, right up until the late 1960’s. It was discovered by a local farmer, and a full excavation finally uncovered the temple and surrounds 20 years later.
The discovery of Candi Sambisari has led to much speculation that there may be even more temples in the Jogja area that are also still buried, and may never be found.
Ratu Boko
Ratu Boko is next on our Yogyakarta Itinerary. This is one of my favorite places around Jogja, and it is no coincidence that it has many similar characteristics to one of my other favorite places, Taman Sari.
Ratu Boko is the ruins of an ancient Kraton. It can be found on the hills to the south of Candi Prambanan, and can actually be included in the entry price to Prambanan if you like.
The complex across the top of the hill has amazing views, and the most popular time to visit is at sunset, which can be gorgeous. Scattered around the area are the ruins of the Kraton itself, stone stair cases, caves, and bathing pools for the Princesses and her maids. Wandering around the area is beautiful, and when I visited, I ended up spending much more time there than I had planned!
Click HERE for the Google location.
Tebing Breksi
Tebing Breksi is next up on the Yogyakarta Itinerary. It is on the next hill past Rotu Boko, and only a short trip by road.
This is basically a really nice limestone cliff with incredible views. It is very popular with the locals as a nice place to visit for lunch on a daytrip. The cliffs are white, and have beautifully carved pictures and one large stone carved dragon. It is a great place for photos, and on top of the cliffs themselves you will find a lot of “selfie” spots with photographers ready to snap a few shots for you.
Click HERE for a Google Location.
Candi Ijo
Just up the same road from Tebing Breksi is Candi Ijo, another small temple complex. It is only about 3 minutes ride and impossible to miss. Even so, HERE is a location for it.
Candi Ijo is amazing. It was actually closed the day we came to visit after Tebing Breksi, as we had started out too late. So we made a special trip back to see it another day, and are very glad we did.
This temple complex sits right on top of the hill, and is blessed with incredible views. It has half a dozen structures that look incredible, and several more on lower terraces that are still being reconstructed. Take the time to wander around and see everything, then get some incredible photos up near the main temple that has the best views.
Obelix Hills Sunset
The last stop on Day #3 of my Yogyakarta Itinerary is Obelix Hills.
The surrounds of Yogyakarta has many hills, and there are many places to view the sunset. Today alone, we have visited two popular places at Ratu Boko and Candi Ijo. Another very popular one is on an adjacent set of hills, and is called HeHa Skyview. Today, though we will visit Obelix Hills, as it is quite close to Candi Ijo.
To get to Obelix Hills, you just have to keep following the same road along the top of the hills from where you already are. HERE is a Google Maps location.
Obelix Hills has beautiful views all the way back over distant Jogja, and around to all the surrounding lines of hills. The Sunsets are incredible, and it is set up for everyone to get a good view. You can grab a spot at a table, sitting in beanbags, or even in a hanging net! The choice is yours, especially if you get there early enough.
There is also a restaurant at Obelix Hills, that serves really great local food, so stay for dinner if you like and enjoy the live music, especially on the weekends.
Beyond the 3rd day
There are still plenty more things to do around Jogja. Personally I spent an entire month there last visit, and there are still places I want to go back and explore. Many of them are a day trip away from Jogja, but are worth going to!
Check out the following list of day trips and tours. If you are staying longer than 3 days, then these suggestions will offer you some wonderful places to visit!
Day Trips
Day Trips from Yogyakarta are the best way to fill your Yogyakarta Itinerary. I have done many trips from Jogja, and here is a quick list of my favorites. I have also written individual articles about some of these, so follow the links to read more.
- Nepal Van Java – This incredible village sits high on the side of Mount Sumbing, and is one of the most colorful villages in Indonesia. I LOVED this place. Check out my article HERE.
- Pantai Timang Gondola and Gunung Kidul Beaches – An amazing manual gondola across to an island off a beautiful local beach. Gunung Kidul Beaches are some of the best I have seen in Java and well worth visiting! HERE is my article about it.
- Gunung Api Purba – An ancient volcano and incredible short hike that takes only a few hours to the top and back. It features amazing and unique scenery, narrow canyons to traverse, and very interesting history. Read my article about it HERE.
- Puncak Becici and Bukit Paralayang Watugupit – Puncak Becici is a great viewpoint on top of the hills in the midst of a Pine forest. It has great views of Jogja. Bukit Paralayang Watugupit is a popular sunset spot high on the hills over looking the local beaches south of Jogja. The beaches below also offer Jeep tours, Sandboarding and ATV hire.
- Jomblang Cave – This incredible caving experience begins with being manually lowered by rope and harness into a 60 meter deep sinkhole. You can check out a great tour to get you there through THIS LINK. Highly recommended experience – read more about it HERE.
Tours
The Yogyakarta area has a lot of really great tours. One that I already mentioned in this article is the very popular Borobudur Sunrise tour. They can be a great way to see some outstanding places that you would probably not find yourself, even WITH your own transport. Below, I will list a few that get to some great places that are definitely worth seeing if you have the time!
- Jomblang Cave Tour – This amazing cave is a sinkhole, and you are lowered into the cave manually on the end of a rope. The inside is incredible, and is a unique experience. All caving gear required is provided on site. For another option try THIS LINK.
- Borobudur Sunrise and Prambanan Tour – This full day trip takes you to amazing Borobudur for the sunrise, and then onto the incredible Prambanan as well!
- Timang Beach Gondola – This tour takes you to one of my favorite places around Jogja, the Pantai Timang Gondola!
- Jogja Car and Driver Hire – Technically not a tour, but with your own private car and driver you can make up your OWN tour. Or just ask the driver to recommend places to visit. You have him for the whole day.
CHECK OUT all the best tours for awesome prices on KLOOK at THIS LINK.
Where to stay in Yogyakarta
I highly recommend staying in the local area around Malioboro Street and Nol Kilometer. This is a great area, and is central to so much of what you want to see and experience. Here are a couple of places that are great, including the place I choose to stay myself.
This great homestay is right around the corner from Nol Kilometer and just up the road from Taman Sari. It is where I love to stay in Jogja!
More expensive option that is right at the very top of Malioboro Street.
Another expensive option right on Malioboro. If you can afford them, I highly recommend them!
If you are looking for cheap accommodation in Jogja, you can’t go past the Good Karma Hostel!
For more information about how to get around and where to stay in Yogyakarta, keep a look out for my complete Guide to Yogyakarta. You can find a link to it HERE.
Summary
Yogyakarta is an amazing city and region. When you visit, I would recommend a minimum of 3 days to see and experience some of the magical things that make Jogja what it is. In this Yogyakarta Itinerary, I hope you have found a very helpful and efficient way to do that.
If you have any questions or comments, feel free to drop them in the comment section. Below, I will leave a link to all my Yogyakarta articles for you.
DON’T FORGET to leave a comment below. I promise to reply!
Thanks for showing Yogyakarta to the world.