Museums in Yogyakarta
- 01
Museum Benteng Vredeburg
A restored Dutch-era fort at the south end of Malioboro that now holds dioramas on Indonesia's independence struggle.
- Time needed
- About 1 hour
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Morning or after the midday heat
- Tickets
- Entry is ticketed; check current prices and hours before going. Some rooms have restrictions on photography.
- 02
Sonobudoyo Museum
A museum of Javanese art and culture beside the northern square, with wayang puppets, bronzes, keris and masks, and evening shadow-puppet shows.
- Time needed
- 1 to 1.5 hours
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Afternoon, or evening for wayang
- Tickets
- Ticket required; check current prices and hours. Evening wayang performances are separate, so check schedule and booking on site.
- 03
Ullen Sentalu Museum
A privately run museum in the hills at Kaliurang, north of the city, that shows the culture of the Javanese royal courts through costume, batik and portraits.
- Time needed
- 1.5 to 2 hours plus travel
- Walking
- Moderate
- Best time
- Morning
- Tickets
- Entry and tours are managed on site; check current opening hours and booking rules on the official channel. Photography inside is restricted.
Temples in Yogyakarta
- 04
Borobudur
The 9th-century Buddhist monument in Central Java, about 40 km north-west of Yogyakarta, with stepped terraces, relief panels and a crown of perforated stupas.
- Time needed
- Half a day plus 1 to 1.5 hours each way
- Walking
- Demanding
- Best time
- Early morning
- Tickets
- Entry rules have changed several times; Wikipedia says climbing is restricted by a daily quota with a guide and special footwear. Check the official booking channel before travelling. Dress modestly, as it is a Buddhist sacred site.
- 05
Prambanan Temple
The 9th-century Hindu temple complex dedicated to Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, about 17 km east of the city, with a monthly Ramayana ballet.
- Time needed
- 2 to 3 hours
- Walking
- Moderate
- Best time
- Early morning or late afternoon
- Tickets
- Ticket required; check current prices and hours. Dress modestly. Some shrines have restricted access after earthquake damage.
Palaces in Yogyakarta
- 06
Kraton Yogyakarta (Sultan's Palace)
The walled palace of the Sultan of Yogyakarta, built in the 1750s, where part of the complex is a museum of royal objects and part is still the ruler's home.
- Time needed
- 1.5 to 2 hours
- Walking
- Moderate
- Best time
- Morning, before the heat
- Tickets
- Open hours, ticket price and any extra camera fee are set by the palace and change; check the official Kraton site or its tourism page before you go. Dress modestly, with covered shoulders and knees, and follow staff instructions on where photographs are allowed.
- 07
Taman Sari Water Castle
The ruined and partly restored pleasure garden of the Sultans, about 2 km south of the Kraton, with bathing pools and an underground mosque.
- Time needed
- About 2 hours
- Walking
- Moderate
- Best time
- Early morning, before the crowds and heat
- Tickets
- Pay at the entrance; check current ticket and camera fees. Wear shoes with grip, as damp stone can be slippery, and carry small change for guides, who should state their fee before you start.
Neighbourhoods in Yogyakarta
- 08
Kotagede
The old Mataram capital south-east of the city, known for silver workshops, a royal cemetery, an early mosque and old merchant houses.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Walking
- Moderate
- Best time
- Morning
- Tickets
- Workshops and shops are free to enter; there is no obligation to buy. The royal cemetery and mosque are active religious sites with visiting rules, so follow staff instructions and dress modestly.
Day trips in Yogyakarta
- 09
Ratu Boko Archaeological Park
A hilltop palace-settlement site about 3 km south of Prambanan, with gateways, pools and a viewpoint over the temples.
- Time needed
- 1 to 2 hours
- Walking
- Moderate
- Best time
- Late afternoon
- Tickets
- Ticket required; check current prices and hours. Wear sun protection and sturdy shoes.
Landmarks in Yogyakarta
- 10
Tugu Yogyakarta Monument
The white monument at the junction north of Malioboro, a marker on the line from the Kraton to Mount Merapi.
- Time needed
- 15 minutes
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Early morning
- Tickets
- Free to see from the pavement. Take care at the junction, where motorbikes are constant.
