Yogyakarta is the center of Javanese arts, close to the great Buddhist stupa of Borobudur, Hindu Prambanan, the Sultan's Kraton and Mount Merapi. May to September is dry and best.
Good to know
- Sunrise tickets at Borobudur must be booked in advance.
- Dress modestly in temples and the Kraton.
- Becak rickshaws are cheap but agree the fare first.
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Places the planner can use
Mark places as a must or something to skip. The itinerary is built only from this list; ★ marks the destination’s highlights.
Living palace of the Sultan, with gamelan rehearsals and courtiers.
Royal bathing complex with pools and underground passages.
Learn wax-resist dyeing and make your own piece.
Museum of Javanese culture with wayang puppets, masks and textiles, plus evening shadow-puppet performances.
Night-time performance of epic stories with gamelan music.
World's largest Buddhist temple, rising above the mist at dawn.
Towering 9th-century Hindu temples, with a ramayana ballet in the evening.
Famous shopping street with batik, snacks and street food at night.
Off-road jeep ride across lava fields and abandoned villages.
Sweet jackfruit stew with rice and egg, a Yogya specialty.
Old royal capital known for silver workshops and ancient streets.
Descend into a sinkhole to see a beam of light in the cave.