Tom There are so many things to do and attractions in Yogyakarta! Not to be confused with Jakarta, Yogyakarta has secretly crept up the charts as a popular travel destination for Singaporeans. So what are some of the attractions in Yogyakarta? In this post, we’ll show you some of the most popular things to do in Yogyakarta so that you can plan for your next trip there!
Yogyakarta Attractions – Prambanan Temple
Built in the 7th Century, Prambanan is the largest hindu temple in Indonesia. Because of its intricate carvings and unique architectural design, it is today, one of the most popular tourist destination in Yogyakarta.
Tip: Stand on the platform at the “Prambanan” sign for an Instagram-worthy photo!
Prambanan Temple
Entrance Fee: 350,000 IDR ($32SGD) [inclusive of train ride around the complex]
Opening Hours: 6am to 5pm
Yogyakarta Attractions – Parangtritis Beach
If you’ve always been dreaming about a horse ride by the beach, Parangtritis Beach is where you can hitch a horse and ride off into the sunset. Hear the waves as your horse drawn carriage moves seamlessly across the sandy beach.
Tip: If you just want to experience the ride for a short while, there’s a shorter (and cheaper) ride for 30K IDR
Parangtritis Beach
Horse Drawn Carriage: 100K IDR for 30 mins
Photo Taking by the Beach: 10K IDR
For the full details (and photos) of Prambanan and Parangtritis Beach, check out day 1 of our Yogyakarta Travel Itinerary.
Yogyakarta Attractions – Borobudur Sunrise Tour
Borobudur is arguably the biggest attraction in Yogyakarta. Many tourists head to Yogyakarta to catch the sunrise from this temple on a daily basis – the largest buddhist temple complex in Indonesia.
Tip: The Borobudur sunrise tour tickets can be really expensive ($40 SGD per person). To enjoy sunrise with views of Borobudur in the distance at a much cheaper price ($3 per person), check out Punthuk Setumbu Hill instead.
Borobudur Sunrise Tour
Price: 450,000 IDR ($40 SGD) [inclusive of torchlight, souvenir and coffee/snack after visit]
Opening Hours: 6am to 5pm (earlier for Sunrise Tours)
Yogyakarta Attractions – Chicken Church
After a visit to Borobudur, another attraction nearby is Chicken Church. Here, you can take a picture with this uniquely constructed church and enjoy views of the vicinity from the “head” or “tail” of the church.
Tip: Although the steps up to Chicken Church may be steep, it is less than 200 metres away. For the elderly, there’s a jeep that runs up and down the hill at 7,000 IDR ($0.60 SGD) per trip.
Chicken Church
Price: 30,000 IDR ($3 SGD) [inclusive of a fried casava snack]
Opening Hours: 5:30am to 5pm (earlier for Sunrise Tours)
Things to do in Yogyakarta – Kedung Pedut Waterfall
Besides the man-made attractions in Yogyakarta, there are also many natural attractions in Yogyakarta. There are several beautiful waterfalls in Yogyakarta and this time we visited Kedung Pedut Waterfall for its clear bluish green waters. Another famous waterfall in Yogyakarta is the Sri Gethuk Waterfall.
Tip: Grab a locker for ($0.50SGD) and immerse in this natural pool right from the waterfall!
Kedung Pedut Waterfall
Price: 20,000 IDR ($2 SGD)
Opening Hours: 7am to 5pm
Things to do in Yogyakarta – Kalibiru National Park
At Kalibiru National Park, one of the “must-do” things is to do a jump shot overlooking Lake Sermo.
Tip: A larger platform that allows jump shots costs 35K IDR while a smaller platform (no jumping allowed) costs 15k IDR. Go for the jump shots! Cost includes photography of about 20 photos, of which, you can choose 8 digital ones to bring home as souvenir.
Kalibiru
Price: 20,000 IDR ($2 SGD)
Opening Hours: 9am to 5pm
For the full details (and photos) of Borobudur, Chicken Church, Kedung Pedut Waterfall and Kalibiru, check out day 2 of our Yogyakarta Travel Itinerary.
Things to do in Yogyakarta – Merapi Jeep Adventure
Mount Merapi is an active volcano in Yogyakarta. In fact, just before we visited this time round, Merapi just spewed out some ashes. Thankfully, we were still able to join the Merapi Jeep Adventures for a tour around the region.
Tip: Remember to put on the masks provided as the tracks are all covered in ashes. Also, do note that this ride is definitely not suitable for the elderly and young due to the bumpy rroads along the way.
Merapi Jeep Adventure
Price: 350K IDR (Short Route for up to 4 pax)
Opening Hours: 8am to 4pm
Things to do in Yogyakarta – Pindul Cave Tubing (Goa Pindul)
When was the last time you did something for the first time? Cave tubing was a first for us and it was indeed an interesting experience to observe the formations within the cave, hole in the cave that allows the sky light to come in as well as bats in the cave!
Tip: For a refreshing experience, ask your guide to bring you beneath the smaller waterfalls during the lazy river cruise (2nd part of the Pindul Cave tour).
Pindul Cave (aka Goa Pindul)
Price: 180,000 IDR ($16 SGD) per pax (includes cave tubing, river cruise and simple lunch)
Opening Hours: 7am to 4:30pm
Things to do in Yogyakarta – Pinus Pengger Yogyakarta Pine Forest
Many people flock to Pinus Pengger Pine Forest in the evenings to catch the beautiful sunset in the distance. If you’re early, check out the pine forest itself. Photos taken from bottom up can bring you delight!
Tip: In order not to be disappointed, queue up at the “hand structure” about 20 minutes before sunset timing to have your photos taken from the platform. Also, be sure of your position in line, else you might just be “cut” out of queue!
Pinus Pengger Pine Forest
Price: 5,000 IDR
Opening Hours: 6am to 8pm
For the full details (and photos) of Merapi Jeep Adventure, Pindul Cave Tubing and Pinus Pengger Pine Forest, check out day 3 of our Yogyakarta Travel Itinerary.
Things to do in Yogyakarta – Sultan Palace aka Tamansari Water Castle
Sultan Palace (aka Tamansari) used to be a retreat for the Sultan after spending years away in war. To enact the tranquil environment, many reflection pools were constructed within the palace. Hence, it’s nickname the “Water Castle”. Here, you can also visit the famous underground mosque in Yogyakarta.
Tip: Climb up to the top level of the building next to the main pool to get an bird’s eye view of the premise.
Taman Sari (Sultan Palace/Water Castle)
Price: 15,000 IDR (Entry) + 3000 IDR (Photo Permit)
Opening Hours: 9am to 3pm
Things to do in Yogyakarta – Shopping at Jogja City Mall
For you city revelers out there, if you’re looking to stock up on snacks, do some mani/pedi or enjoy some air-conditioning comfort, Jogja City Mall is probably one of the best malls in Yogyakarta.
For the full details (and photos) of Taman Sari (Sultan Palace) and Jogja City Mall, check out day 4 of our Yogyakarta Travel Itinerary.
What to eat in Yogyakarta
There are so many food to eat in Yogyakarta. Odeg seems to be one of the top recommended eats in Yogyakarta. If you have tried it, let us know what you think in the comments section below. Here are some of the food we’ve tried in Yogyakarta…
Where to stay in Yogyakarta
Our top 2 recommendations in Yogyakarta would be Greenhost Boutique Hotel and Hyatt Regency Yogyakarta. This is because Greenhost Boutique Hotel offers a great location in central Yogyakarta while Hyatt Regency Yogyakarta offers a perfect getaway in the midst of a garden sanctuary.
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We hope you have enjoyed our coverage of the top things to do and attractions in Yogyakarta!
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