Yogyakarta Indonesia – Your Quick Travel Guide

In a nutshell

The laid back city of Yogyakarta is known by many locals as the cultural capital of Indonesia, as this is the centre of art and literature which is why people flock to this relaxed university town that is also famous for its batik textile industry and other ornate Indonesian handicrafts.

Why go to Yogyakarta

There are many reasons to go to Yogyakarta which is one of the nicest cities in Indonesia and sits on the island of Java. With that in mind, it is easy to visit from neighbouring cities such as Jakarta and you can take the train between the two which allows you to take in the scenery at the same time.

This city is also close to stunning sights in Java such asBorobudur Temple which is the largest Buddhist temple of its kind in Southeast Asia and one of the must-visit attractions in Indonesia. As well as stunning architecture, you can also take in a range of other sites such as batik workshops where you can learn now to make batik textiles that use wax to make intricate patterns on cloth and are then dyed a series of bright colours.

Yogyakarta is also known for its delicious food scene and you can spend time walking along the main arteries such as Jalan Malioboro where you can snack on local treats and enjoy warm bowls of noodle soup or toothsome curries. Jalan Malioboro is also famous for its amazing shopping opportunities and you will find shops and stalls here selling local handicrafts.

When to go to Yogyakarta

It is always hot in Yogyakarta, as is the rest of Indonesia, but there are two distinct seasons in the form of the wet and dry season. The wet season usually runs in the autumn and winter months, so you are likely to experience rain if you visit Yogyakarta from October to April.

Where to stay in Yogyakarta

As Yogyakarta is well known on both the domestic and international tourist scene, there are a huge number of hotels and guesthouses for you to choose from that will suit all budgets. There are a number of high end choices here such as five star hotels that offer rooms for around USD 100 per night, or less if you travel in the low season, but you can also find rooms for as little as USD 20 if you are happy to stay in backpacker accommodation. You should note however that this is usually basic and you may not get hot water or air conditioning for this price. There are a wealth of guesthouses to choose from which are located around the main street of Jalan Malioboro and you can also find mid range accommodation from around USD 50 per night which is a good compromise if you are traveling as part of a group or if you fancy something a little more upscale without breaking the bank.

Where and what to eat in Yogyakarta

Yogyakarta is known for its dining scene and around Jalan Malioboro you will find a huge range of street food options. These include street side stalls where you can get a meal of curry and rice for as little as IDR 20,000 and you can also eat in one of the many food courts located in the malls around the city.

As if that wasn’t enough you can also choose some high end options which still won’t cost as much as they would back home and you can dine in the many restaurants around the city which should not set you back more than IDR 200,000 for a full meal. As you would expect from a big city in Indonesia, there are also a number of international restaurants and Western fast food chains found here.

How to get around Yogyakarta

The centre of Yogyakarta is quite small so with that in mind you will find that it is easy to get around the city centre. There are a number of ways to do this and there are plenty of taxis which start at a flat rate of IDR 7,000, including the popular Bluebird group.

You can also now take Gojek which are motorcycle taxis as well as Grabcar which is an app based transport service that allows you to book a car to take you around the city and is usually cheaper than using a taxi.

You can also take trishaws around town which are called becak and usually cost around IDR 10,000 for a short trip, and if you are in the centre of town then these can be one of the quickest and easiest ways to get around.

Yogyakarta is also known for its horses and carts that usually solicit tourists around the major tourist attractions but the horses are usually very malnourished and not cared for very well so you may want to give these a miss.

How to get in and from Yogyakarta

By air

Yogyakarta is serviced by Adisucipto International Airport which is around 8 kilometres away from the city centre. This is technically an international airport but you will find that most of the flights from here operate domestically.

There are frequent flights to Jakarta which take 50 minutes and you can get tickets from around IDR 350,000 in the low season, rising to around IDR 500,000 at peak times.

You can also fly to Denpasar if you want to visit Bali which takes an hour and tickets cost around IDR 450,000 for a direct ticket.

There are also flights all over the archipelago to places such as Sumatra, Kalimantan and Sulawesi. You can also fly to Singapore and Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia from Yogyakarta.

By bus

Another good way to get to Yogyakarta, and one of the cheapest options, is to get a bus.

There are services to Yogyakarta from neighbouring Bandung and tickets are around IDR 30,000 for the five hour trip.

You can also get a bus to Solo or Semarang and tickets cost 25,000 and 45,000 respectively.

By train

One of the nicest ways to get to Yogyakarta however is to take the train from Jakarta which takes you through the countryside and takes around seven to twelve hours depending on the service you choose. Tickets are in the region of IDR 300,000 and although this isn’t the fastest or the cheapest option it is one of the most exciting ways to travel that lets you take in the sights along the way.

You can also take the train to Yogyakarta from Bandung, Surabaya and Solo.

By car

Finally, some people choose to hire a private car, which comes with a driver, and drive between Yogyakarta and a neighbouring city like Bandung, Semarang, Jakarta or Surabaya. Prices vary according to the car you choose and where you plan to travel from, but if you are traveling as part of a group then this can be one of the cheaper options and also allows you more flexibility.

Is Yogyakarta a safe place to visit?

Yogyakarta is generally a safe city to visit and violent crime is rare, particularly involving foreigners. One thing to look out for is low level crime such as snatch thefts where thieves on motorbikes snatch bags and then drive off at high speed. Also make sure that you protect your valuables in crowded areas around tourist attractions as there is a risk of pick pocketing.