Yogyakarta is truly one of Indonesia’s most interesting cities. You could spend a week soaking-up everything that Jogja has to offer, but we have put together a 3-day Yogyakarta itinerary that will give you a well-rounded taste of Yogyakarta’s cultural, historical and natural richness.
The UNESCO Heritage sites of Borobudur Temple and Prambanan are architectural marvels that should be on everyone’s bucket list. Yogyakarta, known as Jogja to the locals, is the main base for exploring these famous historic sites but you will soon see there is so much more to discover in Java’s hippest city, beyond Borobudur and Prambanan. The city is heaving with tradition and culture such as crafts, performing arts, puppetry, batik making, as well as the rich historical legacy of the monarchy and a vibrant student life.
One thing we love about visiting Jogja is how accessible it is, with many of our favourite attractions being based around the city centre, which means you can fit more into your trip while soaking-in the sights and sounds of the city on foot. Jogja is also very easy to reach from Bali and Jakarta, making it a great spot to stop at when visiting Indonesia.
Here’s the our recommendation to Explore Yogyakarta: A Perfect 3-Day Itinerary.
Table of Contents
Where to stay
Picking a good, central location will make it easier to follow our itinerary. The Malioboro area is central to many of the city’s key sights, so you can travel on foot while taking-in the attractions in the city centre, however the city is easy to navigate by Grab taxi also. Here are our recommendations for accommodation in Malioboro, Yogyakarta to suit all budgets.
Luxe: Harper Malioboro
Mid-Range: Sheraton Mustika Yogyakarta Resort and Spa
Budget: Kotta Go and Ceria Hotel are our top stylish and budget friendly picks
Family Friendly: Ayaartta Hotel
Day 1
It’s time to get acquainted with the vibrant city of Yogyakarta! Let’s start with the key sites of central Jogja.
Morning
Spend the morning on a self-guided walking tour of Yogyakarta’s most prominent landmarks and getting better acquainted with the city.
- If staying in the Malioboro area or close by, you can walk to the Taman Sari Water Palace. Here, there are water gardens with attractive architecture within the grounds that were once used by the Sultanate for leisure purposes. There are underground tunnels and an underground mosque as well as castle ruins. For extra information on the history, you can tour the Taman Sari Water Palace with a local guide. The Water Palace isn’t as well kept as you might hope, but you can certainly imagine how extravagant it was when it was used by the Sultanate.
- Next you can travel on-foot to the nearby Kraton Ngayogyakarta Hadiningrat or The Royal Palace, the official palace of the Ngayogyakarta Hadiningrat Sultanate. Still the residence of the Sultan and his family, they carry on the traditions of the Sultanate. There are decorative ornaments, Javanese architecture, art, instruments and ceremonial items to see. The Royal Palace is very serene and well kept, and you can observe officials going about their day-to-day business.
- Grab lunch on Malioboro Street. There are restaurants serving authentic Javanese Cuisine like Gudeg, a Jackfruit stew and Mi Ayam Bu Tumini, a delicious combination of noodles, tender chicken and a soul-warming broth. House of Raminten and Sate Klathak Pak Pong are a couple of our recommendations.
Afternoon
Spend the afternoon soaking-up the vibrant atmosphere of Malioboro Street whilst shopping for handicrafts, traditional batik fabrics, spices, souvenirs and trying street foods.
- Pasar Beringharjo is a market that has a history of trading, dating back to 1758. These days, it is a market place in an indoor mall selling a huge selection of products as well as food. If you want to buy some Batik or any quintessentially Javanese handicrafts, this is the spot.
- Walk Malioboro Street and browse the stalls and food vendors that line the street. The street continues for around 2.5 kms and you will have the opportunity to observe daily life in Jogja and absorb Javanese culture.
Evening
Explore the vibrant personality of Yogyakarta by night.
- Being a University Town, Jogja comes into its own at night. Head to Alun Alun Selatan, a large square that is filled with dozens of stalls in the evening. Alun Alun is kind of like a festival with street food stalls, balloons, games and Becak Rickshaws. There are even activities like kite flying, games and painting. Legend has it that if you walk through the two large trees in the middle of the square blind folded, your dreams will come true. You will see some locals trying, but it’s not as easy as you think! Taking a ride in the pedal cars called becak rickshaws is great fun. The colourful cars are lit up with LED lights, blast fun music from the stereo and you get to pedal it around the square. You can drink Javanese coffee, dine on noodles from the street stalls and nibble on Javanese snacks.
- Try to turn-in before too late, as Day 2 is a big day with an early start!
Day 2
A full day tour to Borobudur Temple, and Prambanan Temple, both UNESCO Heritage sites.
Morning
- Borobudur Temple is the largest Buddhist temple in the world. To catch sunrise at Borobudur Temple, which we highly recommend, you will need to depart your accommodation around 4am. We recommend taking a private tour with a driver, who will pick you up from your hotel. However, you can also rent your own car or scooter if you are on a budget. Here, you will marvel at Buddhist statues, stone carvings and scriptures, incredible stone architecture and the marvellous natural surroundings that will take your breath away. After you have explored Borobudur, you can enjoy breakfast at a cafe overlooking the Borobudur Temple, your last opportunity to take it all in.
- Around 1 and a half hours from Borobudur temple is Candi Prambanan, the largest Hindu temple in Indonesia, and over a thousand years old. It is equally inspiring as Borobudur temple, and exploring these two wonders of the world in a day is a humbling experience. A series of stone structures still stand, with the main temple standing at 47 metres, although much of the ruins have been destroyed by earthquakes, and are currently in the process of being restored.
- If you want to see Mount Merapi also, it is best to visit after Borobudur temple and before Candi Prambanan. Mount Merapi is Indonesia’s most active volcano with an elevation of 2910 metres.
Want to book a full day tour to Borobudur Temple and Candi Prambanan with transfers in an air-conditioned vehicle? Use this Klook voucher to get it from just $40AUD.
Evening
Culinary exploration around Malioboro Street
- Grab dinner at one of the Javanese restaurants on Malioboro Street. Sample dishes like Soto Bathok Mbah Katro, a rich, meaty broth served inside a coconut shell or Sate Klathak Pak Pong, sate skewers with rich Indonesian spices. Pendopo Lawas is an atmospheric spot with live music some nights.
Day 3
Spend the day getting to know more about Javanese Culture and crafts.
Morning
Get crafty by taking part in a handicraft workshop.
- Attend a 9am Batik course at one of the local boutique Batik factories, where you will learn about different types of batik patterns as well as the methods used to create them like stamping and drawing. The course goes for around 5-hours and you will be able to use your own creative direction to drive your batik creation, a 50cm x 50cm painting.
- Alternatively, you can book a silver smithery class and craft your own sterling silver jewels or even a pottery workshop.
Afternoon
Get a feel for the old Yogyakarta by exploring Kota Gede.
- With your new found appreciation for handmade trinkets, visit historic Kota Gede, famous for the arts and crafts. Kota Gede was a city itself in the past, but is now more like a historical village within the city, with lots of narrow alleyways leading to small factories and workshops.
Evening
Learn the story of Prince Rama at the Ramayana Ballet performance.
- Catch the Ramayana Ballet performance, a fabulous production about the story of Prince Rama and his conquests that has been running nightly for many, many years in Yogyakarta. You will learn more about the culture of the Javanese people, and you will be treated to a buffet dinner in the garden of the Ramayana Purawisata before the show.
Want to book tickets for the Ramayana Ballet performance and buffet dinner for $45AUD? Use this Klook voucher!
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That concludes your three-day Yogyakarta exploration! We hope you have a well-rounded Jogja experience when following our exciting 3-day Yogyakarta itinerary.
