15 Recommended Tourist Spots in Yogyakarta, a Treasure House of World Heritage Sites

Yogyakarta, a famous tourist destination, is an ancient city in central Java. Yogyakarta is an important city supporting traditional arts and is rich in history and culture, and is home to the Borobudur ruins and Prambanan Temple, both World Heritage sites. But that's not all that Yogyakarta is attractive about. It also has cultures such as Kris (dagger), Wayang Kulit (shadow puppets), and Batik, all three of which are registered as Intangible Cultural Heritage sites! It's truly a treasure trove of World Heritage sites. With such a wonderful history and culture, Yogyakarta is the second most popular tourist destination in Indonesia after Bali. The secret to its popularity is its easy access from Bali, where you can go on a day trip. Why not take a trip to this ancient city that attracts tourists from all over the world?

1. Borobudur Temple (World Heritage Site)

When you think of Yogyakarta, the first thing that comes to mind for many people is the Borobudur ruins. The Borobudur ruins are one of the largest Mahayana Buddhist ruins in the world. In 2010, it was damaged by ash from the eruption of Mount Merapi, but it has now been completely restored. The ruins are beautiful and impressive reliefs that depict Buddhist tales centered around the Buddha and the mesh-like stupas (stupas) on the upper levels of the ruins.

For art lovers, the ruins are so large that it would take a whole day to see them all, but if you are visiting as a tourist, a half-day tour is recommended. The Borobudur ruins boast magnificent beauty no matter when you visit, but the sight of them standing in the morning sun is so mysterious and fantastic that we recommend a sunrise tour that you should experience at least once. It is a tourist spot that you should definitely stop by when you visit Yogyakarta.

2. Prambanan Temple (World Heritage Site)

The two biggest tourist spots in Yogyakarta are the Borobudur Temple and the Prambanan Temple. Both are registered as World Heritage Sites, and many tourists visit to see them.

The Prambanan Temples are a group of Hindu temples with an indescribably beautiful appearance. The Prambanan Temples are especially fantastic at dusk, and you'll want to stare at them forever. The exterior walls of the scattered Hindu temples each have magnificent reliefs that are well worth seeing! After entering the temples, take a look around the entire group of temples from a little distance and enjoy their beauty. It will be an unforgettable memory of your trip to Yogyakarta.

3. Malioboro Street

Malioboro Street is where you can really feel like you've "sightseeing" in Yogyakarta. It is the main street in the city of Yogyakarta and is bustling with locals and tourists all day long. Souvenir shops and cheap hotels line both sides of the street, and it gets so crowded at night that it's difficult to pass each other. The liveliness is worth a visit! It is a recommended tourist spot in Yogyakarta.

As you walk down the street, you will be asked to ride a human-powered bicycle called a "becak." Becak is a rare form of transportation for tourists, but in Yogyakarta, you can see it all over the city as a means of transportation for local residents, so it is worth taking a commemorative photo even if you don't ride it. It's also fun to buy a cute Becak figurine as a tourist souvenir!

Name: Malioboro Street
Address: Jl. Malioboro Yogyakarta

4. Tamansari

Taman Sari, the Water Palace, is also a popular tourist spot in Yogyakarta. Taman Sari, also known as the Water Palace, was built as a detached palace of the Yogyakarta Royal Palace (Kraton). This was used as a private garden for the royal family, where they would enjoy entertainment such as gamelan music concerts and traditional Javanese dance.

Once inside the palace gate, there is a large pond. The contrast between the large pond and the Water Palace is said to be very beautiful! In the past, only the royal family was allowed to enter, but it is now open to the public and has become one of Yogyakarta's most famous tourist spots.

5. Sonobudoyo Museum

Sonobudoyo Museum is a historical and cultural museum located near Taman Sari, and is a recommended spot for sightseeing in Yogyakarta. Boasting the largest collection of items in Yogyakarta, Sonobudoyo Museum exhibits items related to Javanese traditional performing arts culture as well as items from outside Java. In particular, the traditional Javanese performing arts of batik, kris, and wayang kulit are a must-see as they are Indonesia's intangible cultural heritage. The old gamelan at the entrance to the museum will let you touch it if you ask, so if you want to try playing gamelan, feel free to ask a staff member.

You can enjoy the museum at a relatively leisurely pace as long as you don't run into a local student field trip. This is a must-see tourist spot in Yogyakarta where you can feel the history and culture of the ancient city.

If you visit Yogyakarta, this is a must-see tourist spot. Kraton means royal palace, and Sultan means monarch (king). Kraton, where the royal family still lives, has opened a part of the palace as a museum.

There are three museums owned by the palace within the palace. None of them are very large, but there is a museum that celebrates the achievements of the person who was the model for Indonesian banknotes, a museum where you can see the royal family tree, and a museum where horse-drawn carriages are on display. You can experience the history of Yogyakarta, and maybe even meet the king on a tour of Kraton?! There might be a chance. It is a popular spot with tourists from abroad.

7. Phraosan Temple

Praosan Temple is a Buddhist temple located east of Sewu Temple. It is quite charming to see a temple standing alone in a rural area. Prambanan Temple is by far the most popular temple to visit, but Praosan Temple is also one of the Prambanan Temple Ruins. If you have time to spare during your stay in Yogyakarta and you like ruins, you should definitely visit this hidden popular tourist spot in Yogyakarta.

It is said that those who visit Praosan Temple will find happiness. It is also a temple that is said to grant fertility. Why not go and get some energy as a slightly different memory of your trip to Yogyakarta?

8. Sewu Temple

Sewu Temple is a Buddhist temple that is considered a relatively popular tourist spot in the Prambanan Temple Complex. It is the second largest Buddhist temple ruin in Indonesia after Borobudur, so if you have time, it is a temple you should visit.

Sewu Temple means a thousand temples in Javanese, but in reality there are about 240 temples. This is related to the legend of Loro Jogran in Yogyakarta. The site is large, so you can tour efficiently by using a shuttle bus or renting a bicycle.

Yogyakarta has many historical temples with plenty of things to see! Why not enjoy sightseeing at Sewu Temple as well?

Name: Candi Sewu
Address: Jl. Raya Yogya - Solo KM.15 Tlogo Kalasan Kabupaten Sleman

9. Beringharjo Market

If you come to an unfamiliar city for sightseeing, it's fun to visit the local market. Yogyakarta also has the Beringharjo Market, which can be accessed from Malioboro Street.

It is a huge market, with a row of shops selling all kinds of things, from batik and fabric shops to fresh food, dried goods, miscellaneous goods, and more. It is a traditional market where you can truly feel the heat and power of Yogyakarta. Why not take a look at it when you go sightseeing on Malioboro Street?

It is crowded with local people, so don't be intimidated and explore the market. Prices are negotiable, but if you're lucky, you might be able to get a lot of Yogyakarta souvenirs while sightseeing!

10. Kota Gede

Kota Gede, located on the southeast outskirts of Yogyakarta, is one of the oldest areas in the ancient city of Yogyakarta. It is a tourist spot famous for its silverwork. There are many shops with silver workshops here and there in the old streets.

Silver shops with designs unique to Yogyakarta are perfect for choosing souvenirs. If you join a sightseeing tour, you will often stop by Kota Gede and visit a silver workshop. The village of Celuku in Bali is also famous for silver, but each silver item has a different design, so it is fun to collect various silver items. If you have made the effort to visit Kota Gede, you should not only look for silver but also take a leisurely stroll around the quaint old streets.

11. Kalibiru National Park

Kalibiru National Park is a national park located on the top of a mountain in Kulon Progo Regency, about an hour's drive from Yogyakarta. It is still relatively unknown to visitors, but it has already attracted the attention of many foreign tourists as a popular tourist spot in Yogyakarta.

The highlight of this park is, without a doubt, the commemorative photo opportunity on the photo stand attached to the large tree. If you sit on the photo stand and take a photo, you can take a very unique photo with a magnificent view spreading out from your feet. It is easily accessible from Yogyakarta, so it is likely to become an even more popular tourist spot in the future.

12. Dieng Plateau

The Dieng Plateau is a scenic plateau. Located at an altitude of 2000m, the Dieng Plateau has long been a holy place for Hindus and a place of mountain worship on Java Island. The highlights of the Dieng Plateau are the Pandawa Temples, Sikidang Crater (sulfur springs), the mysterious Panchawarna Lake, the tea fields on the plateau, and the rice terraces. The beautiful scenery will cleanse your soul.

It is about a four-hour drive from Yogyakarta, so you can do a day trip, but it often gets foggy in the afternoon, so leave early in the morning. You can enjoy sightseeing in the Dieng Plateau in about three hours. There are also day trip tours available from Yogyakarta, so it might be a good idea to take advantage of them. It takes a whole day, so if you have enough time, it is a hidden tourist spot in Yogyakarta that you should extend your trip to.

13. Ambarukmo Plaza

Ambarrukmo Plaza is one of Yogyakarta's famous shopping malls, adjacent to the Ambarrukmo Hotel. This large shopping mall is home to the latest local fashion stores, souvenir shops, a food court, a supermarket, and more, making it a popular spot for both Yogyakarta locals and tourists alike.

It's a tourist spot with a different feel to the standard Yogyakarta sightseeing, but strolling through the mall with the locals will give you a taste of the exotic atmosphere and make for some fun memories. There are also massage parlors, so it's an advanced technique to relieve the fatigue of your travels there!

14. Ratu Boko Hill

There are Hindu ruins on Ratu Boko Hill. The ruins are from a palace built around the 9th century, and they exude a unique, sad atmosphere. Located to the east of Yogyakarta, Ratu Boko Hill is worth a visit because of its desolate beauty!

The view from Ratu Boko Hill, 200m above sea level, is also beautiful, and you can see Prambanan Temple in the distance. It is said that the most beautiful times are early morning when the morning mist is falling and at dusk. Ratu Boko Hill has fewer tourists than other ruins, so you can take your time to explore. It is a little-known tourist spot in Yogyakarta. If you go further east, you can also see Bengawan Solo (Solo River).

15. Jogja Bay

Jogja Bay, which opened in December 2015, is the largest water park in Java and is a new tourist spot that is becoming a landmark of Yogyakarta.

There are various types of water slides in the large park, and you can enjoy it all day. It is a must-see tourist spot, especially for families. It is perfect for taking a break from sightseeing in temples, ruins, and museums.

◎Summary

If you're wondering what Yogyakarta is like, try visiting the 15 tourist spots we've introduced here. You'll definitely feel that Yogyakarta is a charming ancient city. Why not experience the history and culture of this ancient city in Yogyakarta, a popular tourist destination for both domestic and international tourists?