Yogyakarta

Java’s soul: temples, art, street eats

Yogyakarta stands out as a cultural hub in Indonesia, home to centuries-old temples and vibrant art scenes. The city’s history is visible at the majestic Borobudur and Prambanan ruins, both UNESCO World Heritage sites. Local markets display handmade crafts and traditional batik fabrics. Street food stalls serve flavorful dishes like nasi goreng and gudeg. Daily life revolves around music, dance and community events that reflect deep Javanese traditions. Visitors can explore museums, climb nearby volcanoes or join workshops to learn batik painting techniques.

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City in Indonesia

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$	Cheap
$$	Medium
$$$	Expensive, upscale
$$$+	Very expensive, luxury

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Safety: 6.0

General Safety:	7
Health & medical:	6
Accessibility:	4
Tap water:	1

Read details

3/5

English is spoken in most hotels, tourist restaurants, and by younger locals. In markets and with drivers, basic Indonesian or a translation app helps. Most signage in tourist areas is bilingual.

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Last update: 12 Oct 2026

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Yogyakarta Summary

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World-class for temples and Javanese culture. Visit ancient temple complexes, explore royal palaces, watch traditional performances and browse lively markets.

Place score

7.1

Best at:

Historic sites

Street food

Guided tours

Local cuisine

Museums

Personal score

Suited for

👶 6

Families

🧓 5

Seniors

❤️ 8

Couples

🛡️ 7

Travel Beginners

Indonesia – Quick facts

Guide Etiquette Holidays Other

Power Grid:	230 V, 50 Hz Plug: Type C , Type F Type C: Type F: Read about power adapters
Currency:	Indonesian Rupiah (IDR) £1 ≈ IDR 24,141.20
Cashless info:	Rating 4/5 Cashless payments are becoming more common in urban areas of Indonesia, particularly in larger cities. Credit cards and mobile payment apps like GoPay and OVO are widely accepted in many establishments. Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers:	Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison

Tipping:	Tipping is appreciated but not mandatory in Indonesia. A 5-10% tip is common in restaurants, and taxi drivers may expect small tips for good service.
Public drinking:	Public drinking is not commonly seen in Indonesia. Alcohol is consumed mainly in licensed establishments such as bars, restaurants, and hotels.
Public smoking:	Smoking is prohibited in many indoor public spaces, including restaurants, shopping centres, and public transport.

Independence Day (17 August)	A national holiday with celebrations and ceremonies
Nyepi (March/April)	The Balinese Day of Silence, celebrated with unique rituals and festivities

Emergency contact:	Emergency Number: 112
Taxi apps:	GoJek, Grab
Other:	Indonesia is known for its stunning natural landscapes, including beaches, volcanoes, and jungles. It is a great destination for nature lovers and adventure seekers.

Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Yogyakarta, Indonesia

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Feb

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Mar

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Apr

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May

🌦️

Jun

🌤️

Jul

🌤️

Aug

🔥

Sep

🌦️

Oct

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Nov

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Dec

High season:	June - Sep.
Shoulder season:	April - May, Oct., Dec.
Crowdedness:	7 (Many tourists)

Tap on a month for more info Hover over a month for more info

Climate details

Lebaran (Eid al-Fitr, end of Ramadan): hotels booked out, roads and sights very crowded with domestic travellers

Borobudur: climbing the upper terraces requires advance online booking, daily visitor numbers are capped

Rainy season roughly November to March, dry season roughly May to October

Don't miss

🌄 Watch sunrise over Borobudur Temple and feel its calm energy
🏯 Explore the ancient Hindu Prambanan Temple complex at twilight
👑 Walk through the Sultan’s Palace and its royal courtyards
🎨 Discover traditional batik making in Taman Sari workshops
🍛 Try gudeg, Yogyakarta’s signature jackfruit stew, at a local warung
🛍️ Stroll down Malioboro Street for night markets and street performances

You've been here?

Why travel to Yogyakarta?

Yogyakarta is a must for anyone curious about Indonesia’s heritage and creative spirit. The city is packed with living history: stroll the Kraton (Sultan’s Palace), wander through the maze of Taman Sari Water Castle or catch a shadow puppet show. Just outside town, you’ll find the world-famous Borobudur and Prambanan temples – two of Southeast Asia’s most awe-inspiring sites. But Jogja isn’t just about the past: its street food, markets and youthful energy make it feel alive and welcoming. Downsides? Traffic can be chaotic and the heat and humidity are real – plan for midday breaks and bring sun protection. Tourist scams and pushy vendors pop up around major attractions, so keep your wits about you. Still, the warmth of local hospitality and the city’s creative pulse more than make up for it.

🏯Places worth seeing

1 Borobudur Temple
2 Prambanan Temple
3 Barong Temple
4 Sambisari Temple
5 Kraton
6 Taman Sari Water Castle
7 Alun-Alun Kidul

🎡Places for activities

1 Ullen Sentalu Museum
2 Waterboom Jogja
3 Taman Sari Water Castle

🏞️Natural landmarks

1 Parangtritis beach
2 Samas Beach
3 Jalan Goa Pindul
4 Jalan Jomblang
5 Mount Merapi National Park
6 Pantai Timang

🛍️Shopping

1 Kotagede Market
2 Jalan Wijilan
3 Batik Winotosastro

🎈Events

Sekaten Festival
Jogja Java Carnival
Wayang Kulit Performances
Grebeg Maulud (Sultan’s Parade)
Jogja International Street Performance
Batik Carnival
Ramayana Ballet at Prambanan
Jogja Art Weeks
Food festivals on Malioboro
Independence Day celebrations

Explore on map

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Knowledge before you go

Start early for temples; mornings are cooler, quieter.
Dress modestly for the Kraton and temples; bring a sarong for quick coverage.
Use a trusted driver or ride-hailing for day trips like Borobudur, Prambanan and Merapi.
Skip peak Malioboro hours; try an evening street-food walk to avoid heavy touting and crowds.

How to travel to Yogyakarta

Yogyakarta International Airport (YIA) is about 45 km from the city, with direct flights from Jakarta, Bali and some international hubs. Airport trains, buses and taxis connect to the city center (about 1–1.5 hours). Trains and long-distance buses link Yogyakarta to other Javanese cities like Surabaya and Solo. Private drivers and tours are easy to arrange for temple day trips.

Access summary

From Yogyakarta Int’l Airport (YIA): airport train or taxi, about 40–60 minutes.
From Jakarta: frequent flights about 1 hour; trains 7–8 hours.
From Bali (Denpasar): direct flights roughly 1.5 hours; occasional long-distance buses.

Check your route from anywhere

Where to stay in Yogyakarta

Yogyakarta has everything from backpacker hostels in Prawirotaman to boutique hotels near Malioboro and luxury stays in the Kraton area. Most accommodations are centrally located and affordable. Book ahead for major festivals and school holidays. Some budget options may have basic amenities-check reviews for cleanliness and AC.

Hotel recommendations

*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.

Eastparc Hotel Yogyakarta

9.4

Hotel Tentrem Yogyakarta

9.4

Jambuluwuk Malioboro Hotel Yogyakarta

8.6

Lafayette Boutique Hotel

9.3

Melia Purosani Yogyakarta

9.2

Greenhost Boutique Hotel Prawirotaman

9.1

Royal Ambarrukmo Yogyakarta Hotel

9.2

Sahid Raya Hotel & Convention

8.8

Grand Keisha Yogyakarta

9.4

Yogyakarta Marriott Hotel

9.4

Explore more accommodations

How to get around Yogyakarta

Central Yogyakarta is walkable, especially around Malioboro and the Kraton. Becaks (cycle rickshaws) and ojeks (motorbike taxis) are everywhere and cheap for short trips. Ride-hailing apps (Grab, Gojek) are reliable for longer distances. Public buses connect major sites, but traffic can be slow. Renting a motorbike is popular but only for confident drivers – roads are busy and rules are flexible.

Budget snapshot

Costs compared to home

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To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

-78 %

Daily expenses in Yogyakarta are around 78% lower than the average across United States. That means you'll spend a lot less on meals and getting around.

Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

-20 %

Your exchange rate (GBP to IDR) is 20% better than in recent years. That means travelling now is considerably cheaper compared to the past.

Travel costs

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

	Backpacker	Mid-range	Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation	£18	£42	£126
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person	£9	£26	£72
🍝 Food per day	£8	£14	£49
🚕 Transportation per day	£1	£2	£5

Food & Drink

🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person	£3.70
🍛 Lunch Set, per person	£1
🍟 Fast food combo	£2.20
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day	£3
☕ Cappuccino	£1.15
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l	£1.80

Transportation

🚌 Public transport ticket	£0.18
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi	£3.30
⛽ Petrol, 1 l	£0.50

Other

🎞️ Cinema ticket	£1.90
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult	£9
🤧 Cold medication	£1
💇 Basic haircut	£1.10

Safety information overview

General safety

Yogyakarta is generally safe, with low violent crime. Petty theft and scams can occur in crowded areas and markets — keep valuables secure and be wary of overly persistent touts. Traffic is busy — cross streets carefully.

Health & Medical

Medical care is decent, with clinics and hospitals in the city. Tap water is not safe to drink — use bottled water. Heat, humidity and mosquito-borne illnesses are the main risks; bring any needed medications.

Accessibility

Most main attractions, hotels and malls are accessible, but sidewalks can be uneven and some temples have steps. Public transport is basic and not always accessible. Check ahead for specific needs.

Tap water

Tap water is not safe for drinking. Bottled water is cheap and widely available. Always stay hydrated, especially in the heat and avoid ice or raw foods washed in tap water.