Borobudur

Borobudur is a 9th-century Buddhist temple in Central Java, with stone terraces, carved reliefs and bell-shaped stupas. Most visitors reach it as a day trip from Yogyakarta.

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Borobudur is a Buddhist temple built in the 9th century in Central Java, Indonesia. Its stone structure rises in stacked terraces, with carved relief panels lining the walls and bell-shaped stupas on the upper levels. Many reliefs show Buddhist teachings, so a slow walk around the monument repays close looking. The site is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, so the posted rules on dress and where you may walk apply.

Most visitors stay in Yogyakarta and make Borobudur a day trip. The temple lies about 40 kilometers northwest of the city. Sunrise visits are popular, but access to the upper levels is limited, so check current rules before planning around them. The dry season, roughly May to October, is the driest stretch of the year. This trip suits history lovers and first-time visitors to Indonesia who have half a day to a full day for one major site.

Borobudur in five

Check how to climb before you buy a ticketAccess to the upper terraces has been capped and timed, with provided footwear and sometimes a guide. Read the official Borobudur ticketing page for slots and rules, and book ahead for weekends and holidays.Tickets and the day trip
Arrive at opening or late afternoonMidday heat on bare stone is brutal and tour groups peak mid-morning. An opening-hour slot or a late-day visit gives cooler light and thinner crowds, and photos are easier.
Decide whether a sunrise tour is worth itSunrise visits start in the dark and cost more, and cloud or haze can hide the view. Punthuk Setumbu hill gives a distant sunrise view for less, and daytime visits give the best look at the reliefs.
Base in Yogyakarta unless you want a dawn startYogyakarta is roughly 1 to 1.5 hours away and has far more places to eat and sleep. Stay near Borobudur only for dawn access or a quiet village night.Where to stay near Borobudur
Add Mendut and Pawon on the same visitTwo small Buddhist temples lie along the old ritual route a few kilometers from the main site. They are quick, quiet and usually skipped, so they make a calm addition to a half-day.

Things to do in Borobudur

See all attractions in Borobudur

Temple · BorobudurBorobudur TempleBuy your ticket online before you go. Entry to the temple structure needs a ticket, and the ticket includes an audio guide.

Temple · BorobudurPawon Temple

Sight · BorobudurJl. Mendut & Jl. Borobudur

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to BorobudurPut the places you like in Borobudur on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Airport: Yogyakarta International (YIA), about 1.5–2 hours by road
Getting there: Driver or tour from Yogyakarta, about 1–1.5 hours
Getting around: On foot at the site; driver or ride-hailing for nearby sights
Best base: Yogyakarta for variety; Borobudur village for a dawn start
Time needed: Half a day; a full day with Mendut, Pawon and a village stop

Weather by month

Rainy days

Best
Good
Mixed
Poor

JanuaryRain30 rainy daysHigh29°Low22°Wet, showers
FebruaryRain27 rainy daysHigh29°Low22°Wet, showers
MarchRain28 rainy daysHigh30°Low22°Wet, humid
AprilRain27 rainy daysHigh30°Low23°Drying out
MayRain21 rainy daysHigh30°Low23°Dry, quiet
JuneRain18 rainy daysHigh29°Low22°Dry, clear
JulyPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh29°Low21°Dry, clear
AugustPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh30°Low21°Dry, busy
SeptemberRain17 rainy daysHigh30°Low21°Hot, dry
OctoberRain24 rainy daysHigh30°Low22°Hot, showers
NovemberRain28 rainy daysHigh30°Low22°Rains return
DecemberRain28 rainy daysHigh29°Low22°Wet, holidays

Average daily high and low in Borobudur, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Right now in Borobudur

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 27°
Humidity: 92%
Wind: 0 km/h
Chance of rain: 100%

Borobudur

03:40 AM

Tuesday, November 3

GMT+7

Today30°22°100%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 30°, Low 22°. Chance of rain 100%.
Wed31°23°100%Wednesday: Rain. High 31°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 100%.
Thu31°23°100%Thursday: Drizzle. High 31°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 100%.
Fri32°23°100%Friday: Rain. High 32°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 100%.
Sat31°23°99%Saturday: Drizzle. High 31°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 99%.
Sun32°23°93%Sunday: Drizzle. High 32°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 93%.

Updated 01:19 AM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 18,144 IDR

Amount

Converted to

IDR · Indonesian Rupiah

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

What's on in Borobudur

Concerts, festivals and big events in and around the city

Events calendar

Every year

Jul–AugSaparan BekakakYogyakarta, a day trip

Day trips by train

Before you go to Borobudur

Borobudur and Prambanan toursGuided day trips from YogyakartaCompare day trips

Borobudur entry ticketsTimed slots; check official rulesCheck ticket options

eSIM for JavaMaps and ride-hailing around YogyakartaRead the guide

Travel insurance for IndonesiaCover for heat, stairs and delaysRead the guide

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Rules for Borobudur, checked

Check Indonesia's entry rules on the immigration directorate site (imigrasi.go.id) before you fly, since visa-free and visa-on-arrival lists change.Source
Borobudur is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Dress modestly, covering shoulders and knees, and follow posted signs and staff directions on where you may walk.Source
Indonesia enforces strict drug laws, and penalties for possession are severe. Check any prescription medicine with the Indonesian embassy before you fly.

All Borobudur guides

How toYogyakarta to Borobudur day trip: tickets, climbing and sunriseChecked Oct 3, 2026

Where to stayWhere to stay for Borobudur: Yogyakarta, the village or the hillsChecked Oct 2, 2026

Head to headBorobudur vs Prambanan: which temple to see near YogyakartaChecked Oct 1, 2026

Plan around Borobudur

Yogyakarta

The city base with Prambanan and the palace

Read the guide East Java

Bromo and Ijen volcano country

Read the guide All of Indonesia

Entry rules, money and islands

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Borobudur FAQ

Is Borobudur worth visiting?

Yes. It is the largest Buddhist temple in the world and one of Indonesia's most important sights, with detailed reliefs and wide views. Go early, accept that climbing may be limited and treat it as half a day.

Can you still climb Borobudur?

Access to the upper terraces has been limited, timed and sometimes guided, so check the official ticketing page for current rules. Entry to the lower galleries and grounds is usually simpler. Book ahead for weekends and holidays.

Is Borobudur sunrise worth it?

It can be, but only on clear mornings, and it costs more and starts in the dark. A daytime visit shows the reliefs better. Punthuk Setumbu offers a distant sunrise for less, so check the weather first.

How do you get to Borobudur from Yogyakarta?

By driver, tour or ride-hailing in roughly 1 to 1.5 hours, depending on traffic. Public buses exist but are slower, so a tour or driver suits most visitors, especially for an early start.

How long do you need at Borobudur?

Two to three hours at the temple, or half a day with Mendut and Pawon. Add time if you want a village stop or sunrise. Pair it with Prambanan on a separate day rather than rushing both.