The stone spires of Prambanan temple complex under a bright blue sky

Yogyakarta

Yogyakarta is a city in central Java known for the Borobudur and Prambanan temples, the sultan's kraton palace, and the batik and wayang kulit shadow puppet traditions.

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Yogyakarta, usually called Jogja, is a city in south central Java, Indonesia, and the seat of a sultanate. The kraton, the sultan's palace, still stands at the center of the old city. Borobudur, a 9th-century Buddhist monument, lies to the northwest, and Prambanan, a Hindu temple complex, lies to the east. Both can be reached as day trips.

Go here for history, food and craft in one trip. Batik workshops, street food and wayang kulit performances fill the days. Plan at least three nights: one for the temples, one for the palace and old town, and a spare day for the rest. Stays near Malioboro or south of the kraton keep the palace and night food within walking distance. The dry season, roughly May to October, is the most comfortable time for the outdoor sites.

Yogyakarta in five

Book the Borobudur climb aheadWalking up onto the temple structure needs a separate ticket with a daily quota, booked online. The standard ticket covers only the grounds.
Take the airport trainYogyakarta International (YIA) is far west of the city. The airport train reaches Yogyakarta station in about 40 minutes.
See Prambanan in the late afternoonThe Hindu temple complex is east of the city and has evening Ramayana ballet shows on an open-air stage in the dry season.
Dress modestly at the kratonThe sultan's palace is still a royal residence. Cover shoulders and knees.

Things to do in Yogyakarta

See all attractions in Yogyakarta

Historic site · YogyakartaTaman Sari Tourist VillageGo in the morning. It is cooler, the crowds are thinner, and the site closes in mid-afternoon.

Museum · YogyakartaAffandi Museum

a very tall clock tower towering over a city at night

Sight · YogyakartaKraton

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to YogyakartaPut the places you like in Yogyakarta 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 40 min by airport train
Getting there: Trains from Jakarta about 6–8 hours; flights from Bali and Jakarta
Getting around: Grab and Gojek; a car with driver for the temples
Best base: Near Malioboro or Prawirotaman
Time needed: 3 days

Weather by month

Rainy days
Festival

Best
Good
Mixed
Poor

JanuaryRain29 rainy daysHigh30°Low23°Wet
FebruaryRain27 rainy daysHigh30°Low23°Wet
MarchRain29 rainy daysHigh30°Low23°Wet
AprilRain27 rainy daysHigh30°Low23°Showers
MayRain20 rainy daysHigh30°Low23°Drying out
JuneRain18 rainy daysHigh30°Low22°Dry
JulyPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh29°Low21°Dry
AugustPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh30°Low21°Dry
SeptemberRain16 rainy daysHigh31°Low22°Dry
OctoberRain24 rainy daysHigh31°Low23°Showers
NovemberRain28 rainy daysHigh30°Low23°Wet
DecemberRain28 rainy daysHigh30°Low23°Wet

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

Festivals: Jul Saparan Bekakak · Aug Saparan Bekakak

Right now in Yogyakarta

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

Feels like: 28°
Humidity: 94%
Wind: 4 km/h
Chance of rain: 98%

Yogyakarta

03:40 AM

Tuesday, November 3

GMT+7

Today31°24°98%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 31°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 98%.
Wed32°24°100%Wednesday: Rain. High 32°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 100%.
Thu32°25°96%Thursday: Thunderstorms. High 32°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 96%.
Fri32°24°98%Friday: Drizzle. High 32°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 98%.
Sat31°24°92%Saturday: Drizzle. High 31°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 92%.
Sun32°24°76%Sunday: Drizzle. High 32°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 76%.

Updated 01:04 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · 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 Yogyakarta

Concerts, festivals and big events in and around the city

Events calendar

Every year

Jul–AugSaparan BekakakYogyakarta

Day trips by train

Borobudurabout 1–1.5 hours by roadThe largest Buddhist temple in the world. Book the climb ahead.Read the guide
Prambananabout 40 min by roadNinth-century Hindu temples with tall spires.
Mount Merapiabout 1 hour by roadJeep tours on the slopes of an active volcano; subject to closures.

Before you go to Yogyakarta

Yogyakarta staysNear Malioboro or PrawirotamanCheck availability

Borobudur sunrise and PrambananDriver-guide days from the cityCompare tours

eSIM for JavaTrain apps and driver chatsRead the guide

Insurance for temple daysCheck motorbike taxi coverRead the guide

We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.

Rules for Yogyakarta, checked

Check whether your nationality needs a visa before you fly, on the Directorate General of Immigration site (imigrasi.go.id).Source
The Kraton (palace) expects visitors to dress modestly, with shoulders and knees covered. Wear shoes that are easy to take off at mosques and some temples.
Indonesia has strict drug laws, and possessing narcotics, even in small amounts, can bring a long prison term.
Keep your passport on you for hotel check-in and police checks, and carry a copy in case the original is lost.

Plan around Yogyakarta

All of Indonesia

Islands, entry rules, transport and money

Read the guide Borobudur

The great Buddhist temple, about 1 to 1.5 hours away

Read the guide Solo

Java's other royal city, a short train ride east

Read the guide East Java

Volcano country beyond Yogyakarta

Read the guide Indonesia entry steps

The e-VOA and arrival form for any island

Read the guide eSIM and data

Ride-hailing and train apps on Java

Read the guide

Yogyakarta FAQ

Can you climb Borobudur?

Yes, with a separate climb ticket that has a daily quota and a fixed time slot. Book it online before your visit.

How many days do I need in Yogyakarta?

Three. One each for Borobudur and Prambanan, and one for the kraton, Taman Sari and the markets.

When is the best time to visit Yogyakarta?

June to September, in the dry season. Rain falls most afternoons from November to March.

Borobudur or Prambanan: which should I see?

Borobudur is a huge Buddhist monument best at sunrise or early morning, and Prambanan is a Hindu temple complex best late in the afternoon. With two days, do both.

How do I get from Yogyakarta to Borobudur?

A car with driver or ride-hailing takes about 1 to 1.5 hours. Tours also leave from the city center, including pre-dawn departures for sunrise.