Java’s most popular tourist destination, Yogyakarta - or simply Jogja as it is frequently called - is a lively city of culture. A renowned education destination with a vibrant arts scene, Yogyakarta boasts a youthful exuberance that never fails to captivate anyone looking for new sights and sounds to experience. And for those of you looking for adventure, its central location makes it the perfect place from which to explore further afield with daily flights to Jakarta, Surabaya and Bali, as well as extensive train and road connections reaching far and wide.
Areas & Neighbourhoods in Yogyakarta
Malioboro Street — If you’re looking to sample street-food culture Yogyakarta’s main road offers an absolute smorgasbord of treats to try and truly comes to life at night. Here you’ll also discover plenty of tourist shops where you can pick up a souvenir for your friends back home, as well as a range of affordable accommodation.
Kraton — Yogyakarta’s most flamboyant attraction is the Sultan’s Palace, or Kraton. More than just a palace, the Kraton is in fact a walled city in which the current Sultan still lives amongst a plethora of fabulous pavilions first built in the 18th century. The Kraton remains the heart of the traditional and cultural aspect of Yogyakarta’s personality.
The Sultan's Square — Since its opening to the public, the Sultan’s Square has evolved from its original purpose as an area used primarily by the Sultan’s army for military training to become the venue for a host of parades, fairs and festivals that take place throughout the year.
Kotabaru — Historically an area occupied largely by Dutch officials and designed as a garden city, Kotabaru is distinguished from the rest of Yogyakarta by its colourful flora and wide tree-lined boulevards. And with a colonial style church and monastery, you’ll experience a very real sense of the region’s rich international heritage.
Things to See in Yogyakarta
As one of the oldest cities in Indonesia, Yogyakarta has plenty of sites of heritage to captivate your imagination. From Kotagede, an untouched example of ancient Javanese architecture and now home to a bustling marketplace, to the Dutch-colonial quarter of Kotabaru and a whole host of modern shopping malls, visiting Yogyakarta is like a trip through time.
Things to Do in Yogyakarta
As you might expect from a university city and regional hub there is no shortage of things to do in Yogyakarta. Perhaps you’d like to join in with the Sunday morning workout at Boulevard UGM where you can take part in a run or practice your martial arts before sampling one of the many foods available at the stalls there. Maybe you’d prefer to go rafting on the Elo or Progo river, indulge in yoga and meditation, or play a round or two on one of the scenic city golf courses. Or why not play it by ear as you take a tour of the city in a traditional rickshaw, one of the few places left in the world where they still operate.
