Waymark

Indonesia · Java

Yogyakarta travel guide

Borobudur, Prambanan and Javanese culture

Borobudur temple at dawn. Photo: Heri nugroho, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

15h 15mflight from London
YIAnearest main airport
26° in Aprwarmest month
25° in Julcoolest month

Yogyakarta, or Jogja, is Java's cultural capital, with a sultan's palace, batik workshops and shadow puppet shows. It's the base for two of Asia's greatest temples.

Borobudur, the world's largest Buddhist temple, and Prambanan, a soaring Hindu complex, are both UNESCO sites. Mount Merapi, an active volcano, is close by.

Good forHistoryCultureTemplesVolcanoes

What Yogyakarta is known for

  • Borobudur

    The world's largest Buddhist temple.

  • Prambanan

    Ninth-century Hindu temples.

  • Batik

    Workshops and markets.

  • Mount Merapi

    Jeep tours on the volcano.

Top things to do in Yogyakarta

  1. 1

    Borobudur at sunrise

    Mist over the jungle.

    Find tours and tickets
  2. 2

    Prambanan

    Visit at sunset, with the Ramayana ballet.

    Find tours and tickets
  3. 3

    The Kraton

    The sultan's palace.

    Find tours and tickets
  4. 4

    A Merapi jeep tour

    Lava fields and villages.

    Find tours and tickets

See all tours and tickets in Yogyakarta

Where to stay in Yogyakarta

Find a hotel in Yogyakarta

Best time to visit Yogyakarta

Best value: Jan–Apr, Sep. April to October: the dry season.

  • Best valueGood weather, smaller crowds
  • PeakBusiest, highest prices
  • QuietCheapest, cooler or wetter
26 C26°J26.1 C26°F26.2 C26°M26.5 C26°A26.1 C26°M25.3 C25°J24.6 C25°J24.7 C25°A25.6 C26°S26.4 C26°O26.5 C26°N26.1 C26°D
Bar height is the average temperature in Yogyakarta, °C, 2001–2025 (NASA POWER).

Getting there and around

About 15h 15m from London to YIA, and flights from most UK airports. How long is the flight from your airport?

Use Grab or hire a driver for the temples.

Airport transfer to Yogyakarta

Find flights to Yogyakarta (YIA)

Shows the cheapest fares for next month on Aviasales, our flight partner. We may earn a commission, at no cost to you. Flight times are straight-line estimates for a direct flight from Heathrow.

Good to know

  • Book Borobudur tickets ahead: climbing the temple has limited slots.
  • Dress modestly at the palace and temples.
  • Fly from Bali in about 1.5 hours.
Indonesia guidesLGBT+ travelHealthcare abroadTap waterWhen to goFlight times

Yogyakarta FAQ

How many days in Yogyakarta?

Three days.

Can I visit Borobudur and Prambanan in one day?

Yes, with a driver.

More places in Indonesia

Back to the Indonesia travel guide + Add Yogyakarta to your bucket list