Discover 20 hidden attractions, cool sights, and unusual things to do in Yogyakarta (Indonesia). Don't miss out on these must-see attractions: Prambanan Temple Compounds, Taman Sari, and Pasar Beringharjo. Also, be sure to include Jalan Malioboro in your itinerary.
Below, you can find the list of the most amazing places you should visit in Yogyakarta (Yogyakarta).
Table of Contents
Prambanan Temple Compounds
Prambanan Temple Compounds is the World Heritage designation of a group of Hindu temple compounds that lie on the border between Yogyakarta and Central Java, Indonesia. It comprises Prambanan, Lumbung, Bubrah and Sewu temple compounds, all are located within Prambanan Archaeological Park.
These temples are known locally as candi in Indonesian and Javanese languages. The temple compounds are located along Opak River valley within Prambanan Plain or Kewu Plain, an archaeologically rich area dotted with numerous Hindu temples dated from the 8th and 9th centuries CE, historically linked with the Mataram kingdom. The diversity and sophistication of the temple compounds and archaeological sites in this area are comparable to Angkor archaeological site in Cambodia.[1]
Taman Sari
Legendary historic bathing complex. Taman Sari Water Castle, also known as Taman Sari, is the site of a former royal garden of the Sultanate of Yogyakarta. It is located about 2 km south within the grounds of the Kraton, Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Built in the mid-18th century, the Taman Sari had multiple functions, such as a resting area, a workshop, a meditation area, a defense area, and a hiding place.
Taman Sari consisted of four distinct areas: a large artificial lake with islands and pavilions located in the west, a bathing complex in the centre, a complex of pavilions and pools in the south, and a smaller lake in the east. Today only the central bathing complex is well preserved, while the other areas have been largely occupied by the Kampung Taman settlement.
Since 2017, the Historical City Centre of Yogyakarta including Taman Sari has been listed as a tentative World Heritage Site.[2]
Address: Jl. Taman Sari No.42, 55132 Kota Yogyakarta
Pasar Beringharjo
The Beringharjo Market is the oldest market in the Kraton area of Yogyakarta, Indonesia, having been a continuous place of trade since 1758. Right off of the main street Jalan Malioboro, Beringharjo Market is officially located on Jalan Margo Mulyo No. 16, Yogyakarta.
The word beringharjo literally means "banyan tree forest", a reference to the former trees that occupied the land, as well as to the notion that the market was expected to provide welfare for Yogyakarta residents. The stalls at Beringharjo Market sell a variety of goods, including batik, clothing, souvenirs, fast food, jajanan pasar (market snacks) (id), basic ingredients, household items, jamu (traditional herbal medicine), and antiques.[3]
Address: Jl. Pabringan No.16, 55122 Kota Yogyakarta
Jalan Malioboro
Street in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Jalan Malioboro is a major shopping street in Yogyakarta, Indonesia; the name is also used more generally for the neighborhood around the street. It lies north–south axis in the line between Yogyakarta Kraton and Mount Merapi. This is in itself is significant to many of the local population, the north–south orientation between the palace and the volcano being of importance.
The street is the centre of Yogyakarta's largest tourist district surrounded with many hotels, restaurants, and shops nearby. Sidewalks on both sides of the street are crowded with small stalls selling a variety of goods. In the evening several open-air street side restaurants, called lesehan, operate along the street. This is the street of the artists. Street musicians, painters, and other artists exhibit their creations on this road. Less obvious to the tourist, but more for the local population, side streets, lanes and structures that lead on to Malioboro are as important as the street itself.[4]
Address: Jl. Malioboro No.91, 55271 Kota Yogyakarta
Kotagede
City in Indonesia. Kotagede is a historic neighborhood in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. The name was also used for the district of the same name in the City of Yogyakarta. Kotagede contains the remains of the first capital of Mataram Sultanate, established in the 16th century. Some of the remains of the old Kotagede are remains of the palace, the royal cemetery, the royal mosque, and defensive walls and moats. Kotagede is well known internationally by its silver crafting.[5]
Address: Jl. Mondorakan, 55173 Kota Yogyakarta
Kraton Ngayogyakarta Hadiningrat
Also known as: Keraton Ngayogyakarta Hadiningrat
Museum in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. The Kraton Ngayogyakarta Hadiningrat is a palace complex in the city of Yogyakarta, Yogyakarta Special Region, Indonesia. It is the seat of the reigning Sultan of Yogyakarta and his family. The complex is a center of Javanese culture, and contains a museum displaying royal artifacts. It is guarded by the Yogyakarta Kraton Guards.[6]
Address: Jalan Rotowijayan No. 1, 55221 Yogyakarta
Tugu Yogyakarta
Historical landmark in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Tugu Yogyakarta is an important historical landmark in the city of Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Tugu means monument, which is usually built as a symbol of an area conceptualising characteristics of that region. Because of its historical background, Tugu Yogyakarta has become a historical icon of the city.
Tugu Yogyakarta is located right in the middle of the intersection between Mangkubumi Street, Sudirman Street, A.M Sangaji street, and Dipenogoro street of the city.
The name Tugu is also an alternative name for the Yogyakarta railway station.[7]
Address: Jalan Jenderal Sudirman, Yogyakarta
Gedung Agung
The Gedung Agung is one of 6 presidential palaces of Indonesia, it is located in the city of Yogyakarta. The palace complex covers an area of approximately 4.4 hectares. It is located in front of Fort Vredeburg.[8]
Address: Jalan Jenderal Ahmad Yani, 55121 Yogyakarta
Sonobudoyo Museum
The Sonobudoyo Museum is a Javanese history and culture museum and library in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. The museum contains the most complete collection of Javanese artifacts, after the National Museum in Jakarta. In addition to ceramics of the Neolithic era and bronze sculptures from the 8th century, the museum also includes collections of wayang, various ancient weapons, and Javanese masks.
The Sonobudoyo Museum consists of two units, with Unit I located at Jalan Trikora No. 6 Yogyakarta, and Unit II located at Ndalem Condrokiranan, Wijilan, to the east of main (northern) alun-alun in the city.
The museum also features nightly wayang and gamelan performances on weekdays, primarily for foreign and domestic tourists.[9]
Address: Jl. Pangurakan No.6, 55122 Kota Yogyakarta
Gembira Loka Zoo
Also known as: Kebun Binatang Gembira Loka
Zoological garden in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Gembira Loka Zoo is a zoological garden located in Yogyakarta, Special Region of Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Gembira Loka Zoo was opened in 1956 and comprises a botanical garden, orchid nursery, artificial lake, children's park, numerous bridges across the Gajahwong River, and a collection of approximately 470 animals, most notable of which are its Komodo dragons, orangutans, gibbons, and hippopotamus. The park is 54 acres in size.
In 2019, an zone called Zona Cakar (Scratch zone) has opened, focusing on carnivores, especially cats.
Gembira Loka Zoo has received many new animals from various countries, such as six African penguins from Singapore Zoo and eight lesser flamingos from Tanzania.
Gembira Loka Zoo added 12 meerkats and a pair of African lions from Batu Secret Zoo on May 9, 2021.[10]
Address: Jl. Kebun Raya No.2, 55171 Kota Yogyakarta
Taman Budaya Yogyakarta
Taman Budaya Yogyakarta is a place of cultural development center in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. TBY complex consists of two buildings namely the Taman Budaya Concert Hall and Societet Militair Building. The Concert Hall main functions as official room for fine art exhibition, such as painting, visual art, sculpture, and craft.[11]
Candi Sambisari
Hindu temple in Indonesia. Sambisari is a 9th-century Hindu temple located at Sambisari hamlet, Purwomartani, Kalasan, Sleman Regency, Special Region of Yogyakarta, Indonesia. The temple was buried about five metres underground. Parts of the original temple have been excavated. The temple is located about 8 kilometres east of Yogyakarta near Adisucipto International Airport.[12]
Address: Sambisari, Purwomartani, Kalasan, Yogyakarta
Kauman Great Mosque
Also known as: Masjid Gedhe Kauman
Mosque in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Kauman Great Mosque, approximate English translation of Javanese Mesjid Gedhe Kauman is a Great Mosque of the Yogyakarta Sultanate in Java, Indonesia. It is located to the west of the North Alun-alun of Yogyakarta Kraton.[13]
Address: Jl. Kauman, 55132 Kota Yogyakarta
Purawisata Jogja
Amusement, Concerts and shows, Performing arts, Dance studio, Arcade, Amusement park
Address: Jl. Brigjen Katamso, 55152 Yogyakarta
Monumen Jogja Kembali
Also known as: Museum Monumen Yogya Kembali
Museum in Indonesia. Monumen Yogya Kembali, known colloquially as Monjali, is a pyramid-shaped museum dedicated to the Indonesian National Revolution located in the Ngaglik sub-district, Sleman, Special Region of Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
Exhibits include 10 dioramas of key moments in the revolution, artifacts left over from the colonial period and revolution, a list of 420 revolutionaries who were killed between 19 December 1948 and 29 June 1949, as well as a silent memorial room.
Monumen Yogya Kembali is served by Trans Jogja bus stations Monjali 1 and Monjali 2, for line 2A, 2B, 5A, and 5B.[14]
Address: Jl. Ringroad Utara, 55581 Kabupaten Sleman
Imogiri
Graveyard. Imogiri is a royal graveyard complex in Yogyakarta, in south-central Java, Indonesia, as well as a subdistrict under the administration of Bantul Regency. Imogiri is a traditional resting place for the royalty of central Java, including many rulers of the Sultanate of Mataram and of the current houses of Surakarta and Yogyakarta Sultanate. The name Imagiri is derived from Sanskrit Himagiri, which means 'mountain of snow'. The latter is another name for Himalaya.[15]
Dirgantara Mandala Museum
Also known as: Museum Pusat TNI AU Dirgantara Mandala
Dirgantara Mandala Museum, officially known as the Central Museum of Indonesian Air Force "Dirgantara Mandala" is a central museum of the Indonesian Air Force. The museum displays historical exhibits related to the history of the Indonesian Air Force. The museum is located in the complex of Adisutjipto International Airport in Bantul Regency, Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Dirgantara Mandala Museum has a comprehensive collection of aviation in Indonesia, from early biplanes to modern jet engines.[16]
Address: Kompleks Pangkalan TNI-AU Adisutjipto, 55281 Yogyakarta
UGM Campus Mosque
Also known as: Masjid Kampus UGM
Mosque in Depok, Indonesia. UGM Campus Mosque is a mosque owned by Universitas Gadjah Mada and located within its campus in Sleman, Special Region of Yogyakarta, Indonesia. It is one of the largest mosques in Southeast Asia in terms of capacity.[17]
Address: Jl. Prof. DR. Drs Notonagoro, 55281 Kabupaten Sleman
Candi Ijo
Heritage preservation in Indonesia. Ijo temple is a Hindu candi located 4 kilometers from Ratu Boko or around 18 kilometers east from Yogyakarta, Indonesia. The temple was built between 10th to 11th century CE during the Mataram Kingdom period.[18]
Museum Affandi
Museum in Depok, Indonesia. The Affandi Museum is a museum located in Yogyakarta on Java, Indonesia.
On the bank of the Gajah Wong River on Solo Street, the painter Affandi designed and constructed a home for himself, which also functions as a museum to display his paintings. The building is uniquely constructed, with a roof that resembles a banana leaf. The museum has around 250 of Affandi's paintings. The high air humidity and temperature are causing concerns about the condition of the paintings. The Affandi Foundation, which manages the museum, finds it difficult to manage the museum properly, due to a lack of funds and revenue.
Before dying, Affandi spent a lot of time sitting around in his own museum, observing his paintings. He said once, “I want to die in simplicity without giving anyone unnecessary trouble, so I could go home to Him in peace.”
After suffering a complication of illnesses, on Wednesday, the May 23, 1990, Affandi died. He is now buried in the museum complex, as he wished to always be surrounded by his family and his works.[19]
Address: Jl. Laksda Adisucipto No.167, 55281 Kabupaten Sleman