Attractions Nearby Yogyakarta, Day Trips and Excursions

(Yogyakarta, Central Java, Indonesia)

A true cultural hub of Java, the city of Yogyakarta lies in the very centre of this island and is well placed for possible excursions to neighbouring attractions, such as Mount Merapi. Many tourists in Yogyakarta choose to take a day trip to the famous Borobudur Temple and its related attractions at Prambanan.

Both the cities of Semarang and Solo (Surakarta) are also relatively close to Yogyakarta and come with their very own collections of tourist attractions, such as temples, churches and mosques. By plane, it is even possible to fly to the tropical island of Bali in little more than an hour, where some of Indonesia's most spectacular beaches are to be found.

Borobudur

There really is no other Buddhist temple on the planet that can compare to that of Borobudur, and so it is easy to understand the fascination that tourists have with this epic attraction. The Borobudur Temple is under an hour away from Yogyakarta and stands at just over 40 km / 25 miles to the north-west, where it is well connected by buses and tour coaches, a number of which depart as early as 05:00 in the morning, in an attempt to avoid the crowds. Be sure to bring your camera here, since the sight of the Borobudur Temple towering high above the endless green paddies and palm trees is well worth capturing forever.

Parangtritis

Fronting the Indian Ocean and offering a variety of stunning coastal attractions, Parangtritis has become a leading seaside resort and weekend getaway for those based in Yogyakarta. Parangtritis is a relatively small town that really does come alive at the end of the week, when literally thousands of holiday makers and day trippers flock to the white sandy beaches of Baron, Krakal, Kukup and Sundak. However, do be warned that the waters around Parangtritis are considered quite dangerous and should you fancy a swim, you are strongly advised to do so in one of the freshwater swimming pools (pemandians) provided, around the bottom of the hill.

Prambanan

Situated along the road leading to Solo and a mere 16 km / 10 miles to the north-east of Yogyakarta, the temples of Prambanan are just so close that they can be reached in just over 15 minutes. Therefore, an excursion to Prambanan is really very simple and one not to be missed. The Prambanan temples are amongst the best Hindu temples still standing on the island of Java and combine to form an enormous overall complex, which dates back as far as the 8th century. Due to the extreme popularity of Prambanan and its temple attractions, it is always recommended that visitors arrive early in the morning, or late in the afternoon.

Prambanan Temple Complex
Email: info@borobudurpark.co.id
Website: www.borobudurpark.co.id
Open hours: daily - 06:00 to 17:00
Admission: charge, discounts available to students

Semarang

Standing on the northerly coastline of central Java and around 125 km / 78 miles to the north of Yogyakarta, Semarang is a lively city with great tourist appeal. Semarang is home to a bustling port, lots of charming Dutch colonial buildings, and some characterful Arab and Chinese quarters. Now serving as the provincial Indonesian capital of Central Java, Semarang has never been more popular with day trippers and offers attractions in the form of temples - such as the Tay Kak Sie Temple, churches - including the Dutch Gereja Blenduk, and mosques, with the Mesjid Besar (Grand Mosque) being the city's crowning glory.

Solo (Surakarta)

Also known to many in Indonesian as Surakarta, the city of Solo is located approximately 66 km / 41 miles to the north-east of Yogyakarta and can be reached in little more than an hour. Since Solo is so close, its plentiful attractions really do deserve closer inspection. Day trippers visiting Solo can expect to find some interesting markets, such as the batik and textile market of 'Pasar Klewer'. However, it is the two palaces of Solo that prove to be the magnets for tourists. Both the Kraton Surakarta and the Puri Mangkunegaran palaces are quite magnificent and have strong connections with members of the Indonesian royal family.