Getting Around, Yogyakarta Travel, Transport and Car Rental

(Yogyakarta, Central Java, Indonesia)

There are lots of different types of travel options available in the city of Yogyakarta, ranging from regional bus transport and intracity minibuses, to traditional 'becak' (bicycle rickshaws), and 'andong' and 'dokar' (horse-drawn passenger carts).

Long-distance coach transport from Yogyakarta is generally a very comfortable way to travel, being air-conditioned and those headed for Bali (via a ferry) even have toilet facilities onboard. As well as the Giwangan terminal, a further bus station is situated on the northern site of Yogyakarta, on the Jalan Simanjuntak, where 'Colts' buses travel between Kaliurang, Prambanan and other places of interest. However, do check the price of these tourist buses, since they are generally rather pricey.

Adisucipto (Adi Sucipto) International Airport (JOG) / Arriving by Air

Address: Angkasa Pura I, Yogyakarta, 55282, Indonesia, ID
Tel: +62 0274 498 261
Adisucipto International Airport stands around 10 km / 6 miles to the east of central Yogyakarta and within the Sleman district. After the airports in Jakarta and Surabaya, Adisucipto Airport is the third-busiest air facility on the island of Java, serving some ten different airlines. Popular destinations connected by Adisucipto include Balikpapan (East Kalimantan / Borneo), Banjarmasin (South Kalimantan / Borneo), Cebu (the Philippines), Denpasar (Bali), Jakarta (Java), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), Makassar (South Sulawesi), Manila (the Philippines), Pontianak (West Kalimantan / Borneo), Singapore City (Singapore) and Surabaya (Java).

Car Rental

Car hire is big business in Yogyakarta, with numerous rental agencies being located at Adisucipto Airport. Vehicles can also be rented in the city itself, with travel agencies being based around both the Jalan Prawirotaman and the Jalan Sosrowijayan. Motorcycles can also be rented and are considerably cheaper. International Driving Permits are required, although rarely checked.

Buses and Coaches

City bus transport (bis kota) in Yogyakarta use a multitude of different routes to negotiate the city, departing from the Penumpang Giwangan bus station on the Jalan Imogril, some 5 km / 3 miles to the south-east of the city centre. One of the most useful routes travels from the bus station and along the Jalan Sisingamangaraja, the Jalan Prawirotaman, the Jalan Mataram and the Jalan Malioboro. From Giwangan, buses travel all around the island of Java, linking Yogyakarta with Bandung (ten hours), Borobudur (one and a half hours), Jakarta (12 hours), Kaliurang (one hour), Parangtritis (one hour), Semarang (three and a half hours), Solo (two hours) and also Surabaya (eight hours). Also popular are the door-to-door minibuses, which travel to all of the prominent cities outside of Yogyakarta.

Trains

Tel: +62 0274 514 270
The Tugu railway station (Stasiun Tugu) is to be found within the centre of Yogyakarta, on the Jalan Mangkubumi. This is the city's principal train station and provides fast transport connections to surrounding tourist cities, such as Bandung (eight hours), Jakarta (seven to eight hours), Solo (one hour) and Surabaya (six hours). For economy rail transport, head to the Lempuyangan train station (Stasiun Lempuyangan) on the Jalan Lempuyangan, where overnight services run to Jakarta (11 hours) and Bandung (ten hours).

Taxis

Taxis in Yogyakarta are reliable and generally quite trustworthy, using meters to calculate fares as they drive, on a per kilometre basis. Minimum fares are charged for short distances, although are not generally considered to be an expensive way to travel. If you favour a particular taxi driver, then ask for his mobile number, so that you can call him directly to arrange your next journey.