The best hotels in Yogyakarta
Yogyakarta has 700+ places to sleep. Most are identical concrete boxes far from Malioboro. We reviewed the standouts. These 10 made the cut.
Our Top Picks in Yogyakarta
Click any hotel to check availability and book at the best price.
Bladok Hotel & Restaurant
Sosrowijayan, Yogyakarta
Free cancellation & Pay later
Grand Aston Yogyakarta
Sudirman, Yogyakarta
Free cancellation & Pay later
Tentrem Hotel Yogyakarta
Gondokusuman, Yogyakarta
Free cancellation & Pay later
Yogyakarta Marriott Hotel
Mlati, Yogyakarta
Free cancellation & Pay later
Phoenix Hotel Yogyakarta
Jetis, Yogyakarta
Free cancellation & Pay later
Pesonna Malioboro Hotel
Malioboro, Yogyakarta
Free cancellation & Pay later
Alana Yogyakarta Hotel and Convention Center
Seturan, Yogyakarta
Free cancellation & Pay later
Royal Ambarrukmo Yogyakarta
Depok, Yogyakarta
Free cancellation & Pay later
Hyatt Regency Yogyakarta
Sleman, Yogyakarta
Free cancellation & Pay later
All Hotels Compared
Side-by-side comparison to help you pick the right hotel. Prices reflect shoulder season averages.
| # | Hotel | City & Area | Price/Night | Score | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Puri Artha Hotel | Kotabaru, Yogyakarta | $45–75/night | 7.8/10 | Budget Pick |
| 2 | Bladok Hotel & Restaurant | Sosrowijayan, Yogyakarta | $55–85/night | 8.1/10 | Hidden Gem |
| 3 | Grand Aston Yogyakarta | Sudirman, Yogyakarta | $110–160/night | 8.5/10 | Best Value |
| 4 | Tentrem Hotel Yogyakarta | Gondokusuman, Yogyakarta | $135–195/night | 8.9/10 | Most Popular |
| 5 | Yogyakarta Marriott Hotel | Mlati, Yogyakarta | $145–210/night | 8.6/10 | Business Pick |
| 6 | Phoenix Hotel Yogyakarta | Jetis, Yogyakarta | $150–200/night | 8.7/10 | Romantic Stay |
| 7 | Pesonna Malioboro Hotel | Malioboro, Yogyakarta | $160–215/night | 8.3/10 | Best Location |
| 8 | Alana Yogyakarta Hotel and Convention Center | Seturan, Yogyakarta | $180–240/night | 8.4/10 | Family Friendly |
| 9 | Royal Ambarrukmo Yogyakarta | Depok, Yogyakarta | $260–380/night | 9.1/10 | Top Rated |
| 10 | Hyatt Regency Yogyakarta | Sleman, Yogyakarta | $290–420/night | 9/10 | Luxury Pick |
Why These Hotels Made Our List
Every hotel earned its spot. Here's exactly why we picked each one.
Puri Artha Hotel
Puri Artha sits on Jalan Cendrawasih in the quiet Kotabaru district, about 10 minutes by taxi from Malioboro Street. The garden pool is a genuine surprise at this price point and keeps the place popular with backpackers and budget travelers. Rooms are simple and a bit dated but clean, with reliable air conditioning. Staff are helpful and will arrange batik workshops and Prambanan trips without heavy upselling. Breakfast is included and fills you up for a morning of temple hopping.
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Bladok Hotel & Restaurant
Bladok is a colonial-era guesthouse on Jalan Sosrowijayan, right in the backpacker district a short walk from Malioboro. The building has real character, with Dutch-era architecture and a shady courtyard restaurant that serves decent Indonesian and Western food. Rooms vary in size and quality so ask for one of the refurbished garden-facing rooms. The location means some street noise at night, but it quiets down after midnight. For the price and the atmosphere, this is one of the better budget picks in central Yogyakarta.
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Grand Aston Yogyakarta
The Grand Aston sits on Jalan Urip Sumoharjo, a main commercial corridor that puts it near business offices and the city center. Rooms are well-sized and modern, with good beds and fast Wi-Fi that actually works consistently. The rooftop pool has a decent view over the city and is rarely crowded on weekday mornings. The Indonesian buffet breakfast is one of the stronger hotel spreads in town. It lacks the cultural charm of some boutique options but delivers consistent quality for the price.
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Tentrem Hotel Yogyakarta
Tentrem is attached to a shopping mall on Jalan AM Sangaji, which sounds unappealing but works well in practice for a central, walkable location. The hotel leans into Javanese design with batik textiles, carved wood details, and a lobby that feels genuinely local rather than generic. Rooms are large and quiet despite the mall connection, and the beds are among the most comfortable in this price range in Yogyakarta. The spa is reasonably priced and worth booking. A solid all-rounder that suits both leisure travelers and business visitors.
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Yogyakarta Marriott Hotel
The Marriott is located in the Mlati area of northern Yogyakarta, which is more suburban and about 20 minutes from the main tourist sites. It caters heavily to conference and business groups, and the meeting facilities and service standards reflect that. Rooms follow the reliable Marriott formula, comfortable and well-equipped with blackout curtains and a proper work desk. The outdoor pool area is well maintained and rarely overcrowded. If you need consistent international standards over a central location, this delivers.
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Phoenix Hotel Yogyakarta
Phoenix is a heritage hotel on Jalan Jenderal Sudirman that dates back to 1918 and carries that history through its colonial architecture and wide verandas. The hotel is a MGallery property so it has been restored with care, and the period furniture and tiled corridors feel authentic rather than staged. It is positioned north of the city center, about 15 minutes from Malioboro by foot. The pool is small but lovely, and the garden bar is a good spot for an evening drink. Couples tend to enjoy it more than families with young children.
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Pesonna Malioboro Hotel
Pesonna sits directly on Jalan Malioboro, the most famous street in Yogyakarta, which means you step outside and you are immediately in the middle of the market stalls and street food vendors. Rooms facing the street have great views but significant noise until late evening, so request a rear-facing room if you are a light sleeper. The building is modern and clean without much local character, but the location justifies the mid-range price. Breakfast is decent and included. Staff speak good English and are used to helping tourists navigate the nearby Kraton and Borobudur day trips.
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Alana Yogyakarta Hotel and Convention Center
Alana is located in the Seturan area near the university district in eastern Yogyakarta, about 25 minutes from Malioboro by car. The property is large and well-suited to families, with a big outdoor pool, spacious rooms, and a generous breakfast spread. The convention facilities attract large events so weekends can be busy in the lobby and restaurant. Room sizes are consistently good and most can accommodate extra beds without feeling cramped. It is not in the most central location but the rates reflect that, and the overall quality is high.
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Royal Ambarrukmo Yogyakarta
Royal Ambarrukmo is built around a royal Javanese pavilion that dates to the 1800s and the grounds reflect that heritage with mature trees, open-air pendopos, and well-kept gardens. The hotel is on Jalan Laksda Adisucipto near the airport, making it easy for arrivals but slightly far from the city center. Rooms are large and elegantly furnished with Javanese motifs that feel refined rather than touristy. The pool area is one of the best in Yogyakarta at this category. Service is attentive and the staff have a calm, professional manner that sets the tone for the whole stay.
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Hyatt Regency Yogyakarta
The Hyatt Regency occupies a sprawling compound near the foot of Mount Merapi in Sleman, about 30 minutes north of the city center. The setting is extraordinary, with tropical gardens, a large free-form pool, and views toward the volcano on clear mornings. Rooms are spacious and tastefully decorated, and the resort layout means it feels genuinely secluded from the city. The tennis courts, jogging track, and multiple dining venues make long stays comfortable. Getting to Malioboro requires a taxi but the hotel is ideal if you want a resort experience alongside cultural day trips.
Check AvailabilityWhere to Stay in Yogyakarta
The neighborhood you pick matters more than the hotel.
Malioboro: The Street That Defines Yogyakarta
Jalan Malioboro is the cultural main street of Yogyakarta, running 1.5 kilometers from the train station to the Kraton Ngayogyakarta Hadiningrat. The street is lined with batik shops, traditional Javanese food stalls, becak drivers, and street performers. It is where Yogyakarta's commercial, cultural, and tourist life converges.
Pesonna Hotel sits directly on the street and works well for guests who want immediate access without logistical thought. Bladok Hotel in the adjacent Sosrowijayan alley is the best budget option a 5-minute walk off the main strip.
The evening food market along the eastern side of Malioboro from 6pm onwards is genuinely good and cheap. Gudeg (young jackfruit curry served with rice and chicken) is the Yogyakarta specialty. The best versions are at small warungs on the cross streets rather than the tourist-facing stalls on the main road.
The Kraton and Taman Sari: Old City Culture
The Kraton palace complex covers 1.4 square kilometers in the center of old Yogyakarta and is surrounded by neighborhoods that have been part of the royal city for 250 years. The outer areas are open to walk through freely; the inner palace requires a ticket and guide.
Taman Sari Water Castle is 500 meters west of the Kraton, an 18th-century royal bathing complex with underground passages and pools. Entry costs 15,000 IDR. The labyrinthine underground passages and the above-ground bathing pools are genuinely interesting. The complex is surrounded by a batik art community with workshops visible from the paths.
The batik workshops on Jalan Tirtodipuran south of the Kraton are the genuine commercial extension of the royal batik tradition. Unlike the Malioboro stalls, these workshops show the process and sell authentic hand-drawn (tulis) batik. The price difference between stamped and hand-drawn batik is significant but so is the quality.
Borobudur: The Essential Day Trip
Borobudur is a 9th-century Buddhist stupa complex with 2,672 relief panels and 504 Buddha statues, making it the world's largest Buddhist monument. It is 40 kilometers northwest of Yogyakarta and the main reason most international visitors come to the city.
Sunrise entry (ticket required separately at 350,000-750,000 IDR) allows access from 4:30am and the light on the temple at dawn is what most photographs show. The standard daytime ticket is 250,000 IDR. Crowd levels spike sharply after 9am. A half-day visit combining Borobudur and Prambanan requires a private car.
Combine Borobudur with the Pawon and Mendut temples on the same road for context. Both are smaller but equally old and significantly less crowded. The Borobudur Manohara Hotel on the temple grounds gives exclusive early morning access that is genuinely worth the price difference for serious visitors.
Phoenix Hotel: Heritage Stays in Yogyakarta
Phoenix Hotel on Jalan Jenderal Sudirman dates to 1918 and carries that history in Dutch colonial architecture, wide shaded verandas, and tiled corridors. As a MGallery property, it has been carefully restored without stripping the period character.
The pool is small but set in a lovely garden. The bar on the ground floor is one of the few genuinely atmospheric bars in Yogyakarta. Couples visiting for the culture rather than the backpacker circuit tend to prefer Phoenix over the modern business hotels.
The location in the Jetis district is 15 minutes walk from Malioboro. The Vredeburg Fort museum and the main squares are walkable from the hotel. Getting to the Kraton and Taman Sari requires a short becak or taxi ride.
Hyatt Regency and Mount Merapi
The Hyatt Regency occupies a sprawling compound in Sleman, 30 minutes north of the city center in the volcanic foothills. On clear mornings, Mount Merapi is directly visible from the pool and gardens. The resort has a free-form pool, tennis courts, and multiple dining venues that make it genuinely self-contained.
Volcano tours from the hotel connect to the Kaliurang departure point 15 kilometers away. The 4WD lava field tours give access to areas still showing the 2010 eruption impact. The Museum Merapi visitor center near Kaliurang has a good documentary about the eruptions.
The distance from central Yogyakarta (30 minutes by taxi) is the main consideration. Guests staying here typically do Borobudur and Prambanan as day trips and return to the resort for evenings. It is better suited to guests who want the cultural circuit without the density of central Yogyakarta.
Getting Around Yogyakarta
The Trans Yogyakarta bus system covers most of the city for 3,500 IDR per journey, connecting the main tourist areas from the train station to the Kraton and the Prambanan road. The routes require some navigational confidence but work well for the main corridors.
Gojek and Grab both operate strongly in Yogyakarta. The motorcycle taxi option covers central distances for 8,000-15,000 IDR. Car services for day trips to Borobudur and Prambanan cost 200,000-350,000 IDR for a full day with driver.
Becak (cycle rickshaws) near Malioboro and the Kraton operate on negotiated fares. The going rate for a 1km journey is 10,000-15,000 IDR but drivers start at 50,000-100,000 IDR for tourists. Gojek consistently undercuts these fares and removes the negotiation entirely.
Yogyakarta's best neighborhoods
Yogyakarta centers on the Kraton (Sultan's Palace) and the famous Malioboro shopping street running north from it. The Sosrowijayan backpacker area sits just west of Malioboro. The Gondokusuman district has the heritage Phoenix Hotel. Sleman to the north extends toward Mount Merapi, where the Hyatt Regency sits in volcano-view grounds.
Malioboro / Sosrowijayan 2 vetted hotels Most central location, street market access, Kraton and batik district walkable
Most central location, street market access, Kraton and batik district walkable
Malioboro and the adjacent Sosrowijayan alley form Yogyakarta's budget and mid-range tourist center. Pesonna Hotel directly on Malioboro and Bladok Hotel in Sosrowijayan are the two best options in this zone. The concentration of restaurants, becak, batik stalls, and access to the Kraton makes this the right choice for first-time visitors.
Street noise from Malioboro persists until midnight with vendors, motorcycle taxis, and the Javanese gamelan from the street performances. Request rear-facing rooms at Pesonna. Sosrowijayan is quieter: the alley runs parallel to Malioboro one block west and has the best budget accommodation concentration.
Gondokusuman / Jetis 2 vetted hotels Heritage Phoenix Hotel, mixed business and leisure, 15 minutes from Malioboro
Heritage Phoenix Hotel, mixed business and leisure, 15 minutes from Malioboro
Gondokusuman and Jetis are residential districts north of the tourist center with the city's main hotels along Jalan Jenderal Sudirman. Phoenix Hotel and Tentrem Hotel (with mall connection) are both here. Both offer a quieter alternative to Malioboro without being remote.
The walk from Phoenix to Malioboro takes 15 minutes through streets that pass the Vredeburg Fort. The Tentrem hotel's mall connection is convenient for evening dining when you do not want to navigate the street food scene.
Sudirman / Seturan 3 vetted hotels Business and family hotels, good Borobudur base, central mid-range options
Business and family hotels, good Borobudur base, central mid-range options
The main commercial corridor along Jalan Urip Sumoharjo and the university Seturan area have the city's reliable mid-range chain options. Grand Aston, Alana, and the Marriott are all in this zone. All three are 20-30 minutes from Malioboro and work well as bases for temple day-trip itineraries.
These are practical rather than atmospheric choices. Families, conference travelers, and those combining Yogyakarta with a business agenda tend to use this corridor. The pool facilities are better here than at the heritage hotels.
Sleman / Depok (Merapi area) 2 vetted hotels Volcanic resort experience, Merapi views, best gardens and pool in the city
Volcanic resort experience, Merapi views, best gardens and pool in the city
Sleman to the north and Depok near the airport host the most resort-like properties in Yogyakarta. Hyatt Regency in Sleman with volcano views and Royal Ambarrukmo near the airport with royal Javanese grounds are both here. Neither is central but both deliver an experience the city-center hotels cannot match.
The 30-minute taxi ride to Malioboro is a manageable commute for a couple of day trips. Both properties are self-contained enough that evenings in the resort are pleasant. The Merapi volcano view from the Hyatt pool on a clear morning is one of the better hotel experiences in Java.
Best Areas by Vibe
Tell us how you travel and we'll point you to the right part of Yogyakarta.
Javanese Heritage
Phoenix Hotel on Jalan Sudirman (est. 1918) has Dutch colonial verandas and tiled corridors. Royal Ambarrukmo is built around a 19th-century Javanese royal pavilion with mature garden grounds. The Kraton and Taman Sari are 15 minutes from both. This is the most culturally coherent accommodation choice in the city.
Backpacker Central
Bladok Hotel in the Sosrowijayan alley starts at $55 with colonial guesthouse character and a courtyard restaurant. Puri Artha in Kotabaru has a garden pool for $45. Both are within a 10-minute walk of Malioboro. The Sosrowijayan alley has been the backpacker district since the 1980s and the better guesthouses there still earn their reputation.
Luxury Escape
Hyatt Regency in Sleman has tropical gardens, Mount Merapi views, and a free-form pool with serious resort quality. Royal Ambarrukmo wraps around royal Javanese pendopos (open-air pavilions) with manicured gardens. Both sit outside the city density and feel like genuine escapes.
Temple Day Trips
Alana Hotel in Seturan has the best family facilities: large pool, spacious rooms, easy parking for hired cars doing Borobudur and Prambanan runs. Grand Aston near the center also works well for families with the Indonesian breakfast buffet that covers all eating preferences. Both are 20-30 minutes from Borobudur by car.
Javanese Food
Yogyakarta's food is some of the best in Indonesia. Gudeg Sagan near the university does the classic young jackfruit dish from 6am. Bale Raos inside the Kraton complex serves royal Javanese cuisine for 80,000-200,000 IDR. The Malioboro night market from 6pm has the cheapest and most accessible introduction to local street food.
Volcano Views
Mount Merapi at 2,930 meters is one of the most active volcanoes in Indonesia and visible on clear mornings from the Sleman area. The Hyatt Regency positions you closest to it. Volcano 4WD tours from Kaliurang take you through the 2010 lava fields for 350,000-500,000 IDR per person.
Location Quality
Is the neighborhood walkable? Are restaurants, shops, and attractions within 10 minutes on foot? How does it feel after dark? We evaluate safety, public transport access, and whether the area has genuine local character or just tourist traps. A hotel in the wrong neighborhood ruins a trip. That's why location carries the most weight.
Value for Money
We compare what you pay against what you get. A €150 hotel with a great location, clean rooms, and helpful staff can outscore a €500 hotel with fancy amenities in a bad area. We factor in seasonal pricing, cancellation policies, and hidden costs like tourist tax and breakfast surcharges. The goal is finding the best ratio, not the lowest price.
Guest Experience
We analyze thousands of verified guest reviews across multiple platforms, looking for patterns rather than individual complaints. Consistent praise for cleanliness, staff, and room quality counts. We also assess the intangibles: does the hotel have character? Would you recommend it to a friend? A soul-less chain hotel with perfect facilities still loses to a well-run boutique with personality.
When to Visit Yogyakarta
When to visit Yogyakarta and what to pay.
Spring (Mar-May)
March and April see the end of wet season. The Prambanan Ramayana Ballet usually begins in May, which is worth timing a visit around. Borobudur sunrise visits are operational year-round. April and May offer the best combination of emerging dry conditions and manageable tourist numbers before the July-August peak.
Summer (Jun-Aug)
The dry season peak. Best conditions for Borobudur sunrise, Prambanan visits, and outdoor activities. The Ramayana Ballet runs regularly through August. Borobudur and Prambanan are at maximum capacity with tour buses daily. Book hotels 3-4 weeks ahead. The Merapi volcano views are clearest in the dry season mornings.
Autumn (Oct-Nov)
October brings the start of wet season and the last weeks of the Ramayana Ballet outdoor performances. Crowds at Borobudur and Prambanan thin significantly from the August peak. Hotel rates drop 20-30%. Afternoon rain showers are common but mornings remain good for temple visits.
Winter (Dec-Feb)
December through February is wet season with afternoon rain. Borobudur is less crowded but muddy. The Kraton and indoor cultural sites are unaffected. Hotel prices are at their lowest outside of the Christmas week spike. January is the most affordable month to visit.
Booking Tips for Yogyakarta
Insider tips for booking hotels in Yogyakarta.
Borobudur sunrise: book 3 weeks ahead
The Borobudur sunrise ticket (separate from the standard entry) costs 350,000-750,000 IDR and sells out weeks ahead for July and August. Book through the Taman Wisata Candi Borobudur official website. Arriving for the standard 6am opening without a sunrise ticket is significantly less special.
Book a combined Borobudur-Prambanan day tour
Doing both temples in one day requires a car. Standard tour packages from central Yogyakarta hotels cost 350,000-500,000 IDR and include driver, guides, and entry fees. Borobudur is northwest (40km) and Prambanan is east (15km), so doing them independently in one day by public transport is inefficient.
Prambanan Ramayana Ballet: book the premium seat
The category 1 seats (800,000-1,200,000 IDR) at the open-air Trimurti stage are worth the upgrade for the unobstructed temple view. The cheaper sections at the back are 350m from the stage and the detail is lost. The performance runs 2 hours with a 15-minute interval and the atmosphere after dark with the temple lit up is extraordinary.
Real batik is on Jalan Tirtodipuran, not Malioboro
The batik stalls on Malioboro sell mostly machine-printed cloth labeled as batik. Hand-drawn batik tulis is made on Jalan Tirtodipuran south of the Kraton where you can watch the process and pay fair prices. A quality hand-drawn scarf costs 200,000-500,000 IDR. The price difference from Malioboro stalls is real and represents real quality.
Use Gojek for becak and taxi fares in the tourist zone
Becak drivers near Malioboro and the Kraton are skilled at inflating tourist prices. Open Gojek and show the driver the app fare as a reference point. The Gojek car service undercuts metered taxis by 30-40% for longer trips to Prambanan and the airport.
Merapi 4WD tour: depart by 6am for clear views
The volcano summit is clear in the morning and clouds over by 10-11am most days. The 4WD lava tours from Kaliurang (25km north of Yogyakarta) work best with a 6am departure. Book through your hotel or directly with a licensed tour operator at Kaliurang village for 350,000-500,000 IDR per person.
Hotels in Yogyakarta — FAQ
Everything you need to know before booking hotels in Yogyakarta.
What is the best area to stay in Yogyakarta?
Malioboro and the Sosrowijayan backpacker area for the most central access: Pesonna Hotel directly on Malioboro and Bladok Hotel in Sosrowijayan both put you within walking distance of the Kraton, Taman Sari, and the batik galleries. The Gondokusuman district has Phoenix Hotel, a heritage property 15 minutes from Malioboro. Sleman near Merapi is the choice for the Hyatt Regency resort experience.
What is Malioboro Street and why is it important?
Malioboro is Yogyakarta's main commercial street running north from the Kraton. It is lined with batik shops, wayang puppet sellers, food stalls, and becak (cycle rickshaw) drivers. The street market runs until midnight and the street food after 8pm is excellent. Pesonna Hotel sits directly on the street. Most visitors use Malioboro as the navigational anchor for exploring the city.
How do I get from Yogyakarta to Borobudur?
Borobudur is 40 kilometers northwest of Yogyakarta, about 90 minutes by public bus from Jombor Bus Terminal or 60 minutes by private car at 200,000-300,000 IDR. The Trans Yogyakarta bus system has a route that connects to the Borobudur-bound bus from Jombor. Most visitors book a combined Borobudur-Prambanan day tour from their hotel for 350,000-500,000 IDR including guide and transport.
When is the best time to visit Yogyakarta?
April through October is dry season and the most comfortable for temple visits. July and August are peak months with the most visitors at Borobudur and Prambanan. The Prambanan Ramayana Ballet outdoor performance runs May through October and is worth planning a trip around. December through February is wet season but temples are less crowded and hotel prices drop.
How much do hotels cost in Yogyakarta?
Budget options like Puri Artha and Bladok Hotel start at $45-85/night. Mid-range hotels like Tentrem and Phoenix run $135-200. Luxury properties Royal Ambarrukmo and Hyatt Regency range from $260-420 per night. Yogyakarta is significantly cheaper than Bali for equivalent hotel quality. Book 3-4 weeks ahead for peak season.
What is the Prambanan Ramayana Ballet?
The open-air Ramayana Ballet is performed on the Trimurti stage with the Prambanan temple complex as the backdrop, running roughly May through October on full moon nights and select other evenings. Tickets cost 350,000-1,200,000 IDR depending on seat category. The combination of Javanese dance, gamelan music, and the illuminated 9th-century temple behind the stage is one of the most spectacular cultural performances in Southeast Asia.
What is the Kraton and how do you visit it?
The Kraton is the royal palace of the Yogyakarta Sultanate, still occupied by the Sultan's family and open for public visits daily except Friday. Entry costs 15,000 IDR. The inner palace sections show Javanese royal architecture and gamelan instruments. Go in the morning before tour groups arrive. The Alun-Alun (main square) south of the Kraton has the famous mystical fig trees where locals attempt to walk between them blindfolded at night.
Is Yogyakarta worth visiting without Borobudur?
Yes. The Kraton, Taman Sari Water Castle, the batik workshops on Jalan Tirtodipuran, and the silver workshop village of Kotagede are all full-day activities within the city. The Prambanan temple complex 15 kilometers east is on the same day-trip circuit. Yogyakarta as a standalone cultural destination can fill 3-4 days without leaving the city proper.
What is the best batik shopping in Yogyakarta?
Jalan Tirtodipuran, 500 meters south of the Kraton, is the genuine batik street with established workshops that will show you the process and sell you real hand-drawn batik. The Malioboro stalls sell mostly printed batik aimed at tourists at lower quality and fixed inflated prices. Batik Plentong on Tirtodipuran is one of the better workshops. Budget 200,000-600,000 IDR for quality handmade pieces.
How do you get to Yogyakarta from Bali?
Garuda Indonesia, Citilink, and Lion Air fly Denpasar to Yogyakarta (Adisutjipto Airport) in about 80 minutes for 300,000-600,000 IDR. The Argo Wilis train from Surabaya takes 5 hours. The overnight bus from Denpasar takes 13-15 hours and is the budget option. From Jakarta, the Argo Semeru or Gajayana trains take 8-9 hours.
What areas of Yogyakarta should I avoid?
The area near the Malioboro bus terminal at the northern end of the street has a higher density of scooter and taxi touts and is less pleasant to navigate on foot. Several guesthouses east of the train station offer 'central' locations that are 30 minutes on foot from Malioboro. Check walking times rather than just map distances. The becak (cycle rickshaw) drivers near the Kraton frequently quote 3-5x the reasonable fare.
Can I see Mount Merapi from Yogyakarta?
Yes, on clear mornings Mount Merapi is visible from many parts of the city. The Hyatt Regency in Sleman has the best unobstructed volcano view from a hotel property. Merapi is an active volcano (last major eruption 2010) and volcano tours including 4WD lava field drives depart from Kaliurang, 25 kilometers north of Yogyakarta, for 350,000-500,000 IDR.