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 Traveller's Tales: Getting around in Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Know the most popular landmarks in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. You may read about best transportation, recommended travel itinerary, suggested routes and directions. Also, you might want to read our
Bali city guide,
and Lombok city guide.
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| Guest has requested to remain anonymous |
18 July 2005 |
Stayed at Melia Purosani - Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
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Take the Full Day car rental (included driver) at the hotel. The driver is well trained and could take you from Borobudur to Prambanan to Traditional dances and shopping. For US$50 net it was well worth it. For a local tour near the hotel area, take the becak outside the hotel with the "Melia Purosani" painted on the side. Very friendly and helpful.
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| J Ch'ng |
03 December 2004 |
Stayed at Grand Mercure Phoenix Yogyakarta Hotel - Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
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Never visit Jogya during December. It was pouring like cats and dogs. I was lucky during the second day, the weather was fine. I managed to visit Borobudur and Prambanan, Kote Gede (for silver items), and Kraton (for batik). Missed out on the Ramayana ballet performance apparently, they don't show the performance in Dec due to raining seasons.
Borobudur and Prambanan was truly magnificient. Borobudur has a Mt Kaliurang at the back drop. It was covered with clouds and totally breath taking. Another site worth mentioning, Mendut, which is on the way to the Borobudur. As i was told the originally the buddha statute was. Each year, they celebrated Wesak Day on the fourth month of the fifteen day where a celebration will take place where Buddhist devotees will walk to the Borobudur.
Prambanan has its own charm and can't seem to put into words. I think if you have the chance to watch the Ramayana ballet performance that could really transport you back to the era.
Please be reminded in all the historical sites you visited, you are expected to pay US$5.00 and extra for a guide (optional) at about Rp40,000. A local will only pay Rp7,500.
The only thing I dislike is that you are discriminated when it comes to paying. For instance, despite you have already paid for the entrance fees to the historical site, any extra in the site for instance viewing a museum, you need to pay extra again.
I had a bowl of bakso (noodle soup) in front of one of the shop selling silver items. I paid Rp5,000 (not expensive though) however, when I asked the taxi man how much would he have to pay if he was eating? He said it will only cost him Rp3,000.
Unless, you are travelling in twos or threes, it would be more economical to go with a travel group.
I rented a taxi which cost about Rp300,000 minus the parking.
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| T Iskandar |
19 November 2004 |
Stayed at Grand Mercure Phoenix Yogyakarta Hotel - Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
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You can reach Yogyakarta from all major cities in Indonesia by plane or bus. I like to call Yogyakarta a heritage city. It has a lot of things that have been kept for hundred years, such as king palace, museum, candi, batik, wayang puppet, gudeg and etc. You could enjoy Gudeg (a traditional food) at Wijilan street near king palace. At night you could travel along Malioboro street just to spent your money to but crafts and gifts at this traditional hawker centre. Lesehan is a traditional way to eat gudeg at Malioboro street. Looking for more batik crafts? In the morning, Beringharjo market at Malioboro street is a great choice. Borobudur is one of the wonders of the world located 72 km north Yogyakarta. Prambanan is famous for its Ramayana dance and located near Yogyakarta. Bakpia pathuk are popular traditional cookies that you must try. So many things, so little time. That's why I visit Yogyakarta every year and always find a new experience.
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| D Bolton |
28 May 2004 |
Stayed at Inna Garuda - Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
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Jogja was great. Don't miss the Ramayana Ballet, quite spectacular. Prambanam and Borobodur temples were sensational. If you really like the time to look around these places rather than being rushed by a limited tour schedule, book a taxi for the day. Of course you'll need to bargain, but we got a car and driver (albeit with almost no english) for 400,000 rupiah for the day (and no doubt you could get it cheaper too) and for this we toured to Borobodur for as long as we wanted, the village of Kaliurang for views of Mt Merapi (although it was raining the walk through the rainforest there was beautiful - so didn't see the volcano) and Prambanam is also very beautiful and worth a good look. Also hire a guide at both temples - only 40,000 rupiah and worth the money - very informative.
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| W Chen |
23 December 2003 |
Stayed at Ibis Malioboro Yogyakarta - Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
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Tour in the morning!! Less people, cooler.
I used a private car for Borobudur, and then got to Prambanan by myself. You don't save much going by yourself but it definitely is more of an adventure. The bus station in the South of town is a pit - very dirty and garbage everywhere. Get out as fast as possible.
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| A Ilangakoon |
27 December 2002 |
Stayed at Inna Garuda - Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
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Yogyakarta is a wonderful place to visit. It is in close proximity to the world heritage sites of Borabudur and Prambanan which you can visit conveniently either on your own using local transport or by arranging tours with local tour groups located in close proximity to hotel Natour Garuda.
We also visited Mt. Merapi an active volcano just 25 km away from Yogya. In Yogyakarta itself the Kraton is interesting and local transport includes Andongs (horse cart) and Becacks (bicycle rikshaws) which are cheap and great fun. Shopping along Jalan Malioboro and eating Indonesian food at night from street cafes is also good fun.
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| S Mount |
26 December 2002 |
Stayed at Hyatt Regency Yogyakarta - Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
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Yogya is a fantastic place especialy for those that what to experience something different from Bali. There are many tours laid on to Borobudur etc. a very good restaurant and definitely worth a visit is 'Gadja Wong' on Jalan Gadjya.
Taxi's have improved a great deal, all of them use meters, so its a cheap and comfortable way to get around. learn just a little bit of the local language and you'll have a great time.
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| J Wong |
01 October 2002 |
Stayed at Ibis Malioboro Yogyakarta - Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
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Very centrally located. Next to the shopping mall (and grocery store). About a 5 minute walk from the kraton (sultan's palace). We paid 353,000 Rp (about $65 canadian) for a tour to Borobudur and Dieng Plateau. A bit pricy, but well worth the driver, guide and air conditioned van. McDonald's is right next to the hotel. The hotel restaurant is pretty good too.
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| S Rutherford |
30 July 2002 |
Stayed at Novotel Yogyakarta - Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
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Dieng plateau is a must. The city itself has very nice character, although many locals are agressive when it comes to transportation.
Watch taxi prices. Be careful of handicrafts on Malioboro. Look deeper and go to the places where they are made. Prambanan temple is magnificent, on par with Angkor Wat but with less tourists.
The BEST restaurant in Yogyakarta is easily "Gadja Wong"
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| T Sarro |
18 March 2002 |
Stayed at Melia Purosani - Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
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I used Puri Tours in the hotel to arrange drivers to take me to Borobudur and Prambanan, and was very happy with this arrangement. The Melia hotel is in the center of Jogja, a short becak ride from the palace, post office, Malioboro and other places of interest. Watch out for the becak drivers! They are pleasant enough, but seem to have no scruples about charging 10 or 20 times what the ride is worth if they think they can get you to pay it. For instance, 5000 Rupiahs to get to the palace is VERY generous. Set the price before you get in. If a driver won't take your price, just walk away. There are PLENTY of becaks in Jogja, and your man will invariably break down once he knows he's about to lose the business.
The sights and musuems are interesting, but I think the highlight of Jogja is the gamelan, dance and puppet performances. The Tourist info office hands out a little sheet listing the regular performances. I went to the Dalem Pujokusuman for traditional dance (Monday night) and it was just about the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. It is hard to find, don't try to find it on your own, my becak driver had to ask where it was, but its worth the effort.
I also went to the shadow puppet show at the Sono Budoyo musuem (every night at 8), and the dance rehearsal at the palace (every Sunday morning) and both were very worthwhile. There are also gamelan rehearsals at the palce (Monday and Wednesday morning) which I missed, but I'm sure are very good.
I asked which batik shopes were the best, and Margaria, Mirota, and DanarHadi were all mentioned. I bought some nice cloth at DanrHadi, but would have liked to see the selection in the other stores if I had more time. I sense there are a lot of unscrupulous batik dealers, so try to get a reference for any place you go into to actually buy.
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