Yogyakarta: The Place to Be in Java

Perhaps the best place to visit in all of Indonesia isn't the more famous and popular Bali, but the city of Yogyakarta. With a population of 500,000, Yogyakarta is a pleasant city and located near two of Indonesia's greatest cultural treasures, a beach, a rumbling volcano, and packed with crafts and entertainments, Yogyakarta (or simply "Yogya") is the most frequented destination in Java and makes for the center of a first rate holiday.

Getting There

Yogya has a domestic airport, with connections across Indonesia. It is therefore possible to fly directly to Yogya from Jakarta, Bali, Sumatra, Borneo, or elsewhere in the country. The airport is undergoing expansion, and may host international flights soon. 60 km away is Yogya's sister city Surakarta (or simply "Solo"), which has a small international airport with flights to Singapore and Malaysia. There are buses which run from Solo to the downtown area of Yogya.

For travelers operating on a budget, flying may not be an option. Those coming from Bali will likely be using the bus, making a stop at Gunung Bromo along the way. The trip from Bali to Probolingo, near Gunung Bromo, is an all-night or all-day affair; and the trip from Probolingo to Yogya is equally long. The trains all run from the one station, Tugu, with trips to Jakarta taking roughly 7 hours.

It is unlikely you will be coming from Surabaya, unless you either arrived in Java by an ocean-going ferry or are living there. However, bus service from that beehive port city is also available.

The Kraton

Located in Yogya itself is the Kraton, or palace complex of the Hamengkubuwono Sultanate. If you are staying near the city center, you can walk down to the Kraton, familiarizing yourself with the city and taking in examples of Dutch colonial architecture, like the Bank Indonesia Building or the Main Post Office. The Kraton is pleasant rather than awe-inspiring, but its grounds and museums are worth the visit. There are also live Gamelan (a classic music form native to Java and Bali) performances held there every day.

Borbodur