2 days in Yogyakarta

Day by day

1. Day 1: Borobudur and Prambanan

   Borobudur, Prambanan, Kraton (Sultan's Palace) and Malioboro Street, then Ramayana Ballet at Prambanan in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Borobudur

      The surrounding park looks out to the volcanoes Merapi and Merbabu.

   2. Late morning

      Prambanan

      The same park includes the Buddhist Sewu temple complex.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Gudeg

      The gudeg stalls of Jalan Wijilan near the Kraton, and early-morning gudeg sellers across the city.

   4. Afternoon

      Kraton (Sultan's Palace)

      Palace retainers in traditional dress still serve here, and short gamelan, dance or puppet performances are held on many mornings.

   5. Late afternoon

      Malioboro Street

      Its wide pedestrian pavements fill with street musicians, becak rickshaws and food stalls in the evenings.

   6. Evening

      Ramayana Ballet at Prambanan

      Book open-air seats on the side facing the temples, and bring a light layer and insect repellent.

2. Day 2: Taman Sari Water Castle and Sonobudoyo Museum

   Taman Sari Water Castle, Sonobudoyo Museum, Alun-Alun Kidul and Batik workshop, then Prawirotaman in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Taman Sari Water Castle

      Around it, the Kampung Taman lanes hold batik workshops and murals.

   2. Late morning

      Sonobudoyo Museum

      On the north square opposite the Kraton, this museum displays Javanese and Balinese art, masks, krises, gamelan and shadow puppets, and stages wayang kulit shadow puppet performances in the evenings.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Bakpia

      Bakeries in the Pathuk area west of Malioboro, where many family brands are named after their house numbers.

   4. Afternoon

      Alun-Alun Kidul

      The southern palace square comes alive at night with LED-lit pedal cars, food stalls and the masangin tradition of walking blindfolded between two sacred banyan trees, said to bring good luck to those who pass between them.

   5. Late afternoon

      Batik workshop

      Workshops around Taman Sari and Prawirotaman teach the wax-resist batik technique using a canting pen, dyeing and boiling off the wax, so you leave with your own small piece of cloth.

   6. Evening

      Prawirotaman

      Bars, cafés with live acoustic music and rooftop terraces popular with travellers.

Before you go

• Borobudur: Access to the upper terraces is limited by a daily quota with timed tickets; book online well ahead in peak season.
• Ramayana Ballet at Prambanan: Shows can sell out in July and August; reserve seats a few days ahead.

If it rains

• Swap in Fort Vredeburg Museum (Malioboro): Combine it with Beringharjo Market across the road and the Kraton a short walk south.
• Swap in Ullen Sentalu Museum (Jalan Kaliurang and north Jogja): Combine it with a Merapi jeep tour in Kaliurang; photography is not allowed inside the galleries.

Where to stay for this itinerary

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 15–22 hours of visiting over 2 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 11.7 hours in June to 12.6 hours in December.

Getting between stops: Ride-hailing. Grab and Gojek cars and motorbike taxis are inexpensive and the easiest way to get around the city.

More or fewer days

• One day in Yogyakarta
• 3 days in Yogyakarta
• 5 days in Yogyakarta

Questions travellers ask