3 days in Yogyakarta

Day by day

1. Day 1: Borobudur and Prambanan

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

   1. Morning

      Borobudur

      Built in the 8th and 9th centuries, Borobudur is the world's largest Buddhist monument: nine stacked platforms with more than 2,600 relief panels and 504 Buddha statues, crowned by a central stupa.

   2. Late morning

      Prambanan

      Visit in the late afternoon for warm light on the towers, then stay for the Ramayana Ballet next door.

   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)

      Built in the 1750s, the Kraton is the working palace of the Sultan of Yogyakarta, a complex of open pavilions, courtyards and museums of royal heirlooms, gamelan sets and photographs.

   5. Evening

      Malioboro Street

      Walk it in the evening, when it is cooler and the street-food stalls set up, and politely ignore anyone offering to take you to a 'batik exhibition'.

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

   Taman Sari Water Castle, Sonobudoyo Museum and Alun-Alun Kidul, then Ramayana Ballet at Prambanan in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Taman Sari Water Castle

      Find your own way through the lanes to Sumur Gumuling rather than following touts, and go early before groups arrive.

   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

      Try masangin yourself; blindfolds are rented at the edge of the square for a small fee.

   5. Evening

      Ramayana Ballet at Prambanan

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

3. Day 3: Ratu Boko and Plaosan Temple

   Ratu Boko, Plaosan Temple and Kotagede, then Prawirotaman in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Ratu Boko

      The ruins of a hilltop palace complex from the 8th century include a monumental gateway, bathing pools and terraces on a plateau overlooking Prambanan and, on clear evenings, Mount Merapi.

   2. Late morning

      Plaosan Temple

      Visit at sunrise for mist over the fields and the temples to yourself.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Kopi joss

      Angkringan stalls north of Tugu station, especially on Jalan Wongsodirjan.

   4. Afternoon

      Kotagede

      The former Mataram capital has walled lanes of old Javanese houses, the royal cemetery of Mataram's founding kings, where visitors wear borrowed Javanese dress, and the Kotagede Great Mosque.

   5. 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.
• Swap in Batik workshop (Kraton and Taman Sari): Choose a half-day class, as the dyeing and drying take time, and ask to see hand-drawn batik tulis being made.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 3 nights, Malioboro keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Kraton and Taman Sari ($$) suits culture, couples and quiet stays. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 17–23 hours of visiting over 3 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 11.7 hours in June to 12.6 hours in December.

More or fewer days

• One day in Yogyakarta
• 2 days in Yogyakarta
• 5 days in Yogyakarta

Questions travellers ask