Day trips · Yogyakarta · Indonesia
5 best day trips from Yogyakarta
Where to go when you want a day away from Yogyakarta, and how long it really takes.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Rahmaziz, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
The classic day trip from Yogyakarta is Solo (Surakarta) (About 1 hour by commuter train). The closest option is Parangtritis, about 28 km away.
Key facts
- Day trips in this guide
- 5
- Closest
- Parangtritis (28 km)
- Most popular
- Solo (Surakarta)
Day trips compared
| Destination | Distance | Travel time | How | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solo (Surakarta) | 60 km | About 1 hour by commuter train | KRL commuter line from Tugu or Lempuyangan to Solo Balapan | Culture, Shopping, Food lovers |
| Dieng Plateau | 120 km | About 3.5–4 hours by car | Car with driver or organised tour | Quiet stays, Couples, Culture |
| Jomblang Cave | 50 km | About 1.5 hours by car | Car with driver; descent arranged with the cave operator | Couples, First-timers |
| Gunungkidul beaches | 65 km | About 2 hours by car | Car with driver or scooter | Couples, Families, Beach |
| Parangtritis | 28 km | About 1 hour by car | Car, ride-hailing or Trans Jogja and local bus | Families, Budget |
The day trips
60 km · About 1 hour by commuter train
1.Solo (Surakarta)
Yogyakarta's rival royal city has two palaces, the Kasunanan and the Mangkunegaran, the Danar Hadi batik museum and the Klewer textile market, plus its own dishes such as tengkleng and selat Solo.
- Getting there
- KRL commuter line from Tugu or Lempuyangan to Solo Balapan
- Best for
- Culture, Shopping, Food lovers
120 km · About 3.5–4 hours by car
2.Dieng Plateau
A high volcanic plateau at about 2,000 metres with some of Java's oldest Hindu temples, the colourful Telaga Warna lake, steaming craters and sunrise viewpoints such as Sikunir hill. Bring warm clothes; nights are cold.
- Getting there
- Car with driver or organised tour
- Best for
- Quiet stays, Couples, Culture
50 km · About 1.5 hours by car
3.Jomblang Cave
Visitors are lowered about 60 metres by rope into a collapsed sinkhole, then walk through a cave to Grubug, where a shaft of sunlight falls into the darkness around midday.
- Getting there
- Car with driver; descent arranged with the cave operator
- Best for
- Couples, First-timers
65 km · About 2 hours by car
4.Gunungkidul beaches
The limestone coast of Gunungkidul has small white-sand coves such as Indrayanti and Pok Tunggal between rocky headlands. Swimming is often unsafe because of strong Indian Ocean waves, so come for the scenery and seafood.
- Getting there
- Car with driver or scooter
- Best for
- Couples, Families, Beach
28 km · About 1 hour by car
5.Parangtritis
A wide black-sand beach backed by dunes, popular for sunset walks, horse-cart rides and ATV rentals. Swimming is dangerous because of rip currents, and the beach has strong links with Javanese legends of the sea goddess Nyai Roro Kidul.
- Getting there
- Car, ride-hailing or Trans Jogja and local bus
- Best for
- Families, Budget
Day-trip tips
- Leave early: most trips are more relaxed with a morning departure and a return before dinner.
- Trans Jogja buses run fixed routes across the city, including towards Prambanan, at low fares, but are slower than ride-hailing.
- Tugu station has trains to Jakarta, Surabaya and Bandung, and the KRL commuter line links Yogyakarta with Prambanan's nearby station and Solo in about an hour.
- For trips over about 150 km, an overnight stay or an organised tour saves a lot of travelling.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best day trip from Yogyakarta?
Solo (Surakarta). Yogyakarta's rival royal city has two palaces, the Kasunanan and the Mangkunegaran, the Danar Hadi batik museum and the Klewer textile market, plus its own dishes such as tengkleng and selat Solo.
+How long does it take to get from Yogyakarta to Solo (Surakarta)?
About 1 hour by commuter train — KRL commuter line from Tugu or Lempuyangan to Solo Balapan, about 60 km.
+How long does it take to get from Yogyakarta to Dieng Plateau?
About 3.5–4 hours by car — Car with driver or organised tour, about 120 km.