Season guide · Yogyakarta · Indonesia
Yogyakarta in the dry season
May–September: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Pinerineks, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Clear mornings, cool nights and the open-air Ramayana Ballet; peak crowds in July and August. Expect highs up to 32°C (90°F) and lows around 20°C (68°F), with about 21 rainy days across May–September. May–September are among the best months of the year to visit.
Key facts
- Months
- May–September
- Temperatures
- 20°C (68°F) to 32°C (90°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 21
- Crowds
- Busy
- Hotel prices
- High
Weather in the dry season
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May | 31°C (88°F) | 22°C (72°F) | 8 | 11.8 h | 3/5 |
| June | 31°C (88°F) | 21°C (70°F) | 5 | 11.7 h | 4/5 |
| July | 30°C (86°F) | 20°C (68°F) | 3 | 11.7 h | 5/5 |
| August | 31°C (88°F) | 20°C (68°F) | 2 | 11.9 h | 5/5 |
| September | 32°C (90°F) | 21°C (70°F) | 3 | 12.1 h | 4/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 31°C (88°F) against a yearly 31°C (88°F), and 21 of the year's roughly 136 rainy days fall in these 5 months. Crowds rate 4/5 and hotel prices 4/5 on average.
What's on in the dry season
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- May: Vesak — Buddhist procession from Mendut to Borobudur (usually May or June)
- June: ArtJog contemporary art festival (usually June to August)
- June: School holidays (usually late June to mid-July)
- July: Ramayana Ballet open-air season (usually dry-season months)
- August: Independence Day celebrations (17 August)
- August: Dieng Culture Festival on the Dieng Plateau (usually July or August)
Make the most of the weather
Religious site · Magelang (40 km northwest)
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.
- Time needed
- Half a day including travel
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- History
- Architecture
- Views
- Photo spot
Historic site · Sleman (17 km east)
Ratu Boko
Time your visit for late afternoon and watch the sunset from the gateway before heading to the Ramayana Ballet.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Views
- History
- Couples
- Photo spot
Nature · Jalan Kaliurang and north Jogja
Mount Merapi jeep tour
Open-top jeep tours from Kaliurang drive along lava riverbeds on Merapi's slopes to villages buried in the 2010 eruption, including a small museum of melted household objects, and to viewpoints of the summit when clouds allow.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Active
- Outdoors
- Nature
- Views
- Kids
Day trips in the dry season
- Solo (Surakarta) (About 1 hour by commuter train) — 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.
- Dieng Plateau (About 3.5–4 hours by car) — 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.
What to pack
- Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen
- A packable rain jacket for showers
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is the dry season a good time to visit Yogyakarta?
Yes: May–September are among the best months. Clear mornings, cool nights and the open-air Ramayana Ballet; peak crowds in July and August.
+What is the weather like in Yogyakarta in the dry season?
Highs of up to 32°C (90°F) and lows around 20°C (68°F), with about 21 rainy days over the season.