Shopping · Yogyakarta · Indonesia
Shopping in Yogyakarta
Shopping streets, markets and souvenirs worth the suitcase space.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Heri nugroho, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Yogyakarta is one of Indonesia's best places to buy batik, silver and handicrafts, from market stalls on Malioboro to workshops in Kotagede and Taman Sari. Best souvenirs: Batik, Kotagede silver and Bakpia.
Key facts
- Shopping areas
- 3
- Markets
- 2
- Top souvenir
- Batik
Where to shop
Malioboro Street
Batik shops, souvenir stalls and department stores along the main street.
Kotagede
Silver filigree workshops and showrooms on Jalan Kemasan.
Kampung Taman
Small batik painting studios and workshops around Taman Sari.
Markets
Beringharjo Market
The main traditional market for batik fabric, spices and herbs.
Pasar Ngasem
A market near Taman Sari selling snacks and traditional food.
What to buy
Batik
Hand-drawn batik tulis or stamped batik cap in Yogyakarta's brown-and-indigo court style.
Kotagede silver
Filigree jewellery and miniatures made in Kotagede workshops.
Bakpia
Boxes of mung-bean pastries, the classic edible souvenir; they keep for a few days.
Wayang kulit puppets
Hand-carved leather shadow puppets, from small souvenirs to performance pieces.
Javanese coffee
Beans from Java's highlands, including from the slopes of Merapi.
Streets and markets worth a wander
Street · Malioboro
Malioboro Street
Yogyakarta's main street runs from Tugu station towards the Kraton, lined with batik and souvenir shops, Beringharjo Market and Fort Vredeburg.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Shopping
- After dark
- Food
Neighbourhood · Kotagede
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.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- History
- Free
- Shopping
- Off the beaten path
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Market · Malioboro
Beringharjo Market
Yogyakarta's main traditional market sells batik by the metre and as clothing on the ground floor, with spices, herbs, jamu ingredients and snacks deeper inside and upstairs.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Shopping
- Food
- Free
Food and drink to take home
Edible souvenirs travel best when they are dry or sealed: consider Bakpia, Kopi joss, Wedang ronde and Jamu. Bakeries in the Pathuk area west of Malioboro, where many family brands are named after their house numbers. Check your home country's rules on bringing food and drink back.
Shopping by neighbourhood
| Area | Price level | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Malioboro | $$ | The city's main shopping street, street vendors and central hotels |
| Prawirotaman | $$ | Traveller street of cafés, bars, boutique hotels and pools |
| Sosrowijayan | $ | Narrow backpacker lanes beside Malioboro and Tugu station |
| Kotagede | $ | Old Mataram capital of silver workshops and walled lanes |
| Jalan Kaliurang and north Jogja | $$ | University district on the road towards Mount Merapi |
Paying and bargaining
Prices are in IDR. Tipping is not expected in warung, but small tips for guides, drivers and becak riders are appreciated. Hotels and restaurants often add a service charge.
- Buy batik at Beringharjo Market or fixed-price shops rather than galleries recommended by touts.
When to shop
Shops and markets are quietest in January–March and November; the busiest months are July–August.
- June: ArtJog contemporary art festival (usually June to August)
- August: Dieng Culture Festival on the Dieng Plateau (usually July or August)
Staying near the shops
$$ · Best for first-timers, shopping, budget and families
Malioboro
The city's main shopping street, street vendors and central hotels
Questions travellers ask
+What should I buy in Yogyakarta?
Batik, Kotagede silver, Bakpia and Wayang kulit puppets.
+Where is the best shopping in Yogyakarta?
Malioboro Street: Batik shops, souvenir stalls and department stores along the main street.
+What are the best markets in Yogyakarta?
Beringharjo Market and Pasar Ngasem.