Yogyakarta, along with Mount Bromo, were tourist spots in Java Island, Indonesia that I was most excited to visit. I wanted to see Borobudur and Prambanan since I consider them among the most visually impressive temple complexes in all of South East Asia.

Borobudur was widely known as the single biggest Buddhist temple structure in the world. Meanwhile, Prambanan was the largest Hindu temple in Indonesia.

I also didn’t want to miss out on exploring Yogyakarta city center, especially after reading travel blog entries about its water castle and underground mosque.

Itinerary Overview

Route Map

https://www.google.com/maps/d/embed?mid=1afnzT_D0ZmmmA651nmWUCxCRt3E

Itinerary Notes & Tips

Day 1

Jakarta to Yogyakarta Flight

• Arrival at Yogyakarta Airport
• Eat at Singgalang Jaya, Yogyakarta Airport – Rp21,000
  • Daging Rendang – Rp15,000
  • Nasih Putih (rice) – Rp6,000
• Ride bus from Yogyakarta Airport to City Center

Yogyakarta Hostel Search

• Walk to Sosrowijayan St. (Jalan Sosrowijayan)

• Check-in at Bu Purwo Losmen (Sosrowijayan Wetan GT. 1/100; (0274) 589764)
  • Double fan room (queen-sized bed; shared TB) – Rp80,000
  • Decent place to stay filled with colorful paintings.

• Laundry done at Mama Seng’s Batik Shop (near Bu Purwo Losmen) – Rp10,000 per kilo

• Market run
  • Bottled H20 (1.5L) – Rp4,000
  • Nissin Butter Coconut Biscuits (small) – Rp3,500

• Dinner at Jogja Kopitiam (Jalan Sosrowijayan; Free WiFi) – Rp29,000
  • Lumpia Ayam – Rp12,000
  • Mie Goreng Seafood – Rp17,000
  • Liked eating here mostly for the WiFi but the food and prices were pretty decent as well.

Day 2

• Buy at batik shop
  • Purple scarf – Rp40,000

• 11:25am – Check-out at Bu Purwo Losmen

• 11:30am – Check-in at Losmen Anda
  • Single fan room (private TB) – Rp70,000rp (Rp35,000 per night x 2 nights)
  • One of the cheapest (bang for your buck) places to stay in Yogyakarta. The family running Losmen Anda gave a very warm reception.
• Lunch @Bedhot Resto – Rp25,000
  • Rendang Padang (West Sumatran food)
  • Java Coffee
  • Bottled Water
  • Loved eating here for the delicious food and coffee

Yogyakarta City Center Walking Tour

• Walk to Water Castle (Taman Sari)
  • The underground mosque was very hard to find. It was an interesting spot to visit and photograph when in the area.
  • A few people would come up to me for a chat, would start guiding me around, and later lead me to a souvenir shop. Best to ignore these people. The old man who befriended me told me the underground mosque was closed before he got rid me. I did not trust him, so I went inside the old city ruins again (using another gate) and discovered the underground mosque on my own … it was still open.

• Dinner at Soto Ayam restaurant (Malioboro St.)
  • Soto Ayam (noodles) – 8,000rp
  • Iced Tea – 3,000rp
• Shopping @Yogyakarta Malioboro Mall

• 2nd dinner at @Zon’s sidestreet stall near the entrance of Jalan Dagen
  • Satay Padang (7 sticks) + 2 rice – Rp12,000
• 9:24pm – Market run @Indomarket
  • Bottled water 550ml – Rp2,300
  • Minute main Tropical flavor – Rp6,900
  • Lux Beauty Soap – Rp2,750
  • Laundry powder x 2 – Rp1,400
  • Nabati cheese wafer x 3 – Rp4,200

• 3rd dinner and WIFI at Cecko – Rp17,000

Day 3

Buy Yogyakarta to Malang Train Ticket

• Walk to Tugu Train Station
• 10:25am – Fill up card and get priority number from the guard. My priority number was #238 and the counter was serving #150 when I got there.

• Buy Nescafe Iced Coffee @Indomaret – 7,500rm

• 11:30am – Buy overnight train from Yogyakarta to Malang via Malabar Express – Rp160,000
  • Yogyakarta departure: 11:38pm
  • Malang arrival: 07:04am
  • Seat Class: Business Class
  • Cheapest seat
    • Economy class – Rp110,000

• Lunch @sidestreet stall near Hostel Anda
  • Gado-gado (vegetable salad with peanut sauce) – Rp7,000
  • Coffee – Rp3,000

Prambanan Temple Complex Walking Tour

• Walk to Malioboro St. bus stop
• Ride Transjogja Bus “1A” to Prambanan – Rp3,000

• Prambanan Temple Complex Walking Tour
  • Entrance fee – USD18 (foreign adult)

• Dinner at Superman Resto – Rp28,500
  • Nasi Goreng with Satay + Iced Tea

Day 4

Borobudur Temple Complex Walking Tour

• 5:15am – wake up and then find ojek driver

• Ride ojek from Yogyakarta City Center to Borobudur
  • Beautiful sunrise along the main highway

• 6:30am – Borobudur arrival
  • Entrance fee – USD20 (foreign adult)

• Buy Telkomsel (Indonesian mobile network) sim card – Rp19,000
  • +prepaid load – Rp5,000

• Borobudur entrance ticket (for foreign tourists) – US$15

• Borobudur Temple Walking Tour

• Ride ojek from Borobudur to Yogyakarta City Center via countryside back roads

Yogyakarta to Mount Bromo

• Dinner @Bedhot Resto
  • Nasi Goreng ala Bedhot (Fried rice with Shrimp and Chicken Satay) – Rp25,000
  • Black Coffee – Rp5,000

• 11:00pm – Hostel Anda checkout