Things To Do In Yogyakarta – Enjoying The Adventure, Scenery, And Foods
Yogyakarta is always one of the best options for your trip destination in Indonesia. Known as the cultural center, Yogyakarta offers various things you can enjoy, from beautiful and historical places to unique traditions and delicious foods you can only find here.
Here, we have already collected several best things to do in Yogyakarta, which will make your trip the best trip in your life.
Sunrise at Borobudur
Borobudur Temple might be famous for its grandiose view and architectural style. This 9th-century Buddhist temple is also one of the popular landmarks of Yogyakarta. With more than 70 stupas, a multi-tiered layout, and beautiful reliefs surrounding its wall that tell the story from the past, it is the wonder of the world.
However, its height also creates a viewpoint where you can enjoy one of the most beautiful sunrise views in Yogyakarta. To enjoy this view, you have to visit this temple earlier in the morning, before the gate opens. It seems impossible, but some travel agencies can help you with that. They will pick you up at 4 in the morning and you can enjoy the sunrise before the crowd visits at noon.
Visiting the Chicken Church
As its name implies, this church has a shape like a chicken. Maybe, it is more to dove, but locals see it as a chicken. Thus, its name comes from. Best of all, this place is pretty close to Borobudur temple. It is in the northwest direction of the temple area. You can reach it by motorbike and a short climb on a hill.
The building doesn’t look finished. Its building process started in the ’90s. But, the locals rejected it, so the developer neglected it in 2000. However, its unique shape turns this church into a famous tourist attraction in Yogyakarta. You can enter the building and even climb to the top, but you have to pay the entrance fee.
Seeing the Rare Animals in Gembira Loka Zoo
Gembira Loka Zoo is a local zoo that has many rare animal collections. As you know, Indonesia has many endemic animals. You can find many of them here, including the world’s largest lizard, Komodo Dragon. So, if you have no plans to visit Komodo Island, you can visit this zoo to see this reptile directly.
Enjoying the Beautiful Architectural Style at Taman Sari, the Water Castle
Taman Sari is a beautiful royal garden built in the 18th century by the Sultan that ruled Yogyakarta at that time. It has a beautiful architectural style. However, you can only visit and enjoy the artificial lake and the main bathhouse area. Thus, the name Water Castle came from.
Taman Sari has many places around the main bathhouse and lake area you can visit. Tunnels and underground places are not rare to find here. You can even find an underground mosque here. Take your time to visit and enjoy your time here. This is one of the fun things to do in Yogyakarta.
The Largest Hindu Temple Complex, Prambanan Temple
Prambanan Temple is another famous temple in Yogyakarta you must visit. It was built in the 9th century and became the largest Hindu temple complex in Indonesia. The main temple is 47 meters tall and surrounded by many small temples. In the past, it could easily reach more than 200 temples in this area. However, time and war gradually destroy the temple complex. Now, you can only see the main temple complex and the remains of the small temples.
Visiting Parangtritis Beach
Parangtritis Beach is located in the southern part of Yogyakarta. You need about 2 hours from downtown to get there by car. This beach is the best place for relaxing. However, you should be aware of the wave around the beach. It is quite strong and can easily pull you to the sea. Do not try to swim, if you don’t have good swimming skills and are strong enough against the waves. Enjoy the beach with a snack, drink, or meal here. That’s enough to give you the best trip experience.
Adventuring at Jomblang Cave
Use an organized tour to visit this place. This collapsed sinkhole cave is one of the best destinations for enjoying a bit of adrenaline rush on your trip to Yogyakarta. Try caving here by exploring the 60 meters depth of the cave. You also spend more time enjoying and hiking the cave’s floor. It takes around 4 hours to explore this place.
Delicious Food and Scenery
As a university city, this city also has many affordable food vendors you can only find by walking around. You also can find interesting nightlife here, although you can only find it with the help of a guide. So, hire them and enjoy Yogyakarta.
Visit some famous spots in the city, like Beringharjo Market, Malioboro Road, Alun Alun Utara, and many more. Ride a becak, a traditional rickshaw, to get the Yogyakarta vibe. This walking tour is an experience everyone should try whenever they visit Yogyakarta.
The Night in Malioboro Road
To conclude your trip, visit Malioboro Road at night. Malioboro road is the destination for buying souvenirs, art, street food, and many interesting things in Yogyakarta. The day and night on Malioboro Road are different. So, you must experience both whenever you visit this city.
Items to bring for travel to Yogyakarta
* Walking/hiking shoes,
* Comfortable shirt + shorts/jeans,
* Jacket,
* Towel,
* Swimsuits, especially during dry seasons,
* Camera,
* Power bank,
* Water bottle,
* Universal adapter,
* Large backpack,
* Buy travel insurance.
Conclusion
Now, you are ready to have the best adventure in Yogyakarta. Enjoy this city and try the many activities we have on our list of things to do in Yogyakarta.