13 Best Things to do in Yogyakarta as for the first time

Location : Ullen Sentalu Museum
(Mom, me, aunty)

Finally I had time to visit Yogyakarta, city which most of people recommend me to visit before I die. Sounds overreacted but it's kinda true. There are some places that makes me wants to back again.

In 28 years I have never been to Yogyakarta. It's pretty embarrasing right.  Yeah I know that 😅. I was born in Java island, studied and learned about history of Java kingdom when I was in school, but I never really explored Java island especially Yogyakarta.

Anyway I was planning to have a trip alone, but when I told mom, she's more excited than me even I wasn't asked her to go with me. Also my aunt excited like mom. Then we went to Yogyakarta together.

About Yogyakarta

Java Island is divided into 3 parts, West Java, Central Java, and East Java. And Yogyakarta is part of Central Java, located in the south part of Java island. Yogyakarta named it self "Yogyakarta special region" because Yogyakarta is not really part of Central Java, and the government in Yogyakarta is not same as other region in Java island.

Speaking about government, Yogyakarta led by King called Sultan Hamengkubuwono. That makes Yogyakarta different than other cities in Java Island which led by governor. But Yogyakarta is part of Indonesia.

Yogyakarta or most of people called it "Jogja" with signature spelling as Java people (aka medhok) known for numerous allures like culture, traditional foods, natural attractions, beaches, arts, and much more. No wonder a lot of tourists from others country comes there just want to explore all the good places and learn more about the city, especially the culture.

Okay, I will not talking much about that because I wasn't born in Yogyakarta. But I have to admit it that Yogyakarta is a special city, one of the most interesting city I've ever visited and Yogyakarta stole my heart since I'd come there.

Yogyakarta as I know has alot of attractions that we can visit. Not only historical place such as Borobudur and Prambanan Temple, but alot of iconic museums also some experience that probably you can't feel in another places.

Here some things to do based on my experience who came in to Yogyakarta for the first time.

1. Take a trip with train

Instead of using plane, I chose train as my transportation. Also I want reunited with my childhood when I and my family always used train when we on a trip. The things that I always love used train is I can enjoy the scenery through the window train.

Anyway I lived in Surabaya, located in East Java which is next to central Java where Yogyakarta is. But there are many ways to reach Yogyakarya and I chose train since the plane ticket in Indonesia is getting so expensive also not comes with baggage.

I booked ticket from official website train in Indonesia here .

Surabaya Gubeng station to Yogyakarta Lempuyangan station with time destination around 5 hours. The price was about IDR 98k for economy class, Gaya baru malam selatan train.

So this was my first time used train again and it was amazing. Except the part where I had to deal with the crowd people in the train and AC that didn't work.

Gaya Baru Malam Selatan Train

Lempuyangan station in 5 pm

2. Stay in Thematic Hotel

In booking site, it showed me alot of thematic and unique hotel also with affordable price. Then I found a hotel from Agoda with green concept, not too far from the central city, easy to find and reach, also I got the best deal for the price.

Greenhost Boutique Hotel Prawirotaman

Price IDR 992k for 2 nights (breakfast not included)

Iam so in love with this hotel especially the smell of the lemongrass and mint from the plants that they planted in small pot along the patio, surround of each room. I bet my death father who always has the same think and taste like me would be in love with this place.

I really recommend you guys to stay at this hotel.

Facade covered with plant

Lobby

Lobby

Dining area / cafe

Speaking about the green concept, they really put everything green for the interior. Not only plants which makes this place colder and fresher even they are not using air conditioner, they also used second-hand goods stuff for some furniture as well and interior elements which means they didn't buy something new.

View from my patio

My favourite interior asthetic made from car door

I hope they will change the plastic bottle into glass bottle :)

Thinking about going home immediately but I still have extra time for holiday so I booked another hotel with the cheaper rate.

Kalya Hotel Yogyakarta
Price IDR 246k for 1 night (breakfast included and money deposit  IDR 100k)

I didn't expecting much about my second hotel since the price is very cheap than my previous hotel. As long as I could sleep peacefully, it's fine.

The location of my second hotel not too close to the city like my hotel which I stayed before. It's about 2 km further. So make sure you have motor or car that you can ride guys. Or maybe online taxi. 

View from my room

Lobby

3. Walk along the famous street market in Malioboro

One of the famous place, also as such a place which traveller can't miss  when visit Yogyakarta, Malioboro street.

I put this place in my first destination when I just came in Yogyakarta in the night time. Yeah, I couldn't imagine if I visit this place in the afternoon, and it's gonna be very hot since I came there in summer season.

There are 3 things that we can do in Malioboro street.

Shopping, the streets also close to Beringharjo Market, the main market in Yogyakarta such as sell batik fabric, jewelry, crafts and others things with Yogyakarta signature on it. Unfortunately the market only open in morning, in 9 am to 5 pm.

But don't worry, along the main street of Malioboro streets which open after 5 pm also sell the same things as Beringharjo Market.

Be careful because some of the seller increase their price, especially if they know that you are not local people. So you have to bargain until the lowest price.

Culinary, in every corner of Yogyakarta comes with food and you will find culinary spot along Malioboro street. There are 2 authentic food that I've tried as my friend's recommendation. 

Lumpia Samijaya
You can easily find this snack along the Malioboro street. The snack is wrapped with skin made by flour and there are vegetables (bean sprout and carrot) inside then fried in hot deep oil. Almost the same like springroll.

The difference of lumpia Yogyakarta from the sauce made with garlic with a slightly sweet taste.

Price :
IDR 4k for original Lumpia
IDR 4.5k for Lumpia with 1 small egg inside

The Egg inside of Lumpia

Lesehan Terangbulan
Others authentic food from Yogyakarta that you should try is food menu from Lesehan Terangbulan. Just walk a little bit then easily find this place, next to Lumpia Samijaya. The place is right in front of the "terangbulan" batik fabric store.

Unfortunately this place open in 10 pm after the batik store close until in the middle of night.

Don't expect anything fancy from this place because lesehan word means eat without chair, like sitting on a grass or mat. But the dinner will be interesting with live street music as a background.

I ordered Gudeg, authentic famous food from Yogyakarta with the price IDR 18k. Meanwhile others people recommend me order fried quail (burung puyuh in Indonesian). Since I don't really like extreme culinary, I would like to choose fried chicken instead.

Hahaha Iam such a looser !

Enjoy the ambience and taking some photos, as a traveller who get used to travelled alone I always spent time to sit and seen people walking around me. Sometimes I captured everything around me through my phone camera. 

4. Explore city with motorcycle or scooter

Yogyakarta is a friendly city for all types of vehicles including motorcycle. I rent motorcycle in the right beside my hotel IDR 80k for a day.

If you guys can ride motorcycle, I recommend you to strolling around and enjoy the old town from the portugese era.

5. Breakfast with local cuisine in Gudeg yu Narni

Yogyakarta cuisine famous with sweet taste, in every kind of food including Gudeg. Gudeg is the main authentic food in Yogyakarta, no wonder people called it Gudeg city. And the trip won't complete without stopping by and tasting this sweet food.

You can find Gudeg yu Narni around Tugu Yogyakarta Train Station. But alot of Gugeg Yu Narni spread in Yogyakarta. And also there are alot of Gudeg in Yogyakarta with different name.

Rice, boiled whole breast chicken with brown palm sugar, an boil egg, cracker made by cow skin, and jackfruit vegetable boiled with coconut milk with the price IDR 40k. All of them cooked in traditional way with firewood.

6. Visit UNESCO heritage site, Borobudur temple

Travel to Yogyakarta won't complete without visiting the largest Buddhist temple in the world, Borobudur Temple. With the ancient complex comprises of six square platforms topped by three circular platforms decorated with 2672 relief panels and 504 Buddha statues.

You can read my previous writing about The magnificient of borobudur temple

7. Visit the most beautiful Prambanan temple

After Borobudur temple which one of the biggest Buddhist temple in Indonesia, there is prambanan temple about 45 minutes from the centre of Yogyakarta. If Iam not mistaken it's about 30 minutes from Borobudur temple.

Yogyakarta trip won't complete without visiting the second biggest and largest temple in Indonesia.

Anyway I'll probably write about this temple in others writing because it's gonna be along story.

8. Get to know about Javanese kingdom in Ullen Sentalu Museum

Ullen Sentalu Museum is Javanese museum and privately owned by family. From this museum we can learn about Javanese kingdom, between Mataram dynasty, Yogyakarta and Solo surakarta kingdom. That's the biggest kingdom in Indonesia.

The museum that stores Yogyakarta kingdom historic items located in Kaliurang village is close too mount Merapi which errupted in few years ago.

The only way to go there is between using car or motorcycle.  Sadly there is no public transportation also it's hard to find gojek, grab, or others online transportation.

The ticket price is pretty cheap, IDR 40k including welcome traditional drink from Javanese called jamu. Then we will be guide with attractive also interactive guide to explore the museum.

For more detail I will write in others writing because this museum is quite big and large also the tour take 2.5 hours. So yeah it's gonna be a long story.

9. Enjoy sunset in Breksi cliff (Tebing Breksi)

My driver that I hired for a day recommend me to enjoy the sunset from the highest place in Yogyakarta, Breksi cliff.

Breksi cliff is a formed by the rock mining activity from the local people. From 20 meter abandoned limestone cliff mining turned into tremendous spot to enjoy sunset. And the beautiful carvings from the cliff wall made by local artists.

The ticket is really cheap, IDR 5k. And the only way to come there with car or motorcycle and I've seen bus from tourist group.

To enjoy the sunset or sunrise you can get to the top of cliff also to see a nice view of Yogyakarta city. But be careful because I don't think this place is safe for kids.

Unfortunately there was no sunset due to the weather. It was gloomy and dark also a bit windy. But I will try in another chance.

I couldn't handle the crowd. It was weekend so no wonder a lot of people come there. My bad.......

10. Try famous gelato in "Tempo Gelato"

Most of my friend when I said that I planned travel to Yogyakarta, they told me to try gelato in "Tempo Gelato" Also since the place wasn't too far from green boutique hotel so why not. It took 5 minutes walk from Green boutique hotel where I stayed.

I wondered what's something special about this gelato. Even It's totally same like others gelato that I've tried before. I think they impressed about the price. It's pretty cheap and that was the cheaper gelato I've ever eat.

The size and the price

Mochacino and Vanilla in cone - IDR 25k

For 2 scoops ice cream cone with the price IDR 25k or 1.8 USD. It's pretty cheap huh.

11. Visit horse carriage of kingdom museum

The museum which stores a lot of types of Yogyakarta kingdom horse carriages is located close to the royal palace of Yogyakarta or we called it keraton. But the guide said it's more like a garage. Because some of them still used in traditional ceremonies such as wedding.

The museums established since the reign of Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono VI - name of king in Yogyakarta - holds a diverse collection of horse carriages that belonging to the palace of Yogyakarta kingdom.

The museum admission price is IDR 5k per person and IDR 1k for camera.

I'll write about this museum in another writing. And I will show alot of horse carriage that mesmerized me.

12. Explore kingdom's historical site Water Castle or "Taman Sari"

Tamansari is a one of historical site in yogyakarta which was once of a bath for the king's family. The place is more like a pool. Not only that, the place had function such as a place to rest like villa, meditate, work, hide and defend the king's family.

With the admission fee only IDR 5k, you can enjoy the beauty of the expert and famous architects from Portugese in the Portugese era.

The entrance of the castle

The pool area for king's wive

The pool area for king and selected wive

This is the place that must be visit when in Yogyakarta.

13. Buy snack "bakpia pathok 25" for gift

Location :
I forgot the exactly of the location because I went there by grab taxi. I searched "bakpia pathok 25" and brought me to the place where the bakpia made.

Price :
1 box - IDR 30k (with mung bean inside)
1 box - IDR 40k (with cocholate inside)

If you looking for snack gift, this one is authentic snack from Yogyakarta called bakpia. The grab taxi driver warned me about the other bakpia (with the same packaging, name, also the number) that maybe not delicious as this one.

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I just want to say to you guys who read all of my travel journey, even it's just a close and simply journey, thank you so much. Your support is really encouraged me to make anothers updates.

Lately I feels like Iam not confident enough to share all of these and then someone message me from instagram that he impressed my writing. Yeah journey isn't about journey but is about something that I can share. So to someone that encourage me, if you read this, thank you so much. Your words are really meant to me.

If there is anything that you want to ask, reach me in social media instagram.
Let's be friend :))

Letsgotoholiday

Thank you

Xoxo, Yunda