Yogyakarta
Java, Indonesia

Jalan (street) Malioboro, Yogyakarta's (also known as Yogya, Jogjakarta, and Jogja) main street of tourist interest.
Photo by Yuda Putra.

Indonesia Pictures | Indonesia Travel Guide | Indonesia Map

Yogyakarta's old town, damaged in a large earthquake (Richter 5.9) in 2006.
Photo by Egonwegh.

The Kraton, Sri Sultan's Palace, front hall.
Photo by Pagelaran.

This is Yogyakarta's most important attraction and a favourite place for Javanese dance and gamelan music shows for tourists, but if you're there for the Kraton make sure you see the proper palace via a different entrance on the west side. But be aware, there are not a lot of goodies on show - no great statues, no special reliefs and no wonderful paintings. Bottom line, if you're expecting lots of grandeur, don't go there.

Jalan Malioboro gets loud and hectic at night.
Photo by Gryffindor.

The best souvenir from Yogyakarta in general and Malioboro in particular is sensational batik (dyed cloth), but you'll need to haggle prices down to something less than extortionate. If batik really rings your bell then there's a fine Batik Museum in the city too.

The must-see indigenous show in Yogyakarta and indeed much of Indonesia is the shadow puppet play, wayang kulit. There are two museums dedicated to this art form in Jogja.

Cheap eating in one of Jalan Malioboro's open-air restaurants.
Photo by Seth Mazow.

Prambanan temple.
Photo by Hibino.

The large 9th century Hindu temple complex of Prambanan is 18 kms from Yogyakarta and only 10 minutes from the airport.

It's hardly sensational - certainly not compared with Borobudur - and costly to enter; do hire an in-house guide to explain the interesting ins-and-outs otherwise it's a waste of time/money, especially since you'll have to put up with endless hawkers offering crap souvenirs as you stagger around trying to understand what it's all about.

The large park around the temple complex offers plenty of kid's entertainment (playground, deer enclosure etc.) and great views of the temples. Doing both Borobudur and Prambanan in one day is not difficult; in fact half a day is possible.

One of the giant guardians of 9th century Candi Plaosan in Klaten, Central Java.
Photo by Gunkarta.

If you're desperate for some Java beach time then Sundak beach (Watu Lawang Resort) is 1.5 hours drive and has cottages and a restaurant. The sand is beige and comfortable but the shore tends to be breezy.
Parangritis beach is coated with black sand and thrashed by dangerous waves but offers terrific views and kaleidoscopic sunsets.

Alternatively nip across the water and check out Bali's Beaches.