People go to Ubud for temples, craft and Javanese-Balinese culture; Yogyakarta has the real royal court, batik workshops and two of Southeast Asia's great temple sites, Prambanan and Borobudur, within an hour. It is a big student city, so dorms, angkringan street stalls and Trans Jogja buses keep costs very low. Come by train from Jakarta or fly into Yogyakarta International and take the airport train to the centre. Spend on the temple tickets and a Merapi jeep and keep everything else cheap.
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When to go
June to September is the dry season (16-68 mm of rain a month); January and March are the wettest, around 360-390 mm. Highs stay around 30-31°C all year. Mount Merapi is an active volcano; follow local exclusion zones if activity rises.
Yogyakarta right now and the next 7 days
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Yogyakarta on the map
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The area
Getting there
Places to see
Day trips
Yogyakarta · Open in Google Maps ↗
Map by Google. Places are found by name, so check the exact spot in Google Maps before you go.
Step 3 of 11Next: Cost↓What your trip costs
Change anything and the numbers update. Every price is what the bus, room or ticket itself costs. We take no commission and sell no packages, so this is what you pay booking each piece yourself.
Ballpark ranges, not live quotes. Prices last updated 5 November 2026. Prices move with season and demand, so check live fares before you book. Spot a wrong price? Tell us and we fix it.
On the ground: stay, food, local travel and tickets. Pick a route above to add the journey.
Yogyakarta in 3 days: a day-by-day plan
Our suggested plan, in a sensible order with times. Move things between days, remove them or add more. It saves on this device, and you can share it.
- 11:00Prambanan templesHalf day · ₹2,095 each · Hindu temple towers east of the city. About Rp400,000 for foreign adults in June 2026; another 2026 guide says Rp350,000. Ticket sales from 06:30.
- Lunch on the way
- 05:45Merapi lava jeep tour2 h · ₹2,095 each · Short route about Rp400,000-450,000 per jeep (up to 4 adults) in 2026, through Merapi's eruption zone. Sunrise trips Rp500,000-700,000.
- 08:45Kraton (Sultan's palace)1.5 h · ₹80 each · Still the Sultan's residence. About Rp15,000 in recent guides; could not confirm the 2026 foreign rate. A free gamelan performance runs mornings, not Fridays.
- 10:45Taman Sari water castle1 h · ₹130 each · The Sultans' former bathing pools and pleasure garden. Rp25,000 for foreign adults; open 09:00-15:00.
- 13:00Lunch break
- 08:00Day trip: Parangtritis beachHalf day · price to check · Bus or scooter south of the city (About 25 km (straight line))
- 13:00Lunch break
How to get to Yogyakarta
One-way prices per person. The cheapest sensible option is marked. Each button opens live times and fares for the date you picked above.
Train
₹1,830Economy seats about Rp74,000-350,000 in May 2026, depending on train and date; executive trains cost more. Book in the Access by KAI app.
Airport → city Last leg
₹260Xpress from Rp50,000 since 1 July 2026; the slower Reguler train is Rp20,000. Run by KAI Commuter since 17 September 2026.
Commuter train Cheapest
₹40About Rp8,000 one way. Useful if you fly into Solo instead; journey time not confirmed.
Getting around once you're there
On foot
FreeMalioboro, the Kraton and Taman Sari are close enough to walk between. Becak rides around Malioboro should be short and cheap; agree the price first.
Trans Jogja bus
₹20Rp3,500 cash or Rp2,700 cashless per ride from 1 January 2026.
Gojek / Grab motorbike
₹80About Rp8,000-15,000 for short trips around the city.
Where to stay in Yogyakarta
Price per night for the room. The buttons open live availability for your dates.
Dorm
₹655/nightListed Yogyakarta dorm beds run from about €2.50 to €9.20; €6.12 is typical.
Guesthouse room
₹785/nightAbout Rp100,000-200,000 a night. Walking in and comparing rooms works well here.
3-star hotel
₹4,085/nightSearch-engine average for 3-star Yogyakarta hotels is about $43 on weekdays and $47 at weekends.
What to eat, and what it costs
Angkringan street-cart meal
₹105About Rp15,000-25,000 for a full meal of nasi kucing (small rice parcels), satay skewers and sweet tea.
Warung meal
₹130About Rp15,000-30,000.
Main at a café or restaurant
₹235Mains from about Rp45,000 at traveller cafés.
Places to visit and things to do in Yogyakarta
Tap “Add to my plan” and it goes into your day-by-day plan above.
Prambanan temples
₹2,095Hindu temple towers east of the city. About Rp400,000 for foreign adults in June 2026; another 2026 guide says Rp350,000. Ticket sales from 06:30.
Kraton (Sultan's palace)
₹80Still the Sultan's residence. About Rp15,000 in recent guides; could not confirm the 2026 foreign rate. A free gamelan performance runs mornings, not Fridays.
Taman Sari water castle
₹130The Sultans' former bathing pools and pleasure garden. Rp25,000 for foreign adults; open 09:00-15:00.
Merapi lava jeep tour
₹2,095Short route about Rp400,000-450,000 per jeep (up to 4 adults) in 2026, through Merapi's eruption zone. Sunrise trips Rp500,000-700,000.
Malioboro Street at night
FreeThe main street fills with angkringan carts, batik stalls and buskers after dark. Free to walk.
Day trips and next stops
Borobudur
Check fareShuttle bus or a hired car from the city
Parangtritis beach
Check fareBus or scooter south of the city
Solo (Surakarta)
₹40KRL commuter train
Jakarta
₹1,830KAI train, 8-10 h
Know before you go
Mistakes to avoid
- UK travel advice (updated 18 September 2026) has no 'advise against' areas for Indonesia but says volcanoes can erupt without warning. Mount Merapi is active: follow local exclusion zones and evacuation orders.
- UK advice warns of methanol in counterfeit spirits and a zero-tolerance drug policy, with cannabis and CBD products illegal.
- Watch for the fake 'batik exhibition' or 'Kraton is closed today' approach near the palace, which leads to overpriced shops.
Ways to spend less
- Kraton and Taman Sari together cost about Rp40,000; the Kraton's morning gamelan performance is free.
- Eat at angkringan carts: a full meal for about Rp15,000-25,000.
- Share a Merapi jeep between four people and the cost per person drops to about Rp100,000.
Say it in Indonesian
A few words go a long way, especially when you ask a price.
The pronunciation is a simple guide, not a native recording. Spot a mistake? Tell us.
Before-you-go checklist
Yogyakarta in pictures
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Step 11 of 11Next: FAQ↓Questions people ask
When is the best time to visit Yogyakarta?
On our month-by-month scores, the best months are Jun–Sep. June to September is the dry season (16-68 mm of rain a month); January and March are the wettest, around 360-390 mm. Highs stay around 30-31°C all year. Mount Merapi is an active volcano; follow local exclusion zones if activity rises.
How do I reach Yogyakarta?
Train: Jakarta → Yogyakarta (KAI), 8-10 h, about ₹1,830 one way. Commuter train: Solo (Surakarta) → Yogyakarta, KRL, Could not confirm, about ₹40 one way.
How much does a 3-day trip to Yogyakarta cost?
On the ground (stay, food, local travel and tickets), one person spends about ₹3,600 on a shoestring, ₹5,100 mid-range or ₹15,750 in comfort over 3 days. Add the journey: the cheapest sensible option is commuter train (Solo (Surakarta) → Yogyakarta, KRL) at about ₹40 each way.
How many days do you need in Yogyakarta?
3 days is right for most people. That covers Prambanan temples, Kraton (Sultan's palace), Taman Sari water castle, Merapi lava jeep tour without rushing.
Is Yogyakarta good for families or solo travellers?
Out of 5 on our scores: solo 5, couples 5, families 4, groups 4. It works well for families. It is easy to do on your own.
Is vegetarian food easy to find in Yogyakarta?
Vegetarian food is easy: gudeg is jackfruit-based (often served with egg or chicken, so ask), and tempeh, tofu, gado-gado and vegetable dishes are everywhere. Sambal can contain shrimp paste, and some broths use meat stock. Prawirotaman's cafés have clearly marked vegan options.
Will my phone and cards work in Yogyakarta?
Phone signal: Local prepaid SIMs need registering with your passport. Gojek and Grab need a working data connection. Cards and UPI: Accepted at hotels, malls and larger restaurants. Trans Jogja takes cashless cards and QR payment. Cash: Indonesian rupiah (Rp). Carry small notes; angkringan carts and warungs often cannot break large notes.
Sources and last check
Checked 5 November 2026. Fees, hours and rules change, so confirm on the official site before you pay.
- gov.uk OfficialNo 'advise against travel' areas; follow local volcano exclusion zones (updated 18 Sep 2026)
- gov.uk OfficialVolcanoes can erupt without warning; methanol; zero-tolerance drugs incl. CBD; licensed money changers
- rri.co.idKA Bandara YIA Reguler Rp20,000; Xpress from Rp50,000; Xpress Flexi Rp80,000; effective 1 Jul 2026 (1 Aug 2026)
- rctiplus.comKAI Commuter took over KA Bandara YIA on 17 Sep 2026
- kompas.tvYIA airport train about 39 min to the city
- metrotvnews.comJakarta-Yogyakarta economy Rp74,000-350,000; 8-10 h, about 500 km (30 May 2026)
- kompas.tvTrans Jogja from 1 Jan 2026: Rp2,700 cashless, Rp3,500 cash
- metrotvnews.comPrambanan foreign adult about Rp400,000, child Rp240,000; ticket sales from 06:30 (11 Jun 2026)
- travelguidestip.com2026 guide: Sosrowijayan guesthouses Rp100-200k; angkringan meal Rp15-25k; warung Rp15-30k; Kraton and Taman Sari Rp15,000 each; free Kraton gamelan 10:00-12:00 except Friday; Gojek short trips Rp8-15k; Prambanan Rp350,000; Borobudur figures conflict
- jawapos.comTaman Sari foreign adult Rp25,000, child Rp20,000; 09:00-15:00
- tirto.idKraton foreign visitors Rp15,000 (undated)
- telkomsel.comMerapi jeep 2026: short Rp400-450k, medium Rp500-600k, long Rp650-750k, sunrise Rp500-700k per jeep, max 4 adults (12 Jan 2026)
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Back to the planner ↑Costs are indicative ballparks for doing it yourself and change with season and demand. Always check live fares, rates and opening rules before you book. Trip Under is not a travel agency: we sell nothing, take no commission, and we link to maps and official sites, never to booking sites. Photographs come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences; see credits.
By Gokul · Updated 5 November 2026 · Photo: Jakub Hałun · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · Photo: Crisco 1492 · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source · Photo: CEphoto, Uwe Aranas · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source · Photo: Gunawan Kartapranata · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source · Photo: Rovitavare · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
