9 Days in Java, Indonesia – A Complete Guide and Itinerary

Quick Info about Java

Where is Java?

Situated between Sumatra to the west and Bali to the east and just south of Borneo across the Java Sea, Java is the fifth largest, yet most populous island in Indonesia. Not only is Java home to its sprawling capital city, Jakarta, but the island also has the only Indonesian city ruled by a monarchy - Yogyakarta - on it as well. 

Java Volcanoes

An island created through volcanic eruptions, perhaps it's no surprise that Java is home to 112 volcanoes, only 35 still active. As a result of periodic volcanic eruptions, Java's soil is quite fertile. The island is rich with vegetation and is great for farming. Traveling across Central Java by train, we admired the beautiful lush landscapes, rice fields and farms, and impressive volcanoes.

Java History

Java has a long history going back a couple thousand years. I won't be getting into all that. But I think it's important to highlight a few key historical periods to help you understand the sights you'll see and mix of cultures on Java today. 

Language on Java

Four main languages are spoken on Java - Javanese, Sundanese, Madurese, and Betawi - depending on people's ethnic groups. As a second language, people speak Bahasa Indonesia - Indonesia's official language.

Because Java doesn't get as many foreign tourists, English isn't as widely spoken by the general population as it is on Bali. We were able to get around fine, but it would have been nice to know more than just how to say 'thank you' in Bahasa Indonesia! Especially because people are so friendly and want to chat with you.

When to Visit Java

Typically, the best time to visit Java is during the dry season from May to September. In general, this is also the time to visit other islands in western and central Indonesia, such as Bali, the Gilis, Lombok, and Komodo.

During dry season, you'll be more likely to have sunny skies and clear weather, but it will be hot. We visited during July and most of our days were sunny, though we had a couple of rainy ones that locals said were unusual for that time of year.

The wet season, from October to April, brings heavy rain showers, sometimes occurring in short bursts, sometimes lasting several hours. We visited Bali last year at the end of rainy season in April and got caught in many more showers than we did on Java in July.

Getting to Java

Depending from where you're traveling, you can get to Java a couple different ways. Most likely, you'll get to Java by plane, but if you're coming from Bali, you could take a ferry instead.   

Flying to Java

If you're traveling to Java from abroad, you'll probably fly to Jakarta's Soekarno–Hatta International Airport (airport code: CGK). This is the largest airport on Java and the destination to which most international carriers fly. 

Coming from closer destinations like Singapore or Malaysia, you could fly into one of Java's smaller international airports, such as Yogyakarta International Airport (airport code: YIA) or Juanda International Airport (airport code: SUB) in East Java. Several other cities around Java have smaller airports which offer domestic flights.

Ferry to Java from Bali

If you're already traveling in Bali, a more scenic way to get to Java is to take the ferry that runs from Gilimanuk, Bali to Ketapang, Java. The ticket is quite cheap and the ferry ride itself is about 45 minutes long.

Since the ferries also carry vehicles, you could drive from Bali to Java and load your car on the ferry as well. Or, you can book a bus ticket from Bali to Java which also includes the ferry ride.

Check out this post by Go See Orbis to find out more on crossing the Bali Strait on the Java Bali ferry.

How to Get Around Java

Once you've arrived on Java, getting around the island is fairly easy as many modes of transportation are available. 

Traveling around Java by Plane

Most of the larger cities on Java have airports and short domestic flights are not too expensive. The airports are not always centrally located though. So when deciding which mode of transport to use, be sure to factor in how long taxi rides to/from the airports will take. 

Traveling around Java by Train

Java has an extensive railway system linking the major cities throughout the island. We found the high-speed railways a great way to travel between Jakarta and Central Java and I'd highly recommend this option. Not only are the train stations centrally-located within the cities, but the trains themselves are clean, modern, and comfortable. Just be sure to bring a coat because they're heavily air-conditioned!

Pro Tip: I highly recommend booking train tickets in advance to reserve your seat. If you don't have an Indonesian credit card, you'll have to book through a 3rd party site, such as 12Go or Traveloka so you can pay with a foreign credit card.

Traveling around Java by Car

If you're planning to explore the countryside and not just stay in major cities while visiting Java, it may be worth renting a car. Java seems to be car-friendly with large parking lots and major highways. I recommend using either Rental Cars and Expedia to compare prices. 

Preparing for a Java Trip

Before your trip to Java, here are a few things you should do to have a smooth visit.

Indonesian Visa 

Most travelers will need to apply for an Indonesian visa before traveling to Java. You can apply for an e-Visa on Indonesia's official e-Visa website here. The turnaround time is usually quite quick - only took an hour or so this time to be approved.

Download Ride-Share Apps

Taxis and ride-share apps are very cheap in Java. It's handy to have the apps already downloaded when you arrive though. The apps most frequently used in Indonesia are Grab and  Gojek. Another reliable taxi service on Java is Bluebird. Their taxis are clean, comfortable, and also very affordable.

Consider What to Wear in Java

Since Java is majority-Muslim, you'll notice that people dress conservatively. So, even though it's hot, I recommend covering up a bit more to fit in and be respectful.

Wearing light linen pants with a t-shirt and sandals was my go-to outfit throughout the trip. I bought these cotton linen pants on Amazon before the trip and they worked out great! It's not that you can't wear shorts and a sleeveless shirt, but you'll definitely stick out more if you do and probably get more stares.

9-Day Java Itinerary

In early July 2024, we spent 9 days in Java, with a couple of days in Jakarta then several days in Central Java. The trip was meant to be a laidback itinerary with a combination of sightseeing and relaxation, which is reflected in my sample itinerary. 

Itinerary Thoughts: If you have 1-week to spend in Java, you could easily compress my itinerary to fit your schedule. Alternatively, if you have 2 weeks to spend in Java, you could follow this itinerary, plus add on days in East Java. The Ijen Crater and Mount Bromo are extremely popular sights to see in East Java.

Below, I've shared our step-by-step 9-day Java itinerary - everything we did, places we ate, and lessons we learned along the way. If you've been following my Java series, you'll notice a lot of it looks familiar. But in this article, you'll see how the whole trip comes together. I'll also link to my focused articles which include more details. 

When all is said and done, I hope this overview will help you plan your perfect Java itinerary... and avoid some of our mistakes!

Days 1-3: Jakarta

We kicked off the first couple of days of our Java itinerary in Jakarta, capital city of the Republic of Indonesia. With over 11 million inhabitants in the city and over 32 million in its metropolitan area, Jakarta is the largest metropolis in Southeast Asia. This cultural melting pot is also the second-largest urban area in the world after Tokyo, Japan. It's an overwhelming, yet fascinating place.

Arrival in Jakarta

Since we took a Friday evening flight from Hong Kong to Jakarta, we arrived just before midnight at the Soekarno–Hatta International Airport. Luckily, the immigration process was smooth and went quickly.

Taxi from Jakarta Airport to City

After a bit of a fight with the ATMs to get cash (only 1 of 3 worked for us) and getting our local SIM card at one of the airport kiosks, we set out to get a taxi. Anyone else do this wrong every time? 

Because we were tired and it was late, we ended up going with one of the taxi guys hawking at the airport. They charged us 450,000 IDR (~27 USD) and I'm pretty sure we overpaid. 

Pro Tip: Use Grab, Gojek, or Bluebird to book your taxi from the airport. It only cost around 200,000 IDR (~13 USD) using Grab to get back to the airport from central Jakarta. 

Jakarta Airport Train to City

If you don't arrive in Jakarta in the middle of the night, you might consider taking the Jakarta Airport Train or Railink to get you to the center city. Taking the airport train, you'll avoid heavy Jakarta traffic and won't have to figure out which taxi line to stand in. Here's an article which explains how to take the Jakarta airport train to the center city. 

Private Car from Jakarta Airport

Alternatively, you could book a private airport transfer and save yourself the hassle of thinking about any of this transportation nonsense.

The St. Regis Jakarta

We arrived at our hotel - The St. Regis Jakarta - around 1:00 am to check in. Our room was spacious and quite luxurious - even had its own chandelier. 

The balcony had a great view and overlooked the city. From our floor, we could see a mix of old houses and modern skyscrapers.    

Although we loved our stay at The St. Regis and would highly recommend it for its amenities, comfort, and breakfast buffet, the location was a bit inconvenient. I think we would have had an easier time getting around Jakarta if we'd stayed at a hotel closer to public transportation.

Getting around Jakarta

One of the main take-aways I had from our first day in Jakarta was that we should have figured out the public transportation system sooner. Thinking about transportation before you book your hotel is also a good idea.

JakLingko Card

My advice is to buy a JakLingko card as soon as possible and make sure it has ~40,000 IDR on it. You can purchase this card at Transjakarta stops, MRT, LRT, and Commuter Train stations that are integrated with JakLingko. Then, you can use the card across all forms of public transportation.

Jakarta Public Transportation

Jakarta has an extensive bus system (TransJakarta) that runs to major sights such as Kota Tua and the National Monument. It seems like the most convenient way to get around and buses seem to run frequently.

Jakarta also has a fairly new MRT (metro), plus a Commuter Line running out to the suburbs. 

Pro Tip: Most public transportation in Jakarta offers specific sections or cars that are designated for WOMEN ONLY. If you're a guy, (or in my case, traveling with one) be sure you're not standing in the women-only area or you'll be gently informed you need to move.

Taxis

We primarily used Grab taxis to get around Jakarta which was a big source of frustration. Most times when we called, it took a long time for a driver to be found. Then, once one accepted, we had to wait 15-20 minutes to be picked up. Add in the fact that traffic was terrible once in the car. So, journeys around the city took quite a while.

All of this is why I say figuring out public transportation should be high on your list of priorities when arriving in Jakarta. Especially when you're going into the narrow streets of Kota Tua.

Java Itinerary Day 1 - Jakarta

Our first day in Jakarta, we were eager to see the main sights. Since it was Saturday, many of the areas we visited were crowded and traffic was terrible. We managed to see the things we wanted to see, but it took more time than we expected.

Merdeka Square

Located in the center of Jakarta, Merdeka Square (Independence Square) is a large green, park that covers almost an entire square kilometer. At the heart of this trapezoid park is the 132-m tall National Monument (also known as Monas). 

Completed in 1975 and opened by Suharto, the Monas is made from Italian marble and topped with a flame sculpture covered in gold leaf. 

Although you can walk around the monument for free, you'll have to pay a small fee to visit the museum underneath the base or to take the lift to the top. Unfortunately, tickets for the Monas observation deck were sold out by the time we arrived.

Pro Tip: If you book a Jakarta Day Tour, an entry ticket for the Monas Observation Deck may be included in the price of the tour. 

Instead, we visited the small history museum which gives an overview of Indonesia's history. It also seems to be a popular place for families to come hang out on weekends. 

Central Jakarta Museums and More 

While in Merdeka Square, you may wish to visit some of the other museums and sights nearby. Unfortunately, we missed them but did get a glimpse of the impressive mosque on our last day as we drove by it.

Kota Tua / Batavia

After exploring Central Jakarta, we headed south towards Jakarta Old Town, known as Kota Tua. This neighborhood is the historic downtown of Jakarta, or Batavia, as it was formerly known. 

Pro Tip: If you're going from Central Jakarta to Kota Tua, take public transportation! Traffic is awful in Kota Tua and we spent a very long time sitting in gridlock. The number 1 bus on the west side of Merdeka Square runs straight north to Kota Tua and has a separate bus lane to pass by the traffic.

Fatahillah Square (Taman Fatahillah), a cobblestone square surrounded by Dutch colonial buildings, is the heart of Kota Tua. On weekends, it's a bustling, lively gathering place for families and friends to hang out. 

Around the square, you'll find a number of museums and cafes in historic buildings. We wandered around the square, but did not go into any of the museums. Hangriness took us to our lunch stop at New Batavia Cafe, which was pretty tasty.

Then, we grabbed a coffee at the more famous Batavia Cafe, one of the oldest restaurants in Indonesia in a beautiful Dutch colonial building. 

We finished our tour of Kota Tua along the Krukut River admiring the historic buildings, some of which look like they've seen better days. 

Glodok

Another area to check out near Kota Tua is Glodok, Jakarta's historic Chinatown. This neighborhood is home to many people of Chinese descent and is a lively shopping district. It's also known as the electronics trading center in Jakarta. 

Since we got stuck in traffic on the narrow streets of Glodok and Petak Sembilan Market, we decided we didn't need to walk through this area. If you have time, it's worth a stroll, especially if you like chaotic market environments.

Riding the Bus in Jakarta

Trying to return to our hotel from Kota Tua was a challenge. We initially tried Grab again (because we just don't learn), but the wait was ~20 minutes. There was so much traffic that it would have taken the car forever to reach us.

So, we decided to figure out the bus system. After buying a water to get small bills for the ticket machine, we bought a ticket and got on the bus near Jakarta Kota station. Riding the bus was a much better option than a taxi. In many places, there are separate lanes for buses. The bus even drove on the road that was closed to cars which had us sitting in traffic forever on the way to Kota Tua.  

Dinner at Kaum

For dinner, we headed to Kaum Jakarta, an authentic Indonesia restaurant highlighting a variety of ethnic dishes from across the country. They also serve delicious cocktails.

Java Itinerary Day 2 - Jakarta

Our goal in packing so much into our first day in Jakarta was so that our second day could be relaxing. As a result, we did not do a lot, but you could fit more sightseeing, museum visits, etc. into the day.

Wander around Cikini

In the morning, we took a Grab taxi over to the Cikini neighborhood in the Menteng District. This historic area also has several old colonial buildings and is a quieter neighborhood to walk around and admire the architecture. 

Along our walk, we stopped in Ismail Marzuki Park (Taman Ismail Marzuki), an arts, cultural, and science center and park named after one of Indonesia's most famous composers. The grounds are peaceful and contain several facilities including a library, art theaters, cinemas, and murals adorn various structures.

Our last stop was a coffee at Bakoel Koffie. It turned out to be one of the best coffees we had in Java and we bought a small bag of beans to take home with us.

Lunch at Mie Aceh Jakarta

For lunch, we headed back to The St. Regis and walked down the road to a small shop called Mie Aceh Jakarta. The Mie Aceh Goreng, a stir-fried noodle dish, was delicious and one of the best (and cheapest!) meals of the trip.

Setiabudi

To walk off our lunch, we strolled around the Setiabudi neighborhood near our hotel. It's a low key neighborhood with some massive houses, plus we found a mural wall. 

Afternoon Relaxation at The St. Regis

One of the main reasons we booked The St. Regis was for its swimming pool and garden area. It was our attempt to work relaxation into our trip when usually we're constantly on the move. 

We were shocked to be the only guests there on a Sunday afternoon but enjoyed having the place to ourselves. Afterwards, we treated ourselves to a massage at the spa before heading to dinner.

Dinner at SEMAJA

For dinner, we hopped in a taxi to SEMAJA, an Indonesian restaurant using local ingredients and traditional recipes, but putting a modern spin on them. All the dishes we had were amazing but the beef cheeks and lamb nasi goreng really stood out.

Check out my full article on Jakarta >> How to Spend 2 Days in Jakarta.

Java Itinerary Day 3 - Morning in Jakarta

On our third morning, we had an early start to catch our train to Yogyakarta  in Central Java - the next stop on our Java itinerary.

Getting to Gambir Station

We caught a Grab taxi to Gambir Station and allowed plenty of time to get there. Thankfully, we were headed against rush hour traffic so it didn't take as long as we'd thought it would and we arrived an hour before our departure time.

Day 3: Riding the Train from Jakarta to Yogyakarta

Riding the train is an affordable and pleasant way to get around Java. I'd definitely recommend it if you have the time in your itinerary. Although I'll include some brief details in this post, I recommend checking out my full guide on Riding the Train in Java for more details.

Departing from Gambir Station in Jakarta

Although Jakarta has many rail stations, Gambir Station is one of the major ones and is conveniently located in central Jakarta. Inside, it has lots of cafes and shops where you can snack while you wait for your train.

Although unnecessary, we arrived an hour early for our train. It was easy to check-in at the KAI counter. After showing our confirmation from Traveloka (the site where we booked), we received our orange boarding passes.

With our boarding passes, we entered the Departures Hall where we found more (air-conditioned) places to sit.

Our Experience on the Taksaka 68 Train 

Our train was the 9:20 am Taksaka 68 from Jakarta to Yogyakarta. The ride took roughly 6.5 hours and ran on time, which really impressed me.

Executive Class 

We booked Executive Class (eksekutif - EKS) seats, which are in a 2 x 2 configuration where each person gets their own seat. The seats are comfortable, with plenty of legroom, a tray table, and all face forward unless you request the porter to turn the seat. 

Above the seats, there's room for luggage storage. If you cannot lift your own suitcases, you can hire one of the many porters at the stations to help you. Not sure how much it costs, but I imagine it's not too expensive.

The train is air-conditioned, more so than it should be, so be sure to bring a sweater (or coat) that's easily accessible for the journey.

Other Class Options

Other ticketing options include Economy (ekonomi - EKO) and Business class (bisnis - BIS), which are not as nice as luxury. They have bench seats which do not recline and are in either 2 x 3 (EKO) or 2 x 2 (BIS) configuration.

On the other hand, you can also book even more luxury on the Executive Luxury Class trains which have full lie-flat seats that look like Business class seats on airplanes.

Dining Options

Each train has a dining car with a few meal options. On our ride from Jakarta to Yogyakarta, we tried the nasi goreng (fried rice) and the se'i sapi (smoked beef) and both were pretty tasty. If you order during the lunch hour though, expect it to take a while for them to prepare it. Also, they do run out towards the later part of the journey.

Toilets

At the end of each car, they have a male and female toilet. They are western-style toilets and seem to be cleaned frequently throughout the journey. I was pleasantly surprised that it had toilet paper and soap each time I went in.

Arriving in Yogyakarta Station

We arrived at Yogyakarta Station on time at 3:40 pm. The station is relatively small so it seemed a bit overwhelmed with the number of people exiting our train. Although we considered getting a taxi to our hotel, the traffic outside seemed quite congested. Since our hotel was relatively close (~1 km / .6 mi) to the station, we decided to walk.

Check out my post Riding the Train in Java for even more helpful tips!

Days 3-5: Yogyakarta

Yogyakarta is the capital city of the Special Region of Yogyakarta and is the only city still ruled by a sultan. It's well-known as a center for Javanese arts and culture. Whenever we told people in Jakarta that we'd be going to Yogya, as it's called by locals, they gushed about how much they love the city.

Pro Tip: Yogyakarta is pronounced in English as Joja-karta and its nickname Yogya is pronounced like Joja. Basically, the Y is pronounced like a hard J sound. 

Java Itinerary Day 3 - Evening in Yogyakarta

By the time we arrived in Yogyakarta, walked to our hotel (The Phoenix Hotel Yogyakarta), and checked in, it was already evening.

To get a feel for Yogyakarta at night, we walked back to Malioboro Street - a major shopping street - to check out the lively atmosphere. After a long travel day, we were too tired to do much that evening. So, we returned to our hotel for dinner and an early night. 

If you're up for a more exciting evening, I'd recommend a Night Walking and Food Tour to get acquainted with Yogya. 

The Phoenix Hotel Yogyakarta

The Phoenix Hotel Yogyakarta is a luxury heritage hotel with colonial charm and historic details throughout the space. The property is lovely, including the swimming pool.

Despite being kept up rather well, you can still feel its age, which kind of adds to the ambiance. Our room at the Phoenix was a good size with a nice decor and a balcony overlooking the swimming pool.

The Phoenix Hotel Yogyakarta was a great place to stay in Yogyakarta with a decent location. It's also an excellent value and I'd recommend checking it out.

Getting around Yogyakarta

In my opinion, the best way to get around Yogyakarta is by taxi. Or, if you're not going far, tuk tuks or becaks (cycle rickshaws) are also great options.

In general, taxis are less expensive than tuk tuks since they're fixed price. If you're a foreigner, you can expect to pay more when negotiating for tuk tuks or becaks. But when you're talking about the difference of a few cents (USD), it feels wrong to haggle too hard. And supporting a local tuk tuk driver is always a good thing.

Java Itinerary Day 4 - Yogyakarta

Our fourth day in Java, we spent exploring Yogyakarta and visiting Prambanan - one of the famous temple compounds in Central Java.

Breakfast and Coffee

We began our day with a breakfast buffet in a courtyard at The Phoenix Hotel. Since Yogya has so many coffee shops, we decided that we should check one out for our second cup of coffee.

We took a nice walk behind our hotel in the small neighborhood alleyways to saikikopi pop! - a coffee shop in a nearby hotel lobby. The coffee was tasty but it took a while as there was only one person working.

Yogyakarta Monument

Just a block from the coffee shop, we admired the Yogyakarta Monument (Tugu Yogyakarta) during the day and watched the traffic flow around the circle. First built by the first sultan of Yogyakarta, Sultan Hamengku Buwono I in 1755, it's an important historical landmark in the city.

The original monument collapsed in 1867 during an earthquake, but the Dutch colonial government renovated it and rebuilt it in 1889.

The Kraton (Historic Yogyakarta)

Next, we headed to Yogyakarta's walled city (the kraton) which is where most of the historical landmarks and tourist sights are located. Not only is the sultan's palace within these walls, but around 25,000 people live there as well.

This complex maze of houses, shops, markets, schools, and mosques is fascinating to wander. If you have time, spend some time winding your way around these streets and getting lost.

Kraton Palace

Our first stop was the Kraton Palace (also spelled keraton or karaton) or the Palace of Yogyakarta, which is the residence of the sultan of Yogyakarta. Although the neighborhood is called the kraton, the palace has a separate entrance with a small fee to enter.

Pro Tip: If you're taking a Grab to the palace, get dropped off near the Rotowijayan Mosque. We chose a different drop off and someone tried to tell us that the palace was closed. Not sure what his end game was. He was hyping a batik school, so if we'd gone, we probably would have been pushed into buying something there. We did not and found the correct palace entrance eventually.

Construction on the palace began during 1755-1756 during the reign of Sultan Hamengku Buwono I but has been expanded by his successors. You can even see some Dutch influences in the stained glass which was added in the 1920s.

The palace is not only the sultan's home, but is also used for important ceremonies and cultural functions of the Yogyakarta court. Thus, it's an important historical landmark, but also is the political and cultural heart of Yogyakarta.

Taman Sari (Water Palace)

Another beautiful sight to check out in the walled city is the Water Palace (Taman Sari). Grab a tuk tuk (30,000 IDR / 2 USD) from the palace to avoid walking in the heat.

Also built in the mid-1700s, Taman Sari is a former royal garden of the Sultanate of Yogyakarta. The park is a series of pools, palaces, baths, and waterways that was the perfect escape for the sultan and his entourage. Although it used to be larger, the central bathing area is all that remains from the original garden.

Lunch and Coffee

Our morning activities took longer than anticipated and we were running out of time to get back to our hotel to meet the driver who would take us out to Prambanan Temple. So, we grabbed a quick bite on the street for lunch. 

Then, caught a taxi back up to our hotel. However, we made time to get a coffee from Tanamera Coffee Yogyakarta. It was one of my favorites and we bought a couple bags of beans to take home. 

Prambanan Temple Tour

For the afternoon, we headed to one of Indonesia's most famous sights - Prambanan Temple (Candi Prambanan). About an hour drive outside of Yogya, it's best to arrange a tour or at least a driver for this excursion. Though, you can also get there on the public bus.

Booking Tickets for Prambanan

We arranged an afternoon sunset visit to Prambanan Temple. Unfortunately it was too cloudy to get much of a sunset, but it was a good time to go since it was cooler. 

Pro Tip: Some tours include the ticket for Prambanan in the price of the tour, others do not. Be sure to check out whether it's included when booking so you don't double-pay or alternatively, find out that you don't have a ticket at all. You can purchase your own ticket for Prambanan up to a week in advance on their website. 

Although we were hoping to combine our sunset visit with the nighttime Ramayana Ballet at Prambanan, tickets were already sold out by the time we arranged it. As a result, I recommend booking the ballet at least a week in advance of your trip. Also, the Ramayana Ballet is not performed every night. In 2024, it was available on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.

This tour from Borobudur Sunrise offers the entire visit - sunset at Prambanan, plus dinner and the ballet. It's a bit pricier than arranging on your own but everything is included. 

Prambanan Temple

This massive temple complex contains the remains of roughly 244 temples and is one of Indonesia's largest Hindu sites. 

Listed as a World Heritage Site in 1991, building on Prambanan began in the 9th century and last for over two centuries. Due to various earthquakes, the temples have been reconstructed or restored several times throughout history.

The central compound consisting of eight main and eight minor temples is the focal point of the temple complex. The Shiva Temple (Candi Shiva Mahadeva) is the largest and most intricate of the temples. Each temple is carved with stories from the Ramayana and Mahabharata - important epics in the Hindu religion. 

Exploring Prambanan Temple Compounds

After admiring the main site of Prambanan, we set out to see a couple of the other temples in the Prambanan Temple Compounds. Another important temple complex, Sewu Temple (Candi Sewu), is around 800 m (.5 mi) north of Prambanan. This Mahayana Buddhist temple was constructed in the 8th century, several decades before Prambanan.

Along the walk to Sewu, we passed a couple of smaller temples - Lumbung Temple (Candi Lumbung) and Bubrah Temple (Candi Bubrah). Although we walked around the grounds to get to these temples, you could take the small train for a fee.

Dinner at Raminten's Kitchen

Since we weren't able to stay for the Ramayana Ballet, we enjoyed a lovely dinner at Raminten's Kitchen, near our hotel. The spicy coconut soup I had was delicious and the whole place had a great vibe. 

Java Itinerary Day 5 - Morning in Yogya

Our second morning in Yogyakarta, we set out to find some local handicrafts for souvenirs before traveling to Borobudur in the early afternoon.

Malioboro Street

The best place to find a variety of handicrafts and souvenirs, as well as all the batik you could ever want, is on Malioboro Street (Jalan Malioboro). This street runs through the heart of Yogyakarta and is always bustling with activity.

Not only is it a great place for shopping, but you can find Dutch colonial architecture, street food, and even take a horse carriage ride. 

Shopping for Handicrafts

Our first stop was Beringharjo Market (Pasar Beringharjo) - Yogyakarta's largest and oldest market. People have been trading here continuously since 1758. Inside, you can find a variety of clothing, souvenirs, fast food, and of course, batik.  

Across from Beringharjo Market, we found a wider range of souvenirs in another marketplace - Teras Malioboro. This shopping center houses a lot of the vendors who previously used to sell on the streets. 

We also found that morning is a great time to get some street food - the chicken satay right outside of Beringharjo Market was delicious!

Check out my full article on Yogyakarta >> Awesome 2-Day Itinerary in Yogyakarta.

Bluebird Taxi to Borobudur

Once we finished shopping, we returned to The Phoenix Hotel to re-pack our suitcases and called a Bluebird taxi to take us to our next hotel in Borobudur. The ride lasted 1.5 hours as we sat in lots of traffic leaving Yogya. It only cost 230,000 IDR (15 USD), which was much cheaper than arranging it through the hotel. 

Days 5-7: Borobudur

Java Itinerary Day 5 - Afternoon in Borobudur

Borobudur is most well-known for Borobudur Temple, one of the great cultural Buddhist icons in Southeast Asia. However, its charming countryside location makes it a lovely place to spend a couple of nights. 

As you may notice, the rest of our Java itinerary from this point forward moves at a much slower pace than the first part. We planned it this way intentionally.

If you're looking to see as much as possible in 9 days, you could easily condense these days. For example, many people take a day tour to Prambanan and Borobudur temples from Yogya on the same day. Some tours even include a volcano visit along with the temples. If you combine these visits, you'd be able to add in another location in Central Java, or even a couple days in East Java, to your Java itinerary. 

Plataran Heritage Borobudur Hotel

The Plataran Heritage Borobudur Hotel is one of the main reasons we decided to stay in Borobudur. Surrounded by rice fields, this hotel was designed with colonial elegance in mind and was a beautiful place to spend a couple of nights.

Our room was spacious and luxurious with a balcony overlooking the pool and lush greenery of the grounds. In the evening, we had a sunset view through the clouds. If we'd had a room on the other side of the hotel, we'd have had gorgeous mountain views (and paid more for them!).

When we arrived in Borobudur, we spent the afternoon relaxing at the pool and cooling off with a swim.  

Stupa Restaurant

Although the Plataran Heritage has a couple of restaurants, our favorite was Stupa - the Indonesian-focused one. We ordered a range of Indonesian dishes over several meals here, trying out new things as well as old favorites. Everything we ate was delicious!

Java Itinerary Day 6 - Borobudur

On the morning of our Borobudur Temple visit, we woke up to find it was POURING. It continued raining heavily throughout the early morning. Luckily, it began to slow as we neared our tour time. By the time we reached the temple, it was only drizzling. 

Unlike most of Southeast Asia, July is not rainy season in Java. As many people told us that day, heavy rains like this, or rainy days during July, are unusual. 

Borobudur Temple

Built between AD 780 and 840, Borobudur Temple (Candi Borobudur) is the largest Buddhist temple in the world and an important cultural site in Indonesia. It's on par with Angkor Wat in Cambodia and Bagan in Myanmar as one of the great archaeological sites in Southeast Asia.

Constructed using two million stone blocks (60,000 cubic meters), the temple has three tiers and is 34.5 m (113 ft) tall and its base is 123 m x 123 m (403 ft x 403 ft).

Despite its importance, Borobudur was abandoned shortly after its completion and forgotten, perhaps in part due to the decline of Buddhism in Java.

In 1815, the site was rediscovered and cleared to reveal the monument again by 1835. Unfortunately, during the 19th and early 20th centuries, vandals and looters preyed upon the temple complex. Many of the Buddhas' heads were stolen during this time.

Then, between 1975 and 1982, the Indonesian Government and UNESCO funded a large restoration project. In 1991, UNESCO listed Borobudur as World Heritage Site.

Booking Tickets for Borobudur 

In order to preserve Borobudur, only 1,200 visitors are allowed into the temple structure per day in guide-led groups of 10-15 people. As a result, tickets sell out quickly and booking ahead is necessary.

To enter the temple, you must purchase a Temple Structure ticket. The Temple Grounds ticket allows you to walk around the base of the temple, not walk on it. When you book your ticket, you'll pick a timeslot and group. The group does not matter as you'll be told where to go when you arrive.

Pro Tip: Borobudur tickets go on sale a week in advance. Set a reminder to book on the day they go on sale, especially during high season. Temple structure tickets sell out almost immediately. Or, if you're booking a private tour to Borobudur, make sure the ticket is included in your tour.

Visit to Borobudur

Since we stayed in Borobudur, we had a short (~15 min) Grab taxi ride to the temple from our hotel that morning. Our timeslot was at 9:30 am but we arrived by 9:00 am. Plenty of time to check in and get our Upanat sandals (special shoes to wear on the temple).

Promptly at 9:30 am, we joined our group (10-15 people per group) and followed our guide to the temple. At 10:00 am, our group was allowed to enter the temple structure. As with all ancient temples, the stairs to climb Borobudur are steep, but at least this one has hand rails. 

For the first half hour in the temple structure, our guide walked the group around the lower terraces. Along the way, he pointed out certain stone reliefs, which tell stories of early Javanese culture and Buddhist doctrine.

Once we ascended to the top of the temple, we had ~25 minutes of free time. We spent a lot of time photographing the stupas and the beautiful mountain views. Luckily, it didn't rain much during our tour and in fact, the clouds helped keep things much cooler.

By 11:00 am, we had to leave the temple structure (as a group). Once out of the temple structure, you're allowed to wander around the temple grounds for as long as you'd like. We spent some time in the park, then made our way out the longest exit of souvenir shops ever.  

Check out my post A Helpful Guide to Visiting Borobudur in Central Java for more details on the temple, our visit, and helpful tips for booking!

Lunch at Patio

Since it was a rainy day, we decided to spend our afternoon having a leisurely lunch with a fantastic view at Patio, a restaurant at Plataran Borobudur Resort & Spa. The cocktails and dishes at the restaurant were delicious.

Overlooking Borobudur Temple, it was the perfect spot to spend a rainy afternoon.

Plataran Borobudur Resort & Spa is a luxury resort just up the hill from Plataran Heritage Hotel. Its beautiful hillside villas have amazing views. Staying there was out of our budget, but it looked really nice! 

Leisurely Afternoon and Evening

Due to the weather, we spent the rest of the afternoon reading, playing games, and just enjoying a bit of down time. Unfortunately, no pool time. But since we hadn't planned a big afternoon of activities, it worked out just fine.

If you're looking for a more adventurous afternoon in Borobudur, consider a jeep tour on the Menoreh hillside.

Java Itinerary Day 7 - Morning in Borobudur

Of course, our second morning in Borobudur was sunny and gorgeous. Even though we'd already visited Borobudur Temple, we enjoyed walking around the hotel grounds admiring the beautiful greenery.

Driving to MesaStila

At noon, we checked out and headed to our next hotel - MesaStila Resort and Spa. Still in Magelang, Central Java, the resort is about an hour and twenty minute drive north from Borobudur.

We arranged transportation through MesaStila and the car cost 650,000 IDR (42 USD). Perhaps we could have gotten a taxi instead, but were unsure if they'd take us given the resort's somewhat remote location.

Days 7-9: Jungle Getaway

Java Itinerary Day 7 - Afternoon at MesaStila Resort

Nestled in the volcano-dotted highlands of Central Java, the MesaStila Resort and Spa is another great escape in a gorgeous location. On a clear day, you can see several peaks from the property.

About MesaStila Resort and Spa

Originally, the property was a colonial Dutch coffee plantation and several of the buildings are from that period, including the Club House and Plantation Lounge which were the original plantation and coffee warehouse.

Another cool historic touch is the check-in building, which used to be a colonial railroad station. It was brought to the property in pieces, then reconstructed.  

Around the property, guests stay in villas that are decorated with traditional Javanese handicrafts. Given the jungle location, the villas feel very private and offer beautiful green views. However, you can expect to use your mosquito spray while on the property!

Checking in at MesaStila

When we arrived, the cooler mountain air was a welcome change from the stifling heat of Jakarta and Yogyakarta. The evenings were even a bit chilly for us.

Staff greeted us warmly when we arrived and offered us a schedule of activities offered at the resort throughout the week, such as daily morning yoga, batik lessons, a coffee plantation tour, a village walk, and others.

MesaStila Arum Villa

Despite booking a Plantation Villa online, they surprised us with an upgrade to the Arum Villa, which was lovely. Both villas are quite large, however the Arum villa is slightly bigger. The Arum Villa is a one-bedroom with a beautiful decorate wall separating the spaces. 

For families staying at MesaStila: The large daybed in the Arum Villa living area could easily serve as an extra bed for children. However, MesaStila also offers a 2-bedroom Ambar Villa for larger families.

The villa's bathroom and closet area was huge with a large soaker tub and rainfall shower. It is a bit tricky climbing in and out of the tub though, especially if you're balance-challenged. 

Our balcony had beautiful green views. In the evening, the humming of various bugs really drives home the fact that you're in the jungle. 

Java Red Restaurant

We ate most of our meals at the Java Red Restaurant. Serving a mix of Indonesian and international cuisine, I believe everyone would be able to find something they like. We enjoyed trying a variety of the Indonesian dishes throughout our stay.

Java Itinerary Day 8 - Volcanoes, Coffee Plantation, and Relaxing

Our full day at MesaStila was a LONG day as we decided to book a sunrise tour which started at the 'why-am-I-awake?!' time of 3:15 am. After our tour, we had a long day to relax and enjoy hanging out at the resort. 

Mount Telomoyo Sunrise Jeep Tour

At 1,864 m (6,115 ft) above sea level, Mount Telomoyo, a volcano in Central Java, is a beautiful spot to enjoy gorgeous views. Because a road runs the entire way to the top, it's also easy to access - no hiking involved. However, the road is restricted to motorbikes and jeep traffic only. 

One of the excursions that MesaStila offers (for extra cost) is a sunrise jeep tour to Mount Telomoyo. While driving up Telomoyo is very popular among locals, it still seems mostly undiscovered by foreign tourists. 

Driving up Mount Telomoyo 

Since we left at 3:15 am from MesaStila, we reached Telomoyo in plenty of time. It took about a half hour to reach the base. Along the drive, we were surprised by how many people are out and about at 4:00 am. Markets open before dawn! 

At the entrance to Mount Telomoyo, we hopped in a jeep (with another driver) and drove to the top, which also took about a half hour. Our driver from MesaStila also accompanied us.

In my opinion, we arrived way too early at the top of Mount Telomoyo at 4:30 am. I think the goal was to get a good spot at Triangle Sky Telomoyo. For a fee, you get a bean bag chair and have access to clean restrooms and food stalls.

The sun wasn't supposed to rise for another hour, so we spent a while shivering, especially once the clouds rolled in.

Wear Warm Clothes

Because we hadn't planned to take a sunrise tour (I am not an early riser), we weren't prepared clothing-wise. I only had a light sweater and Jeremy had nothing. At the top, it was probably a max of 50°F (10°C).

Most people were much better prepared, given they probably came from home, but we hadn't even packed warm clothes for our Indonesia trip. If you plan to do a volcano tour, pack a coat!

Our guide got us coffee from the food stalls at Triangle Sky Telomoyo and holding the hot drink helped warm up our hands a bit.

Sunrise... Or Not

Unfortunately, we did not have a spectacular sunrise because we were still enveloped by the clouds when it rose.

The clouds gradually lightened and it did get a bit warmer, so that was nice. Our guide told us to be patient as the clouds would clear.

Epic Views on Mount Telomoyo

Just as I was about to give up (at 6:30 am), we started seeing glimpses of Mount Merbabu, a nearby volcano. Then, a few minutes later, the clouds lifted and the views were incredible! Suddenly, it was all worth it. 

The panoramic views of Mount Merbabu and Mount Andong were incredible. The photos do not do them justice.

Once we finished taking a bunch of photos at Triangle Sky, we made our way up to the telecommunications tower for a different viewpoint.

From there, we could also see Mount Sumbing, and Mount Sindoro - two other volcanoes in Central Java. 

Jeep Drive Down Mount Telomoyo

On our drive back down Mount Telomoyo, our jeep driver stopped at many scenic viewpoints and took about a million photos of us.

He was so enthusiastic that every time I gave him my phone, he took about 20 photos. At one point, he even scaled a muddy hill to get the "best" shot! 

We returned to MesaStila Resort at 8:45 am, just in time to get the day started! 

Check out my post The Best Way to Visit Mount Telomoyo in Central Java for more info on visiting Mount Telomoyo!

MesaStila Coffee Plantation Tour

Once we got back to MesaStila Resort, we had about an hour to eat breakfast before the 10:00 am coffee plantation tour began. Even though they no longer sell coffee beyond their gift shop, MesaStila is still a working coffee plantation. 

Each morning, they offer a tour of the property to guests. On the tour, we learned about the different coffee types grown at MesaStila and how to tell them apart based on their leaves. We also learned about their use of grafting to create the best crop possible.

At the end of the tour, we visited the Coffee House - the current site where they process and roast the beans. Then, we got to try munching on the coffee beans.

Relaxation and Swimming Pool

After walking around the property, we'd worked up a sweat, which was a nice change from freezing that morning. So, we headed to the pool, where we spent the sunny hours of the late morning/ early afternoon relaxing. 

Java Green Restaurant

For lunch, we ate at the poolside restaurant - Java Green. The choices on the menu were basically the same as the Java Red Restaurant above it. I had a delicious seafood laksa that hit the spot.

Afternoon Tea

From 3:00 - 4:30 pm each day, afternoon tea is served at the Club House. You can choose between tea or Indonesian-style brewed coffee (kopi tubruk). A few delicious snacks are also available. The first day, we had banana cake and a chocolate cake. The second day was a pandan cake and an Indonesian pastry the name of which I can't remember. 

Tubruk coffee (kopi tubruk) is made by pouring hot water over finely ground coffee with no filtration. It's not my favorite style as I hate getting coffee grounds in my mouth as I drink. Most of the time at coffee shops in Java, I ordered the v60 which is a pour-over filtered coffee.

One of the reasons we'd booked the sunrise tour instead of sunset was because the clouds and rain seemed to roll in around the evening. We definitely made the right call because by 4:00 pm, it was raining quite heavily again. 

Evening at MesaStila

Later that evening, we played some pool in the Plantation Lounge - the bar on the property - while having a cocktail. Then, headed to dinner at Java Red Restaurant. 

Java Itinerary Day 9 - Departing MesaStila

Our final morning, we woke up early, thankfully after sunrise this time, and had a nice breakfast. On our walk to breakfast, one of the staff members let us know that Mount Merapi was erupting and pointed out the smoke cloud. 

In general, the rains seemed to have cleared up the sky because we could see many peaks around the property that had been covered by clouds the previous days.

Day 9: Long Travel Day

Driving from MesaStila to Semarang Tawang Station

At 9:15 am, we left MesaStila Resort to begin the long journey back to Hong Kong. First step was taking the train back to Jakarta. In order to catch the train, we drove further north to Semarang - the capital and largest city in Central Java. During Dutch colonial times, it was a major port city. 

As we drove through Semarang, we got to admire the historic buildings in the old town. If you have time in your Java itinerary, consider spending a night in Semarang as it seemed like a cute town.

Semarang Tawang Station

Although staff at MesaStila thought it would take longer, we arrived at Semarang Tawang Station at 10:30 am. Built in the early 1900s, the station is charming architecturally and seemed quite nice, though mostly non-airconditioned. 

To get our boarding passes in Semarang, we used the ticket kiosk machines to check in, much like you would at an airport. The process took only 5 minutes, so we still had lots of time to wait.

Due to the over-estimation of how much traffic there would be, we arrived almost 2 hours early to the train station. So, we decided to go wait at the coffee shop next door - Loko Cafe Semarang Tawang. Their coffee was delicious. Even better, the shop was air-conditioned.

Train from Semarang to Jakarta

On our return trip to Jakarta, we boarded the 12:17 pm Argo Bromo Anggrek train in Semarang. From Semarang, the trip to Jakarta takes around 5.5 hours.

However, the Argo Bromo Anggrek runs all the way from Surabaya (East Java) to Jakarta (West Java). The entire trip is around 8 hours by train.

The train service and Executive class on the Argo Bromo Anggrek was quite similar to the Taksaka train that we took from Jakarta to Yogyakarta so I will not go into detail. Though I think our car was slightly less frigid, I still needed my sweater.

One major difference between our two train rides was the scenery. Since we were on a different line, we saw new parts of Java as the train sped along the tracks. At one point, we caught a brief glimpse of the sea plus went past many flooded rice fields.

Arrival at Gambir Station in Jakarta

After another pleasant and scenic Java train ride, we arrived back in Jakarta on time at 5:15 pm.

At this point, our plan was to leave our suitcases at a left luggage or luggage storage shop in Gambir Station for a couple of hours so that we could walk around a bit. Our flight that evening wasn't until midnight, so we had a couple of hours to burn.

Unfortunately, the luggage storage facilities in Gambir Station aren't set up for foreign credit cards or cash. Since we do not have an Indonesian bank account, we were out of luck.

Jakarta Sunset at National Monument

Before leaving downtown Jakarta though, we managed to catch a glimpse of the sunset through the gates to Merdeka Square. Just outside Gambir Station, we watched the sunset glow behind the National Monument until the light faded.

The National Monument is lit up at night and changed colors throughout the sunset. Once it was dark, it remained a bright yellow. It's a shame that Merdeka Square isn't open at night so that we could get closer.

Grab Taxi to Jakarta International Airport

Afterwards, we caught a Grab taxi from Gambir Station to Jakarta International Airport. It took a while to find our car in the chaotic mess of traffic around the station, but we finally did.

As I mentioned above, the taxi to the airport was much cheaper than our ride from it to our hotel. It cost ~200,000 IDR (~13 USD) and took about an hour and twenty minutes, with lots of time to sit in traffic.