Should I spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Yogyakarta?

Should you spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Yogyakarta?

Most people spend two to four days in Yogyakarta during their visit. The cultural city offers amazing highlights such as the famous sights and museums, the many shops, the historic old town, and the cuisine.

Yogyakarta is often called "Jogja" by locals. It's located on the island of Java and it is a rich cultural city that is filled with temples, palaces, and night markets. Visitors often use it as a base for exploring nearby Borobudur Temple.

Do you have one or two days to visit Yogyakarta? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.


Is one day enough time in Yogyakarta?

The popular city of Yogyakarta has many activities and attractions for visitors. Given only one day, you will likely find yourself hurrying to experience the key highlights such as the famous sights and museums, the many shops, and the historic old town. To truly savor all that the city boasts, a more generous amount of time is probably needed even though it's not a huge city. Many travelers opt for two to four days to thoroughly relish the wonders of the city. However, if your schedule is tight, we have a handful of recommendations for making the most of your visit.

How to spend a day in Yogyakarta

When visiting Yogyakarta, you absolutely can't miss Borobudur Temple as it's one of the most famous places in the world. Make sure you allow yourself enough time to fully experience it.

The restaurant and food scene here is top notch, so make sure you spend time at one of the local restaurants where you can taste the delicious cuisine. It's filled with street food stalls and cheap eateries where you can fill up on local Indonesian classics for a cheap price. Gudeg (stewed jackfruit), Satay, and Bakmi Jawa (Javanese noodles) are just some of the dishes that you must try.


A few tour suggestions include:

  • Yogyakarta Cooking Class and Market Tour ($45)
  • Small-Group Walking and Food Tour by Night in Yogyakarta ($39)
  • Yogyakarta Day Food Tour ($48)

Is a weekend (two to three days) enough time in Yogyakarta?

A weekend trip is usually not enough time to experience the cultural city of Yogyakarta, so you may find yourself somewhat rushed. Or, perhaps you'll want to return another time experience everything that this medium sized city has to offer. You don't want to miss the main attractions such as the famous sights and museums, the many shops, the historic old town, and the cuisine. Many tourists set aside two to four days for their visit. However, if your schedule only gives you a couple of days, we have a handful of recommendations to make the most of your weekend adventure in Yogyakarta below.

Yogyakarta, Indnesia Yogyakarta, Indnesia

How to spend 2 days in Yogyakarta

Having a weekend (two to three days) in Yogyakarta will provide you with more time to take in the best activities in the city.

Yogyakarta is famous for it's world-class attractions, museums, and landmarks. You'll want to spend at least a day exploring one or more that you're interested in the most. The city is known for it's cultural sights and temples. Kraton Yogyakarta is the palace where the Sultan lives. You should also visit Taman Sari Water Castle and Prambanan Temple. But for many visitors, Yogyakarta is seen as the gateway to the famed Borobudur Temple. This is the largest Buddhist temple in the world. It offers spectacular views and is best visited at sunrise.


A few tour suggestions include:

  • Java Culture Museum - Admission Ticket ($30)
  • Palace Becak Tour in Yogyakarta ($65)
  • a day visiting The temple and Javanese culture museum (07.00am-05.00pm) ($135)

The nightlife scene is very popular here. After dark, head out to one of the many venues around town. With a large student population, you'll find many bars and live music venues around town. You'll also find night markets and plenty of theaters and live shows that you can enjoy.

More Info

If you're looking for more information about Yogyakarta, we have even more advice to help you plan your journey.

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