Yogyakarta, a city in the Special Region of Yogyakarta (DIY) province, combines history, culture and modernity, presenting beautiful harmony. This city still maintains ancient cultural traditions led by the Sultan of Yogyakarta.

The variety of magnificent historical sites makes this area a cultural heritage. One of them is the Prambanan Temple, the largest Hindu temple in Indonesia and the most charming historical place in Yogyakarta.

Another temple is Borobudur Temple, the largest Buddhist temple in the world, located not far from Yogyakarta. During the annual Vesak ceremony, this temple will be filled with thousands of Buddhists who come on pilgrimage. This temple area is also home to the Ngayogyakarta Hadiningrat Sultanate, located in the centre of Yogyakarta city. It’s proof that this city still preserves its culture today.

Yogyakarta is still strong with its traditions and culture. What still exists today?

This art is part of the traditions and culture of Yogyakarta, preserved through wayang kulit. Wayang kulit involves leather puppets projected on a screen with gamelan music. Stories usually revolve around Ramayana or Mahabharata, skillfully staged by the puppeteer.

Batik is a traditional art of decorating cloth using a unique wax colouring technique. Yogyakarta is known as the best batik-producing area in Indonesia. The motifs, such as Parang, Kawung, and Sido Mukti, have unique characteristics. Batik-making is complicated and requires expertise. Yogyakarta batik cloth is still popular for daily wear and traditional events.

This cultural celebration at the Yogyakarta Palace commemorates the birth of Prophet Muhammad SAW. It lasts one week and includes religious, artistic, and cultural activities.

The night market around the Grand Mosque is a highlight, offering delicious traditional food, handicrafts, toys, and Yogyakarta knick-knacks. The celebration also features gamelan performances, shadow puppets, dances, and traditional competitions involving the local community.

This traditional Yogyakarta dish is made from young jackfruit cooked with coconut milk. It is boiled with brown sugar and coconut milk for hours, producing a sweet and flavorful dish. There are two types of gudeg to try: dry and wet, or red and white gudeg.

If you're in Yogyakarta, don't forget to visit Gudeg Mbah Lindu Sosrowijayan. The recipe used at this restaurant was formulated by Mbah Lindu decades ago and is still being used today, even though Mbah Lindu has passed away at the age of 100. You can also try Gudeg Pawon, which is only open for 3 hours at night.

Craving for a late-night snack? Stop by Sate Klatak Pak Bari, known for its unique iron bicycle spokes grilling method. The goat meat is delicious, tender, and not greasy. Enjoy it with a hot goat's gule during cold weather.

Explore the culinary delights of Yogyakarta villages or "Blusukan Kampung". Mangut Lele, smoked catfish with spicy coconut milk sauce, has been sold by Mbah Marto since the 1960s. It is cooked and served straight from the kitchen.

This is a unique dessert that combines ice cream, garlic sauce, jicama, and fruit in one bowl. Perfect to enjoy on a hot day!

In Yogyakarta, try a cup of coffee mixed with hot charcoal. This coffee has health benefits as the activated carbon in the charcoal helps bind toxins in the body. Lik Man Angkringan near Yogyakarta Tugu Station has been serving this special joss coffee since the late 80s.

A chewy dessert made from round sticky rice, hot ginger water mixed with coconut or palm sugar, fried peanuts, pieces of bread, and kolang kaling. Enjoy it during the rainy season to warm your body.

Rundown:

09:00 AM: Arrival at YIA airport

09:00-09:30 AM: Travel to Yogyakarta Palace

09:30-10:30 AM: Explore Yogyakarta Palace

10:30-10:45 AM: Travel to Taman Sari Water Castle

10:45-11:45 AM: Explore Taman Sari Water Castle

11:45 AM-12:00 PM: Travel to Yammie Pathuk

12:00-01:00 PM: Rest and have lunch at Yammie Pathuk

01:00-01:30 PM: Journey to Batik Processing

01:30-03:00 PM: Explore the Batik Processing tour

03:00-03:30 PM: Journey to Silver Processing

03:30-04:30 PM: Explore the Silver Processing tour

04:30-05:00 PM: Journey to Ratu Boko Temple

05:00-06:00 PM: Explore the sunset at Ratu Boko Temple

06:00-07:30 PM: Dinner and trip to Sate Klatak Pak Bari

07:30-08:30 PM: Dinner at Sate Klatak Pak Bari

08:30-09:00 PM: Travel to Malioboro Street

09:00-10:00 PM: Explore Malioboro street at night

10:00-10:15 PM: Return to the hotel (Neo Hotel Malioboro by ASTON)

10:15-10:30 PM: Cleaning

10:30 PM-05:00 AM: Sleep

Location: Rotowijayan Street Block No.1, Panembahan, Kraton District, Yogyakarta City, Special Region of Yogyakarta (DIY)

Entrance Fee: IDR 15,055.76 plus IDR 1,003.72 for camera permit

Opening hours: 09:00 AM to 03:00 PM

It is a palace with massive walls that has been the home of Sultans for centuries. Walking around the main palace complex, you can see traditional Javanese architecture and Yogyakarta history museum exhibits.

Location: Patehan, Kraton, Yogyakarta City, Special Region of Yogyakarta 55133

Entrance Fee: IDR 15,055.76 plus IDR 1,003.72 for camera permit

Opening hours: 09:00 AM to 03:00 PM

Just a short walk from the Kraton are the former royal gardens of the Sultan of Yogyakarta. Once you walk through the ornamental gates, you'll find yourself next to the private pools the Sultan and his family used. The place is popular with tourists but is well worth visiting!

Location: Kemetiran Kidul Street Number 63, Pringgokusumo, Gedong Tengen, Yogyakarta City, Special Region of Yogyakarta (DIY)

Price around: Starts from IDR 25,092.93

Opening hours: 09:00 AM to 09:00 PM

Yammie Pathuk is a local restaurant that serves yammie, a dish consisting of noodles with meatballs and fried dumplings. Enjoy the savoury soup and crunchy dumplings while you're here and let it warm your heart!

Minimum capacity: 5 participants

Location: Giriloyo Tourist Gazebo

Price around: Varies, further details can be check on their website (Kampung Batik Giriloyo)

Opening hours: 09:00 AM to 04:00 PM

You will be given a small white cloth (Mori), which you will use to make your batik (canting). After that, you will be invited to process the fabric, starting from soaking it with dyes, boiling it, then washing it, drying it in the sun, and airing it (mbabar) to produce small works of "batik cloth" which you can take home as a keepsake.

Location: Kemasan Street Number 9B, Nyamplungan, Kotagede District, Yogyakarta City.

Entrance Fee: Free of charge, except for vehicle tickets

Opening hours: 10:00 AM to 08:00 PM

You will be invited to see the process of making silver in Kotagede and participate in a workshop. There are bracelets, necklaces, rings, decorations or wall hangings, miniatures, earrings and other unique crafts.

Location: Candi Ratu Boko, Bokoharjo, Prambanan, Sleman Regency, Special Region of Yogyakarta 55572

Entry Fee: IDR 39,681.84

Opening hours: 07:00 AM to 05:30 PM (Last Redemption Time: 04:30 PM)

Standing on a hill about 195 metres above sea level, Ratu Boko is not a temple. Completed around the 9th century, this archaeological site was once a magnificent palace, and legend has it that Ratu Boko was the palace of Lara Jonggrang's father.

Location: Wonokromo Market, East Imogiri Street Number 5, Wonokromo II, Pleret District, Bantul Regency, Special Region of Yogyakarta 55791

Price around: IDR 24,042.53

Opening hours: 07:30 PM to 12:00 AM

This satay is grilled with skewers made from iron bicycle spokes. The goat meat is delicious, tender, and doesn't have a greasy smell.

Location: Malioboro street, Special Region of Yogyakarta

Entry Fee: Free of charge

Opening hours: 24 hours

You can explore Chinatown Ketandan, Malioboro Haunted House, The House of Raminten, Fort Vredeburg Museum, and Zero Kilometre Point.

Rundown:

06:00-07:00 AM: Breakfast at Gudeg Mbah Lindu

07:00-08:00 AM: Travel to Borobudur Temple

08:00-10:00 AM: Explore Borobudur Temple

10:00-10:30 AM: Journey to local culinary delights

10:30-12:00 PM: Lunch at Mangut Lele Mbah Marto

12:00-12:30 PM: Journey to the lava tour

12:30-02:30 PM: Explore Merapi jeep lava tour

02:30-03:00 PM: Travel to Prambanan Temple

03:00-04:30 PM: Explore the Prambanan Temple tour

04:30-05:00 PM: Journey to Breksi Cliff

05:00-06:00 PM: Explore the sunset at Breksi Cliff

06:00-07:00 PM: Ishoma

07:00-08:00 PM: Journey to local culinary delights

08:00-09:00 PM: Dinner and explore culinary delights at Bang Jo milk

09:00-09:15 PM: Return to the hotel

09:15-09:30 PM: Cleaning

09:30 PM-04:00 AM: Sleep

Location: Sosrowijayan Street, Sosromenduruan, Gedong Tengen, Yogyakarta City

Price rate: Starts from IDR 15,055.76

Opening hours: Thursday, Sunday – Wednesday, 06:00 AM to 11:00 PM | Friday & Saturday, 06:00 AM to 09:00 PM

Start your day by enjoying Yogyakarta's traditional food at Gudeg Mbah Lindu. Here, they cook gudeg in the traditional way, which is why the taste of the cuisine remains classic. Many people come here specifically to taste the gudeg.

Location: Badrawati Street, Kw. Borobudur Temple, Borobudur, Borobudur District, Magelang Regency, Central Java, Indonesia

Ticket prices: Starts from IDR 49,018.75

Opening hours: 06:30 AM to 05:00 PM (Last redemption time: 04:00 PM)

The largest Buddhist temple in the world originated during the reign of the Syailendra Dynasty of the Medang Kingdom in the 9th century. This UNESCO World Heritage Site will amaze you with its majestic structures, intricate relief details, and 72 stupas–each containing a Buddha statue you can find at Borobudur Temple.

Location: Sewon Indah Street RT.04, Ngireng-ireng, Panggungharjo, Sewon District, Bantul Regency, Special Region of Yogyakarta

Price rate: Starts from IDR 30,111.52 per portion

Opening hours: 10:00 AM to 08:00 PM

Another traditional cuisine in Yogyakarta that you must try is Mangut Lele Mbok Marto. In English, "mangut lele" translates to smoked catfish. It is served with a variety of vegetables and condiments. A portion of mangut lele will surely satisfy your hunger with its delicious and savoury taste.

Location: Greater Merapi Golf Street, Balong, Umbulharjo, Cangkringan District, Sleman Regency, Special Region of Yogyakarta 55583, Indonesia

Ticket prices: Starts from IDR 438,834.49

Opening hours: 04:00 AM to 03:00 PM (last redemption time 03:00 PM)

Enjoy an adventure in a Jeep Merapi Lava Tour to one of the most famous volcanoes in Indonesia, Mount Merapi! Experience a trip around the volcano and Kaliadem with your loved ones. During the trip, you will visit some of Yogyakarta's most famous tourist destinations, such as Batu Alien, Kaliadem Bunker, Mbah Marijan's house, and many more.

Location: Prambanan Temple, Bokoharjo, Prambanan, Sleman Regency, Special Region of Yogyakarta, Indonesia

Ticket Prices: Starts from IDR 49,018.75

Opening hours: 07:00 AM to 05:30 PM (last redemption time: 04:30 PM)

Built in the 9th century, the Prambanan Temple is dedicated to the Hindu Gods Shiva, Vishnu, and Brahma. This UNESCO World Heritage Site has more than 200 temples; the largest and tallest among them will blow your mind!

As you walk from one temple to another, ensure you take advantage of the beautifully carved reliefs that tell the stories of the Hindu epic Ramayana and Bhagavata Purana and depictions of Hindu sages.

Location: Sleman Regency area, precisely in Sambirejo Village, Prambanan District, Sleman, DIY.

Entrance Fee: IDR 5,018.59 per person

Opening hours: Daily, 06:00 AM to 09:00 PM

As the name suggests, this tourist spot is a hill made from Breccia Rock. However, in 2014, the government closed mining activities at the Breksi Cliff location.

As a result, the community, with their creativity, transformed this former mining location into a tourist spot. Then, in 2015, the Breksi Cliff was inaugurated by the Governor of DIY Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono X as a new tourist attraction in Jogja.

Location: Veteran Street number 121, Warungboto, Umbulharjo District, Yogyakarta City, Special Region of Yogyakarta, Indonesia

Telephone: (+62274) 411832

Price range: Starts from IDR 15,989.45

For those of you who are fans of pure milk, Susu Bangjo is a fun hangout place open 24 hours in Jogja. This milk cafe provides various kinds of milk-based drinks in multiple flavours.

Rundown:

05.00-05.15 AM: Travel to Parangtritis Beach

05.15-06.00 AM: Explore the sunrise at Parangtritis Beach

06.00-06.15 AM: Trip to local culinary delights

06.15-08.00 AM: Breakfast culinary lupis Mbah Satinem

08.00-08.15 AM: Travel to the hotel

08.15-09.30 AM: Take a bath and prepare to check out

09.30-10.00 AM: Journey to HeHa Sky View

10.00-11.30 AM: Explore HeHa Sky View

11.30-12.00 PM: Trip to local culinary delights

12.00-01.00 PM: Lunch at Saoto Bathok Mbah Katro

01.00-01.30 PM: Travel to the Bakpia Center and Yogya souvenirs

01.30-03.00 PM: Buy bakpia and souvenirs

03.30-03.30 PM: Journey to Rujak Ice Cream

03.30-04.30 PM: Pak Nardi's rujak ice cream dessert

04.30-05.00 PM: Travel to YIA airport

05.00-07.00 PM: Check-in and boarding

07.00 PM: Return to Singapore

Location: Parangtritis Sub-district, Kretek District, Bantul Regency, Special Region of Yogyakarta

Entrance fee: IDR 10,037.17 per person

Opening hours: 24 hours

Enjoy the sunrise at Parangtritis Beach and capture the moment. Remember to selfie or selfie with family or best friends.

Location: Bumijo Street No. 52-40, Bumijo, Jetis District, Yogyakarta City, DIY

Price range: Starts from IDR 10,037.17

Opening hours: 05:00 AM to 09:00 AM

Even though it doesn't have a unique sign, since five o'clock in the morning, a queue has snaked around the roadside stall owned by Mbah Satinem, who has been selling various market snacks for over 75 years. Moreover, since Netflix raised her profile, not only has she been favoured in her homeland, but Mbah Satinem's name is also widely known abroad.

Location: Dlingo-Patuk Street No. 2, Hill, Patuk, Kidul Mount Regency, Special Region of Yogyakarta 55862

Opening hours: Mondays to Fridays, 10:00 AM to 09:00 PM; Weekends and big days (08:00 AM to 09:00 PM

Entrance Fee: Starts from IDR 20,074.34

One of the favourite tourist destinations that offers the best view of the city of Yogyakarta and its surroundings "from the 2nd floor". Located in the hilly area of Gunungkidul, HeHa Sky View is only 40 minutes from the centre of Yogyakarta City.

Location: Sambisari Street No. 6, Purwomartini, Kalasan, Sleman Regency, DIY

Telephone: +6281392144526

Opening hours: 06:00 AM to 04:00 PM

Price range: Starts from IDR 6,068.99

Served in bathok (coconut shell) with accompaniments in fried tempeh, intestine satay or quail egg satay while eating at a hut, complete culinary and cultural tourism becomes one here.

Location: Sanggrahan Pathuk NG/I 504, Ngampilan, Kota Yogyakarta, Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta 55261

Opening hours: Daily, 06:00 AM to 11:30 PM

Price range: Starts from IDR 35,130.10

To end your trip in Yogyakarta, don't forget to bring souvenirs of traditional cakes from Yogyakarta. Bakpia is served with various fillings, including cheese, chocolate, strawberry, coffee, and many more.

Location: Harjowinatan street, Purwokinanti, Pakualam, Yogyakarta City, DIY

Price range: Starts from IDR 8,053.08

End your trip in Yogyakarta by enjoying a cup of Mr. Nardi's Ice Cream Salad. The freshness and sweetness of the ice cream will bring a sense of peace and relaxation to your mind after spending the weekend in Yogyakarta.

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