Yogyakarta is starting to be known as the cultural capital of Indonesia. The city also gains a reputation for attracting artists and intellectuals who flock here to enjoy the art and culture. A sultanate and the royal family has been a fixture of the city since the 1700s. As a result, many of Yogyakarta’s attractions relate to the royals, but, true to its learned roots, travellers will also find treasures of museums here as well as workshops and handicraft shops.
Yogyakarta is also well-known for its famous surroundings, as it sits at the base of Mount Merapi and is close to the iconic temples of Borobudur and Prambanan. Here are we try to list down things that you can do while in Yogyakarta.
Relax on the beach
Many travellers won’t realise that the town is actually located close to the Indian Ocean and the southern side of the city stretches along the coastline and consists of Indrayanti Beach. The strip of golden sand here is clean and inviting. You will easily find a range of stalls set up along the coastline.
Meaning ‘Wide Sand Beach’, Wediombo Beach tells you everything you need to know about what to expect on a visit here. The soft golden sand sprawls for miles along the coastline and locals flock here to enjoy the delights of the sea, including fishing. The beach is located at the base of a set of rolling hills and one of the best things to do here is climbing up the cliffs and then take in the beautiful views over the water.
Museums hopping
Yogyakarta is a city covered in museums, and one of the best of these is the Sono-Budoyo Museum, which has a collection of Javanese art on display. If you want to know more about art from the region, you can take a tour of the museum and visit galleries dedicated to Indonesian puppets, masks, weaponry, and textiles. The museum faces a courtyard which is covered in Hindu architecture and you will find ornate carvings and statues aplenty.
On a visit to Yogyakarta, art lovers should make sure a visit to Affandi Museum. The museum features a wide range of Affandi’s paintings as well as some of his haunting self-portraits. As this used to be his private home, you will also find a variety of his personal effects including his car which is a colourful Galant from 1967.
Ullen Sentalu Museum is a great place to learn about Javanese culture. This museum is an ideal spot to see how the city would have looked in the old days. You will find photographs, as well as ancient batik, period paintings, and even antique manuscripts and letters.
Explore the Kraton
The Kraton Kasultanan Ngayogyakarta Hadiningrat is simply another name for the Royal Palace. The sultan and his family still reside here, although you can visit the Kraton Museum where you can learn more about the royal family to get an insight into traditional Javanese art and culture. There are cultural shows held here every day.
Taman Sari Water Castle
The castle is located to the southwest of the Royal Palace and would have been extremely grand in its time. It made up of a network of pools, streams and royal buildings for the enjoyment of the sultan and his family. Unfortunately, the castle has fallen into disrepair these days, and much of the water palace is gently crumbling. You will also discover a section of underground tunnels.
Try out the local dish
Yogyakarta is known for its famous food, Gudeg. This basically consists of jackfruit which is boiled with coconut milk to form a kind of curry, serving with rice.
Shop at Jalan Malioboro
This street is the most famous street in Yogyakarta. Here, you will find items such as clothes, batik fabrics, jewellery, sandals and traditional Javanese arts and crafts. A range of delicious street food along the way will feast your eyes and treat your tummy well.
