Capital of Indonesia for a short spell during the 1940s, Yogyakarta is a compact city close to Mount Merapi, renowned for Javanese fine art, from ballet to puppetry, poetry to 'batik' or cloth-weaving.
Yogyakarta offers visitors much variety in terms of accommodation. There are sumptuous hotels close to the airport, with large-sized rooms and friendly staff. Some hotels pride themselves on their exotic locations, either overlooking pleasant landscapes, or set within grounds teeming with native birdlife and orchids. All leisure pursuits are catered for, with golf courses or swimming pools available. Budget hotels are located close to shopping areas and public transport.
Top Things in Yogyakarta
Malioboro is Yogyakarta's busy shopping thoroughfare. It also contains many dining outlets where holidaymakers can savour the finest Indonesian cuisine.
The heart of the city contains the Sultan's palace, with evidence of this former residence's grandeur in its old walls and ruins. The former gardens are now a popular tourist destination.
Mount Merapi, on Yogyakarta's outskirts, translates as 'Mountain of Fire'. This active volcano is worth a visit.
Kids and families
The kids' fun park at Wonosari Street is a small-scale version of a Disney theme park. This is an ideal retreat for children, with a wide variety of activities to choose from. If they like water sports they can splash around in the pools. If they prefer dry land, they can go go-karting, play on merry-go-rounds, or take a trip in a train.
Yogyakarta Hotels
The bulk of Yogyakarta accommodation is clustered around the centre of the city, within close proximity of all the major tourist attractions. There are refined five star hotels, with luxurious swimming pools and spa treatment centres, with restaurants providing the spicy local cuisine. Many are ideal for honeymooning couples, set against serene Indonesian landscapes. If you are looking for cheap hotels in Yogyakarta, searching online can allow you to maximise your budget for the excellent shopping.