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From ancient temples wrapped in volcanic mist to beaches with wild coastal cliffs and hidden caves lit by shafts of sunlight, the places to visit near Yogyakarta offer a mix of nature, history, and adventure in every direction. Within a few hours’ drive, you can walk through UNESCO-listed ruins, ride a gondola over crashing waves, or hike to the rim of an old volcano. Whether you enjoy quiet viewpoints or thrilling underground treks, these nearby escapes let you see a different side of Central Java, without straying too far from the city.
10 Best Places To Visit Near Yogyakarta
You’ll find a mix of natural wonders, cultural landmarks, and outdoor escapes among the best places to visit near Yogyakarta.
1. Borobudur Temple
Photo: Mario La Pergola / Unsplash
At Borobudur Temple, the experience begins as soon as you walk the long stone path leading up to the base. Towering above the Kedu Plain, this 9th-century Mahayana Buddhist monument has over 2,600 intricately carved relief panels and 504 Buddha statues. The carvings are not decorative fillers; they depict entire teachings from Buddhist texts like the Lalitavistara and Jataka tales. The temple follows a mandala layout with three zones representing Kamadhatu (desire), Rupadhatu (form), and Arupadhatu (formlessness). You’ll ascend these layers clockwise, as monks once did, moving from base to summit. On the upper terraces, 72 bell-shaped stupas encircle the main dome, each enclosing a Buddha statue.
Distance From Yogyakarta: 41.2 km
Timings: 6 AM – 5 PM
Cost: 455,000 IDR / ₹2,450 for foreigners & 75,000 IDR / ₹405 for locals
Nearby Attractions: Mendut Temple, Pawon Temple, Chicken Church (Gereja Ayam), Elo River rafting area
2. Prambanan Temple
Prambanan Temple is the largest Hindu temple complex in Indonesia, and it stands out sharply against the landscape with its towering spires and detailed stonework. Built in the 9th century during the Sanjaya Dynasty, the main compound consists of three primary temples dedicated to the Trimurti: Shiva (tallest at 47 metres), Vishnu, and Brahma. Inside Shiva’s temple, you’ll find four chambers, one of which holds a statue of Durga Mahisasuramardini, locally believed to be Princess Loro Jonggrang turned to stone. Unlike Borobudur, Prambanan’s design follows a vertical structure symbolising the ascent to the heavens.
Distance From Yogyakarta: 17.8 km
Timings: 6:30 AM – 5 PM
Cost: 362,500 IDR / ₹1,950 for foreigners & 50,000 IDR / ₹270 for locals
Nearby Attractions: Plaosan Temple, Ratu Boko Palace, Sojiwan Temple, Tebing Breksi limestone cliffs
3. Kalibiru National Park
Photo: Yasuspade / Wikimedia Commons
Kalibiru National Park sits at around 450 metres above sea level in the Menoreh Hills, with direct views of Waduk Sermo’s crescent-shaped reservoir. The observation decks here are simple wooden platforms, nailed securely into pine trees by locals, and reached by narrow ladders or short harness-secured climbs. Each platform faces a different angle, where one points northwest toward the lake’s longest stretch, another south to the curve of the Kulon Progo hills. These are hand-built and slightly uneven, but that’s part of their charm. Early in the morning, a layer of mist sometimes settles low over the lake, revealing only treetops and ridges.
Distance From Yogyakarta: 32.6 km
Timings: 6 AM – 5 PM
Cost: 10,000 IDR / ₹55
Nearby Attractions: Waduk Sermo Reservoir, Taman Sungai Mudal, Pule Payung viewpoint, Kedung Pedut Waterfall
4. Goa Jomblang
Photo: Thet Khine / Unsplash / Image For Representation Only
Goa Jomblang is not a cave you casually wander into; it’s a vertical sinkhole that drops about 60 metres straight down, and getting in requires wearing a harness and descending by rope. The site accepts only a limited number of visitors per day, and the descent is done in pairs, lowered manually by a pulley system operated by local guides. At the bottom, you’ll land on soft, muddy ground and begin walking through a 250-metre tunnel. This narrow path leads to a massive underground chamber where a single shaft of sunlight pierces through a hole in the cave’s roof around 10:30 AM. This natural phenomenon, often called the “heavenly light,” is the main reason people come here.
Distance From Yogyakarta: 48.9 km
Timings: 9 AM – 2 PM
Cost: 500,000 IDR / ₹2,690
Nearby Attractions: Grubug Cave, Sri Gethuk Waterfall, Baron Beach, Pantai Wediombo
5. Mount Merapi
Photo: Crisco 1492 / Wikimedia Commons
Mount Merapi is Indonesia’s most active volcano, and its presence dominates the northern skyline of Yogyakarta. These routes take you across hardened lava fields, past skeletal remains of houses buried in the 2010 eruption, and toward high vantage points like Bunker Kaliadem. The terrain is rough, expect ash trails, loose stones, and broken trees along the ride. At several points, you can stop to explore areas such as the Sisa Hartaku Museum, a small house-turned-museum filled with personal items scorched and shattered during the eruption. If you plan on hiking, you’ll need to reach Selo in Boyolali by midnight for the sunrise trek.
Distance From Yogyakarta: 59 km
Timings: 8 AM – 4 PM
Cost: 400,000 IDR / ₹2,150 (jeep tour)
Nearby Attractions: Kaliadem Bunker, Museum Gunungapi Merapi, Selo Village trekking base, Ketep Pass viewpoint
6. Nglanggeran Ancient Volcano
Photo: Erwin Prastowo / Wikimedia Commons
Nglanggeran is an ancient volcanic formation made of solidified lava rock that rises sharply above the Gunungkidul highlands. Locally called Gunung Api Purba, this extinct volcano is believed to be over 60 million years old. The trail to the top begins from a small registration point in Nglanggeran village and takes around 45 minutes if you’re steady on your feet. The climb involves narrow stone steps, bamboo ladders, and tight passages between massive volcanic boulders. As you make your way up, you’ll pass by thick clusters of teak trees and occasional rest huts overlooking terraced farmland.
Distance From Yogyakarta: 24.1 km
Timings: 24*7
Cost: 15,000 IDR / ₹80
Nearby Attractions: Embung Nglanggeran (man-made lake), Bukit Bintang night viewpoint, Gunung Api Purba trail loop
7. Timang Beach
Timang Beach sits on the southern coast of Gunungkidul and is one of the most rugged places to visit near Yogyakarta, known for its roaring waves and remote feel. What makes this beach different is the manually operated gondola, a small wooden platform pulled by ropes across crashing waves to a rock island named Pulau Timang. Originally built by local lobster fishermen, the gondola now carries both supplies and brave visitors. You’ll first need to reach the beach via a rough 4WD track because motorbikes and sedans won’t make it. Once there, you’ll walk along a rocky shoreline with sharp coral and exposed tide pools.
Distance From Yogyakarta: 77.8 km
Timings: 8 AM – 5 PM
Cost: 150,000 IDR / ₹805 (Gondola ride)
Nearby Attractions: Pantai Indrayanti, Pantai Siung, Pantai Jogan (with a cliff waterfall), Kalong Island
8. Mangunan Fruit Garden
Photo: Jacqueline O’Gara / Unsplash / Image For Representation Only
Mangunan Fruit Garden isn’t a commercial orchard; it’s a highland area developed by the local forestry agency, offering a panoramic lookout over the Oyo River valley. To reach the viewpoint, you’ll drive up a winding road from Imogiri, passing clove plantations and scattered village homes. The garden itself sits above a horseshoe bend in the river, and early mornings often bring low-hanging fog that settles just above the treetops. This makes it one of the most beautiful tourist attractions near Yogyakarta, especially during sunrise. The main viewing deck is made of wood and supported by metal stilts, built to hold dozens of people at once.
Distance From Yogyakarta: 22.2 km
Timings: 5 AM – 6 PM
Cost: 5,000 IDR / ₹27
Nearby Attractions: Bukit Panguk Kediwung, Jurang Tembelan, Songgo Langit Waterfall, Becici Peak
9. Kedung Pedut Waterfall
Photo: Hatfina nusratina / Wikimedia Commons
Kedung Pedut is located in the Girimulyo area of Kulon Progo, fed by mountain streams that flow down from Mount Kelir. The water is unusually clear with turquoise and white tones caused by mineral deposits in the limestone bed. After paying a small entry fee at a wooden post, you’ll follow a 15-minute trail down a gravel path bordered by banana plants and shaded by forest. There’s a bamboo bridge over the Pedut River and another incline with hand-carved bamboo railings, muddy after rain. The main waterfall drops into a rocky basin about six metres deep, where bamboo decks and stone ledges give swimmers a place to rest or jump.
Distance From Yogyakarta: 35.3 km
Timings: 8 AM – 4 PM
Cost: 10,000 IDR / ₹55
Nearby Attractions: Kembang Soka Waterfall, Ekowisata Sungai Mudal, Taman Sungai Mudal, Gunung Kelir
10. Parangtritis Beach
Photo: Midori / Wikimedia Commons
Parangtritis Beach is one of the most well-known attractions near Yogyakarta, but it still holds details you’ll miss if you rush through. As you reach the beach, you’ll pass Parang Kusumo area, where locals make floral offerings in honour of the sea goddess Nyi Roro Kidul, a central figure in Javanese mythology. The sand here is dark grey, almost black, due to volcanic deposits from nearby Mount Merapi. Strong undercurrents make it unsafe for swimming, but there’s plenty to do along the wide beachfront. Horse-drawn buggies called andong line up at the entrance and can take you down to quieter ends of the beach, where wind-carved cliffs rise at odd angles.
Distance From Yogyakarta: 27.8 km
Timings: 24*7
Cost: 10,000 IDR / ₹55
Nearby Attractions: Gumuk Pasir dunes, Paralayang Watugupit (paragliding), Queen Boko Beach, Cepuri Parangkusumo
Exploring the best places to visit near Yogyakarta offers more than a city break. Within hours, wander ancient temples, explore caves lit by natural skylights, or stand on legendary coastal cliffs. Whether climbing volcanic rocks, swimming in forest pools, or watching dawn fog over valleys, each spot has its rhythm. Choose your pace—relaxed mornings or thrilling jeep rides. Plan your trip with TripXL and discover beyond the usual routes.
Cover Photo: Eugenia Clara / Unsplash
