Java travel guide for first-time travelers, one of the most beautiful islands in Indonesia.
All you need to know before traveling to the most beautiful island in Indonesia.
Java is a beautiful island in Indonesia, and the island city is popular for its active volcanoes. This Indonesian island lies between Bali and Sumatra. Java is also famous for its ancient temples, lakes, and monuments as it has a great history of Hinduism and Buddhism. You can also witness the footprint of Islamic and Dutch colonial eras in Java. Also, it is known as the most populated city in Indonesia with many enchanting places. Please find all the required information to make your Java travel smooth and hassle-free.
Capital City Jakarta is located on the Northwestern coast of Java Island. Locals on the island speak four different languages like Javanese, Sundanese, Madurese, and Betawi. This island is distributed into four different provinces like West Java, East Java, Central Java, and Banten. Java also has two special regions like Jakarta and Yogyakarta.
Things to know
Time zone: Jayapura (GMT+9), Bali, Indonesia (GMT+8)
Currency: Indonesian Rupiah, (Current exchange rate)
Languages: Bahasa Indonesia
Country calling code: +62
Police helpline: 110/112
Medical helpline: 118/119
How to reach Java?
Java has some of the busiest airports in Indonesia and it’s well-connected with the major cities around the country. Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Jakarta is one of the main airports on the island. Halim Perdana Kusuma Airport is another airport available in the city. Yogyakarta also has an international airport and you will get a number of domestic airlines. So based on your travel plan you can either book a flight or a ferry from Bali.
Indonesia Domestic airlines
What is the best time to visit Java?
The best time for Java travel is from June to October as that consider the dry season. July and August are the peak tourist season, and also the best time to visit. The region is warm and humid throughout the year, you should avoid visiting there during the monsoon. October till April is the wet season and Java gets very less tourists during this time.
Best places to visit in Java
Java is a well-diverse region in Indonesia and has a lot to offer. There are lots of beautiful temples and some amazing islands, which you can not avoid once you are in Java. There are a few experiences that you will not get anywhere in the world, like watching active volcanos and the local coffees. On your next Java trip, you must consider these places to visit and experience the best of Java.
Borobudur Temple
Borobudur Temple is one of the most visited temples in Indonesia. The Buddhist temple is famous for the statue of Big Buddha and the carvings on the wall. The great monument of Buddhist culture is located in the Kedu Valley and was built during the Syailendra Dynasty in the 8th and 9th centuries AD.
The temple is built like a stupa and has three layers on a beautiful hill in central Java. The temple has a big compound and it’ll require lots of time to visit, so you should plan to visit this temple in the early morning to get the best view and avoid the crowd.
Address: Jl. Badrawati, Kw. Candi Borobudur, Borobudur, Kec. Borobudur, Kabupaten Magelang, Jawa Tengah, Indonesia (location)
Opening hours: 6:30 am to 4:30 pm
Entry fee: USD 24.25
Contact: +62293 788266
Kidal temple
Kidal temple is one of the unknown but beautiful Hindu temples in Java. The temple was built during the Singhasari Dynasty and is situated in the Rejokidal village of East Java. This is one of the oldest temples in Java and it’s around 25 km away from Malang city. The temple has its own story, culture, and art values, it tells the story of Garuda.
Address: Jalan Raya, Panggung, Kidal, Tumpang, Malang Regency, East Java, Indonesia (location)
Opening hours: 8 am to 5 pm
Entry fee: Free
Prambanan Temple
Prambanan Temple is the most beautiful Hindu temple built in the 9th century in Yogyakarta. The architectural view, ambiance, and pattern are impossible to describe in words. The temple is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which attracts millions of visitors every year. Prambanan Temple is dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva and you can see the story of Ramayana carved in this temple.
A few parts of the temple were damaged during an earthquake in 2006, but the main temple was still in good shape. The main structure of the temple got restored later but still, there is some work that needs to be done. You can visit this temple along with the Borobudur temple and the distance between the two temples is approximately 51 km which will take around one hour and 30 min to drive.
Address: Yogyakarta No.16, Kranggan, Bokoharjo, Kec. Prambanan, Kabupaten Sleman, Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta, Indonesia (location)
Opening hours: 6:30 am to 5 pm
Entry fee: Aged 3 to 10: USD 15, above: USD 25 (Online ticket information)
Contact: +622744 96401
Malioboro Street
Malioboro street is one of the best-known streets in Yogyakarta and it’s famous for handicrafts. Local sellers sell their handmade handicrafts goods in this market, so if you want to buy any souvenirs for your friends and family then this market can be a good place for you. You’ll find beautiful handmade sandals, hats, and bags on Malioboro street. There are many hotels, Batik shops, and local craft stores on this street.
Address: Sosromenduran, Gedong Tengen, Yogyakarta City, Indonesia (location)
Opening hours: 24 Hours
Entry fee: Free
Ratu Boko Temple
Ratu Boko is also an unknown place for tourists but a beautiful place. Basically, it’s not a complete temple but remains a temple, and local calls it Kraton Ratu Boko. This temple is located near Prambanan and the distance is around 4 km. This place is located on a hill of Bokoharjo village in Central Java, Indonesia. The place is popular among Instagram influencers because of the beauty surrounding the temple.
Address: Jl. Raya Piyungan, Gatak, Bokoharjo, Kec. Prambanan, Yogyakarta, Indonesia (location)
Opening hours: 7 am to 5 pm
Entry fee: Aged 3 to 10: USD 15, above: USD 25 (Online ticket information)
Contact: +622744 96510
Dieng Plateau
Dieng Plateau is one of the most beautiful places in Java, it is situated at a height of 6,500 ft from sea level. This place is famous for its cool climate and also has a rich culture to explore. Mountain views, Villages, Jungles, Hot Springs, and the serene beauty of nature make it a picture-perfect place. Trekking and camping are some of the other activities which you can enjoy at Dieng Plateau.
It also has a rainbow-colored lake and ancient temples which attract many tourists to experience its beauty. Dieng Plateau can only be accessed by land, from Yogyakarta, you need to drive by road and can take a halt in Magelang. The journey takes around 6-7 hours, so make your plan accordingly, there are multiple options to stay overnight at the top.
Address: Bakal Buntu, Bakal, Batur, Banjarnegara, Central Java, Indonesia (location)
Opening hours: 24 hours
Entry fee: Free
Karimun Jawa Island
When we think of Indonesia, we always think of Bali but there are many other beautiful islands in Indonesia. Karimun Jawa is one such island, which is famous for its white sand beaches. The beaches on this island are very peaceful with low tides and popular for their coral reefs. You can enjoy snorkeling and scuba diving or engage yourself in swimming or surfing on any of the beaches on this island.
Beginners can easily dive into the beaches, there are many scuba diving training centers available. You will find many unexplored beaches on this island where you can learn about local people and their mixed culture like crafty Javanese, fishermen from Madura, etc. I highly recommend you visit this island as it’s not very touristy and you will have your own space.
You can take a ferry from the mainland to reach Karimun Jawa island. There are two types of ferries sailing from Karimun Jawa to Jepara, the fast ferry and the slow ferry. The fast ferry will take around 2 hours to reach the island and the slow ferry will take around 4-6 hours. You can also check the schedule for these ferries before traveling as there are fixed timing to operate.
The ticket cost for the executive class is around USD $10 and around USD $12 for the VIP class one way, there will be an additional cost of USD 2 for the National Park for the foreign tourist on the Jepara to Karimunjawa ferry route. You will have to show your passport while booking the tickets and on weekends tickets get sold early so book the tickets in advance.
Address: Karimunjawa, Jepara Regency, Central Java, Indonesia (location)
Opening hours: 24 hours
Entry fee: USD 2
Important apps to download
GrabFood online food delivery app
GrabTaxi app-based taxi
Google translate
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