Main Attractions
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Jakarta The capital of Indonesia is the most common international gateway to the country after Bali. It is sprawling, chaotic and polluted, but has some fine museums, colonial sights and lively nightlife to offer for those who take time to explore it. |
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Bogor Just an hour south of Jakarta in West Java province, the city of Bogor is most famous for its huge botanical gardens. It is also a cooler and more relaxed alternative to staying in the capital, and the first stop across Java for many visitors. |
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Yogyakarta The city of Yogyakarta is Java's number one tourist spot, thanks to its beautiful kraton (palace) and its proximity to the ancient temples of Borobudur and Prambanan. Unfortunately it has also become one of the country's worst tourist traps though! |
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Borobudur This enormous Buddhist stupa in Central Java province is Indonesia's most famous ancient historical monument. Its size and age are already impressive enough, but the finely detailed carvings on its walls are even more breathtaking. Most visitors see Borobudur on a day-trip from Yogyakarta, however I strongly recommend spending a night in the nearby village and getting in early morning before the crowds of (mostly Indonesian) visitors arrive! |
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Prambanan The huge Hindu temples of Prambanan, on the border of Yogyakarta and Central Java, rival Borobudur in beauty and size. Make sure you visit many of the smaller, but no less interesting and much more atmospheric temples located around Prambanan in addition to the huge Siva temple (on photo) where most visitors flock! |
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Solo (Surakarta) The main court centre in Central Java province, Solo is often overlooked due to its proximity to more famous Yogyakarta. But it's the favourite of those who know better. It has two old kratons (palaces), one of which is older than Yogya's, its traditional culture is far better preserved, and it is completely free of the hassles and rip-offs that plague its overrated neighbour. In fact, it is almost completely free of tourists too, which makes it one of the greatest, most rewarding off the beaten track destinations in the whole country! |
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Bromo-Tengger-Semeru National Park Java's second most popular attraction is watching the sun rise over the enormous Tengger Caldera in this park in East Java province. Few visitors get beyond smoking but flattish Mount Bromo in the bottom of the crater, but climbing Mount Semeru, Java's highest mountain rising behind can be the real highlight here. |
