Yogyakarta Getting there & around

Getting there & away

Land

Bus

Yogya’s Giwangan bus terminal (Jl Imogiri) is 5km southeast of the city centre; city bus 4 connects the terminal with Jl Malioboro; 15 with the kraton.

Buses run from Giwangan all over Java and also to Bali. Normal/air-con buses go to Solo (8000/15, 000Rp, two hours), Semarang (15, 000/30, 000Rp, 3½ hours), Bandung (65, 000/95, 000Rp, 10 hours), Jakarta (85, 000/115, 000Rp, 12 hours) and Surabaya (50, 000/60, 000Rp, eight hours).

For long trips it’s best to take luxury buses. It’s cheaper to buy tickets at the bus terminal, but it’s less hassle to simply check fares and departures with the ticket agents along Jl Mangkubumi, along Jl Sosrowijayan near Kartika Trekking, or along Jl Prawirotaman. These agents can also arrange pick-up from your hotel. Check more than one agent – some charge excessive commission. Typical fares include Denpasar (185, 000Rp; 220, 000Rp with toilet), Surabaya and Malang (75, 000Rp), Bandung (85, 000Rp) and Jakarta (90, 000Rp).

Local buses also operate regularly from the main bus terminal to all the towns in the immediate area, including Borobudur (10, 000Rp, 1½ hours), Parangtritis (7000Rp, one hour) and Kaliurang (37000Rp, one hour). To go to Prambanan (7000Rp), take the yellow Pemuda bus. To go to Imogiri (3000Rp, 40 minutes), take a Colt or the Abadi bus 5 to Panggang and ask the conductor to let you off at the makam (graves).

As well as the main bus terminal, Colts operate to the outlying towns from various subterminals. The most useful is the Terban Colt terminal to the north of the city centre on Jl Simanjuntak. From here Colts go to Kaliurang and Prambanan.

Buses, and particularly Colts, to the tourist attractions around Yogya are renowned for overcharging. Know the correct fare before boarding, and tender the right money, but expect to pay extra if you have luggage taking up passenger space.

Train

Centrally located, Yogya’s Tugu train station (514270) handles all business- and executive-class trains. Economy-class trains also depart from and arrive at Lempuyangan station, 1km to the east.

The Senja Utama Yogya (business 100, 000Rp, nine hours) departs for Jakarta at 6.30pm. The executive Argo Lawu (from 200, 000Rp, seven hours) leaves at 9.01am.

To go to Solo, the best option is the Prameks, departing from Tugu at 6.50am, 9.45am, 1pm, 4.10pm and 6.52pm. It costs 6500Rp and takes just over an hour.

The overnight Mutiara Selatan (business 110, 000Rp, six hours) leaves for Surabaya at 1.08am. Numerous other night trains from Jakarta, such as the Bima (executive 170, 000Rp), stop in Yogya (9.40pm) on the way to Surabaya.

Heading for Bandung, the Lodaya (business/executive 90, 000/150, 000Rp, eight hours) passes through Yogya at 9.17pm. Alternatively, the Mutiara Selatan (business 110, 000Rp, 7½ hours) leaves at 10.27pm.

From Lempuyangan train station, most of the economy-class services are overnight trains that run between Surabaya and Jakarta (40, 000Rp, 11 hours) and Bandung (35, 000Rp, 10 hours).

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Air

Yogyakarta is well served by a number of airlines, including Garuda (551515; Inna Garuda Hotel, Jl Malioboro 60), Mandala (520603; Jl Mayor Suryotomo 537A), Adam Air (580999; Jl Diponegoro 121) and Lion Air (555028; Melia Purosani Hotel, Jl Mayor Suryotomo 31). The latter also flies to Denpasar and Surabaya. Consult the Java Airfares map for prices.

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