Java

Indonesia's most densely populated core island, home to Borobudur, Prambanan, Bromo and Ijen, and combining the capital Jakarta with the court cultures of Yogyakarta and Solo.

This region follows Indonesia's official geographic unit of Java, assigned by whole province: Banten, the Special Capital Region of Jakarta, West Java, Central Java, the Special Region of Yogyakarta and East Java. It also includes nearby islands such as Madura, the Thousand Islands and the Karimunjawa archipelago. Bali, to the east, belongs to the Lesser Sunda Islands region and is not part of this one.

Highlights: the World Heritage–listed Borobudur Buddhist temple and the Prambanan Hindu temple complex; the Sultan's Palace in Yogyakarta and Javanese court culture such as batik and shadow puppetry; the palaces and old town of Solo; in East Java, sunrise over Mount Bromo, distant views of Mount Semeru and the blue flames of Ijen; the cool highlands and crater lakes of Bandung, the ancient temples of the Dieng Plateau, and the Old Town of Jakarta along with the colonial architecture of Surabaya and Semarang.

Classic itineraries: fly in and out of Jakarta or Yogyakarta, spend 3 days on Yogyakarta–Borobudur–Prambanan and add 1 day for Solo; continue east to Malang–Bromo–Ijen, then take the ferry from Banyuwangi to Bali, for about 8–10 days in total.

Getting there: Jakarta, Surabaya and Yogyakarta have international flights, the island's rail network is extensive, and a high-speed train runs between Jakarta and Bandung. Volcano areas mostly require a private car or a local tour.

Good to know: May–October is the best dry season. Sites close during volcanic activity, so check the alert level from Indonesia's volcanology and geological hazard mitigation agency before you go. The night climb of Ijen requires a gas mask, and city traffic is heavily congested.

Destinations

Itineraries