Java’s eastern part, from Yogyakarta to Banyuwangi, has a lot to offer to travelers. Visiting ancient temples, waterfalls and active volcanoes are some of the best things to do in East Java and Yogyakarta. It’s a beautiful part of Indonesia which is well worth your time. So if you’re thinking of visiting, think no longer and add it to your travel list!
Note that East Java is a province, and Yogyakarta is not part of that. Yogyakarta is located in its own Province: the Special Region of Yogyakarta. These provinces are almost neighbors though and if you’re visiting one, you might as well visit the other. Both provinces have a lot to offer to tourists.
Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means I may earn a small commission when you click on them, at no additional cost to you. It just helps to keep this site running. I only promote products and services I really recommend and always give my honest opinion about them.
Table of contents - The best things to do in East Java and Yogyakarta
How to get to Eastern Java
There are many ways to get to Eastern Java. If you are starting your Indonesian adventure here, you’ll most likely fly into Jakarta, Surabaya, or Denpasar. If you fly into Jakarta, you can travel to Yogyakarta by plane, bus, or train. Surabaya is kind of in the middle, so it depends on the rest of your plans which direction is the best. And if you’re coming from Bali, you can take the ferry to Banyuwangi. 12Go is a great website to compare transport options and get an overview of prices and schedules. You can book here too, but I’ve always bought tickets directly with companies.
For connecting transport from your point of arrival to your accommodation or point of departure, you can use Grab or Gojek. They are the Ubers of Indonesia. Grab is a little more widespread than Gojek, but some places use Gojek more and sometimes there are substantial price differences between the two. So download both and compare availability and prices.
Yogyakarta (Jogja)
Yogyakarta, also called Jogja, is mostly famous for its temples and its street food. I have to say that I wasn’t too impressed with the street food, but I’m generally not a big fan of Indonesian street food, so maybe that’s just it. The temples are really cool though. Borobudur is the most famous temple, it’s the biggest Buddhist structure in the world! Prambanan is a close second when it comes to fame and this is the largest Hindu temple of ancient Java.
The Special Region of Yogyakarta is also home to Indonesia’s most active volcano, Mount Merapi. It’s no longer possible to hike up Mount Merapi from here though, as this path has been destroyed by one of Merapi’s eruptions. It is technically possible to hike up Mount Merapi from the other side, but the mountain has been closed for several years now as it’s too dangerous. You can still admire Mount Merapi from below though, or from its dormant neighbor Mount Merbabu.
Borobudur Temple
Borobudur is the main reason for most people to come to Yogyakarta and this temple is indeed really impressive. Note that tickets are relatively expensive at $25 per person for foreigners. You can buy them on the spot (cash or card), or online.
Before you can enter the temple, you need to wait for a group to be formed and a guide. Guides are mandatory for any visit and they are included in your ticket already. It’s not allowed to go up the temple with regular shoes or flip-flops. You’ll get special slippers you must wear, which you’ll get to keep as a souvenir. The guided visit takes about 1 hour and the guide will explain the meaning of many features of the temple.
As this is one of the most popular palces to visit near Yogyakarta, it can get very busy here. Our visit coincided with the end of Ramadan, which is when Indonesia has a 2-week holiday. This meant it was incredibly busy at the temple and we had to queue up for a ticket for about an hour and got a timeslot for another hour later. I’ve been told it’s normally not that bad, but it’s better to prepare to spend some time here and arrive early. Especially if you wanted to visit Prambanan on the same day.
Borobudur viewpoints
There are also several viewpoints over Borobudur, which could be nice on a clear day. We visited one on a hazy day, and could barely see the temple as it’s quite far away. On a clear day, you should be able to get a better view. Plus you can see the two volcanoes Merapi and Merbabu in the background too.
We visited Watu Putih, a now abandoned would-be resort and temple. I don’t necessarily recommend this viewpoint, it’s not a bad one (on a clear day, on a hazy day it’s not worth it unless you’re interested in the complex itself), but it’s probably not better than other viewpoints around. The drive there was really nice though, through rice fields and we met lots of friendly locals on the way.
How to get to Borobudur
Most people will base themselves in Yogyakarta in order to visit Borobudur. The easiest way to get here is by renting a motorbike. If you don’t feel comfortable riding a bike, you can also get here by bus. The bus to Bodobudur leaves from the Jombor terminal. You can get here from the city center with a Transjogja bus or (motor) taxi.
It’s also possible to contract a tour/transfer service that takes you to both Borobudur and Prambanan temples in one day.
Prambanan Temple Complex
Whereas Borobudur is one big temple, Prambanan is a complex of several temples. It’s the biggest Hindu temple complex in Indonesia. Tickets for Prambanan are also $25, but you can buy a Combo ticket for both Borobudur and Prambanan for $45. Same as for Borobudur, tickets can be bought on the spot, or online and are valid for two consecutive days.
For Prambanan, you don’t need a guide. You’re free to wander around the complex yourself. The main temple complex within Prambanan, Roro Jonggrang, is home to the biggest, most impressive temples. You can enter them, and inside you will find several statues. Most people only visit this part, but there are more temples in the complex which are worth a visit too. Even if it’s only because chances are you’ll be the only one there! These other temples are Buddhist temples, like Borobudur, but built more in the style of Prambanan. Follow the signs to Candi Sewu (Sewu Temple), and you’ll pass by the Lumbung and Bubrah temples too. Sewu is the biggest of the three, but still mostly in ruins after it has been destroyed by earthquakes.
How to get to the Prambanan temple complex
The easiest way to get to the Prambanan temple complex is also by motorbike. Prambanan is located on the other side of Yogyakarta compared to Borobudur, but if you leave early you’ll be able to visit both in one day.
If you prefer to travel by public transport, you can take a Transjogja bus or the Yogyakarta train line, going to the Brambanan train station.
It’s also possible to contract a tour/transfer service that takes you to both Borobudur and Prambanan temples in one day.
Mount Merapi Viewpoints
As I mentioned before, it is no longer possible to hike up Mount Merapi. But this doesn’t mean you can’t admire this volcano from other places. If you want to see Mount Merapi from Yogyakarta, the easiest is to visit a viewpoint in the Special Region of Yogyakarta. We choose Bukit Klangon, but there are a few around you could choose from. Do note that as it’s a high mountain, Mount Merapi is usually covered in clouds, especially later in the day. So try to get here early, for the best chance to get a glimpse.
If you’re up for a hike and want to have better chances, you can hike up Merapi’s dormant neighbor Mount Merbabu. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to do this. We decided we wanted to hike Mount Merbabu very last minute and all accommodation in Selo was already booked out since it was during the Indonesian end of Ramadan holidays. The hike starts from the town of Selo, and you can either sleep here and do a day trip from here, or you can camp. For more information about hiking Mount Merbabu, you read the comments and reviews of other hikers on Alltrails as well as see the routes they took.
Pronojiwo
Pronojiwo is a subdistrict in the Lumajang region. It’s not very well known amongst foreign tourists, but this place is well worth a visit. The main draw are the spectacular waterfalls, and you can get some really nice views of the volcano Semeru as well. Pronijiwo definitely deserves a spot on this list of the best things to do in East Java!
How to get to Pronojiwo
The only way to get to Pronojiwo is by bus from Malang. Don’t try to do anything else, it’s quite likely that you’ll get stranded somewhere (like we nearly did). The buses here are not very reliable, so get here as early as possible. This way you have the best chance of getting on a bus.
Tumpak Sewu
Tumpak Sewu is the most impressive waterfall in the Pronojiwo district. Its location is just stunning. The waterfall is wide and tall, covering the whole of a semicircle cliff. The surroundings are super green all around and if you’re lucky and it’s a clear day/moment, you can even see Semeru in the background. Just stunning.
Kapas Biru
Kapas Biru is another beautiful waterfall in the Pronojiwo region. It’s a little further away from Pronojiwo village, but still within walking distance. It’s not as big as Tumpak Sewu, but it’s very picturesque and you can swim here. The walk down is easier and more straightforward as there is only one way. It is still steep and slippery though, so do take care!
Entrance to Kapas Biru is free, you only pay to park your motorbike if you have one.
Other things to do in Pronojiwo
A bonus for us was having the awesome views over Mount Semeru. Keep your eyes open around town for when the clouds clear! The best chances are in the early morning.
Coban Sriti is another well-known waterfall in the area. We didn’t get to visit as it was raining in the afternoons and we visited Tumpak Sewu and Kapas Biru during the two mornings we spend here. Do make sure to double check if it’s open and possible to go there before you go. I read mixed reviews.
There are many more waterfalls in the area too. So if you can’t get enough of them, there is plenty to do to fill a couple of days here.
Bromo
Bromo is an active volcano, which is part of the Tengger Caldera (also called the sand sea) in the Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park. This part of the caldera is just beautiful, with Bromo and other volcanoes lying in a gigantic plain of sand.
You can visit Mount Bromo both independently or with a jeep tour. Most tours leave from Probolinggo, but you can also go from Malang. I recommend visiting Bromo without a tour though. It’s cheaper and easier to avoid the crowds a little more. You can visit Bomo from Probolinggo or Cemoro Lawang. Probolinggo is still quite a drive from Bromo and there is nothing to do here really, so I recommend staying in Cemoro Lawang. Not that there is anything more to do here besides visiting Mount Bromo, it’s just way more relaxed and you can enjoy the views over the national park from town if you have good weather.
Besides watching the sunrise over Mount Bromo from the viewpoint, the famous Bromo picture, you can also hike up the crater. It’s an incredible feeling so stand there on the crater rim watching the crater smoke and listening to it’s roaring sound. It’s definitely one of the best things to do in East Java.
How to get to Bromo
If you’re visiting Bromo without a tour, you will visit from Cemoro Lawang. There are shared vans that travel between Probolinggo and Cemoro Lawang once full (or, once all the seats are paid for). It’s also possible to rent a motorbike in Probolinggo and drive to Cemoro Lawang from here.
Ijen
Ijen is another famous active volcano in East Java. This volcano is most famous for its blue flame, bright blue crater lake, and sulfur mining.
The blue flame or blue fire is a phenomenon caused by sulfur gases that burn. This happens at any time, but at night you can see this process as a blue fire. It’s not always possible to see the blue flame. You’ll need to visit at night and enter the crater in order to be able to see it.
When we visited the volcano was too active, pushing out too many toxic gasses and we were not allowed to enter the crater. It would have been too dangerous and even the gas masks provided would not provide enough protection. So that was a shame, but it was still worth the trip. The mountain and the surrounding landscape are really beautiful. Just see it as a plus if you do get to see the blue fire!
Sulfur mining: There is another side to Ijen too. As Ijen produces so much sulfur, people mine this. It’s incredibly hard work, as miners have to get into the crater to get the sulfur, where they are exposed to many toxic gasses, get the sulfur out, and fill up their baskets which they carry on their backs. They often carry more than their body weight out of the crater and then down the mountain. Many, if not all of them, have scars on their back from the weight their carrying and health issues, like respiratory diseases. They can sell the sulfur for only a few cents a kilo. Some miners have carts to help them take the sulfur down the mountain and gasmasks, bit not everyone can afford them. Plus, the gasmasks only provide a certain amount of protection.
It’s a big contrast between the tourists being able to go on holiday and enjoying the beautiful landscape and the miners putting their health at risk every day just to get by.
How to get to Ijen
It’s quite easy to visit Ijen, you can either rent a scooter in Banyuwangi and go by yourself or join a tour. We usually prefer to go independently, but an all-inclusive tour which would take us from Bromo to Ijen worked out cheaper and would save us the hassle of trying to get from Cemoro Lawang to Banyuwangi by public transport, so this is what we did. Expect to pay around 600.000 Rp (could be a little more or less, depending on your negotiation skills) for a tour traking you from Cemoro Lawang to Banyuwangi, up to Ijen the next day, back to Banyawangi and to the port to take the ferry to Bali or the bus terminal, depending on where you’re off to next. Everything was included for us, except for food in Banyuwangi (hotel breakfast was included).
This was te best things to do in East Java and Yogyakarta
