15 Best Things to Visit in Java (Indonesia)

Java is Indonesia’s administrative hub, but other than that, nothing is known about it. Few tourists spend a lot of time in Java. Most people who go to Indonesia, especially those who are going there for the first time, go to Bali or Lombok. This is unfortunate because Java has a lot to offer, including access to some of Indonesia’s top attractions like breathtaking temples and erupting volcanoes. In addition, you can go on a boat tour of the nearby islands or go hiking through the jungle to remote caves and waterfalls. In summary, Java has a wide range of attractions, so whatever kind of vacation you’re looking for, you’ll probably find it here. Let’s investigate the best activities in Java:

Pangandaran

Pangandaran is a seaside city located between Jakarta and Yogyakarta that is ideal if you want some sun and sand. The location has a lengthy stretch of coastline, and as may be expected, the fresh seafood is one of the main attractions. If you visit in the evening, you may eat at a beachfront kiosk that serves freshly caught fish that has been roasted over hot coals. If you’d prefer to forego the beach and go hiking instead, there is also a larger national park nearby.

Timang Beach

Timang Beach is near Gunung Kidul, about an hour’s drive from Yogyakarta. If you want to escape the city and enjoy a day at the beach, the beach is the ideal location. There are a ton of small booths bordering the beach that provide local foods like fresh coconuts and noodles. The fact that there are seafood restaurants close by where you can buy fresh crab, shrimp, and even lobster makes this beach one of the most popular in the area and one of the busiest on the weekends.

Bandung

Even though not many tourists go there, Bandung is seen as one of the best places to shop in Indonesia by people who live there. Because Bandung is conveniently adjacent to Jakarta, traveling there is simple, and there are many factory outlets there that sell the newest trends. There are styles of jeans in Bandung to fit all tastes and price ranges, as the city is particularly well-known for its denim products.

Beach at Batu Karas

When people think about beaches, they frequently assume that Bali has the nicest sand and surf. Although Java’s Batu Karas is among the best of its sort, Bali does undoubtedly offer some of the country’s top beaches. If you come here, you will find kilometers of golden sand that are often empty and have waves. Unlike many other beaches in Indonesia, Batu Karas is a great place to surf, swim, and lay out in the sun. It’s a great place for a relaxing beach vacation.

Sewu Temple

Sewu Temple is frequently overshadowed in Java by Borobudur and Candi Prambanan, despite the fact that the latter is barely ten minutes away on foot. One of the most beautiful things about the temple is that it hasn’t been taken care of as well as other buildings nearby, so it’s falling apart in front of your eyes. There are almost 200 temples here, as well as numerous lanes and secret spots to discover. Don’t forget to look at the elaborate sculptures, which will let you envision the complex in its heyday.

Mount Ijen

One of the most impressive mountains in Indonesia is the graceful Mount Ijen, which is less well-known than some of the other majestic mountains but is still well worth a visit. The main attraction is the largest acidic crater lake in the world, which is located at the summit of the mountain. If you visit here at night, you can see blue flames exploding from the lake. This happens because sulfuric acid rises to the surface, ignites, and lights up blue under the light of the moon, creating one of Indonesia’s most beautiful natural phenomena.

Candi Prambanan

Even though the two temple complexes are obviously different, Candi Prambanan is often compared to the nearby Borobudur. While they both originate from the ninth century, Borobudur is a Buddhist temple, while Candi Prambanan is a Hindu temple. In addition to Borobudur, Candi Prambanan is included as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. People can walk around the beautiful grounds, explore the complex’s winding lanes, and stop at the many shrines that are dotted around.

Waterfalls of Baturaden

The Baturaden waterfalls in the Purwokerto district of Java look more like waterfalls in the Amazon than in Java. The journey to the waterfalls is a little difficult and drawn out, but it is rewarded with stunning views of the lush landscape and culminates in the huge falls that plunge through the forest canopy into clear pools below. There are a number of other cataracts in this area, but Curug Belot is one of the most attractive and well-known. If you are in the vicinity, make the drive out here.

Anyer

Anyer is a cute seaside town in the province of Banten. It is famous for its beautiful beach, which has a view of the majestic Mount Krakatau. Anyer Beach is the epitome of Indonesian beach living, offering turquoise waters as well as a wide range of water sports, including jet skiing and parasailing. You can take a stroll down the beach till you reach Cikoneng’s historic lighthouse, where you can even go diving. Marine life is abundant here due to the high mineral concentration in the water from the volcanic lands that surround the city; therefore, aspiring marine biologists won’t be dissatisfied.

Dieng Plateau

Dieng Plateau, which is on the island of Java and is 2,100 meters high, is a popular place for tourists to go. Many people go to the Dieng Plateau to visit one of the many Buddhist temples there. You will get to pass by clear ponds filled with spring water as well as some bubbling hot springs as you journey up the plateau. You should aim to arrange a visit to coincide with the sunset when the light is at its peak because the views from the plateau’s top are simply stunning.

Surabaya

Even though Surabaya is the second-largest city in Indonesia, oddly enough, visitors do not frequently travel there. One of the best things to do in this part of the country is to walk around the old part of the city and look at the old buildings, many of which were built when the Dutch were in charge. There are numerous museums where you may find out more about Surabaya’s history, and since it is one of Indonesia’s major transportation hubs, it is simple to arrange a stopover here from another region of the country.

Shop for Batik in Yogyakarta

Yogyakarta is known for its beautiful batik, which is made by drizzling wax on a piece of fabric and then painting a pattern on it with different colors. You can purchase batik all across the city, or you can visit a factory to discover how this Indonesian textile tradition was developed. Take a batik-making class if you want to get your hands dirty and create your own piece of fabric to take home as a memento of your vacation to Yogyakarta.

Mount Bromo

The ability to climb Mount Bromo is one of the highlights of a trip to Java. The mountain, which bears the name of the revered Hindu god Brahma, is one of Indonesia’s many active volcanoes. Even though it occasionally erupts, the volcano is mostly quiet. When it is only lightly smoking, you can still walk to the top and see a beautiful sunset over the edge of the crater. This is one of the less challenging volcano climbs in Indonesia and offers views of the stunning Tengger Massif, a mountain range that includes Mount Bromo. Most people start at 3 or 4 a.m. to catch the sunrise here, and you can drive most of the way to the summit.

Borobudur Temple

One of Indonesia’s best-known sights is the enormous Buddhist temple complex known as Borobudur, which is located in Central Java. It is easy to take a day trip to Borobudur from the nearby city of Yogyakarta, and the temple, which was constructed in the 9th century, is an outstanding remnant of a previous era. It boasts an astounding 72 Buddha sculptures and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The biggest Buddhist temple in the world, Borobudur, has a platform in the middle from which you can see the whole complex. You can climb all around the building. The best times to visit are at sunrise and sunset, because it is very gorgeous at those times.

Bogor

The city of Bogor is located outside of Jakarta and is frequently disregarded by travelers through the metropolis. This is unfortunate, considering Bogor is like a more compact and laid-back version of Jakarta, full of numerous historical treasures. You might easily spend a day observing the flora and fauna in one of them, a sizable botanical garden that got its start in the 1800s under the former Dutch governor.