2bearbear Travels to Prambanan Temple Yogyakarta

So we were thinking of travelling to a nearby destination. A short flight from Singapore, a good mix of nature, things to do and it had to be light on our pockets. After scanning through several destinations, we finally decided on Yogyakarta – well mainly because it was relatively light on our pockets and is known to be a destination with the most affordable luxury hotels in the world. Sounds great? Let’s check out our 6D5N travel itinerary to Yogyakarta!

Travelling from Singapore to Yogyakarta

For this trip, we flew via SilkAir (SQ5152) from Singapore to Yogyakarta. You must be thinking why we didn’t fly via a budget air? This is because, we managed to snag a deal of $240 for a return ticket from the Singapore Airlines website – 6 months in advance! The cost turns out to be cheaper than the price of budget airlines – on a full service airline. This means that if you plan your trips in advance, you can probably have substantial savings on flights and hotels 😉

Just before we boarded our flight, we headed to the airport at T2 and enjoyed a coffee toast ($4.8) and Yang Zhou Fried Rice ($7 – quite ex!) at the food court. Mostly for our morning caffeine fix 😛

Flight from Singapore to Yogyakarta
Flight from Singapore to Yogyakarta
Bee Hoon Breakfast from SQ 5152 - SilkAir Flight from Singapore to Yogyakarta
Bee Hoon Breakfast from SQ 5152 – SilkAir Flight from Singapore to Yogyakarta
Eggs Sausage Breakfast from SQ 5152 - SilkAir Flight from Singapore to Yogyakarta
Eggs Sausage Breakfast from SQ 5152 – SilkAir Flight from Singapore to Yogyakarta

Things to do and Attractions in Yogyakarta

Upon arrival at Yogyakarta’s Adisutjipto International Airport, we were quickly whisked off by our driver Arif whom we booked via Yogyakarta Drivers. Arif spoke basic English but was able to accommodate most of our requests. At $50/day, the price included Arif’s services (and parking) of driving us to all the destinations that we had planned prior. PLUS, Arif is REALLY good at photography! Our first stop – Prambanan Temple…

Yogyakarta Attractions – Prambanan Temple

Prambanan Temple Yogyakarta
Prambanan Temple Yogyakarta
2bearbear Travels to Prambanan Temple Yogyakarta
2bearbear Travels to Prambanan Temple Yogyakarta

According to the information on site, Prambanan Temple (aka Rara Jonggrang Temple) was built in the 9th century and is the largest Hindu temple complex in Indonesia. The entire temple complex consists of a total of 240 temples (big and small). The three main temples are Candi Siwa, Candi Brhma, and Candi Wisnu. Candi Siwa located in the centre of the temple complex stands at 47m and is the highest temple in Indonesia.

Map of Prambanan Archaelogical Park Complex
Map of Prambanan Archaelogical Park Complex

After Arif took photos of us at the Prambanan Temple signboard (see above), we checked out the temple complex via the train ride. The ride is a loop that goes past Candi Lumbung and Candi Brbrah before stopping at Candi Sewu for about 30 minutes. There, you can take some photos or check out the temple complex. After which, the train takes you back to the main temple complex…

Train ride around Prambanan Temple Complex
Train ride around Prambanan Temple Complex
Train @ Prambanan Temple
Train @ Prambanan Temple
Candi Sewu Prambanan Temple Complex
Candi Sewu Prambanan Temple Complex
2bearbear at Candi Sewu
2bearbear at Candi Sewu
Side view of Candi Sewu Prambanan Temple
Side view of Candi Sewu Prambanan Temple
A smaller Candi Bubrah as seen from train ride enroute
A smaller Candi Bubrah as seen from train ride enroute

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Heading back, we alighted at the same spot where we boarded the train. This time, we walked along the perimeters of the complex before heading back to Candi Siwa…

A little deer sanctuary inside Prambanan Temple Complex
A little deer sanctuary inside Prambanan Temple Complex
Another instagrammable spot inside Prambanan Temple
Another instagrammable spot inside Prambanan Temple

Intricacies of Prambanan Temple Complex
Intricacies of Prambanan Temple Complex

Row of greenery leading to the main complex of Prambanan Temple
Row of greenery leading to the main complex of Prambanan Temple
Of course, Tom wants a shot by himself ;)
Of course, Tom wants a shot by himself 😉

In reality, you can spend a long time exploring this vast temple complex. We even climbed up one of the temple steps and saw a huge statue within it. There are also museum exhibitions, restaurants/cafes and a small animal theme park for the kids to enjoy. Having checked out most of the sights and sounds of Prambanan Temple, we took one last look at Prambanan Complex and headed off to our next destination, Parangtritis Beach!

Brochure of Prambanan Temple
Brochure of Prambanan Temple
Last shot of 2bearbear @ Prambanan Temple
Last shot of 2bearbear @ Prambanan Temple
Markets upon exit from Prambanan Temple Complex
Markets upon exit from Prambanan Temple Complex

Upon leaving the gated area of Prambanan, we immediately entered into a market place. You can get souvenirs, snacks, drinks and even grab a meal. The great part of visiting Yogyakarta is that the locals are very friendly and they do not tout that much either – which makes it a more pleasant shopping experience for visitors.

Prambanan Temple
Entrance Fee: 350,000 IDR ($32SGD)
Opening Hours: 6am to 5pm

Enroute to Parangtritis Beach, Arif recommended that we have our lunch. He recommended an economical rice restaurant (Nasi Padang) as well as a fried chicken restaurant. We chose the later…

Inside the fried chicken restaurant Yogyakarta
Inside the fried chicken restaurant Yogyakarta
Menu of Ayam Goreng Suharti (Fried Chicken Restaurant)
Menu of Ayam Goreng Suharti (Fried Chicken Restaurant)
Fried Chicken with rice and vegetables for 100,500 IDR ($9 SGD)
Fried Chicken with rice and vegetables for 100,500 IDR ($9 SGD)
Includes this avocado juice as well
Includes this avocado juice as well

Yogyakarta Attractions – Parangtritis Beach

The car ride from Prambanan to Parantritis Beach took about an hour. As it was a week day, the beach was not so crowded. Ideal for what we were about to do next…a horse ride along the beach at Parangtritis!

2bearbear riding a horse drawn cart at Parangtritis Beach Yogyakarta
2bearbear riding a horse drawn cart at Parangtritis Beach Yogyakarta
You can also choose horse riding at Yogyakarta Beach if you'd like
You can also choose horse riding at Yogyakarta Beach if you’d like

It costs 100k IDR ($9 SGD) for a 30 minutes ride on the horse drawn cart. Alternatively, there’s a shorter version for 30,000 IDR ($3 SGD). The 30 minutes ride took us to the far ends of the beach. First towards the east to see the cliffs and then to the west of the beach…

Our "rider" of horse drawn cart at Parangtritis Beach
Our “rider” of horse drawn cart at Parangtritis Beach
Riding next to the waters off Parangtritis Beach
Riding next to the waters off Parangtritis Beach
Hm...a Paris Cafe selling seafood?
Hm…a Paris Cafe selling seafood?
Other visitors riding the horse drawn carriage at Parangtritis Beach
Other visitors riding the horse drawn carriage at Parangtritis Beach
Reaching the eastern edge of Parangtritis Beach
Reaching the eastern edge of Parangtritis Beach
Cliffs at the eastern edge of Parangtritis Beach
Cliffs at the eastern edge of Parangtritis Beach

At the eastern part of Parangtritis Beach, we alighted. There were actually photo booths with photographers who would take photos for you and print them on the spot. It costs 10K IDR or approximately $1 SGD, which isn’t too bad. We also tested the temperatures of the water – it was cold! Eventhough it was cold, we still saw kids frolicking in the waters…

Photo booths along Parantritis Beach (!0,000IDR per photo)
Photo booths along Parantritis Beach (!0,000IDR per photo)
Kids frolicking the waters off Parangtritis Beach
Kids frolicking the waters off Parangtritis Beach
Parangtritis Beach Yogyakarta Jogja
Parangtritis Beach Yogyakarta Jogja

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Along the beach, you’ll also see many sign boards with heart shaped structures. These are photo spots for tourists to take photos as well. Do note that a small fee applies. However, as we had tipped our driver a little, he offered to take the photo “free of charge” even when another lady wanted to charge us for taking photos with those heart shaped structures…

Heart shaped structures for photo taking opportunities along Parangtritis Beach
Heart shaped structures for photo taking opportunities along Parangtritis Beach

The ride back from Parangtritis beach to Greenhost Boutique Hotel was approximately 45 minutes. Enroute, we picked out our dinner at

Bu Ageng's Home-cooked Food Stall
Bu Ageng’s Home-cooked Food Stall

Bu Ageng's Home-cooked Food Stall Menu
Bu Ageng’s Home-cooked Food Stall Menu
Stewed beef chicken rice for 78000k IDR ($7 SGD) from Bu Ageng Home Cooked Food Restaurant
Stewed beef chicken rice for 78000k IDR ($7 SGD) from Bu Ageng Home Cooked Food Restaurant

Though a little expensive for Indonesia standards, the price would be considered cheap in Singapore. Taste wise, the beef was tender and had a good taste from the local spices while the chicken curry was rich and flavourful.

Where to stay in Yogyakarta – Greenhost Boutique Hotel

After we picked up our packed dinner at Bu Ageng, Arif dropped us at our hotel at Greenhost Boutique Hotel

Greenhost Boutique Hotel Yogyakarta
Greenhost Boutique Hotel Yogyakarta

One of the reasons why we stayed at Greenhost Boutique Hotel was because of its location in central Yogyakarta. It has a swimming pool, has an ecological theme to the hotel and serves up deliciously healthy breakfasts (which we’d talk more in our later posts). What’s not to like about it? Check out the swimming pool as well…

Swimming pool at Greenhost Boutique Hotel Yogyakarta
Swimming pool at Greenhost Boutique Hotel Yogyakarta
In-room TV with international channels at Greenhost Boutique Hotel
In-room TV with international channels at Greenhost Boutique Hotel

To end off the evening, we headed to Tea Spa for our first massage of the trip. Kate enjoyed a one-hour facial while Tom did a 30 minutes massage followed by a 30 minutes facial, all for only 330k IDR ($30 SGD)!

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Stay tuned as we check out more of Yogyakarta. On day 2, we ventured further, covering the most famous attraction in Yogyakarta – Borobudur Temple as well as natural formations such as the Kedung Pedut Waterfall and Kalibiru!

Related Posts

You have just finished a post about our trip to Yogyakarta. You can find the rest of the post from Yogyakarta here.

Yogyakarta Travel Itinerary Day 1: Prambanan Temple, Parangtritis Beach Horse Ride and Massage no. 1

Yogyakarta Travel Itinerary Day 2: Borobudur, Chicken Church, Kedung Pedut Waterfall, Kalibiru, Ambarrukmo Mall and 4 Hands Massage

Yogyakarta Travel Itinerary Day 3: Merapi Jeep Tour, Pindul Cave Tubing and Pinus Pengger Pine Forest

Yogyakarta Travel Itinerary Day 4: Sultan Palace (aka Tamansari Water Castle), Pasar Beringharjo, Jogja City Mall and Massage No. 3

Hyatt Regency Yogyakarta Review: Everything You Need to Know PLUS Regency Club Lounge Review

Click here for the recommended tours and trips in Yogyakarta!

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