For most tourists heading to Yogyakarta, Borobudur Temple is the main destination and often the only reason to visit the city or even the whole of Indonesia.
Indeed, Borobudur, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of the world class monuments.
Despite many earthquakes, the 9th century Mahayana Buddhist temple is remarkably well preserved, although it has undergone several renovations.
The 10 best hotels in Yogyakarta
Architecture and appearance of the temple
Borobudur is a monumental structure built of grey stone and has a pyramidal shape. Because it is wider than it is taller, the monumentality of the temple doesn't stand out as much from a distance. Up close, however, when you enter directly onto the temple's galleries, you will be absolutely mesmerized by the structure.
The temple has no interior. Worshippers and tourists alike climb up the outdoor terraces and staircases to the top.
Borobudur has a square floor plan and consists of nine stacked platforms, 6 of which are square and the top 3 are circular. The walls are decorated with many decorative reliefs and Buddha statues.
The tallest and largest dome is surrounded by 72 stupas, which contain Buddha statues.
Compare flight prices to Yogyakarta
Opening hours
The grounds and park on which the temple stands are open daily from 6:30am-4:30pm. You can stay in the park for as long as you like.
Access to the Borobudur Temple structure itself is available every day except Mondays at half-hour intervals from 9:00-15:30. The last tour starts at 15:30. It is not possible to climb to the top of the temple on Mondays.
The total duration of the visit to the temple structure is 90 minutes. It is always necessary to be there 30 minutes before the start of the tour, but this is also highlighted on the ticket (the ticket is sold on time just 30 minutes before the start of the tour).
If you have purchased a ticket for the temple structure at 3:30pm, for example, you can still enter the grounds and park earlier in the day.
Sunrise visit to Borobudur Temple
Visits to the temple structure at sunrise used to be very popular, when the golden rays created some truly extraordinary sights.
However, since 2022, it has not been possible to visit Bobudur at sunrise. The first visit to the temple is not until 9:00 am.
Despite the fact that some non-serious tourist agencies in Yogyakarta or online offer a sunrise tour, it is only an entrance to the adjacent park and not to the temple structure!
Moreover, the sun rises before 6:00am all year round.
The view from Bukit Dagi Hill
Popular earlier were views of Borobudur from the adjacent Bukit Dagi hill, which lies to the west of the temple.
The hilltop therefore offers beautiful views at sunrise.
However, the Bukit Dagi hill is not open to the public from 2022 and is reserved exclusively for various events such as weddings, concerts, corporate meetings, etc.
When is the best time to visit?
For visiting the temple structure, we recommend you choose the last possible visit from 3:30pm (you will be at the temple itself from approximately 4pm-5pm).
The sun sets between 17:30 and 18:00 throughout the year, so you will never see a direct sunset, but even the golden hour before sunset is absolutely breathtaking.
Admission - do I need to book a ticket online?
Ticket prices vary depending on whether you only want to visit the grounds (park) or if you also want to climb the temple structure.
Despite the considerably higher price, we definitely recommend visiting the temple structure as well.
Climb to the top of the temple
In this case, it is essential to book your ticket online well in advance. There are precise maximum numbers of visitors for each group (once every 30 minutes).
Book tickets exclusively through the official website: ticket.borobudurpark.com
If you want to visit the temple at attractive times (especially the first and last tours), you need to book your ticket at least 7-10 days in advance. However, it is possible to buy the entrance up to 3 months in advance.
- 455 000 idr - foreign visitor
- 120 000 idr - local visitor
There are always two options to choose from when purchasing a ticket for a particular class: the Dharma and the Kalyanamitra. However, this is just a different naming of two different groups and has no practical effect on the visit.
How does the temple tour work?
You can only see the temple structure in a group with a guide.
You buy a ticket for a time at which you have to check in at the reception. Here you will pick up a voucher for a free bottle of water, a wrist band and a card with the number of the guide who will take the whole tour with you.
After going through the security check, you will pick up special upanat shoes which are mandatory to enter the temple to protect the structure.
The stone material is not conducive to the movement of hundreds of tourists with different types of shoes, so each visitor must change into just upanat shoes. You will also be given a bag for your shoes to carry with you. You cannot keep them in the storage room because the exit is on the opposite side of the area from the entrance.
Upanat shoes are included in the ticket price and you get to keep them after the tour. Each visitor will receive a new pair of upanat shoes.
This is followed by visitors being sorted into groups according to the number on the card given to you at reception and the tour itself begins.
Entrance to the temple grounds only
This ticket does not need to be booked online. Entry to the park is not restricted by any quota.
However, admission for this option can also be purchased online at the official website ticket.borobudurpark.com.
- 375 000 idr - foreign visitor
- 50 000 idr - local visitor
Combined ticket Borobudur + Prambanan
A combination ticket is also available for entry to the grounds of Borobudur and Prambanan Temple (east of Yogyakarta city).
The ticket price is 690 000 idr and you will save only Rp 25,000.
The ticket is only valid on one calendar day, so you would need to be able to visit both temples, which is realistic, but you really need to allow for a full day.
If you want to visit the Borobudur temple structure as well, the combined ticket is not available for this option.
Transportation Yogyakarta - Borobudur
We have tried all the ways to get from Yogyakarta to Borobudur Temple.
DAMRI Bus
DAMRI's regular minibus service is the cheapest and most convenient transport.
- Yogyakarta - station at Bank Indonesia near Malioboro Avenue (see map)
- Departures towards Borobudur - 4:30, 5:30, 8:00, 9:45, 10:30, 13:00, 14:45, 15:30, 18:00
- Borobudur - bus station (see map)
- Departures to Yogyakarta - 5:30, 7:15, 8:00, 10:30, 12:15, 13:00, 15:30, 17:15, 18:00
Ticket cost 20 000 idr and you buy it before boarding the minibus at the kiosk. Payment is cash only. You will not receive any paper ticket, just pay the fare and board the minibus.
The journey time is approximately 90 minutes and only stops at Bank Indonesia in Yogyakarta for boarding.
Reliable online information is not available, official Damri website: damri.co.id.
Grab / Gojek
The most convenient option, and if you're travelling with more than one person, then the classic mobile taxi apps Grab or Gojek are a relatively cheap way to get around.
Even though Borobudur is more than 40 km away from Jogja, there is no problem getting a driver. Through the app, your ride will be confirmed usually within 5 minutes.
The price is calculated according to the current demand and is around 220 000 idr.
Transfer with a travel agency
If you don't want to travel by taxi, an option is to use the services of one of the many travel agencies operating in Yogyakarta.
Usual prices include a guide in addition to transport and are around 400 000 idr.
You can compare travel agencies, for example, via getyourguide.com.
Local bus from Jombor terminal
Before the introduction of the DAMRI minibus service from downtown Yogyakarta in 2022, the only public transport option was to travel from Jombor bus terminal.
However, this is not currently recommended.
Currently, there is no direct bus from Jombor to Borobudur and the journey with a transfer is more expensive than the direct DAMRI line.
From Jombor you must first take a bus to Magelang (25 000 idr) and at Muntilan or Blondo change to an angkot (minibus) to Borobudur (other 15 000 idr). The conductor on the bus will always show you when to get off and where to wait for the connecting angkot to Borobudur.
Transportation to other places
From Borobudur you can also get to other places other than the centre of Yogyakarta.
Prambanan - Tebing Breksi
DAMRI operates a direct minibus service from Borobudur to Prambanan Temple and then to Tebing Breksi cliff from 2021. From there it goes to the centre of Yogyakarta.
We recommend checking information locally, especially at the DAMRI booth through Bank Indonesia. Online reliable information cannot be found yet. Our experience is from 2025.
So in one day you can easily visit both temples plus the cliff. The fare is paid separately for each route:
- Borobudur - Prambanan for 35 000 idr
- Prambanan - Tebing Breksi for 20 000 idr
- Tebing Breksi - Yogyakarta for 20 000 idr
The current timetable (year 2025) is as follows. We always give the departure time and, in the case of the last station, the approximate time of arrival.
Timetable from Yogyakarta and Prambanan to Borobudur:
| Malioboro (Bank Indonesia) | 4:30 | 5:30 | 8:30 | 12:30 | 13:30 | 16:30 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tebing Breksi | 5:10 | 6:10 | 9:10 | 13:10 | 14:10 | 17:10 |
| Prambanan | 5:30 | 6:30 | 9:30 | 13:30 | 14:30 | 17:30 |
| Borobudur | 7:00 | 8:00 | 11:00 | 15:00 | 16:00 | 19:00 |
Timetable from Borobudur to Prambanan and Yogyakarta:
| Borobudur | 5:00 | 8:30 | 9:30 | 12:30 | 16:00 | 17:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prambanan | 6:30 | 10:00 | 11:00 | 14:00 | 17:30 | 18:30 |
| Tebing Breksi | 6:50 | 10:20 | 11:20 | 14:20 | 17:50 | 18:50 |
| Malioboro (Bank Indonesia) | 7:10 | 11:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:30 | 19:30 |
Times are approximate and depend on the current traffic situation. However, if the bus happens to arrive early, it usually waits for its regular departure time.
YIA Airport
DAMRI also used to operate a direct minibus service from Borobudur to Yogyakarta YIA in the past, but this route was discontinued in 2024.
DAMRI now operates a 1x per hour service between the airport and Magelang (100 000 idr), from where you can get to Borobudur by local angkot (minibus) about 2x per hour for 15 000 idr.
Magelang
Angkot runs on the Borobudur - Magelang route about 2x per hour and the fare works out at 15 000 idr.
Operating hours are roughly 5:30am-5pm.
In Magelang, you can also change to long-distance buses to Semarang, which can be purchased for example through the 12go.asia website.
Purworejo - Kutoarjo
The towns of Purworejo and Kutoarjo can be reached by suburban buses operated by TransJateng.
Fares can be paid in cash or with electronic transport cards (such as E-money Mandiri, BNI Tapcash, KMT Kart and others) and cost 4 000 idr.
Buses run once an hour from 5am-6pm and you can change to long-distance trains in Kutoarjo town towards Bandung or Cilacap.
Accommodation at Borobudur
Borobudur Temple is an easy day trip from Yogyakarta and there is no need to stay at the temple.
However, if you want to visit the temple or its grounds in the morning, accommodation here is definitely more convenient as otherwise you would have to leave Yogyakarta at around 6:00am.
There are dozens of different accommodations in Borobudur.
The cheapest accommodation can be found from 15 usd per night. We would recommend these well rated guesthouses:
Right on the temple grounds you can stay at the highly rated Manohara Resort ***.
In front of the main entrance, we recommend staying at the luxurious Villa Borobudur Resort *****.
What to see around
Discover all the places to see in Yogyakarta.
