Kota Gede used to be the capital of the ancient Islamic kingdom of Mataram and as such is a great place to explore the ancient Javanese architecture and its unique layout.
Today, Kotagede is known as a silver village, among other things, and many locals will entice you into their silver shops.
Where to go in Kotagede?
The most interesting place is undoubtedly the Grand Mosque surrounded by the tombs of the Mataram kings.
The place, which gives you the peaceful atmosphere of the old days, was built during the 16th century and is still the centrepiece of the entire historic district.
Access to the Grand Mosque and the tombs is free and available 24/7.
Stroll through the narrow streets of today's Kotagede district, beckoning you to explore local life.
How to get there
The quickest way is via the Grab or Gojek mobile apps. From downtown you usually pay around 30 000 idr.
It's not easy to get to Kotagede by public transport.
The nearest bus stop "Tegal Gendu" is about 1km from the Grand Mosque, but the 3A/3B buses stop here, which only run between Giwangan and Adisutjipto terminals in this part of town and do not go to the city centre.
The stop "SMPN 9", from where bus lines 2A/2B go directly to the centre, is 1,400 metres away (see route map).
Accommodation nearby
Kotagede is a good area for accommodation if you want to be away from the busy centre. However, from a practical point of view, we don't really recommend accommodation to Kotagede.
All other sights, railway and bus stations are quite far away.
If you still decide to stay in Kotagede, we would recommend a stylish yet modern hotel NDalem Natan Royal Heritage ****.
What to see around
Discover all the places to see in Yogyakarta.
