12 Unmissable Things to Do in Java, Indonesia

1. Climb the Terraces of Borobudur Temple

The world’s largest Buddhist temple is one of the top places to visit in Java. The 9th-century Borobudur temple, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, leaves a big impression on you. Seeing it up close is an unforgettable experience.

Climbing the old stone steps from one terrace to the next, you follow a spiritual path shown in the carvings on the walls. Hundreds of bas-reliefs share stories about Buddhist beliefs and daily life in Java long ago. At the top, you’ll find the famous bell-shaped stupas, each with a hidden Buddha statue inside, set against the backdrop of far-off volcanoes.

To help preserve the ancient stones, visitors wear traditional bamboo Upunat sandals given out at the entrance. A local guide will join you and bring the temple’s history to life in a lively and engaging way.

• Angie’s Top Tip: Tickets for Borobudur are strictly limited to timed slots to protect the structure, so you must pre-book online well in advance. Try to secure an early morning entry to beat the worst of the tropical afternoon heat.
• Read More: For exact details on how to get tickets, what to expect during your tour, and where to stay nearby, pop over to my Borobudur travel guide.

2. Explore the Sacred Hindu Spires of Prambanan

If you love temple hopping, your next port of call will be the Prambanan Complex. Dedicated to the 3 Hindu Gods, Brahma, Shiva, and Vishnu, the impressive temple structures, still standing since the 9th century, are pretty amazing. If you've ever been to Angkor Wat, you'll immediately see the similarity. Don't stop at the main temples, as a short walk away you'll find several smaller temples waiting to be discovered, and if you are lucky, as I was, you'll have them all to yourself.

Angie’s Top Tip: Try to visit in the afternoon/early evening when the tour buses have gone home, and the temperature is cooler. If you can, book tickets for the Rayamanan Ballet that is performed in front of the temples.

3. Immerse Yourself in Javanese Culture in Yogyakarta

Jogja, as Yogyakarta is commonly called, is the most popular town to visit in Java. It's home to the Kraton Palace, still inhabited by the sultan, the Taman Sari Water Palace, street art and a bustling main thoroughfare, Malioboro Street, where food stalls rub shoulders with high-end shops selling exquisite fabrics and souvenirs. It's also a transport hub offering a reliable train service to other parts of the country.

Angie’s Top Tip: Hit Jogja after dark and experience a manic-like vibe, with young people congregating at the famous clock tower, food vendors clamouring for your patronage, and tuk-tuk drivers waiting on street corners to whisk you around the town for an authentic Yogyakarta experience.

4. Try Local Dishes on a Yogyakarta Street Food Tour

You can't truly understand Java without tasting it! Javanese cuisine is rich, aromatic, and distinctively sweet compared to the spicy dishes of neighbouring Sumatra or Bali. Taking an evening street food tour in Yogyakarta was one of the absolute highlights of our six-week trip across Indonesia.

Hop on a traditional becak (cycle rickshaw) as dusk falls and head toward the bustling street stalls around Malioboro Street. Be sure to try Gudeg, Jogja's signature dish made from young jackfruit slow-cooked for hours in coconut milk and palm sugar. Pair it with a cold Bintang beer or a warm cup of Kopi Joss (charcoal coffee), and pick up a box of warm, sweet Bakpia pastries for dessert.

Angie’s Top Tip: Stick to stalls with high turnover where you can see the food being cooked fresh right in front of you. It’s the safest—and tastiest—way to enjoy authentic local street food.

5. Watch Sunrise over Mount Bromo and Walk the Crater

Without a doubt, seeing the Bromo sunrise is an experience you'll never forget. It's an early start to get you to the Bromo viewpoint, but once there, you are in for a treat. As darkness turns to light, the volcano lets out a plume of smoke: a reminder that it is still active. The clouds that hung over the five craters lift, and Mount Bromo comes into focus. It's a real pinch-me moment.

For the adventurous, a ride across the sea of sand and a walk around Bromo's crater is the next activity on the itinerary. It's hard, and you'll need stamina to do it, but it's a bucket-list experience.

Angie’s Top Tip: It gets surprisingly cold and (sometimes wet) at 2,000 metres above sea level before dawn! Pack a warm fleece, hat, gloves and a thin waterproof—you can always shed layers once the sun comes up.

Read More: For exact wake-up times, driver tips, and hotel recommendations near the crater, check out my Mount Bromo sunrise guide.

6. Trek Kawah Ijen to See the Electric Blue Flames

For adrenaline seekers and nature lovers heading further east toward Bali, a nighttime trek up Kawah Ijen is an unmissable experience.

This active volcano is world-famous for its rare natural phenomenon: ignited sulfuric gas that burns with an eerie, electric-blue glow in the dark of night. As daylight breaks, the blue flames give way to a spectacular view of the world’s largest highly acidic crater lake, a striking turquoise body of water surrounded by sheer canyon walls.

• Angie’s Top Tip: The hike up Ijen requires a reasonable level of fitness, and because of the dense sulfur fumes, wearing a proper respirator gas mask is mandatory near the crater floor.

7. Visit the Majestic Tumpak Sewu Waterfall

If you love chasing waterfalls and you're in Malang, booking a tour to Tumpak Sewu is something you won't want to miss. Cascading 120 metres down a sheer cliff face, the image of a Jurassic Park scene springs to mind. Tumpak Sewu can be seen from above at the viewpoint or, for the more adventurous, a scramble to the riverbed will let you feel the relentless mist and showers of this natural attraction in Java, whose name, translated, is "Thousand Waterfalls".

Angie’s Top Tip: Wear sturdy water shoes with good grip if you plan to trek down to the canyon floor. The paths are constantly wet, muddy, and slippery.

8. Stroll Through Malang’s Rainbow Village (Jodipan)

A stroll through a slum might not be high on everyone's itinerary, but Jodipan Village in Malang is a place to visit if you're into colourful neighbourhoods. Once a dull, forgotten area of the city, colourful Jodipan was created by local University students who wanted to brighten the slum and promote it as a tourist attraction. It worked because tours of Jodipan are now available, where a local guide will take you around and tell you all about the project and life in the slum. There's also an all-blue village on the opposite side of the road.

Angie’s Top Tip: If you want to visit Jodipan independently, you can do so for a small entry fee of around 10,000 IDR (50p). This goes directly back into the local community to maintain the village and support its residents.

9. Ride a Train Across the Javanese Countryside

Until you're trying to work out how to navigate Java, you don't realise how big it is and how little public infrastructure there is, which is why taking a train journey is a good idea. Firstly, it's going to get you from A to B quickly; secondly, the trains are well managed, clean and punctual; and thirdly, you get to see the countryside that would normally be missed on a bus or car journey.

Angie’s Top Tip: Book your train tickets a few weeks in advance via the official KAI Access app or Rail Ninja, especially if travelling during Indonesian national holidays or peak dry season.

10. Sail to Karimunjawa

As the largest island in a pristine 27-island archipelago, Karimunjawa offers an authentic, off-the-beaten-path tropical escape protected in part by a marine reserve. Far less crowded than Java's mainstream tourist hubs, this serene destination features soft white-sand beaches, charming boutique stays, and a laid-back main town where you can rent a scooter, visit local markets, and relax in cosy cafes.

The crown jewel of Karimunjawa is its underwater world: full-day island-hopping boat trips take visitors to untouched coral reefs, crystal-clear snorkelling spots, and uninhabited islets.

Angie’s Tip: Opt for the express speedboat from Jepara on Java Island rather than the standard ferry—it is well worth the extra budget to save time and enjoy a smoother ride across the water.

When you're on the island, definitely book a full-day boat excursion; a highlight is snorkelling among vibrant sea life, enjoying a fresh grilled-fish lunch on the beach, and watching the sunset from a swing on a completely deserted island. October brings pleasantly warm weather, though keep your itinerary flexible for short tropical rain showers.

11. Take the Scenic Ferry Crossing to Bali

If your Indonesian adventure continues onward to Bali, skipping internal flights and taking the local passenger ferry from East Java to West Bali is a memorable and ridiculously budget-friendly way to travel. If you travel at dusk, you will also witness a beautiful Indonesian sunset.

Departing from Ketapang port in Java, the ferry crosses the narrow Bali Strait to Gilimanuk in roughly one hour. Watching the coastline of Java slip away as Mount Batur in Bali looms ahead is the perfect peaceful bridge between two very different island cultures.

• Angie’s Top Tip: Tickets cost under £1 / $1 USD per person! You can buy tickets online via the Ferizy app or at local kiosks near the port before boarding.
• Read More: See how we connected our Java road trip directly to the Bali ferry in my complete 7-day Java route.

12. Experience the buzz of Jakarta, Java's Capital City.

As Indonesia’s colossal capital, Jakarta often gets skipped by travellers eager to reach the volcanoes and beaches—and I’ll be honest, the dizzying traffic and concrete sprawl will be daunting at first! But if you give it a day or two, you’ll discover a dynamic city of incredible contrasts where centuries of Dutch colonial history meet modern Javanese culture.

Start your exploration in Kota Tua (Jakarta’s Old Town), the historical administrative heart of the Dutch East India Company. Here around Fatahillah Square, you can admire Dutch colonial architecture, watch locals riding pastel-colored vintage bicycles, or visit the nearby Istiqlal Mosque—the largest mosque in Southeast Asia. In a lovely display of Indonesian harmony, it sits directly across the street from the neo-Gothic Jakarta Cathedral. Before heading out, pay a visit to the towering 132-metre National Monument (Monas) in Merdeka Square, which commemorates the country's fight for independence.

• Angie’s Top Tip: When the tropical afternoon heat in Kota Tua gets a bit too intense, duck inside the historic Café Batavia. Housed in a beautifully restored 200-year-old building overlooking the square, it feels like stepping right back in time and is the absolute best spot to enjoy an iced coffee or a cold drink.
• Read More: If you're flying into Jakarta before heading east toward Borobudur and Bromo, check out my guide on getting around Java by private transfer to easily connect your stay in the capital to the rest of the island.

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