For most tourists heading to Yogyakarta, Borobudur Temple is the main attraction and often the main reason for visiting the city or even the whole of Indonesia.

Borobudur, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is indeed a world-class monument.

You’ll get the most out of Borobudur only when you climb right up onto the temple structure itself, amongst the stone reliefs, stupas and statues of the Buddha.

That is precisely why it is important to choose the right ticket in advance. The cheaper ticket, which grants access only to the grounds, allows you to see the temple from the outside, but it does not grant access to the structure itself.

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Borobudur at a glance

Question	Answer
Where is Borobudur?	about 40 km from Yogyakarta
Best ticket	Temple Structure, i.e. direct entry to the temple
Advance booking	We definitely recommend booking in advance for entry to the temple complex
Best time	Morning, late afternoon or a special sunrise/sunset ticket
Sunrise	only with a special, expensive ticket
Transport from Yogyakarta	DAMRI, Grab/Gojek or an organised tour
How long to spend there	at least 2–3 hours
Official tickets	ticket.injourneydestination.id

If you only have a short time in Yogyakarta, the most practical option is to combine Borobudur with Prambanan Temple into a single day trip.

If you want to take your time, consider spending a night right by Borobudur. This makes particular sense if you’re planning a special sunrise or sunset visit.

• 👉 View hotels in Borobudur town

Which Borobudur ticket should you choose?

When visiting Borobudur, it is essential to distinguish between the two main types of ticket.

Ticket	What’s included	Who it’s suitable for
Temple Grounds	entry to the park and the area around the temple	currently only available to Indonesian nationals
Temple Structure	Entry to the grounds and directly onto the temple structure	the only option for tourists
Borobudur Sunrise	Special early-morning entry before opening hours	expensive, but a unique experience
Borobudur Sunset	Special evening entry at sunset	best when staying overnight near Borobudur
Organised tour	transport, tickets and a guide included in the price	if you don’t want to worry about the logistics

Tickets and prices: do you need to book online?

Please purchase tickets exclusively via the official website: ticket.injourneydestination.id

It isessential to book your ticket online well in advance. There are strict maximum visitor numbers for each group (once every 30 minutes).

If you wish to visit the cathedral at popular times (particularly the first and last sessions), you will need to book your ticket at least 7–10 days in advance. However, tickets can be purchased up to three months in advance.

The current prices for international visitors are as follows:

Ticket type	Approximate price
Temple Grounds	Currently unavailable (available to Indonesian nationals only)
Temple Structure	approx. 455 000 idr
Borobudur Sunrise	1 000 000 idr
Borobudur Sunset	1 000 000 idr

The Temple Structure ticket includes entry to the temple complex itself, a guide and special Upanat sandals, which are compulsory to protect the stone surface.

If you’re planning to visit at sunrise or sunset, book even further in advance – ideally 14 days to a month. Capacity for these premium entry slots is limited to 100 people per day.

Borobudur + Prambanan Combined Ticket

Previously, a combined ticket was also available for entry to the Borobudur site and Prambanan Temple (east of Yogyakarta).

The price was690 000 idr.

However, this ticket is currently not on sale.

Is it worth booking a ticket through an agency?

Generally speaking, yes.

If you just want to visit the temple complex during the day and don’t fancy the hassle of sorting out transport, an organised tour with a local travel agency is a very good option.

In fact, the prices are similar to the cost of a standard temple entrance ticket – around 460 000 idr – but they also include return transport to and from Yogyakarta.

Compare offers from different agencies – GetYourGuide.com

Keep an eye out for sunrises and sunsets

However, if you want to watch the sunrise or sunset directly from the temple complex, then avoid the tour operators.

In most cases (or almost always), they’ll just take you up to the surrounding hills.

Whilst that can also be a lovely experience, to watch the sunrise or sunset directly from the temple, you’ll need to buy a separate ticket on the official website, as mentioned above.

Opening hours

The grounds and park surrounding the temple are open daily from 6.30 am to 3.30 pm. You are free to stay in the park for as long as you like.

However, between 6.30 am and 8.30 am, entry is currently restricted to Indonesian citizens only and is not permitted for foreign visitors.

• 8.30 am–3.30 pm (daily)

These are the entry times for the Borobudur temple complex itself. The last entry slot starts at 15:30.

The visit to the temple complex takes 90 minutes in total. You must always arrive 30 minutes before the tour starts; this is also emphasised on the ticket (tickets are sold for a specific time exactly 30 minutes before the tour begins).

If you arrive late, you may not be granted full access as per your original booking.

If, for example, you have purchased a ticket for the temple complex for 17:30, you are welcome to enter the grounds and the park earlier on that day.

Sunrise – a visit to Borobudur Temple

There is currently a special official Borobudur Sunrise ticket available.

However, it is important to note the following:

• a standard ticket to the temple complex is not sufficient for the sunrise
• the sunrise ticket is significantly more expensive: it costs 1 000 000 idr
• it starts as early as 4.00 am (entry at any time between 4.00 and 7.30)
• capacity is limited to 100 visitors per day
• The price includes a guide, Upanat sandals and breakfast

It is only available via the official website:ticket.injourneydestination.id/en/borobudur-sunrise.

From a practical point of view, it’s better to stay right next to Borobudur for a sunrise visit. That way, you won’t have to travel at night from Yogyakarta, which is 40 km away.

Find accommodation near Borobudur Temple

When does the sun rise?

Sunrise over Borobudur occurs between 6.05 and 6.30 throughout the year.

Sunset at Borobudur

Just as with the sunrise, there is also a special Borobudur Sunset ticket.

• A standard ticket to the temple complex is not valid for the sunrise
• The sunset ticket is significantly more expensive: it costs 1 000 000 idr
• It starts as early as 4.00 pm (entry at any time between 4.00 pm and 7.30 pm)
• capacity is limited to 100 visitors per day
• The price includes a guide, Upanat sandals and dinner
• 👉 View hotels right in the town of Borobudur

The sunset tour is particularly worthwhile if you want to make Borobudur the highlight of your trip and aren’t just looking for the cheapest possible visit.

When is the best time to visit?

To visit the temple complex, we recommend choosing the last available tour at 3.30 pm (you’ll be at the temple itself between around 4.00 pm and 5.00 pm).

The sun sets between 5.30 pm and 6.00 pm all year round, so you won’t see the actual sunset, but the golden hour before sunset is absolutely breathtaking.

The view from Bukit Dagi hill

Views of Borobudur from the nearby Bukit Dagi hill, which lies to the west of the temple, used to be popular.

The summit of the hill therefore offers beautiful views at sunrise.

However, since 2022, Bukit Dagi has been closed to the public and is reserved exclusively for various events such as weddings, concerts, corporate meetings and so on.

What is the procedure for visiting the temple?

You can only visit the temple complex as part of a guided group tour.

You buy a ticket for a specific time slot, at which you must check in at reception. There, you’ll collect a voucher for a free bottle of water, a wristband and a card with the guide’s number, who will accompany you throughout the tour.

After passing through security, you will be given special ‘upanat’ shoes, which are compulsory for entry to the temple in order to protect the structure.

The stonework was not able to withstand the wear and tear caused by hundreds of tourists wearing different types of footwear, which is why every visitor must change into ‘upanat’ shoes.

You will also be given a bag for your shoes, which you will carry with you. You cannot leave them in the left-luggage area, as the exit is on the opposite side of the complex to the entrance.

The Upanat shoes are included in the ticket price and you can keep them after the tour. Every visitor is given a new pair of Upanat shoes.

Visitors are then divided into groups according to the number on the card you receive at reception, and the tour itself begins.

The architecture and appearance of the cathedral

Borobudur is a monumental structure built of grey stone and has a pyramid-like shape. As it is wider than it is tall, the temple’s grandeur is not particularly striking from a distance. Up close, however, as you step directly onto the temple’s galleries, the structure will utterly captivate you.

The temple has no interior. Both worshippers and tourists climb the external terraces and staircases to the very top.

Borobudur has a square floor plan and consists of nine stacked platforms, six of which are square and the top three are circular. The walls are adorned with numerous decorative reliefs and statues of the Buddha.

The highest and largest dome is surrounded by 72 stupas, each containing a statue of the Buddha.

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Accommodation near Borobudur

It’s easy to take a day trip to Borobudur Temple from Yogyakarta, so it isn’t strictly necessary to stay overnight there.

However, if you want to visit the temple or its grounds in the early morning, staying overnight here is certainly more convenient, as otherwise you would have to set off from Yogyakarta as early as 6.00 am.

In the town of Borobudur, you’ll find dozens of different accommodation options.

The cheapest accommodation is available from as little as 15 usd per night. We would recommend, for example, these well-reviewed guesthouses:

• Anugrah Borobudur
• Maher House Borobudur

Right within the temple complex, you can stay at the highly rated Manohara Resort ***.

Just outside the main entrance, we recommend staying at the luxuryVilla Borobudur Resort *****.

Transport from Yogyakarta to Borobudur

We tried out all the different ways of getting from Yogyakarta to Borobudur Temple.

Borobudur is situated approximately 40 km from Yogyakarta. Depending on traffic, queues and your chosen mode of transport, the journey takes roughly 75–115 minutes.

Transfer with a travel agency

If you do not wish to travel by taxi, another option is to use the services of one of the many travel agencies operating in Yogyakarta.

Standard prices include transport and a guide, and are around 460 000 idr.

The prices charged by some travel agencies may therefore be lower than if you were to make the trip to Borobudur on your own!

You can compare travel agencies, for example, via the website getyourguide.com.

DAMRI Bus

The cheapest and most comfortable option is the regular minibus service operated by DAMRI.

• Yogyakarta – the stop by Bank Indonesia near MalioboroStreet (see map)
  • Departures for 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 for Yogyakarta – 5.30, 7.15, 8.00, 10.30, 12.15, 13.00, 15.30, 17.15, 18.00

The ticket costs 20 000 idr and you can buy it at the kiosk before boarding the minibus. Payment is by cash only. You won’t be given a paper ticket; simply pay the fare and board the minibus.

The journey takes approximately 90 minutes, and in Yogyakarta the minibus only stops at Bank Indonesia to pick up passengers.

No reliable online information is available; the official Damri website isdamri.co.id.

💬 Have you recently travelled on Damri minibuses? Please share your experiences with other travellers in the comments below the article. We will update this text gradually based on your comments. Thank you!

Grab / Gojek

The most convenient option – and, if you’re travelling in a group, a relatively cheap way to get around – is to use the classic mobile taxi apps, Grab or Gojek.

Although Borobudur is more than 40 km from Yogyakarta, it’s no problem at all to find a driver. Your journey will usually be confirmed via the app within 5 minutes.

The price is calculated based on current demand and is around 260 000 idr.

Local bus from Jombor terminal

Before the introduction of the DAMRI minibus service from the centre of Yogyakarta in 2022, the only public transport option was to travel from Jombor bus station.

However, we do not currently recommend this option.

At present, there is no direct bus from Jombor to Borobudur, and the journey involving a change is more expensive than the direct DAMRI service.

From Jombor, you must first take a bus towards Magelang (25 000 idr) and, in the town of Muntilan or Blondo, change to an angkot (minibus) heading for Borobudur ( 15 000 idr). The bus conductor will always show you when to get off and where to wait for the connecting angkot to Borobudur.

Transport to other destinations

From Borobudur, you can also reach places other than the centre of Yogyakarta.

Prambanan – Tebing Breksi

Since 2021, DAMRI has been operating a direct minibus service from Borobudur toPrambananTemple and on to the Tebing Breksi cliff. From there, it continues to the centre of Yogyakarta.

We recommend checking the information on the spot, particularly at the DAMRI kiosk opposite Bank Indonesia. Reliable information is not yet available online. Our experience dates from 2025.

You can easily visit both temples and the rock cliff in a single day. The fare is paid separately for each leg of the journey:

• Borobudur – Prambanan for 35 000 idr
• Prambanan – Tebing Breksi for 20 000 idr
• Tebing Breksi – Yogyakarta for 20 000 idr

The current timetable (for 2025) is as follows. We always state the departure time and, for the final station, the approximate arrival time.

Timetable from Yogyakarta and Prambanan to Borobudur:

Malioboro (Bank Indonesia)	4:30	5.30	8.30	12.30	1.30 pm	4.30 pm
Breksi Cliff	5:10	6:10	9:10	13:10	14:10	17:10
Prambanan	5.30	6.30	9.30	1.30 pm	14:30	17:30
Borobudur	7.00	8:00	11:00	15:00	4.00 pm	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
Breksi Cliff	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 current traffic conditions. However, if a bus happens to arrive early, it will usually wait until its scheduled departure time.

YIA Airport

In the past, DAMRI also operated a direct minibus service from Borobudur to Yogyakarta YIA Airport, but this route was discontinued in 2024.

DAMRI now runs a service once an hour between the airport and the town of Magelang (100 000 idr), from where you can reach Borobudur by local angkot (minibus) approximately twice an hour for 15 000 idr.

Magelang

Angkots run on the Borobudur–Magelang route roughly twice an hour, and the fare is 15 000 idr.

Operating hours are roughly 5.30 am–5.00 pm.

In Magelang, you can also change to long-distance buses bound for Semarang, which you can book via the 12go.asia website, for example.

Purworejo – Kutoarjo

You can reach the towns of Purworejo and Kutoarjo by suburban buses operated by TransJateng.

Fares can be paid in cash or using electronic transport cards (such as Mandiri E-money, BNI Tapcash, KMT Kart and others) and cost 4 000 idr.

Buses run once an hour between 5.00 and 18.00, and in Kutoarjo you can change to long-distance trains bound for Bandung or Cilacap.

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