Kota Gede was once the capital of the ancient Islamic kingdom of Mataram and, as such, is a wonderful place to explore ancient Javanese architecture and its unique layout.

Today, Kotagede is also known, amongst other things, as the ‘silver village’, and many locals will try to entice you into their silver shops.

Where to go in Kotagede?

The most interesting place is undoubtedly the Great Mosque, surrounded by the tombs of the Mataram kings.

This place, where you can soak up the tranquil atmosphere of days gone by, was built during the 16th century and remains the centrepiece of the entire historic quarter to this day.

Entry to the Grand Mosque and the tombs is free and open 24/7.

Take a stroll through the narrow streets of today’s Kotagede district, which invite you to discover local life.

How to get there

The quickest way is via the Grab or Gojek mobile apps. From the city centre, you’ll usually pay around 30 000 idr.

It’s not very easy to get to Kotagede by public transport.

The nearest bus stop, ‘Tegal Gendu’, is located about 1 km from the Grand Mosque; however, the 3A/3B buses that stop here only run between the Giwangan and Adisutjipto terminals in this part of the city and do not go to the city centre.

The “SMPN 9” stop, from where the 2A/2B bus routes run directly to the city centre, is 1,400 metres away (see route map).

Accommodation in the vicinity

Kotagede is a good area to stay in if you want to be further away from the bustling city centre. From a practical point of view, however, we do not really recommend staying in Kotagede.

All the other attractions, as well as the railway and bus stations, are quite a long way from here.

If you do decide to stay in Kotagede, we would recommend this stylish and modern hotel NDalem Natan Royal Heritage ****.

What to see around

Discover all the places to see in Yogyakarta.