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ITINERARY (1/2 Day)
Borobudur Temple
Prambanan Temple
ViaVia Café
nugget’s Advice
Prepare in advance
Unless you have your own transport, you will need to arrange a driver to take you to the temples at least one day in advance. Arrange a private car if you prefer flexibility when traveling with a toddler, but there are plenty of group tours to pick from if you would like to cut costs or have older children.
Good to know
Borobudur Temple is best explored using a baby carrier as there are a number of stairs to climb up. As you will be leaving early, swing by ViaVia Bakery the day before and pick up some delicious baked goods to eat for breakfast on the way. If you're travelling on a budget, visit after 8 p.m. when bakery items are 50 percent off.
Recommended day/time
Borobudur Temple at sunrise offers amazing photographs. If you don’t fancy dragging the nuggets out of bed that early, 7.30 a.m. is a good arrival time. It’s early enough to beat the heat and the tour buses. As with most attractions in Yogyakarta (Jogja), it is best to visit on a weekday when it is less crowded.
Recommended time of the year
The best time to visit Yogyakarta is during the dry season, April to October.
Save Money
When you arrive at Borobudur ask for a combo ticket. This will get you into both Borobudur Temple and Prambanan Temple at a reduced rate, but this isn't advertised at the ticket desk. The ticket is valid for two days so you can split up your sightseeing if that works better for you. Also, remember you can barter the cost of transport in Indonesia; don't be shy, it's expected.
About This Day
Jump back in time and explore two ancient temples in Yogyakarta, Java in this half-day adventure. First up, visit Borobudur Temple, Indonesia's most visited tourist attraction. Then hop over to Prambanan Temple, a complex of 240 Hindu temples that live in the shadow of Borobudur. However, these are equally as impressive as Borobudur. Both of these ancient temples are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Lastly, wrap up your excursion with a delicious, healthy lunch at Via Via Café and let the kids run around.
Borobudur Temple
Jalan Badrawati,
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Borobudur Temple is the largest Buddhist structure in the world and a sight to behold. It is believed that the temple was built in the 8th century and took around 75 years to build. The scale and detail is beautiful, as are the views from the top. Our little nugget enjoyed climbing the stairs and pointing out the animals carved into the rocks lining the lower levels.
DIRECTIONS
Depending on traffic and the time you decide to visit, it will take approximately 60-90 minutes to drive to Borobudur Temple, which is located northwest of the city. In September 2017, we paid 500,000 rupiah ($37 USD) for a private car to take us to Borobudur and Prambanan.
TIP
Be respectful and wear conservative clothing that covers your knees and shoulders. Even in the morning, the heat is quite fierce so be sure to take your water, hat and sunscreen with you. And lastly, keep a close eye on your nugget if you let them walk around as there are no railings.
Prambanan Temple
Unnamed Road,
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Prambanan Temple and its imposing presence are amazing; it is similar to seeing Angkor Wat for the first time. The sheer size of the Hindu temples within this complex is very impressive. The architecture is quite different from Borobudur. For the little travelers, there is a miniature train, eagles, owls, deer and one random cassowary to see after walking around the temples.
DIRECTIONS
It will take another 90 minutes (approximately) to travel southeast to Prambanan.
TIP
If you are a history buff and are keen to explore all the temples within Prambanan, you may wish to hire a guide and break up this excursion over two days. There is also the option to visit in the afternoon and stick around for the Ramayana Ballet, which is performed on the grounds of Prambanan Temple each evening.
ViaVia Café
30 Jalan Prawirotaman,
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ViaVia Café is a top pick for dining out in Yogyakarta with kids. This cute little café serves healthy food, good coffee and has a playground for the little ones. It also has a fair trade shop, bakery and yoga studio on site and runs various tours around Yogyakarta.
DIRECTIONS
Get your driver to drop you back at this gorgeous child-friendly café. It is located in one of the city's tourist districts, approximately 40-minutes drive from Prambanan. Alternatively, get dropped back at your hotel, have a rest and catch a becak (rickshaw) to the café for dinner instead.
TIP
Grab a table near the playground so you can enjoy your meal while the kids entertain themselves.
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WE LOVEDAdhistana is a tranquil oasis in the middle of Yogyakarta. It is beautifully styled, has a cute little pool and is within walking distance to plenty of restaurants, markets and tour agencies.
WE DIDN'T LIKEThe rooms are quite small.
TIPIf you've got older kids that need to run around or like kids activities this might not be the place for you.
STAYED05 September, 2017 with 1 year old
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