Top Things to do in Java
Top Hotels in Java
- 1. Pullman Ciawi Vimala Hills Resort
- 2. Goldvitel Hotel
- 3. Le Eminence Hotel Convention & Resort
- 4. Hotel Ciputra Jakarta managed by Swiss-Belhotel International
- 5. Pesona Alam Resort & Spa
- 6. The Papandayan
- 7. The 1O1 Bogor Suryakancana
- 8. @HOM Hotel Simpang Lima by Horison
- 9. Grand Mercure Bandung Setiabudi
- 10. Swiss-Belresort Dago Heritage
Countries
What to do and see in Java, Indonesia: The Best Architectural Buildings
Discover the best top things to do in Java, Indonesia including Borobudur Temple, Central Java Grand Mosque, Universitas Indonesia, Firdaus Fatimah Zahra, Roudhotul Muchlisin Mosque, Denis Bank Building, Lawang Sewu Building, Blenduk Church, Villa Isola, Bank Indonesia Building.
Restaurants in Java
1. Borobudur Temple
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 7,548 reviews
Borobudur Temple Compounds This famous Buddhist temple, dating from the 8th and 9th centuries, is located in central Java. It was built in three tiers: a pyramidal base with five concentric square terraces, the trunk of a cone with three circular platforms and, at the top, a monumental stupa. The walls and balustrades are decorated with fine low reliefs, covering a total surface area of 2,500 m2. Around the circular platforms are 72 openwork stupas, each containing a statue of the Buddha. The monument was restored with UNESCO's help in the 1970s.
Reviewed By JeremyCaney - Seattle, United States
I often find that the most famous sights in a country are so hyped, so crowded, and so commercialized that they are underwelming. Borobudur is certainly hyped, crowded, and commercialized. And yet it’s a beautiful and unique ruin, painstakingly restored, and absolutely worth seeing. A few tips for your visit. First, a lot of visitors pay extra for the Manohara Resort’s exclusive 4:30A access for sunrise hoping to recreate one of those iconic shots of Borobudur. You can do that. But, at least in March, I found that arriving at 6:00A was just fine. It was cheaper, the crowds had thinned out, and there was still an hour of beautiful lighting and atmospheric mist offering plenty of good photo opportunities. All of the attached photos of the summit were taken between 6:30A and 7:30A. So unless you are dead set on catching those few moments where the sun crosses the horizon, consider enjoying the extra hour of sleep! (That said, you’ll definitely want to go in the early morning or late afternoon; it is miserably hot, crowded, and far less photogenic midday.) Second, the vast majority of visitors immediately climb to the top, spend an hour, then go onto their next destination. That’s a mistake. While the top level offers some of the best Instagram opportunities—and should certainly be where you go around sunrise or sunset—the lower levels provide the most historical and artistic significance with hundreds of remarkable stone reliefs. As an added bonus, you’ll encounter comparatively few visitors here, and the walls offer welcome cover from the afternoon sun. Third, and related, many visitors come to town exclusively for the temple, and then move on. If you’re more adventurous and have the time, however, then the nearby villages are full of charming and welcoming people, astonishingly beautiful scenery, and a couple of smaller temples. Those are easily as memorable for me as Borobudur itself. I highly recommend booking at one of the nearby bed and breakfasts (I loved Etafa Home Stay), renting a bike (if one isn’t provided for you), and spending a couple of days exploring the surrounding countryside. (Note: If you’re planning on also visiting Prambanan, you’ll want to see Borobudur Temple on either your first or last day, as you save a lot of money if you buy a joint ticket—but you have to visit each within one day of each other.) I only stayed two days in Borobudur, opting to spend another two days in Prambanan. And while I enjoyed my time in Prambanan, I think I’d have preferred skipping it entirely and spending more time in and around Borobudur. The temple is a must-see when you’re in Indonesia, but the entire area is beautiful.
2. Central Java Grand Mosque
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 631 reviews
Reviewed By nfwldr - Bekasi, Indonesia
I recommend to visit here by online transportation. The area is so spacious. There is a tower than you can visit, it's called Asmaul Husna Tower. The outside mosque was so hot but inside was very fresh, probablye because there are many fans, and many architectures was made from woods. The toilet area was big and clean. There is an area to keep our shoes
3. Universitas Indonesia
4. Firdaus Fatimah Zahra
5. Roudhotul Muchlisin Mosque
6. Denis Bank Building
7. Lawang Sewu Building
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 1,778 reviews
Reviewed By 3333JURI
Lawang Sewu literally means Thousand Doors is a landmark in Semarang, Central Java, Indonesia. It was built as the headquarters of the Dutch East Indies Railway Company. The colonial era building is famous as a haunted house.
8. Blenduk Church
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 426 reviews
Reviewed By KusnadyD - Semarang, Indonesia
No where else in Semarang you can see the perfect heritage building in Paladium architecture Style It's just a pity that the stainedglass not properly restored, the Pipe Orgel were stolen and the spiral iron stair is missing, but the Podium ist still well maintained
9. Villa Isola
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 77 reviews
Reviewed By TrixieAblan - Ilocos Region, Philippines
Around 7km north of the centre, Villa Isola is a landmark art deco building, a four-storey villa built by a Dutch media baron in the 1930s as a private residence. The original purpose of the building was for Berretty's private house, but then it was transformed into a hotel after his death and now it serves as the headmastership office of the University of Education Indonesia. This was designed by Schoemaker, a Dutch architect, painter whose art deco style was inspired, influenced by Frank Lloyd Wright, Javanese philosophy and ornamental elements amongst others. The use of circular shapes and terraces are found to be similar to the shapes of Buddhist and Hindu structures in mid and east Java. History has it that building the Villa Isola almost drove Willem Berretty into bankruptcy, and on its opening he made sure to have a launch ceremony complete with journalists and friends. After Berretty’s death, the building was used as a hotel, then as the Japanese army headquarters during Japan’s invasion (1942). After Indonesia’s independence in 1945, the building was re-named to Bumi Silwangi and now it is used as a University Building.
10. Bank Indonesia Building
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