What to do and see in Java, Indonesia: The Best Historic Sites

July 10, 2021 Claudia Navarrete

Discover the best top things to do in Java, Indonesia including Prambanan Temples, Rumah Penculikan Soekarno Hatta, Borobudur Temple, Kampung Naga, Ereveld Pandu Dutch Cemetery, Cu An Kiong Temple, Candra Naya Building, Bogor Palace, Kampoeng Batik Laweyan, Jakarta Old Town.
Restaurants in Java

1. Prambanan Temples

Jl. Raya Temulawak, Prambanan 55514 Indonesia http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/642
Excellent
55%
Good
36%
Satisfactory
7%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 6,313 reviews

Prambanan Temples

These ancient masterpieces of Hindu architecture are adorned with bas-reliefs depicting the famous Ramayana story.

Reviewed By WorldGlutton - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

As we arrived at the Carpark we did not like see the temple except for a few modern contemporary buildings. However upon walking in, we were awestruck by this UNESCO world heritage temple constructed about 856 AD. It is located in an enclosed park hidden away with with stalls & facilities. The Prambanan Temple being the main temple with many other several small temples in the same compound are Hindu Temples dedicated to Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva (The Creator, The Protector and The Destroyer). The steps to these individual temples are quite narrow and steep with many visitors taking selfies which make it a bit difficult to climb through. Our tour guide walked us through and explained/narrated in detail the history on each and every panel reliefs of stones carving and every temple building which house a statue of Hindu god or goddess. The Temples Park are well maintained, many ruins from earthquake could be seen lying neatly. There is an enclosed area with spotted deers, a souvenir shop and café. For visitors who do not wish to walk , they can pay a price for the Buggy Transport. The driver will gladly stop and wait for you while you explore the temples site . At the Exit , there are plenty of market stalls for souvenirs. Certainly worth the time to explore this ancient Hindu Temple, definitely one of the best tourist site around Yogyakarta !!!

2. Rumah Penculikan Soekarno Hatta

Karawang, Karawang Regency Indonesia
Excellent
25%
Good
75%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 4 reviews

Rumah Penculikan Soekarno Hatta

3. Borobudur Temple

Taman Wisata Candi Borobudur, Borobudur, Magelang 56553 Indonesia +62 818-466-933 [email protected] http://borobudurpark.com
Excellent
69%
Good
24%
Satisfactory
5%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 7,548 reviews

Borobudur Temple

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.

4. Kampung Naga

Off the Garut-Tasikmalaya Jalan Raya, Tasikmalaya Indonesia
Excellent
40%
Good
51%
Satisfactory
7%
Poor
2%
Terrible
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Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 108 reviews

Kampung Naga

Reviewed By thomasveriasa - Klaten, Indonesia

Kampung Naga is one of the villages that still applies ancient Sundanese traditional culture and institutions ... They have a "Pundih" or customary elder who takes care of community socialization in Kampung Naga, Tasikmalaya ... Besides Punduh, there is Kuncen the customary chief and Lebay ... There is no electricity, TV, radio etc. in this village ... the traditional farming system and the distribution of village space are based on the values ​​inherited from the ancestors ... Now, this village has developed into a cultural tourism destination in Tasikmalaya ....

5. Ereveld Pandu Dutch Cemetery

Jln. Pandu 32, Bandung 40394 Indonesia +62 31 7612507 http://oorlogsgravenstichting.nl/contact
Excellent
61%
Good
30%
Satisfactory
6%
Poor
3%
Terrible
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Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 33 reviews

Ereveld Pandu Dutch Cemetery

6. Cu An Kiong Temple

Jl. Dasun 19, Lasem, Rembang Indonesia +62 295 531093
Excellent
42%
Good
42%
Satisfactory
17%
Poor
0%
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4.5 based on 24 reviews

Cu An Kiong Temple

Reviewed By RubyPaketu - Jakarta, Indonesia

According to person who guard this tempe. this temple is the most old in Central Java, Lot of history behind related to this city and central Java. Architecture this building is mixed China and local. this temple is must-see place when you visit Rembang,

7. Candra Naya Building

Jl. Gajah Mada no. 188 RT.3/RW.5, Glodok, Jakarta Indonesia +62 21 3154094
Excellent
32%
Good
45%
Satisfactory
20%
Poor
2%
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Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 84 reviews

Candra Naya Building

An interesting area near Jakarta's old town filled with Dutch Colonial buildings and historic architecture.

Reviewed By chuastone999

Glad to see it preserved well by Indonesian government and people. This unique building has a lot of history with nice fish pool in and located in the middle of giant building around chinatown of Jakarta.

8. Bogor Palace

Jl. Ir H Juanda no. 1, Bogor 16122 Indonesia +62 251 321001
Excellent
39%
Good
45%
Satisfactory
15%
Poor
1%
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4.0 based on 291 reviews

Bogor Palace

Reviewed By Mua_12

Before the Independence of Republic Indonesia, The Bogor or Colonial Palace is the one building or official residence of the Dutch Governor General in West Java. After the Independence of Republic Indonesia or since 1949, this building transferred to the Indonesian government as the President Palace. This Palace consists of 3 parts, namely the main building, the left and the right wing of the Palace. It also can be found in this location 5 pavilions; one of them is called Dyah Bayu Rini. The other attract this Palace has the deer’s from the India-Nepal Border are found around roaming the garden of the palace, which is adjacent to the Botanical Garden of Bogor.

9. Kampoeng Batik Laweyan

Jl. Sidoluhur Desa Laweyan, Solo 57148 Indonesia
Excellent
26%
Good
56%
Satisfactory
17%
Poor
0%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 404 reviews

Kampoeng Batik Laweyan

Reviewed By SimonPetrus - Denpasar, Indonesia

Nice Experience to be here, we can see the process, from how to prepare fabric, painting and final process, all in home. the kampong is nice, clean

10. Jakarta Old Town

Jl. Kali Besar Timur S parman street, Jakarta 11470 Indonesia
Excellent
24%
Good
43%
Satisfactory
26%
Poor
5%
Terrible
2%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 2,000 reviews

Jakarta Old Town

This is the old city of Batavia. Rundown, picturesque and a great night market.

Reviewed By LS0458

I was always interest in history to know the town or country itself, so one fine morning i went to old town by trans jakarta bus from thamrin and stop at central station old town, the you can just start walking around because there are many museums just in walking distance or you can hire bicycle for around 50.000 per hour /3 dollar , there are Fatahillah museum use to be the house of former Colonial general and cafe with old Netherland architecture, puppet museum ,indonesian currency museum ,textile museum, painting museum, ypu can also walk though chinese town with their traditional and delicious dishes with their everyday life though alley and talking with them, or you can just continue to eat at many cafe with the old building turn into cafe after lunch go further to “Rumah Merah “or red house which use to be old casinos for chinese rich at old days and continue to old harbour called Sunda Kelapa

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