Province in Java, Indonesia
Photo: Gunawan Kartapranata, Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
Central Java is the heartland of Javanese culture. This page covers the central third of the island of Java, encompassing the two provinces of Central Java and the Special Region of Yogyakarta.
Northern region.
Southwestern region.
Northeastern region.
Southern region.
Northwestern region.
Southeastern region.
Yogyakarta Special Region (Indonesian: Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta) is a region of Central Java.
Traditional back-loomed lurik cloth and hand-drawn batik in natural colours.
Petruk Coffee
From the Lintas Merapi community group. Arabica beans and ready-ground, identified by the preparation process, roasting date, depth of roast, altitude of the plantation, and the farmers' group who grew it. Available in the delicatessen attached to the Mediterranean restaurant in Jogja.
By train
Purwokerto, Yogyakarta, Solo and Semarang are well connected to other cities by rail serviced by Kereta Api Indonesia, providing classes for all budgets.
By bus
Frequent interprovincial buses (named AKAP for Antar Kota Antar Provinsi, intercity/interprovince) connect many cities in Central Java with cities in Western Java and East Java.
By boat
Semarang's Tanjung Emas port has services to ports in Kalimantan, including Banjarmasin, Pontianak, Kumai, Ketapang and Sampit.
By bus
Buses are widespread, servicing cities (named AKDP for Antar Kota Dalam Provinsi, intercity in the province), towns and to a lesser extent, rural areas.
By car
The region's road network is in modest condition, as the toll road from the west to east in Central Java has been finished. Most inter-city roads are still two-lane affairs of variable quality.
By taxi
There are taxi services in all cities and large towns. In general, the standard is satisfactory. Meters are fitted and will mostly be used.
By ojek
Motorcycle taxis are common all over Central Java.
By ride-hailing services
The taxi and ojek industries have been rocked by the rise in smartphone apps allowing ride-hailing. Go-jek and Grab operate in many cities and large towns in Central Java.
By becak
Becak (BAY-cha') are pedicabs used for travelling short distances in places such as residential areas and around traditional markets. The driver sits behind the passenger and turns the pedals.
By boat
Ferries to the Karimunjawa archipelago leave from Jepara, Semarang and Kendal, just to the west of Semarang.
Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Yogyakarta · International · YIA
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the nearest large town to Borobudur with a splendid history from the Mataram period

a Batik city has become a part of UNESCO Creative Cities
the gateway to Baturaden Park (12 km from the peak of Mount Slamet) and the mighty Mount Slamet
the capital of Central Java province, an ancient seaport with preserved colonial legacies
a bustling city that has retained its authentic traditional Javanese nature
a lively north coast town with a strong colonial past
the heritage city of Java and a semi-autonomous sultanate, in Yogyakarta Special Region
Borobudur is a Buddhist stupa and temple complex in Central Java dating from the 8th century, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This is one of the world's truly great ancient monuments, the single largest Buddhist structure anywhere on earth, and few who visit fail to be taken by both the scale of place, and the remarkable attention to detail that went into the construction.
The Dieng Plateau is an upland volcanic plain in Central Java, famous for its scenery and ancient Hindu temples.
Gunung Kidul is a regency in Central Java, part of the Yogyakarta Special Region, Indonesia.

Karangsambung-Karangbolong is an ancient national geopark site in Kebumen, Central Java.
Karimunjawa is a chain of 27 islands north of Semarang, off the coast of Central Java, Indonesia, that has been designated as a national marine park.
Mount Merapi (Gunung Merapi, 2,911 m) in Central Java, is Indonesia's most active volcano. It looms over the cities of Yogyakarta and Solo (Surakarta).
Mount Merbabu National Park is a national park in Central Java. It was established as a national park in 2004.
highest mountain in Central Java
Bantul is a regency in Yogyakarta Special Region, Central Java. It is known for its beaches.
Prambanan is a complex of massive ancient Hindu temples (candi) in Central Java, Indonesia. It was built by the Mataram Kingdom, rulers of central Java and defeaters of the Sailendra Dynasty.
Articles and travel topics about Central Java and Indonesia.
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