The Ultimate Guide to Visiting Borobudur Temple, Indonesia

Visiting Borobudur Temple at sunrise was one of our favorite experiences in Java, Indonesia. Borobudur is the largest Buddhist temple in the world. It is a magical place that you should definitely add to your bucket list, especially if you are heading to the island of Java. Yogyakarta is the best base for exploring the Borobudur Temple, and you can easily combine your visit with the stunning Prambanan.

This ultimate guide to visiting Candi Borobudur includes the best time to visit, how to get there, what to expect during your visit, and ticket prices.

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Table Of Contents

The Ultimate Guide to Visiting Borobudur Temple, Indonesia
Where is Borobudur Temple?
Best Time to Visit Borobudur Temple, Indonesia
How to Get to Borobudur Temple
- From Yogyakarta to Borobudur Temple by Bus
Borobudur Temple History & Facts
Borobudur Temple Sunrise Tour
- Borobudur Sunrise Ticket
Borobudur Temple Opening Hours
Borobudur Temple Entrance Fee, Tickets
Where to Stay near Borobudur Temple
- Best hotels in Yogyakarta
Borobudur and Prambanan Combined Ticket
Tips for Visiting

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Where is Borobudur Temple?

It is located in Central Java, Indonesia, about 1.5 hours drive from Yogyakarta and 35 minutes from Magelang.

Best Time to Visit Borobudur Temple, Indonesia

Indonesia has two seasons: a dry season and a rainy season.

However, the best time to visit Java is during the dry season, which runs from May to October. The weather is sunny and dry during these months, perfect for sightseeing, hiking, and exploring Java’s attractions.

Borobudur can be visited all year round! As it is a popular tourist destination, we recommend avoiding weekends and arriving at sunrise or sunset, when you can enjoy the best panoramic views. But we think the best time to visit Borobudur Temple is at sunrise.

Book the Best Borobudur Sunrise Tour.

Java Island has a tropical climate, with hot and humid weather, and the average temperature is 27°C all year round. The rainy season runs from November to April.

The busiest time to visit Java is between July and August. In high season, we strongly recommend booking accommodation and tours in advance!

Here are all your hotel options in Java.

How to Get to Borobudur Temple

To reach Borobudur, you must first travel to Java Island in Indonesia. Flying is the most convenient and fastest way to get to Java.

Java has several airports. There are many international flights from Singapore or Malaysia and domestic flights from other parts of Indonesia, such as Jakarta and Bali.

The nearest major city to Borobudur is Yogyakarta, which is easily accessible by plane or train. We arrived in Yogyakarta by train from Malang, and the journey took 6 hours.

Yogyakarta has an International Airport, the Yogyakarta Kulon Progo International Airport (airport code YIA). From Bali, you can fly to Yogyakarta from I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport (airport code DPS). The flight takes just 1.5 hours, and plane tickets start from 70 USD (without luggage) per person for one way.

TIP
Use Skyscanner to find cheap flights to Java, Indonesia.

We have a detailed post on how to get from Bali to Java with all the information you need.

From Yogyakarta to Borobudur Temple by Bus

The distance between Yogyakarta and Candi Borobudur is about 40 km, and the journey takes 1-1.5 hours, depending on traffic.

To get from Yogyakarta to Borobudur by public bus, you must first go to the Terminal Jombor. You can easily get there by Trans Jogja bus or Grab/taxi. Once you arrive at the terminal, take the bus to Borobudur. The journey usually takes 1 hour, and the bus ticket costs around 25,000 IDR one way. Once you arrive at Borobudur Terminal, take a taxi or walk 15 minutes to the entrance.

You can also take the Damri bus directly from Yogyakarta Airport to Borobudur. The journey takes about 2-2.5 hours, and bus tickets cost 20,000 IDR.

Alternatively, you can get there by taxi, Grab (similar to Uber), rent a motorbike, or hire a private driver. We rented a scooter in Yogyakarta and went to Borobudur Temple at sunrise and Prambanan at sunset.

Make the most of your experience and book this excellent tour, which includes climbing to the top of Borobudur.

Borobudur Temple History & Facts

This is the largest Buddhist temple in the world and one of the most beautiful places to visit in Indonesia. Buddhists and many tourists come from all over the world to visit this important pilgrimage place.

Borobudur Temple was built in the 8th and 9th centuries AD during the reign of the Syailendra Dynasty. It was later abandoned, and the temple was covered in volcanic ash and jungle for centuries. It was then rediscovered by Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles in 1814, and clean-up work began, which continued until 1835. After many years of restoration, the Borobudur Temple was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991.

Did you know that Borobudur has 72 beautiful Buddha statues hidden inside bell-shaped stupas?

Read our → Ultimate Java Itinerary

Borobudur Temple Sunrise Tour

The best way to visit the temple is to join a day trip from Yogyakarta.

We rented a scooter in Yogyakarta and set off at 4 AM to Borobudur Temple to catch the most beautiful sunrise in Indonesia.

Once you arrive, follow the signs and explore the beautiful carvings and stupas. The walk to the temple takes about 20 minutes, and then you can climb the steep stairs to the top. Plan to spend 1.5-2 hours wandering around Borobudur.

For the best experience, book a Prambanan and a Borobudur sunrise with a guaranteed climb tour with GetYourGuide or Viator.

Borobudur Sunrise Ticket

We purchased our tickets at Manohara Resort and were able to enter the temple complex before the public opening hours (starting from 4:30 AM).

The Borobudur Temple sunrise ticket was 475,000 IDR (29 USD) for foreigners and 350,000 IDR for locals. The sunrise ticket included a small gift, a flashlight, and a delicious buffet breakfast from 6 AM to 9 AM.

Important note
Currently, you cannot visit Borobudur at sunrise via Manohara Resort.

Borobudur Temple Opening Hours

It is open daily from 6:30 AM to 4:30 PM.

Important note
At the moment, Borobudur and Prambanan temples are closed every Monday, so check for up-to-date information before you travel.

Borobudur Temple Entrance Fee, Tickets

The Borobudur Temple Structure Ticket costs 455,000 IDR (27,50 USD), and the Temple Ground Ticket costs 412,500 IDR (25 USD) for foreigners.

For domestic tourists, the Temple Structure Ticket is 120,000 IDR, and the Temple Ground Ticket is 50,000 IDR.

See also → Things to Do in Java

What is the difference between the Borobudur Ground and Structure tickets?

There are two types of tickets to visit Borobudur: the Temple Ground Ticket and the Temple Structure Ticket.

Temple Ground Ticket: This does not give access to the temple structure area, only to the temple courtyard.
Temple Structure Ticket: This ticket is the best choice, as it includes climbing up the temple and giving access to the temple grounds.

Borobudur Climb Ticket

The number of visitors is limited! Only 1,200 people per day are allowed to climb the Borobudur Temple. On Mondays, you can only visit the temple courtyard. This quota is divided into eight sessions per day, with a maximum of 150 people allowed in each session.

Session	Departure Schedule	Access to the Temple Structure
1	08:30	09:00-10:00
2	09:30	10:00-11:00
3	10:30	11:00-12:00
4	11:30	12:00-13:00
5	12:30	13:00-14:00
6	13:30	14:00-15:00
7	14:30	15:00-16:00
8	15:30	16:00-17:00

You can no longer climb Borobudur without a guide. Therefore, the 150 people per session are further divided into groups of 10-15 people, each with its own guide.

According to the new rules, all tourists who climb to the top of the temple must wear special footwear (Upanat sandals), which will be provided in the waiting room. You can carry your shoes with you in the canvas bag.

If you arrive after 4 PM, you cannot join the tour and can only visit the temple courtyard. Therefore, we highly recommend you arrive at least half an hour before your chosen time and buy your ticket in advance on the official website.

Where to Stay near Borobudur Temple

For the best experience, stay at Manohara Resort, just 400 meters from Borobudur. Alternatively, stay in Yogyakarta and take a day trip to Borobudur and Prambanan temples. These are our accommodation recommendations.

Best hotels in Yogyakarta

Luxury: The Phoenix Hotel Yogyakarta
Mid-Range: The Victoria Hotel Yogyakarta
Budget: Java Villas Boutique Hotel & Resto

more hotels in Yogyakarta

Borobudur and Prambanan Combined Ticket

You can buy a combined ticket, which gives access to Prambanan and Borobudur temples and is valid for 2 days. The combined ticket costs 45 USD for foreigners and 27 USD for foreign children (3-10 years old).

Good to know
If you buy a combined ticket, you can save money! However, the combined ticket cannot be used to visit Borobudur at sunrise.

For domestic tourists, the combined ticket costs just 75,000 IDR.

Book your Prambanan and Borobudur Temple tour with GetYourGuide or Viator.

You can also buy a Borobudur and Ratu Boko combined ticket. The ticket costs 45 USD for foreigners and 75,000 IDR for Indonesians.

Recommended post → How to Visit Prambanan Temple

Tips for Visiting

Buy a combined ticket and save money.
Drones are not allowed at Borobudur!
Use sunscreen and wear a hat because there is little shade.
Bring plenty of water and some snacks.
To get the most out of the experience, you can join a guided tour or hire a private guide who will explain the history while walking around.
The Borobudur Temple complex is quite large, so wear walking shoes and comfortable clothes.
There is no dress code, but you should wear respectful clothing when visiting the temples.
Bring a sarong or borrow one at the entrance if they ask you to cover your shoulders or knees.
You can visit the temples of Borobudur and Prambanan in 1 day.
Spend at least 1.5-2 hours at Borobudur and explore the beautiful archaeological site.
Setumbu Hill offers a stunning view of Borobudur at sunrise.

We hope you found our guide to Borobudur Temple useful and will inspire you to visit Indonesia. If you have any questions or thoughts, let us know in the comment below.

Travel Resources

Hotels – Booking.com
Car Rentals – Discover Cars
Flights – Skyscanner
eSIM – Airalo
Travel Insurance – SafetyWing
Tours & Attractions – GetYourGuide
Bus/Ferry/Transfer – 12Go

The Ultimate Guide to Visiting Borobudur Temple, Indonesia