The Ultimate Guide to Visiting Borobudur Temple, Indonesia

The Borobudur Temple is one of the best places to visit in Indonesia, so you should add it to your Java Itinerary.

It is one of the most beautiful monuments in Southeast Asia, like the Angkor Wat in Cambodia and the Bagan Temples in Myanmar.

The Borobudur is the largest Buddhist temple in the world!

See the Borobudur Temple at sunrise and combine your visit with the magnificent Prambanan Temple.

This ultimate guide to visiting Borobudur Temple, Indonesia, includes the best time to visit, how to get there, practical information, and entrance fees.

Disclosure: This post contains a few affiliate links, which means we may receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase through our link. This is a free way to support us and allow us to continue to create inspiring adventure travel guides.

Table Of Contents

The Ultimate Guide to Visiting Borobudur Temple, Indonesia
Where is Borobudur Temple?
Why is Borobudur Temple Famous?
Borobudur Temple History
Best Time to Visit Borobudur Temple, Indonesia
How to Get to Borobudur Temple, Indonesia
- From Yogyakarta to Borobudur Temple
How to Visit Borobudur Temple, Indonesia
What are the Borobudur Temple opening hours?
How much is the Borobudur Temple entrance fee?
Tips for Visiting Borobudur Temple, Indonesia
Where to Stay near Borobudur Temple, Indonesia
- Best hotels in Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Prambanan Temple, Indonesia
Borobudur vs Angkor Wat

NO TIME TO READ NOW? PIN IT

Where is Borobudur Temple?

Borobudur Temple is located in Central Java, Indonesia, about 1-1.5 hours from Yogyakarta.

Why is Borobudur Temple Famous?

The Borobudur is the largest Buddhist temple in the world and one of the most beautiful places in Indonesia.

Did you know that Borobudur Temple is a UNESCO World Heritage Site?

Buddhists and many tourists come from all over the world to visit this important pilgrimage place.

Borobudur Temple History

The Borobudur Temple was originally built in the 8th century during the reign of the Sailendra dynasty.

It was later abandoned, and the Borobudur Temple was hidden under volcanic ash for centuries.

After that, it was rediscovered in 1814 by Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, and cleaning work began and continued until 1835.

After many years of restoration, the Borobudur Temple was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991.

Borobudur Temple has 72 beautiful Buddha statues hidden inside bell-shaped stupas.

Read our → Ultimate Java Itinerary

Best Time to Visit Borobudur Temple, Indonesia

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

The Borobudur Temple can be visited all year round! But the best time to visit Java is from May to October.

The weather is sunny and dry during these months, perfect for sightseeing, hiking, and exploring the Java attractions.

Borobudur Temple is one of the most beautiful places in Central Java and is popular with locals and tourists alike. Therefore, we recommend avoiding weekends and arriving at sunrise or sunset when you can enjoy the best panoramic views from Borobudur Temple.

Java Island has a tropical climate, hot and humid, and the average temperature is 27°C all year round.

The busiest time to visit Java is between July and August. The rainy season in Java runs from November to April.

TIP
In high season, we strongly recommend booking accommodation and tours in advance!

See also → Things to Do in Java

How to Get to Borobudur Temple, Indonesia

As the Borobudur Temple is located in Central Java, you will first need to get to Java Island, Indonesia. The plane is the most comfortable and fastest way to get to Java!

Java has several airports. There are many international flights from Singapore or Kuala Lumpur 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 flight or train. We arrived by train from Malang to Yogyakarta, and the journey took 6-7 hours. Buy your train tickets here.

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 40 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

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

The best way to visit Borobudur Temple is to take a day trip from Yogyakarta to Borobudur and Prambanan temples.

TIP
Book the best Borobudur Sunrise and Prambanan tour through GetYourGuide, where you can get great prices.

Alternatively, you can get to Borobudur Temple by local bus, taxi, Grab (similar to Uber), rent a motorbike, or hire a private driver.

Recommended post → Yogyakarta Guide

How to Visit Borobudur Temple, Indonesia

The best way to visit Borobudur 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. We bought our sunrise tickets at the Manohara Resort.

Once you arrive, follow the signs and explore the beautiful carvings and stupas. It takes about 20 minutes to climb the steep stairs to the top and at least 1.5-2 hours to wander around the Borobudur Temple.

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.

Good to know
To climb up Borobudur Temple, you need to buy a separate ticket, which costs around 455,000 IDR (30 USD) per person and is allowed 1200 climbers per day. If you don’t want to wait hours at the bottom of the temple and want to be sure, book online.

What are the Borobudur Temple opening hours?

The Borobudur Temple is open daily from 6:30 AM to 4:30 PM.

Important note
At the moment, the Borobudur and Prambanan temples are closed every Monday, so check for up-to-date information before you travel! Because the Borobudur Temple is one of the most popular attractions in Indonesia, don’t miss it.

How much is the Borobudur Temple entrance fee?

The entrance fee for locals is 50,000 IDR (3,30 USD), and for children is 25,000 IDR (1,65 USD).

The Borobudur Temple entrance fee is 375,000 IDR (25 USD) for foreign adults and 225,00 IDR (15 USD) for children (aged 3 to 10 years). You can easily buy your ticket online.

The Borobudur Temple sunrise ticket price is 550,000 IDR (35 USD). The sunrise ticket includes a small gift and a delicious breakfast buffet. You can enter the temple complex before public hours from 4:30 AM.

Important note
It is currently not possible to watch the sunrise at Borobudur. But from Setumbu Hill, you can admire the temple at sunrise!

Tips for Visiting Borobudur Temple, Indonesia

It’s safe to visit the Borobudur Temple, and well worth it.
Drones are prohibited at the Borobudur Temple!
Use sunscreen and wear a hat because there is little shade.
Bring plenty of water and some snacks.
You can visit the temples of Borobudur and Prambanan in 1 day.
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.
Spend at least 1.5-2 hours at Borobudur Temple and explore the beautiful archaeological site.

Are you looking for affordable travel insurance for your upcoming holiday or for digital nomads? We always choose SafetyWing for our travels.

Where to Stay near Borobudur Temple, Indonesia

Yogyakarta is the perfect base for visiting the temple, as it is only a 1-1.5 hour drive from the temple of Borobudur.

The city has good restaurants and great places to shop. But the accommodation options are available for all budgets. These are our recommendations.

Best hotels in Yogyakarta, Indonesia

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

more hotels in yogyakarta

Prambanan Temple, Indonesia

After visiting the Borobudur, you can visit other attractions in Yogyakarta or go straight to the Prambanan. But we think the best time to visit Prambanan Temple is at sunset. (Due to the current opening hours, you cannot watch the sunset at the Prambanan.)

Since the Prambanan Temple is a 1.5-hour drive from Borobudur, it is well worth a visit.

The three main temples are dedicated to the most important Hindu gods, like Shiva, Vishnu, and Brahma. Shiva’s shrine is the tallest at 47 meters and offers the most beautiful scenery.

Although Prambanan is also a popular attraction in Java, it is less crowded than Borobudur. Plan to spend 2-3 hours around Prambanan and explore the beautiful temples.

TIP
Book the best Borobudur Sunrise and Prambanan tour through GetYourGuide, where you can get great prices.

See also → How to Visit Prambanan Temple

What are the Prambanan Temple opening hours?

The Prambanan Temple is open daily from 6:30 AM to 5 PM.

How much is the Prambanan Temple entrance fee?

The Prambanan Temple entrance fee is 375,000 IDR (25 USD) for foreign adults and 225,00 IDR (15 USD) for children (aged 3 to 10 years). You can easily buy your ticket online.

Borobudur and Prambanan Combined Ticket

You can buy a combined ticket, which gives access to Borobudur and Prambanan temples.

The combined ticket costs about 675,000 IDR (45 USD) for foreign adults and 405,000 IDR (27 USD) for children.

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

Make the most of your experience and book a tour with GetYourGuide that includes a climb to the top of Borobudur Temple.

Borobudur vs Angkor Wat

One of the most frequently asked questions is which should I visit: Borobudur or Angkor Wat?

Angkor Wat is located in Cambodia, and the Borobudur Temple is in Indonesia.

Both places are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Borobudur is the largest Buddhist temple in the world, and Angkor Wat is the largest religious monument in the world.

You can visit the temples of Yogyakarta in 1 day. But you can spend several days exploring the Angkor Wat temple complex.

You can visit two temples of Yogyakarta in one day. But you can spend several days exploring the Angkor Archaeological Park.

In our opinion, both sights are worth a visit, but our favorite was Angkor Wat.

Recommended post → Angkor Wat Guide

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

Travel Resources

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

The Ultimate Guide to Visiting Borobudur Temple, Indonesia