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Upd. 09/04/25

Gateway to Java: Seamless Access from Bali & Top Destinations

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For most people from mainland regions of the world, Indonesia is primarily associated with the resort island of Bali. However, Bali is only one of the many provinces in this diverse country. The most densely populated island, in fact, is Java. Let’s take a closer look at what Java has to offer.
Photo: Depositphotos
Java is divided into three provinces and two special regions:
1. East Java (Jawa Timur)
2. Central Java (Jawa Tengah)
3. West Java (Jawa Barat)
4. Special Capital Region of Jakarta
5. Special Region of Yogyakarta
The island’s landscape is mostly mountainous, with plains and endless rice fields found mainly in Central Java. Exploring Java, one of the largest islands in the Indonesian archipelago, is fascinating regardless of budget—and there’s much more to see beyond the well-known Ijen volcano.

Getting There

How you reach Java depends on your starting point and the area where you plan to start exploring. Located between the Java Sea and the Indian Ocean, Java sits between Sumatra and Bali.
If you’re on Bali and want to start your journey on Java from the east, you have several options:
1. Drive your own vehicle: Confident drivers can take a ferry from Gilimanuk (West Bali) to Ketapang (East Java) and continue exploring by car or motorbike. If you’re renting, check with the owner about any necessary travel documents.
2. Bus Travel: Affordable bus services (200,000–300,000 IDR per person) can take you from Bali to major cities in Java, including a ferry crossing. You can buy tickets at bus terminals to travel between major cities on the island.
3. Railway Adventure: Java has an extensive and well-developed railway system with Indonesia Railways (KAI). Tickets are available online (via ticket kai website or ticket.com, platforms like Tokopedia) or offline at stations and stores like Indomaret and Alfamart. For example, a ticket from Banyuwangi to Malang, a popular destination in East Java, costs only 62,000 IDR. The railway map can be found here.
4. Flying: From Denpasar Airport, direct flights are available to Jakarta, Surabaya, Semarang, Surakarta, and Yogyakarta. This is a quick, reasonably priced option, especially for international travelers.

Must-Visit Places

1. Malang and Batu: Among the island’s most popular resort areas, ideal for hiking, ecotourism, agritourism, or relaxation.
A walking trail in Malang with views of Mount Bromo
2. Surabaya and Madura Island: Surabaya, the capital of East Java, offers bustling shopping malls and green avenues, with the iconic Suramadu Bridge linking it to Madura Island. Madura is famous for its sweet durians and hand-made batik.
Durian flowers 
3. Tumpak Sewu Waterfall: One of East Java’s most spectacular waterfalls.
4. Madakaripura Waterfall, hidden within a narrow canyon in East Java, is a majestic 200-meter cascade revered as the legendary meditation site of Gajah Mada, offering a breathtaking blend of spiritual significance and natural wonder.
5. Magetan - Tawangmangu - Karanganyar: Nestled along the slopes of Mount Lawu, this highland route offers a blend of natural beauty and cultural heritage. Highlights include the serene Sarangan Lake, the panoramic Genilangit Park with its crisp mountain air and spring-fed pools, and the ancient Hindu temples of Candi Sukuh and Candi Cetho. Entrance fees start at just IDR 10,000, offering exceptional value for an immersive experience.
A bas-rilef from the Candi Sukuh temple complex 
6. Magelang: A haven for agritourism with nurseries exporting tropical fruit plants nationwide.
Durian seedlings in planter bags, brought from the nursery 
7. Jepara: Renowned for teak furniture to suit all tastes and budgets.
Furniture factory Rizqy Jati 
8. Mount Merapi and Mount Merbabu: See several museums displaying the aftermath of volcanic eruptions, and take an off-road trekking adventure near the Merapi crater.
9. Curug Leuwi Hejo Waterfall
10. Gunung Halimun Salak National Park: Famous for its steaming crater at Kawah Ratu.
11. Jember: An emerging tourist destination in East Java with pristine natural beauty.
Java is so diverse and captivating that you could spend a lifetime exploring it.
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Comments
4
To the last comment
AG
23/11/24
23/11/24
I want to share some information, in case someone is planning to travel to Java, the capital, and the neighboring city, Bandung. Now you can reach Bandung by the high-speed train Whoosh in just 30 minutes, with speeds up to 350 km per hour. The cheapest tickets are 150,000 rupiah. The website to purchase tickets:
https://kcic.co.id/proyek/tiketwhoosh/
NL
23/11/24
23/11/24
Good afternoon!
Java offers many interesting places, depending on what you are interested in the most.
If natural attractions are your thing, I recommend seeing the famous Javanese volcanoes, Bromo and Ijen. You need to hike to the top of Ijen, but the trail is not difficult. You can drive up to Bromo in an off-road vehicle if you prefer not to walk. Bromo and the national park it's located in is a place of breathtaking beauty.
If you are interested in temples and historical buildings, I highly recommend visiting the Borobudur and Prambanan temples. Both are near the city of Yogyakarta, where you can stay for a few days and make excursions to the temples. I just returned from Java a couple of days ago and visited both temples. I was very impressed (but I'm a fan of such places 😊).
EW
23/11/24
23/11/24
In Bandung and near Bandung, there's a popular volcano called Tangkuban Perahu with many active craters, which you can reach by car, and then hike down to the craters themselves. Surrounding the volcano are forests, pine forests, and Glamping sites where you can spend the night — a kind of glamorous camping. There are also hot springs where you can take a bath and relieve all your fatigue, like Maribaya, Ciater, and Gracia. I prefer Gracia, where the water temperature is more comfortable, and it's more beautiful and cleaner. There's Kawah Putih, which is a white crater, and it's truly beautiful and unusual! Around, there are tea plantations, they grow strawberries, and sell local and affordable kopi luwak. For hiking enthusiasts like me, it's paradise! You can go hiking almost every day along new trails, and there are clubs for this hobby too. There are waterfalls, rubber forests, lakes, caves from the Dutch and Japanese periods. In the city itself, there’s colonial architecture from the Dutch era, museums, outlets selling clothes and shoes, and the jeans street, Cihampelas (though unfortunately, the selection isn’t as great as it used to be), various interesting cafes and restaurants in scenic locations with unique architecture and decor. Overall, there's a lot to see and enjoy!
AJ
25/02/25
25/02/25
Practical tips for travelers to Java from our reader @Kelimutu

"Information for those traveling to Java.

As of today, the ferry crossing between Banyuwangi and Gilimanuk no longer accepts cash payments. Just yesterday they gladly accepted cash, but today they don't. Now, payments are made with e-money cards.

So now it works exactly like the Toll Road payment. E-money cards can be purchased on site and recharged there as well.

My BCA bank Flazz card, which I used to pay the Toll Road in Bali, didn't work; the staff confirmed it doesn't function there. I had to buy a new Mandiri e-money card.

So, if you're traveling to Java, bring an e-money card if you have one, to avoid buying another one."