How to get from Yogyakarta Airport to the city centre

Why visit Yogyakarta?

Yogyakarta is Java’s cultural capital, the only region in Indonesia still ruled by a sultan. Commonly called Jogja, the city strongly values its age-old traditions and way of life. Quite impressive, given that it’s an urban area of over 3 million inhabitants.

The nearby ancient temples Borobudur and Prambanan are the main reasons why travellers visit Yogyakarta, but the city has much more to offer. Art lovers will enjoy its street art, boutique cafes, and iconic batik fabric. Head over to Malioboro Road and Kotagede for some amazing finds and jewellery. Explore Kraton Sultan Palace and Taman Sari for a glimpse of the city’s architecture and history.

There are 3 ways to travel the 47 kilometers (29 miles) from Yogyakarta Airport to the city centre. You can choose between the bus, taxi and train. The journey takes 1 hour 10 minutes to 2 hours and the quickest way is by train. If you're on a budget, the cheapest option is by train with tickets starting at 20,000 IDR ($1.20).

Since the completion of the new railway station at Yogyakarta Airport in 2021, it’s now possible for travellers to take the train from the airport directly to the city centre.

In the past, Wojo Station was the closest railway station to Yogyakarta International Airport, located 6.5 km away. It used to be a popular option when travelling from the airport to the city centre.

The new train station at the airport offers more departures with cheaper tickets than Wojo Station. From the airport, the train ride to Yogyakarta city centre takes only 40 minutes. Tickets are as cheap as 20,000 IDR ($1.20).

Departure and arrival station

The airport train station is located outside the terminal building. Outside the arrivals hall, take the escalator one level up and walk for 5 minutes towards the train station.

Once in the city centre, Yogyakarta Train Station, also known as Tugu Station, is near the famous Malioboro street.

Maarten's insider tip

Tickets can often sell out in the afternoon, so it’s better to buy your tickets in advance.

There are vending machines at the airport where you can buy your tickets. You can also purchase them in advance through the Railink website or book your tickets on your phone through the Railink or KA Bandara app.

If the tickets for the direct train from the airport to the city centre are sold out, you can take the train from Wojo Station instead. This train station is just 6.5 km away from Yogyakarta Airport.

The cheapest way to get from Yogyakarta Airport to Wojo Station is by taking the state-owned Damri bus. These buses are parked outside the arrivals hall and are available from 04:40 to 18:15. Just ask which ones are bound for Wojo Station. A ticket costs 25,000 IDR ($1.50) for the 10-minute journey.

Alternatively, you can take a taxi with rates from 50,000 IDR ($3).

From Wojo Station, you can take a train to Tugu Station. This is the nearest station to Malioboro Street, the main tourist hub in Yogyakarta.

Travel time is around an hour and ticket fares start from 60,000 IDR ($3.60). You can take either an economy or executive train. The last time we checked (February 2023), there are only 2 train departures, at 08:27 and 15:58. You can find the schedule on booking.kai.id.

Malioboro Street is just a 5-minute walk from Tugu Station. If you’re heading somewhere else in the city, buses and taxis are available outside the station.

Another direct option between Yogyakarta Airport to the city centre and the city centre is to take the bus. Conveniently, buses have several drop-off points in the city, which makes it a good alternative to the train if your accommodation is not close to the train station.

Damri and Satelqu offer several trips from Yogyakarta Airport to Jogja city centre daily. The first trip is at 04:00 and there are bus departures almost every hour until 15:00. Bus ticket prices start from 70,000 IDR ($4.20).

Note that travel time between the airport and the city centre is about 1.5 hours, but with the traffic, it may take up to 2 hours.

Departure and arrival station

Both Damri and Satelqu buses are parked outside the arrivals hall at the airport. You’ll be able to easily spot them by their company names boldly printed on the side of the vehicles.

These buses have several destinations within and outside the city centre, so ask the driver beforehand where they are heading. If you’re not sure which bus to take, tell the driver where your hotel is located so that he can direct you to the bus that passes by the nearest bus stop.

When travelling from the city centre to the airport, you can take the Damri bus from Perum Damri station along Jl. Majapahit. Here, buses are available from 07:00 to 21:00.

If you prefer a private transfer, taxis, including Grab and Gojek, are also available at the airport.

There are at least two different kinds of taxis that you can take from Yogyakarta Airport to the city centre to the city centre. Whichever one you pick, travel time is around 1 hour 30 minutes.

Grab taxi fares from Yogyakarta Airport

Grab and Gojek have several stands at the arrival hall of Yogyakarta Airport. The staff can assist you with booking a taxi, or you can just check the rates yourself on the app.

During peak hours, the rates are normally higher than the airport taxis or Klook. Note that you also need an internet connection to book a Grab taxi, but there are staff to assist you with the booking.

A Grab taxi from Yogyakarta Airport to Malioboro Street starts from 200,000 IDR ($12).

Klook taxi fares from Yogyakarta Airport

We recommend booking online beforehand with Klook if you plan to take a taxi for this route. They offer spacious cars with reliable drivers starting from 255,000 IDR ($15.20).

Fares change depending on the zone you’re heading to. See below for a price list: