Last year there were small unexplained bomb blasts in the city while several larger ones rocked Indonesia's capital, Jakarta, about 240 miles to the northwest. The unrest prompted the U.S. State Department in December to recommend that Americans avoid all non-essential travel to Indonesia. But a few travelers are still coming. Several tourists make Borobudur and Yogyakarta a brief side trip after visiting the resort island of Bali, a one-hour flight away. It is safe and so few tourists are here.
Flight time is about one hour for both.
Traveling overland from Bali is possible by minibus but may take up to 24 hours on busy roads. Getting from Yogyakarta to Borobudur temple takes an hour by car. All prices are subject to 21 percent tax and service. In Yogyakarta, if you feel like eating as the locals do, visit any of the many street stalls on Malioboro Street in the heart of the city and eat fried chicken with a spicy sauce made from local fruits. In the north of the city is the tranquil Gajah Wong restaurant, with a menu of Western, Eastern and Indonesian dishes.