Things to do in Central Java

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Prambanan Temple featuring building ruins and heritage architecture

Central Java Attractions

Discover the sights of Central Java with some popular tours & day trips, or try out our list of {513 fun activities in Central Java fun activities in Central Java}. We have no booking fees and free cancellation, so you can relax and concentrate on planning an unforgettable vacation.



Most popular activities in Central Java

What to do in Central Java

Things to Do in Central Java with Kids

There's fun for all the family no matter where you wander in Central Java. Here are a few family friendly experiences to do together that promise to make your vacation a blast:


 

Looking for sports, concerts, or theater events in Central Java? Search event tickets to see what's happening today, or to plan what to do this weekend!

 


 

Frequently asked questions

What to do in Central Java on a sunny day?
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What can you do in Central Java for free?
You’ll hardly have time to dig your wallet out of your backpack with so many terrific free things to do:

  • Paragon City Mall Semarang
  • Solo Paragon Lifestyle Mall
  • Diponegoro University
  • Alun Alun Kota Pemalang


Discover the most popular places to visit in Central Java

Discover the most popular landmarks and neighborhoods in Central Java

At the museum no photos are allowed which is really unfortunate as it was well worth the visit and the guided tour is definitely not to be missed. In the museum there are even Batik made from the Dutch era which depicts stories like Little Red Riding Hood and Snow White!

I enjoyed the tour v much and at the end of the tour we were brought to this room where the artisan were working on hand drawn batik.

Below is an excerpt from Wikipedia for anyone interested in learning more about the process of batik making.

Firstly, a cloth is washed, soaked and beaten with a large mallet. Patterns are drawn with pencil and later redrawn using hot wax, usually made from a mixture of paraffin or bees wax, sometimes mixed with plant resins, which functions as a dye-resist. The wax can be applied with a variety of tools. A pen-like instrument called a canting (IPA: [tʃantiŋ], sometimes spelled with old Dutch orthography tjanting) is the most common. A canting is made from a small copper reservoir with a spout on a wooden handle. The reservoir holds the resist which flows through the spout, creating dots and lines as it moves. For larger patterns, a stiff brush may be used. Alternatively, a copper block stamp called a cap (IPA: [tʃap]; old spelling tjap) is used to cover large areas more efficiently.

After the cloth is dry, the resist is removed by scraping or boiling the cloth. The areas treated with resist keep their original color; when the resist is removed the contrast between the dyed and undyed areas forms the pattern. This process is repeated as many times as the number of colors desired.

The most traditional type of batik, called batik tulis

Solo City Centre

4.5/5(6 area reviews)

You'll enjoy the museums and zoo in Solo City Centre. You might want to make time for a stop at Mangkunegaran Palace or Solo Paragon Lifestyle Mall.

Solo City Centre
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West Semarang

When in West Semarang, you can plan a visit to Lawang Sewu and DP Mall Semarang, some noteworthy sights in the nearby area.

West Semarang
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Chinatown

Though Chinatown might not have many top sights, you can venture to the surrounding area to see attractions like Paragon City Mall Semarang and Ciputra Mall Semarang.

Chinatown
At the museum no photos are allowed which is really unfortunate as it was well worth the visit and the guided tour is definitely not to be missed. In the museum there are even Batik made from the Dutch era which depicts stories like Little Red Riding Hood and Snow White!

I enjoyed the tour v much and at the end of the tour we were brought to this room where the artisan were working on hand drawn batik.

Below is an excerpt from Wikipedia for anyone interested in learning more about the process of batik making.

Firstly, a cloth is washed, soaked and beaten with a large mallet. Patterns are drawn with pencil and later redrawn using hot wax, usually made from a mixture of paraffin or bees wax, sometimes mixed with plant resins, which functions as a dye-resist. The wax can be applied with a variety of tools. A pen-like instrument called a canting (IPA: [tʃantiŋ], sometimes spelled with old Dutch orthography tjanting) is the most common. A canting is made from a small copper reservoir with a spout on a wooden handle. The reservoir holds the resist which flows through the spout, creating dots and lines as it moves. For larger patterns, a stiff brush may be used. Alternatively, a copper block stamp called a cap (IPA: [tʃap]; old spelling tjap) is used to cover large areas more efficiently.

After the cloth is dry, the resist is removed by scraping or boiling the cloth. The areas treated with resist keep their original color; when the resist is removed the contrast between the dyed and undyed areas forms the pattern. This process is repeated as many times as the number of colors desired.

The most traditional type of batik, called batik tulis

Banjarsari

While visiting Banjarsari, you might make a stop by sights like Solo Paragon Lifestyle Mall and Mangkunegaran Palace.

Banjarsari
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Dadapsari

While Dadapsari isn't home to many top sights, Paragon City Mall Semarang and Old City are some notable places to visit nearby.

Dadapsari

Popular day trips from Central Java