Sunset at Prambanan Temple: All You Need to Know
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No visit to Yogyakarta is complete without watching the sunrise at Borobudur and the sunset at Prambanan.
What’s so special about the Prambanan temple sunset? It combines being surrounded by over a hundred Hindu shrines, a clear view towards Mount Merapi on one side, and the unobstructed sun on the other.
In this quick guide, you will learn how to get there using public transport, how to prepare, and where else you can watch the sunset to avoid the crowds.
Prambanan Temple Opening Times and Ticket Price
Prambanan Temple is open every day from 07:00 to 17:30. Ticket counters open and close 30 minutes earlier, meaning between 06:30 and 17:00.
On Mondays, Prambanan Temple is partially closed and you can only visit the 2nd yard and the temple grounds.
The Prambanan Temple ticket costs 400.000 IDR (~25$). You can book a ticket online on the official website.
Alternatively, a combo ticket for Prambanan AND Borobudur costs 675.000 IDR (~44$) but you cannot buy it online – only in person at either entrance.
However, this ticket DOES NOT allow you to climb Borobudur, which requires a special ticket. Read more about climbing Borobudur.
There’s also a combo ticket for Prambanan and Ratu Boko, which also costs 675.000 IDR (~44$).
Personally, I don’t think Ratu Boko is worth the same price as Prambanan and Borobudur, so I don’t recommend visiting it. You can instead visit over 20 lesser-known temples around Yogyakarta for a fraction of the cost.
What time is the sunset at Prambanan Temple?
Depending on the time of year, the sunset there is between 17:27 and 18:05. Check the exact time.
I know what you’re thinking: How come you can watch the sunset at the temple if it closes at 17:30?
Don’t worry – the temple authorities know your intentions and kindly wait for the sun to properly set before shooing you out of the grounds.
This means that as long as you enter Prambanan before 17:00, you will be able to stay until sunset.
What to expect
Ideally, you should arrive at Prambanan before 16:00.
This will give you enough time to explore the massive temple grounds which include more than 120 smaller temples collectively called Prambanan, as well as the Buddhist Candi Bubrah, Candi Lumbung, and Candi Sewu.
After the Pandemic, Prambanan is as busy as ever. There are crowds and sometimes even queues for pictures in front of the bigger structures.
As a foreigner, some locals may ask to take a picture with you. It’s quite common in Indonesia.
Allow yourself enough time to find a good spot to watch the sunset. I found Candi Sewu to be a better spot than Prambanan itself because fewer people go there and the angle towards the sun is better.
Other nearby places to watch the sunset
Prambanan is not the only place you can watch the sunset in the area. Given its popularity, it can also get quite crowded, somewhat spoiling the experience.
Consider these places for sunset, if you want something a tad different:
- Candi Barong: This smaller temple is on a hill behind Ratu Boko where you can see more of the horizon during the sunset.
- Candi Ijo: Talking about hills, Candi Ijo is the highest temple around Yogyakarta at 425 m above sea level. Amazing views!
- Spot Riyadi: Any place that’s called a “spot” is sure to have nice views. Spot Riyadi doesn’t disappoint with views towards Prambanan, Mt. Merapi and of course, the setting sun.
After sunset: Watch the Ramayana Ballet
There are two options for after the sun goes down. You can either go back to Yogyakarta or witness something extraordinary with more than 50 years of history – the Ramayana Ballet.
It takes place so close to Prambanan that it’ll be incredibly amiss if you skip it after visiting the temple.
Moreover, the Ramayana Ballet is a grand performance of Hindu beliefs and culture adding immensely to the whole experience and your understanding of Java from the ages past.
The Ramayana Ballet is a mandatory addition to any trip to Prambanan. Tickets are as cheap as 150.000 IDR (~10$) which is a bargain, if you ask me.
To find out more about it, read my guide about the Prambanan Ramayana Ballet, which includes its schedule, price, and whether it’s worth it (yeah, it is).
How to get to Prambanan from Yogyakarta?
Prambanan Temple is surprisingly near to Yogyakarta where most travelers base themselves.
Your options for how to get to Prambanan for the sunset are either by bus, by train, by taxi, or by tour.
By public transport bus
The cheapest way to get to Prambanan is to take the public transport bus #K3J or #1A. It’s the same bus that runs under two different codes. You can take it from any stop on Malioboro Street, either Malioboro 1, 2 or 3.
You have to change buses at the Adisutjipto Airport bus stop (Bandara Adisutjipto). You’ll take another bus #K3J or #1A that leaves immediately. Follow the assistant’s instructions there.
This is because the buses stop for 15 minutes before continuing, so if you don’t change you will end up needlessly waiting.
There’s a minor problem with the buses going to Prambanan: K3J / 1A is a Teman Bus, NOT a TransJogja bus, and DO NOT accept cash as payment.
There are various options to pay with, most of which are suitable only for locals with local bank cards or access to QRIS payment. Read more about money in Indonesia.
The easiest for a tourist is to add credit to your GoJek Pay account at an Indomaret or Alfamart store and then pay with the GoJek app inside the bus.
By train
The Commuter train line between Yogyakarta and Surakarta is another convenient way to reach Prambanan.
Trains depart from Yogyakarta Station (also known as Tugu) and stop at Prambanan Train Station after 15 minutes. They also stop at Lempuyangan, the other big station in Yogyakarta.
You can check the schedule at the official KAI Commuter website. There is on average 1 train per hour with the first one as early as 06:50.
The ticket costs 8.000 IDR (0.55$), but you must use a special card that you can buy at the counters at the station. No need to book in advance.
By Grab / GoJek taxi
Grab and GoJek are the all-competing Southeast Asian equivalent of Uber (which exited the market due to extreme competition).
Both of them have a corresponding app and booking is super simple.
Price-wise, a motorcycle taxi for 1 from Malioboro to Prambanan costs around 50.000 IDR (3.3$) whereas a car taxi seating 4 costs around 100.000 IDR (6.6$).
Get an organized tour
If you want maximum convenience, have everything sorted out for you, and not have to worry about transportation, then an affordable organized tour is your best bet.
Your options are:
- Prambanan Sunset tour (Customizable for time and number of people. My recommendation!)
- Borobudur+Prambanan tour (Can upgrade to the climb-up ticket)
- Prambanan Guided tour (Transfer included, entrance ticket excluded)
Check out all these other experiences in Yogyakarta!
