Sightseeing in Java - what to see. Complete travel guide

The island of Java is more than a thousand kilometers long; it is the most populous island in the Indonesian archipelago and a famous tourist destination. Almost a third of its territory is occupied by virgin tropical forests; there are 120 volcanoes on the island, 30 of which are active. Those wishing to explore the history and culture of Indonesia won’t find a more suitable and colorful place than the island of Java.

The cultural center of the island is the town of Yogyakarta. Unique Buddhist temples (including Borobudur and Prambanan), beautiful nature and many cultural centers will satisfy any traveler. The colonial town of Malang is considered the very reverse of Yogyakarta; the former was founded by the Dutch in the early 18th century. Luxury villas and country residences of the Dutch are situated there; some of them have survived to these days and remain important architectural landmarks. Sukarno’s Palace deserves special attention among historic structures. Malang has a magnificent botanical garden; it is the biggest in the world.

Those wishing to escape from the hustle and bustle of the city are recommended to go to Garut. It is surrounded by majestic mountains and numerous rice plantations; its streets are calm and untroubled. You can get acquainted with the culture and lifestyle of locals during an excursion to nearby villages: Rana Pan, Lawang and Kaliurang. Next to the last settlement there is a special station with view to the Merapi Volcano; the entrance to the station is open for travelers. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Pagandaran located on the shores of the Indian Ocean is considered the best destination for fans of beach sports, diving and spearfishing. Perfectly equipped beaches, sports equipment rentals and numerous diving schools (including those designated for children) make Pagandaran perfect for a family holiday. Unforgettable walks around tropics and historic sites, entertainment centers and many colorful markets, secluded white beaches and gentle sun help Java to conquer the hearts of travelers.

In the picturesque mountain town of Bandung, there are a lot of interesting nature and historical attractions. Here, you can visit many museums dedicated to the national history and culture and admire the wonderful Dago waterfall. In the immediate surroundings of the town, there are two prestigious beach resorts, Anyer and Karang Bolong. They offer their guests upscale hotels and spa centers. The main value of the resort is beaches with high environmental indicators.

The district of Ciater is very popular with fans of health tourism. At one time, powerful volcanoes erupted here. Then, they “fell asleep” and formed several thermal springs. Today, these picturesque places are very popular with adherents of natural rehabilitation. Volcanic springs have a complex mineral composition and inimitable healing properties. After the healing balneological procedures, you should explore tea plantations of the district.

Despite the fact that Surabaya is a big industrial center. It attracts travelers with interesting excursion objects. In the city, there are several beautiful streets with age-old constructions. In its surroundings, there are several wonderful national parks. When walking along Baluran and Meru Betiri Parks, you can see a lot of rare plants, songbirds, and other typical dwellers of these beautiful places. In the city surroundings, there is the Bromo Volcano that is still active.

For many travelers, the important attribute of their vacation on Java is the acquaintance with food traditions of the locals. At national restaurants, the visitors have a wide choice of rice and vegetable dishes. The main ingredient of the local cuisine is legumes. Many popular recipes explain how to cook chicken dishes. The most popular dessert is exotic fruit.

One of the attractive features of the local restaurants and cafes is that the prices here are very attractive. Expensive restaurants are located only in big tourist districts. If you want to taste something special and exotic, you should visit the village of Tuban. Here, the natives cook quite unusual pastries of ground that, as they say, are very useful. They use muddy soil from local rice fields to cook this extraordinary dish. Not all gourmets will dare to taste this unusual sweet.