Bantul

Sunset in Parangtritis Beach

Bantul is a regency in Yogyakarta Special Region, Central Java. It is known for its beaches.

Understand

Bantul was formed on July 20, 1831 according to the agreement of the Dutch East Indies government and the Yogyakarta Sultanate.

Get in

By car

Bantul is located at the south of Yogyakarta city.

Get around

You may rent cars or motorcycles.

By dogcart

You may rent a horse cart, which Javanese called delman, dokar, or andong.

See

Beaches

Parangkusumo Beach

• 1 Parangtritis Beach (Pantai Parangtritis). Parangtritis is sometimes said to be a place to meet the legendary Nyai Loro Kidul or 'Queen of the South' (Ratu Kidul). Local folklore warns visitors not to wear green clothes or the queen is likely to try to entice the wearer into the ocean to drown. Quite large crowds of mainly local tourists visit Parangtritis over the weekends and at holidays. Larger tourist buses as well as various types of cheaper minibuses ply the route to the beach from Yogyakarta. There are local tourist facilities at Parangtritis including parking arrangements, modest hotels which provide visitors with places to change and shower, and small restaurants. Often small ponies or horse-drawn carts can be hired for rides along the beach. The beach is not really a good swimming beach. Drownings are unfortunately not uncommon at Parangtritis because channels, strong rips and sizable waves often occur off the beach. (updated May 2020)
• 2 Parangkusumo Beach (Pantai Parangkusumo). Every year, the Yogyakarta Sultanate conducts the Labuhan ceremony at this beach, on the anniversary of the sultan's ascension to the throne. (updated May 2020)
• 3 Depok Beach (Pantai Depok). (updated Aug 2022)
• 4 Samas Beach (Pantai Samas). (updated Aug 2022)
• 5 Pandansimo Beach (Pantai Pandansimo). (updated Aug 2022)
• Baru Beach (Pantai Baru). 
• Goa Cemara Beach (Pantai Goa Cemara). 
• Cangkring Beach (Pantai Cangkring). 

Museums

• 6 Kekayon Museum (Museum Kekayon), Jl Laksamana Adi Sucipto, Demangan, Gondokusuman, Baturetno, Banguntapan, ☏ +62 274 379058, museumkekayon@usa.net. M-F 08:30-14:00, Sa 09:00-12:00. A wayang (puppet) museum with a lush Javanese style garden. Divided into ten sections, where each holds a vast number of puppets from various places in Indonesia. Rp5,000.  

Wildlife

• 7 Samas Turtle Conservation (Konservasi Penyu Samas), Dodogan, Sanden (near Samas Beach). A sea turtle conservation place. (updated Aug 2022)

Others

• 8 Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (Gereja Ganjuran), Jalan Ganjuran, Sumbermulyo, Bambanglipuro, Jogodayoh, Sumbermulyo, Bambang Lipuro (17 km south of the city centre), ☏ +62 274367154. This Catholic church is remarkable for its Javanese styling. The main building is in the form of a traditional joglo, and there is a chapel in the form of a Hindu temple. Mary, Jesus and the angels are represented as Javanese. (updated Jul 2018)
• 9 Imogiri royal graves. Graveyard of the Sultan Agung and his descendants, the Yogyakarta and Surakarta royal families. It was damaged during an earthquake in 2006 but has been reopened. 

Do

Sandboarding at Parangtritis Beach

Small aircraft on the runway of Depok Beach

• Sandboarding at Parangtritis Beach.
• Air sports, like powered or engine hangs gliding at Depok Beach. There is an 800 m runway. Also, you can fly your radio-controlled aircraft there.

Learn

Universities

• 1 Muhammadiyah University of Yogyakarta (Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta), umy@umy.ac.id.  

Art courses

• 2 Indonesian Institute of the Arts, Yogyakarta (Institut Seni Indonesia Yogyakarta), arts@isi.ac.id. Indonesia's largest art school. They're offering undergraduate and postgraduate degrees related to traditional arts such as Javanese dance, wayang performance and gamelan music, and to modern and contemporary arts like theatre, broadcast, and graphic design.  

Buy

• 1 Pasar Ikan Segar Depok, Parangtritis, Kretek. Fresh fish, squid, shrimp, crab, clam, etc. (updated Feb 2022)
• 2 Leksa Ganesha Batik Gallery, Jl Parangtritis 8.5 km, Tembi, Timbulharjo, Sewon, ☏ +62 274 646-3175, +62 812 2706-8768. daily 07:00–21:00. This gallery just outside Yogyakarta offers something a little different to batik collectors: a chance to visit the studios of renowned batik artists and villagers and meet them as they work. Social entrepreneur Tatang Wibowo started this project in 2011 as a way to continue supporting local artists in an innovative tourism model. It's a rare opportunity to make a connection with the people who make batik. 
• 3 Tabubu Ethnic Music Shop, Jl Saman, Block 2, no. 167, Rt. 06, Bangunharjo (off Jl Imogiri Barat, a bit hard to find). They make and sell traditional musical instruments (flutes, drums, stringed instruments, etc.) from various parts of Indonesia. The shop is in the owner's house, and he is very friendly - just drop by and you can see and try the instruments he has on display. If you want to buy, however, you will have to make a custom order, as the instruments on display are not for sale. The prices are pretty good, starting at tens of thousands of rupiah for the cheaper flutes to hundreds of thousands for stringed instruments. (updated Jul 2015)

Eat

Sate klathak, goat satay with soup

Go try some local traditional dishes such as sate klathak, sate kronyos, mangut lele, miedes, mie lethek, mie pentil and so on.

Around the beaches

• 1 Ayam Bakar Trembis, Jl. Parangtritis, ☏ +62 882 216 86585. 08:00-21:00. Javanese grilled chicken. Around Rp25,000. (updated Oct 2022)
• 2 Bakmi Jawa Mbah Giman, Jl. Parangtritis, ☏ +62 895 084 02374. Serves mie jawa (Javanese noodle soup or stir-fried) also nasi goreng, nasi godog (soupy rice), and magelangan (fried rice mixed with noodle). (updated Oct 2022)
• 3 Rumah Makan Seafood Morotuman, Pantai Depok, Pantai, Parangtritis, Kretek, ☏ +62 812 261 71777. 08:30-18:00. Some grilled or fried seafood such as lobster and fish. (updated Aug 2022)

Other areas

• 4 Mangut Lele Mbah Marto, Jl. Sewon Indah No.RT.04, Ngireng-ireng, Panggungharjo, Sewon, ☏ +62 812 270 1724. 10:00-20:00. Serves mangut lele, death level spicy catfish soup. (updated Apr 2023)
• 5 Mie Lethek Mbah Jumal, Pendowoharjo, Sewon, ☏ +62 819 040 65812. 17:00-22:00. Serves mie lethek, noodles made from gaplek (dried cassava). (updated Apr 2023)
• 6 Mie Pentil dan Mie Iris Bu Nur, Nangsri, Srihardono, Pundong, ☏ +62 819 046 15202. 15:00-21:00. Serves yellowish mie pentil, made from tapioca. It has chewy texture. Also mie iris, also made from tapioca but the dough is sliced ​​using a knife. (updated Apr 2023)
• 7 Miedes Pak Yono, Jl. Mangun Negoro, Srihardono, Pundong, ☏ +62 818 026 09559. 17:00-24:00. Serves miedes, cassava starch noodles, stir-fried or soupy. (updated Apr 2023)
• 8 Sate Klathak Pak Bari, Pasar Wonokromo, Jalan Imogiri Timur No.5, Wonokromo, Pleret, ☏ +62 813 288 00165. 18:30-24:00. Serves sate klathak, goat satay with gulai soup. (updated Apr 2023)
• 9 Sate Kronyos Mbah Gudil, Karang Anom, Wonokromo, Pleret, ☏ +62 838 633 84055. F-W, 17:00-22:00. Serves sate kronyos, breast of goat satay. (updated Apr 2023)
• 10 Soto Pak Marto, Jl. Raya Janti No.336, Modalan, Banguntapan (opposite of Jogja Expo Center - JEC). A local delicacy - usually eaten for breakfast - of beef-based soup served with rice (mixed in or separate). Offal is included unless you specifically ask for beef only. Fried offal, to be eaten with kecap manis, is delicious. (updated Jul 2015)
• 11 Warung Bumi, Jl Imogiri Mangunan Km. 3, Desa Giriloyo, Wukirsari (On the top of the hill next to the Imogiri royal graves), ☏ +62 896 6011-1730, mail@bumilangit.org. Tu-Su 09:00-16:00. Part of the Bumi Langit Institute, a charitable community-based permaculture foundation. The café is part of their outreach, offering mostly local dishes made with locally-grown and organic produce. In a beautiful open joglo building perched high on an escarpment overlooking Jogja in the distance. Farms tours available. Some local produce - jams and syrups - available to buy. From around Rp60,000 for a plate of nasi campur and a fruit juice. (updated Nov 2017)
• 12 Jiwajawi Jogja, Jl. Tugu Gentong Jl. Fasco Village, Salakan, Bangunjiwo, Kec. Kasihan, Kabupaten Bantul. Serene restaurant in the middle of greenery and villages, serving unique local cuisine. (updated Dec 2024)
• 13 Kedai Rukun, Gg. Darussalam, Kadipiro, Ngestiharjo, Kec. Kasihan, Kabupaten Bantul. Indonesian-Javanese authentic warung experience. Access only by bike and walk (no car). (updated Dec 2024)

Drink

The whole coconut drink is commonly found at the beaches. The price is in the range of Rp10,000-20,000.

Coffee

• 1 Haia Space, Jl. Jend. Sudirman No.38, Bantul Wr., Bantul, Kec. Bantul, Kabupaten Bantul. Small coffee shop with artisan bakery. One of local favourite to work from cafe. 

Sleep

Budget

• 1 Adinda Hotel, Jl. Parangtritis - Panggang No.2010, Mancingan, Parangtritis, ☏ +62 274 368729. traditional wooden rooms. From Rp191,441. (updated Aug 2022)
• 2 Penginapan Handoko (near Parangtritis Beach), ☏ +62 813 912 38091. Rp50,000-150,000. (updated Aug 2022)

Mid range

• 3 Villa Alcheringa, Mancingan, Parangtritis, ☏ +62 821 716 60999. a traditional joglo villa with four rooms and a pool. From Rp850,000. (updated Aug 2022)

Splurge

• 4 d'Omah, Jl Parangtritis Km 8,5, Tembi, Timbulharjo, Sewon (head south out of the city on the road to Parangtritis; as you enter Tembi, look for signs off to the east side of the road. d'Omah is signed from the main road; if on public transport, get down in Tembi and walk in around 100 m), ☏ +62 274 368050, bookings@domahyogya.com. A resort integrated into a traditional Javanese village, on the outer southern suburbs. Traditional village houses have been fitted out with rooms to a high standard, clustered around swimming pools. Spa. Around Rp1,000,000 double room per night including breakfast for 2. (updated Oct 2017)
• 5 Yabbiekayu, Tembi Village, Jl. Parangtritis Km 8.5, (In the village of Tembi, about 10 km (6.2 mi) south of the city centre), ☏ +62 274 646-3434, info@yabbiekayu.com. Five bungalows and further guestrooms set in a garden designed as an edible landscape that supplies the kitchen. Built and managed to high environmental and social principles. The wholefood restaurant is open to non-residents. (updated Jul 2018)

Stay safe

High waves in the south coast of Central Java

Try to travel in groups if going to or from Parangtritis beach. The long stretch between Jogja and the beach can be dangerous at night. You may get stopped by someone riding a motorcycle trying to rob you. There are few police stations along the road, and they are often unoccupied.

Never swim at Parangtritis beach due to strong rip currents.

Connect

Bantul Regency's telephone code area is 0274.

Go next

• Back to Yogyakarta
• Gunung Kidul