The Kraton Complex is the official residence of the Sultan of Yogyakarta, who still rules this autonomous region. Given past conflicts within the royal family, it is divided into two separate sections owned by different family members. The most popular one, the Kraton Ngayogyakarta Hadiningrat, houses a museum of the Royal family, not particularly well preserved. Definitely worth the visit instead is the palace for its architecture and the well assorted weekly program with daily shows that you can catch for free with the entrance ticket. The latter showcases traditional Javanese dance, puppet shows and Gamelan Orchestra. The schedule is quite erratic, so you should check the latest program at the ticket office.

The palace was designed according to Javanese mythological and architectural beliefs. While exploring this elaborated building, you can also ‘spy’ on the daily life of the Royal family. Once you are done with the Royal Palace, try to get lost in the small alleys of the village surrounding the Kraton where city life seems miles away, and familiarize yourself with Javanese daily activities instead. The Kraton area is the core of Yogyakarta, found in front of the main field and square of the city, called Alun Alun. This can easily be reached on foot or by cycle rickshaw from anywhere in the historical center.