Early morning on the veranda, coffee in hand, and there it is: Merapi, sharp above the garden wall. Below you the region is waking up — the first sounds of the market at Pakem, the smell of the wet rice paddies at the end of the lane, and further downhill the sultan's city with its temples. Everything worth doing on this side of Java starts right here, with a map on the table.
Map on the table, the day still open: from here everything is close and nothing is yours to organise. Everything in this guide can be arranged at the villa. Our English-speaking driver-guide does it every day: he plans the route with you, drives you door to door — fuel and parking included — and will gladly join you inside the sights, because he knows the stories behind them.
And this is not a guide written from a distance. Take a rice-field walk around Tanen and, if you like, a member of our team will walk with you — these pages were written from the veranda, not from a desk.
We've sorted the best things to do in Yogyakarta and the Merapi region into five guides — honest facts, the current rules (they've changed a lot in recent years) and the tips our own guide gives his guests.
Two UNESCO temples within reach — Borobudur and Prambanan — including Borobudur's new ticket system, properly explained.
The sultan's city, about 21 km downhill: palace, water castle, batik and the 6 km of Malioboro.
This is our backyard: the volcano rises right above the village — its museum is a short walk from our gate.
Village Java isn't a day trip here — it's where you're staying.
For the far-flung gems our driver does the driving — you watch Java go by.
Our shortlist from Villa Tanen: Jomblang Cave (book ahead — there's a daily quota), a city trip to Solo, Kasongan pottery village (about an hour's drive), the royal tombs of Imogiri and — if you're happy to make a full day of it — the beaches around Pacitan (2.5–3 hours each way). The day-trip guide lists distance, duration and an indicative price for every trip.
You can add any of our trips when you book — check availability
Yes — from Villa Tanen you can visit both Borobudur and Prambanan as chauffeured day trips. The villa sits about 21 km north of Yogyakarta, at ±630 m in the hills, with both World Heritage temples within day-trip reach. Every distance and travel time from the villa is in one honest table below — no prettier than what you'll actually drive, so you know exactly how your days will look before you commit.
| Destination | Distance / travel time from Villa Tanen |
|---|---|
| Merapi Volcano Museum (Museum Gunungapi Merapi) | within walking distance |
| Merapi Golf (18 holes) | 5 km |
| Kaliurang | ±10 min by car |
| Pasar Pakem (market) | ±10 min by car |
| Yogyakarta city centre / Malioboro | about 21 km — ±1 hour by car |
| Borobudur | ±1 hour by car |
| Prambanan | ±1 hour by car (the temple stands 17 km east of Yogyakarta) |
| Yogyakarta International Airport (YIA, Kulon Progo) | ±2 hours by car |
| Kasongan (pottery village) | about an hour's drive |
| Pacitan (south coast) | 2.5–3 hours each way |
Yes — from Villa Tanen the Merapi Volcano Museum is within walking distance, rice-field and village walks start at the gate, and two mountain bikes are free to use. For everything further afield, there's the driver-guide.
Villa Tanen is about 1 hour's drive from Borobudur — a day trip our driver-guide takes you on, straight through the hills north of Yogyakarta.
Still weighing up where to base yourself? Read our honest guide "Where to stay in Yogyakarta"
Our listings are on Airbnb (per room, whole villa and studio) and huisjetehuur.nl — read what guests say about the villa and our driver-guide there. We've been hosting since 2013.
Last updated: July 2026
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