How to travel from Malang to Yogyakarta ​ by train

Malang and Yogyakarta are two Indonesian cities firmly on the tourist trail, welcoming tens of thousands of visitors each year. Both cities are well-worth visiting in their own right, but most people are here to see one or more of the star attractions: whether that’s the volcanic beauty of Mount Bromo and Mount Merapi, or the ancient temple structures at Borobudur and Prambanan. Whatever the reason for spending time in the region, the smart travellers all take the train from Malang to Yogyakarta, taking in one of the most memorable journeys in Southeast Asia.

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Route map and details

After departing the cool climate of Malang at 450m above sea level, the line drops down almost 300m to the town of Tulungagung. From there it continues north towards the major railway junction at Kertosono, where the mainline separates to either Surabaya or Yogyakarta.

Beyond Kertosono, the train continues into the fertile agricultural valleys of Central Java, through a flat landscape punctuated by rice fields, remote villages and distant views of volcanoes and mountain ranges. Then, almost 400km after leaving Malang, the train arrives in Yogyakarta, Indonesia’s cultural capital.

Timetables

Click here to check all Indonesia train times

There are five trains per day from Malang to Yogyakarta:

How to buy tickets

Click here to book train tickets from Malang to Yogyakarta.

The easiest way to buy train tickets in Indonesia is online rather than going to the station. You do pay a very small commission but the ease and convenience makes it worthwhile.

12Go is the best website to use and accepts international credit cards. It's also a good place to check timetables and prices.

After booking online you'll receive a confirmation email with a QR code and booking number. You'll need to exchange this for an orange boarding pass via one of the self-service machines at the station before travel. This can be done up to seven days in advance at any station in the country (it doesn't need to be the one you're departing from). You may also need to show your passport or ID at the boarding gate, but this isn't usually enforced.

How much does it cost?

Several different types of train operate on the route from Malang to Yogyakarta, including the Gajayana train.

On the Gajayana trains from Malang, the most expensive seats are in the Luxury carriages, costing from IDR600,000 (US$35). As you drop down the various classes on this and other trains (Executive, Economy), tickets can be bought for as little as IDR260,000 (US$15).

What to expect on board

The two most popular classes for travel between Malang and Yogyakarta are Executive or Economy class, both of which offer good value and comfort. During the peak tourist seasons (notably in July and August), this route is heavily used by overseas travellers and you’re much more likely to be sat in carriage full of Europeans than Indonesians, especially in Executive. It feels familiar and relaxing but if you’d prefer more of a local feel, consider booking into the Economy carriages.

Executive class usually sells out before Economy as it offers more comfortable seats and significantly more legroom. For longer journeys like this one that take over six hours, the extra comfort is important, and you’ll arrive in Yogyakarta much more relaxed. It’s also a bonus knowing that all seats in Executive are forward-facing, unlike in Economy where half the seats face backwards. Don’t worry though if Economy is the only available option by the time you book your tickets, it’s still a comfortable and safe ride, certainly compared to many other train rides in Southeast Asia. It just misses out on some of the touches and features that you’d find in Executive.

Executive class carriages are cleverly designed with rotatable seats, so you’ll be forward-facing (or you can spin one pair around to make a group of four if you’re travelling with friends or family). They also have a generous amount of legroom, more than enough for even the tallest traveller to lie back and relax, plus you won’t feel guilty about reclining your seat. When you add in the large windows, footrests and padded seats, there’s nothing to stop you from having a chilled-out trip to Yogyakarta.

Economy class is still a good product and many travellers choose this option to save some money as it can be significantly cheaper than Executive, especially if you’re travelling in a group. The two main areas it suffers in comparison to Executive are lack of legroom and upkeep of the carriages. Firstly, a few extra rows of seats have been wedged into the carriage, limiting legroom to only a few inches. If you’re over 6ft tall, you might need to squeeze in and prepare for a tight ride, particularly if the person in front of you reclines their seat. Secondly, the carriages themselves are slightly less well-looked after than the Executive ones, so you miss out on some of the comfort and premium feel found elsewhere on the train.

Finally, the seats are fixed in place and can’t be rotated, so half the carriage faces the direction of travel and half are travelling backwards. Depending on how much motion-sickness affects you, this could be a problem. On our trip, rows 1-10 were forward-facing, but this can vary depending on the configuration of the train and other operational reasons.

If you have a choice of seats, keep in mind that rows 10 and 11 are the centre of the carriage where the rows change direction, so these pairs of seats face each other. They’re a popular choice if you’re travelling as a group and want to make conversation, but not so much if the people opposite you are strangers. Legroom is almost non-existent and you’ll spend six hours staring directly at each other.

Both Economy and Executive carriages are fully air-conditioned and have power points, seat pockets, armrests and tray tables. Typically the trains will be made up of four Executive carriages and four (Premium) Economy. There’s also a catering car, more on that below.

Luggage storage is the same in both classes but life will be significantly easier if you’re travelling with backpacks or smaller, soft suitcases. Many tourists board the train with huge rigid suitcases that don’t fit into the overhead racks, so there’s sometimes a battle to squeeze these cases into the luggage racks at the end of the carriage. It delays boarding and blocks the aisles, so do try and reduce your luggage size if at all possible. Technically, each passenger is allowed 20kg, and this is often enforced if you’re obviously exceeding the limits.

Toilets are located at the end of each carriage, with either Western-style or ‘squat-and-drop’, depending on the train and class you’re travelling in. Economy tends to have both types, Executive is usually Western-style only, and has separate male and female toilets. If they notice you patiently queueing for your gender’s toilet and the other one is available, train guards often suggest you just use the other toilet rather than waiting. Both classes’ toilets are cleaned regularly and kept in decent condition.

Catering options

Onboard catering is available either at your seat or by visiting the restaurant car, both of which offer identical food and drinks: hot meals (noodles, rice, etc), snacks, instant noodles, coffee and soft drinks. Although the catering trolley is convenient, most passengers prefer walking to the restaurant car and eating at a proper table and chair.

Payment is either by cash or e-wallets (QRIS). When the train is busy, it’s common for the stock levels to run low, especially the hot meals and soft drinks. In the last hour or so of the trip, you might only find water and crisps still available.

Journey description

Java is home to plenty of memorable train routes, but not many surpass the one from Malang to Yogyakarta. Starting at 450m above sea level in the cool climate of Malang, the train drops down to Tulungagung before continuing its journey out of East Java and into Central Java.

Heading up to the major junction at Kertosono, the train turns sharply west and enters the dramatic landscape of Central Java. In the distance you’ll begin to spot the volcanoes and mountain ranges that draw so many visitors to the region. The final 300km to Yogyakarta is almost entirely flat, running through the agricultural valleys, passing over bridges and squeezing in between rice fields and remote villages.

Yogyakarta’s climate is entirely different to Malang, significantly more humid and tropical. Long-distance trains arrive into the city’s Tugu station, named after the nearby monument. It’s one of the best located stations in the country, right in the heart of the cultural capital and only a short walk to the main tourist street, Jalan Malioboro.