Cycling has become more and more popular among Indonesians, especially since the pandemic began. It is certainly a fun activity that can make you healthier. Are you also the one who enjoys cycling, t-mates?
Exploring a new city and its destinations surrounding on your two wheels is surely gonna be a wholesome experience. No wonder there are many people nowadays who are longing for a cycling trip out of their hometown.
This time, tiket.com will give you a list of fun cycling spots in 5 cities around Central Java and Yogyakarta for your next cycling trip. Curious which destinations are on the list? Read along, t-mates!
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Discovering Central Java and Yogyakarta’s Best Destinations on Your Two Wheels
Everyone knows that there are so many interesting destinations to explore around Central Java. From the largest temple to a scenic highland, you can find them all in this area. So, are you ready to discover Central Java’s best destinations with your bike?
1. Semarang
Sam Poo Kong Temple
Get ready with your bike and let’s begin your cycling journey from Sam Poo Kong! This temple is the oldest Chinese temple that was first built by a Chinese explorer, Admiral Cheng Ho in the 1400s. However, the original building was actually destroyed in a landslide and finally rebuilt in 1724.
From afar, you can already see how magnificent this red-painted temple is, especially it has the combination of the traditional Chinese and Javanese architecture style. Other than this oldest temple, in the complex area you can also find four other temples and a giant statue of Admiral Cheng Ho.
Spend some time strolling around this temple area to take some pictures and learn more about the history of this place before continuing your journey. It’s very intriguing!
Semarang Old Town
From Sam Poo Kong, cycle up your bike to explore the area of Semarang Old Town, which is located in the heart of the city. Here, you will find many 18th century buildings that are still well preserved up until today.
The oldest and most iconic building in the area is Blenduk Church that was built in 1753.Then there are other iconic old buildings, such as Tawang Train Station, Praoe Lajar Cigarette Factory, and Spiegel Bar and Resto.
For those of you who like to collect antique things, this old town could be your paradise, too! Along the street near Blenduk Church, you will find many sellers displaying their collections for sale. From vintage handicraft to antique weapons, you can find them all here.
Lawang Sewu
Your cycling trip in Semarang won’t be complete if you don’t make a stop at the famous Lawang Sewu. It is located on Pemuda Street and only around 3 kilometers away from Semarang Old Town. This building, which means ‘Thousand Doors’ was originally the headquarters of the Dutch East Indies Railway Company.
When you come here, you can go inside the building to admire the architecture and interior, reminisce about the past history that happened here, as well as visit the railway museum. If you are interested, maybe you can also try to count how many doors and windows Lawang Sewu actually has. Dare to try, t-mates?
2. Solo
Gede Market
From Semarang, let’s go to Solo! It is another city in Central Java that is fun to explore on two wheels. You can start your cycling trip in the morning from Gede Market, which literally means a big market. It is indeed the biggest traditional market in Solo that was built from 1927-1930.
Before continuing your journey, it is important to fill your tummy first. So, let’s search for a delicious breakfast in this market, shall we? There are so many traditional foods you can try here, such as nasi liwet (traditional coconut rice served with chicken, egg, and vegetables) and timlo (clear soup with chicken meat, chicken liver, and eggs). Yum!
Keraton Surakarta Hadiningrat
After finishing your breakfast in Gede Market, cycle for around 1 kilometer to visit the palace of Surakarta Sultanate, which is widely known as Keraton Surakarta Hadiningrat. This palace was first established in 1745 and is still functioning as the sultan’s residence up until today.
Although you can’t visit the area of residence, there is a museum that you can explore. Inside the museum, you will find the miniature of the palace, a collection of horse carriages that were used in the past, weapons, jewelries, and other kinds of historical collectibles.
This museum is open every day, except Friday from 9 AM to 2 PM in the afternoon. English-speaking guides are available if you want to get a deeper explanation regarding the history of this palace and the sultanate.
Grojogan Sewu
Looking for a more challenging cycling route? Escape the city for a while and head your bike to Tawangmangu! This small district is located on the slopes of Mount Lawu and home to many natural tourist attractions. One of the destinations you should visit is Grojogan Sewu, the highest waterfall in Central Java.
Along the way, you can cycle your bike while enjoying the scenic view of mountains and hills.. Then when you arrive at the entrance gate, you will be greeted by lush greeneries, the freshness of the air, and some monkeys hanging on the trees surrounding.
The journey down to reach the waterfall won’t be easy as there are around 1,250 stairs. However, there are several gazebos where you can take a little break. All your exhaustion will also go away soon once this majestic waterfall appears in front of your eyes. It’s so beautiful!
3. Yogyakarta
Tugu Yogyakarta
Welcome to Yogyakarta, t-mates! This city of culture is always fun to explore, especially with your favorite bike. No wonder that there are many cyclists from different places who like to do cycling trips in this city.
One of the most favorite cycling routes in Jogja is around the area of Tugu Yogyakarta. It is a 25 meter monument situated right in the middle of the intersection of Sudirman Street, Diponegoro Street, A.M. Sangaji Street, and Mangkubumi Street.
This monument was built in 1755 by Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono I, with the purpose of uniting the spirit of the people. Since then, Tugu Yogyakarta has become an important historical landmark of this city. When you pass by this monument, don’t forget to make a quick stop to take a nice picture with your bike!
Malioboro Street
Who doesn’t know Malioboro Street? Bet no one will raise their hand. Yup, it is a street in the center of Yogyakarta that is full of many hotels, restaurants, and shops. Other than that, numerous street artists also like to display their artworks here.
Malioboro is definitely a must go to destination for everyone who comes to this city. In the evening, the vibe becomes more alive as many lesehan (street side restaurants) start to operate. Either you cycle along this street in the morning or evening, it’s surely gonna be a wonderful experience.
4. Magelang
Borobudur
It is not a secret that Borobudur, the largest Buddhist temple in the world, is a wonderful destination one should visit to get to know more about the ancient history. This temple was built in the 9th century and now has been acknowledged as the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
What is more interesting is that this temple is surrounded by lush green countryside and numerous tourism villages, such as Wanurejo Village, Candirejo Village, and Majaksingi Village. Each village has its own uniqueness and offers you either a homestay or restaurant to stop by.
Really, don’t miss a chance to cycle your bike around Borobudur, where you can enjoy the stunning views of mountains and rice fields, and get yourself immersed in the rural life.
5. Dieng
For those of you who are yearning for a more adventurous cycling experience, let’s go to Dieng! It is a highland in Wonosobo and Banjarnegara regency, which is situated 2,000 meters above sea level. There are quite a lot of destinations you can explore here with your bike.
You can begin your journey in the morning from Sikunir Hill to catch the golden sunrise, then continue to Telaga Warna (a scenic colorful lake), Sikidang Crater, Arjuna Temple Complex, Merdada Volcanic Lake, and Pengilon Lake.
Along the way, you will be spoiled by the picturesque landscapes and the fresh mountain air. However, it’s important to make sure that you’re in the best conditions to cycle around this plateau, as it will take a lot of energy.
Let’s Meet: Element Pikes Central Java Edition
Now, you must be curious about the cool bike you saw throughout this article, aren’t you? Let us tell you the answer. Ready? It’s the Element Folding Bike Pikes Central Java Edition, t-mates! Not only comfortable to ride, this bike also has a very catchy design. You can see the details below!
This bike is specially made as the result of collaboration between Element Bike, Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy and tiket.com to support the advancement of tourism in Indonesia.
So, what are you waiting for? Get ready with your Element Folding Bike Pikes Central Java Edition and let’s explore Central Java and Yogyakarta on your two wheels!
