> Source: https://worldmuseumguide.org/museums/sonobudoyo-museum/ — updated 2026-09-25. Markdown mirror generated at build time from the same content as the HTML page. Title: Sonobudoyo Museum 2026: Hours, Tickets & What to See Asia Ethnography Museum ⏱ 1.5 hours # Sonobudoyo Museum [Yogyakarta](https://worldmuseumguide.org/countries/indonesia/yogyakarta/) · [Indonesia](https://worldmuseumguide.org/countries/indonesia/) · Founded 1935 [Baca dalam Bahasa Indonesia →](https://worldmuseumguide.org/id/museums/sonobudoyo-museum/) ![Sonobudoyo Museum in Yogyakarta, Indonesia](https://worldmuseumguide.org/images/sonobudoyo-museum.webp) Photo: [Sabjan Badio](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Museum_Sonobudoyo_Yogyakarta_Unit_1.jpg) · [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0) Opened 1935 Objects in Collection 63,345 Recommended Visit 1.5 hours Museum type Javanese culture ## Quick answer Sonobudoyo Museum is Yogyakarta's state museum of Javanese culture, opened in 1935 in a joglo-style building designed by Thomas Karsten beside the Kraton's northern square. Open Tuesday to Sunday: 8:00 AM – 9:00 PM; closed Mondays. Admission: Rp10,000 for adults; Rp5,000 for children; Rp20,000 for foreign visitors. Allow 1.5 hours. Visitor information last reviewed 25 September 2026. Check the official museum site for current details. ## Sonobudoyo Museum at a glance: hours, tickets and time needed - **Opening hours:** Tuesday to Sunday: 8:00 AM – 9:00 PM - **Closed:** Mondays - **Admission:** Rp10,000 for adults; Rp5,000 for children; Rp20,000 for foreign visitors - **Free or reduced entry:** Children: Rp5,000 - **Booking:** Tickets usually available on the day - **Time needed:** 1.5 hours - **Best time to visit:** Late afternoon into the evening — the galleries stay open until 9 PM (last ticket 8 PM) and are cooler and calmer than at midday; weekday mornings can bring school groups. - **Getting there:** Walk: From the south end of Malioboro, walk past Fort Vredeburg to the Titik Nol Kilometer crossroads; the museum is about 100 m further on Jalan Trikora, facing Alun-Alun Utara - **Address:** Jl. Trikora (Pangurakan) No. 6, Yogyakarta 55122, Indonesia - **Official website:** sonobudoyo.jogjaprov.go.id Checked 2026-09-25 against [the official website](https://sonobudoyo.jogjaprov.go.id/id/information). Prices and hours change — confirm before you travel. ## What is Sonobudoyo Museum known for? Sonobudoyo grew out of the Java Instituut, a cultural foundation established in Surakarta in 1919 to study the cultures of Java, Madura, Bali and Lombok. At its 1924 congress the institute resolved to found a museum in Yogyakarta; a planning committee that included the architect Thomas Karsten was formed in 1931, and Sultan Hamengkubuwono VIII provided the land. Construction began in 1934 and the Sultan inaugurated the museum on 6 November 1935. Its name combines the Javanese words sono (place) and budoyo (culture). Since 2001 it has been run by the culture office of the Special Region of Yogyakarta. Karsten designed the main building as a Javanese joglo whose architecture echoes the mosque of the Kasepuhan palace in Cirebon, set behind a whitewashed wall facing Alun-Alun Utara, the northern square of the Yogyakarta Kraton. The Thomas Karsten Building remains the heart of Unit I on Jalan Trikora, and a refurbished exhibition space inside it opened in 2024. Unit II occupies Ndalem Condrokiranan in Wijilan, east of the square, a former residence of the Yogyakarta nobility that shows further collections, including gold objects, and keeps shorter weekday hours. With 63,345 objects recorded in 2021 across ten categories, from geology and archaeology to numismatics, manuscripts and fine art, Sonobudoyo holds one of Indonesia's largest collections of Javanese material culture. The permanent galleries in Unit I are arranged by theme: prehistory, classical Hindu-Buddhist statuary in bronze and stone, wayang kulit and wayang golek puppets, keris and weapons, batik, masks, traditional children's toys, and rooms for Central Java and Bali. Flagship pieces include a bronze nekara kettledrum, the head of a Dhyani Bodhisattva, a ceremonial pasren bed and a Pakinangan betel set. Sonobudoyo is one of the few Yogyakarta museums open into the evening: Unit I admits visitors Tuesday to Sunday until 9 PM, with last tickets at 8 PM, which makes it an easy add-on after a day at the Kraton or on Malioboro. Tickets are inexpensive, and museum guides who speak several languages are available free of charge on request at the ticket desk. The museum also stages wayang orang, wayang kulit and dance performances and runs a cinema programme, with dates published on its official website. Best for: History Enthusiasts · First-timers · Families ## How long do you need at Sonobudoyo Museum? Allow **1.5 hours**. A route through the main themed galleries of Unit I, from prehistory to wayang and the Bali room. Follow the stops in order: 1. ### Thomas Karsten Building and introduction room 📍 Unit I entrance Take in Karsten's 1935 joglo architecture before starting with the introduction room, which sets out the Java Instituut's founding mission. 2. ### Prehistory and classical galleries 📍 Unit I Look for the bronze nekara kettledrum, the Dhyani Bodhisattva head and Hindu-Buddhist bronzes such as Dewi Sri Lakshmi. 3. ### Wayang kulit and wayang golek rooms 📍 Unit I Compare flat leather shadow puppets with carved wooden golek, and seek out the Chinese-Javanese Wacinwa figures. 4. ### Weapons and batik rooms 📍 Unit I Keris blades and ceremonial weapons sit near a batik room showing regional motifs and techniques. 5. ### Central Java and Bali rooms 📍 Unit I Finish with the regional rooms — the Bali room reflects the Java Instituut's original remit covering Java, Madura, Bali and Lombok. ## What are the must-see works at Sonobudoyo Museum? 5 highlights that define the collection: Bronze nekara (kettledrum), Head of a Dhyani Bodhisattva, Bronze Dewi Sri Lakshmi and more. 1 ### Bronze nekara (kettledrum) Prehistoric Indonesia · Bronze Age A large bronze kettledrum of the kind cast across Southeast Asia in the Bronze Age — one of the museum's designated flagship objects and a centrepiece of its prehistory displays. 2 ### Head of a Dhyani Bodhisattva Ancient Java · Hindu-Buddhist period A carved head of a Dhyani Bodhisattva, listed among Sonobudoyo's flagship collection, representing the Buddhist art of Java's classical kingdoms. 3 ### Bronze Dewi Sri Lakshmi Ancient Java · c. 9th–10th century A small bronze statue of the goddess of prosperity from ancient Java, part of the museum's collection of Hindu-Buddhist bronzes. 4 ### Pasren (Dewi Sri ceremonial bed) Javanese · traditional A richly decorated ceremonial bed dedicated to the rice goddess Dewi Sri, traditionally placed in the central inner room of a Javanese house — one of the museum's flagship pieces. 5 ### Wacinwa (Chinese-Javanese wayang) Chinese-Javanese puppet tradition · 20th century Shadow puppets that blend Chinese stories and costume with Javanese wayang form — a rare tradition preserved in the museum's large wayang collection. ## Collections and highlights - • Prehistoric bronzes and ceramics - • Hindu-Buddhist statuary in bronze and stone - • Wayang kulit and wayang golek puppets - • Keris and traditional weapons - • Batik and textiles - • Javanese and Balinese manuscripts, including lontar - • Masks and traditional children's toys - • Balinese culture room ## Tips for visiting Sonobudoyo Museum 1. ### Best time to visit Late afternoon into the evening — the galleries stay open until 9 PM (last ticket 8 PM) and are cooler and calmer than at midday; weekday mornings can bring school groups. Closed Mondays. 2. ### Tickets & booking Buy at the counter on arrival: Rp10,000 adults, Rp5,000 children, Rp20,000 foreign visitors. No advance booking is needed; ask at the desk for the free multilingual guide service. 3. ### Accessibility The 1935 joglo buildings are largely single-storey around courtyards, but there are thresholds and steps between some rooms; ask staff for assistance on arrival. 4. ### Photography rules Personal photography is common in the galleries and no camera fee is listed; keep flash off near manuscripts, textiles and puppets, and ask before filming performances. ## How do you get to Sonobudoyo Museum? - walk From the south end of Malioboro, walk past Fort Vredeburg to the Titik Nol Kilometer crossroads; the museum is about 100 m further on Jalan Trikora, facing Alun-Alun Utara - bus TransJogja routes 1A, 2A or 10 to Halte Vredeburg or Halte Malioboro 3, then a few minutes' walk - train Yogyakarta (Tugu) station is about 2 km north — walk the length of Malioboro (25–30 minutes) or take a becak or ride-hail Address: Jl. Trikora (Pangurakan) No. 6, Yogyakarta 55122, Indonesia ## Sonobudoyo Museum: frequently asked questions ### How much are tickets to Sonobudoyo Museum? Tickets cost Rp10,000 for adults, Rp5,000 for children and Rp20,000 for foreign visitors, bought at the ticket counter on arrival. The museum's guides, who speak several languages, are free — just ask at the counter. Performances such as wayang orang, wayang kulit and dance evenings are programmed separately, so check the information page of the official website for the current schedule. ### Is Sonobudoyo open in the evening? Yes. The permanent exhibition in Unit I is open Tuesday to Sunday from 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM, with the last tickets sold at 8:00 PM, and it is closed on Mondays. An evening visit is cooler than midday and pairs well with a walk around Titik Nol Kilometer and Malioboro afterwards. Unit II in Wijilan keeps shorter weekday hours, so check before going. ### Where is Sonobudoyo and how do I get there? Unit I is at Jalan Trikora No. 6 on the north side of Alun-Alun Utara, the square in front of the Kraton, a short walk from the Titik Nol Kilometer crossroads at the south end of Malioboro. TransJogja routes 1A, 2A and 10 stop at Halte Vredeburg or Halte Malioboro 3, a few minutes away on foot. Becak and ride-hail drop-offs are easy. ### How long should I spend at Sonobudoyo? Plan 1.5 hours for the highlights of Sonobudoyo Museum. Our 5-stop route — Thomas Karsten Building and introduction room, Prehistory and classical galleries, Wayang kulit and wayang golek rooms and more — is designed to fit that time. Add extra time for temporary exhibitions, the shop and the café. ### What are the highlights of the collection? Look for the museum's flagship pieces: a prehistoric bronze nekara kettledrum, a stone head of a Dhyani Bodhisattva and ancient bronzes such as a Dewi Sri Lakshmi from around the 9th–10th century, a ceremonial pasren bed dedicated to the rice goddess Dewi Sri, and a Pakinangan betel set. The wayang kulit and wayang golek rooms, including Chinese-Javanese Wacinwa puppets, are another highlight. ### Can I take photos inside? Visitors commonly photograph the wayang, masks and bronzes for personal use, and the official ticket information lists no camera fee. Keep flash off near manuscripts, textiles and puppets, which are light-sensitive, and ask staff before filming a performance or using a tripod. ### Can I combine Sonobudoyo with the Kraton? Yes. The Kraton (Sultan's Palace) lies across Alun-Alun Utara to the south, and Fort Vredeburg and the Titik Nol crossroads are just to the north-east, so Sonobudoyo fits easily into a day in the palace district. Because it stays open until 9 PM, many visitors tour the palace in the morning and come to Sonobudoyo later in the afternoon or evening. ### Is Sonobudoyo Museum open on Mondays? No — Sonobudoyo Museum is closed every Monday. It is open Tuesday to Sunday: 8:00 AM – 9:00 PM. Plan a different museum for that day, and check the official website for holiday changes. ### What are Sonobudoyo Museum's opening hours? Sonobudoyo Museum is open Tuesday to Sunday: 8:00 AM – 9:00 PM, and closed Mondays. Hours can change for holidays and events, so check the official website before you go. ### Is Sonobudoyo Museum free to visit? Not for everyone. Standard admission: Rp10,000 for adults; Rp5,000 for children; Rp20,000 for foreign visitors. Free or reduced entry: Children: Rp5,000. Plan your visit Admission Rp10,000 for adults; Rp5,000 for children; Rp20,000 for foreign visitors Hours Tuesday to Sunday: 8:00 AM – 9:00 PM (Closed Mondays) [Official website & tickets](https://sonobudoyo.jogjaprov.go.id/) [View on Google Maps →](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=-7.8018,110.364) We don't sell tickets or take commission — links go to the museum. 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