Yogyakarta to Jakarta by Train

The return leg of Java's busiest tourist route. Around 510km from Yogyakarta Tugu back to Jakarta, with roughly a dozen daily departures and the same choice of day or overnight travel as the westbound run.

Which station you arrive at matters more than which you leave from. Eksekutif services terminate at Gambir, centrally placed near Monas and convenient for most of central Jakarta. Ekonomi services run into Pasar Senen, which is further from the middle of the city and considerably busier. If you have an onward flight or a hotel booked in the centre, that difference is worth paying for.

Which trains run this route: Taksaka and Argo Dwipangga are the premium eksekutif options. Argo Lawu and Bima originate further east and pass through. Progo and Bogowonto handle the budget end into Pasar Senen.

Westbound daytime departures put the best scenery — the hill country either side of Purwokerto — in the middle of the journey rather than at the end. Morning departures work better than afternoon ones for that reason.