Alun-Alun Kidul, the southern square behind the Kraton, is the palace’s back garden and the city’s night-time playground. Locals shorten it to Alkid. In the middle stand two fenced banyan trees.
By day it is a dusty, quiet field. After sunset it fills with food carts, mats for sitting, and a slow parade of pedal cars outlined in coloured lights.
What to see and do: Alun-Alun Kidul
Try Masangin
The challenge is to walk blindfolded from the edge of the square and pass between the two banyans. Almost everyone veers off. Tradition says that those with a clear heart succeed. Blindfolds are rented for a small sum.
Pedal a light-covered car
Groups hire the neon-lit pedal cars for a lap or two around the square, with music playing.
Snack and sip
Order wedang ronde, grilled corn or noodles and sit on a mat on the grass.
How to get to Alun-Alun Kidul
- From Malioboro: about 3 km south; take a becak, taxi or ride-hailing car through the walled palace district.
- From Taman Sari: ten minutes on foot.
Insider tips
- Come after 19:00; weekends are busiest.
- Agree the price and the number of laps before hiring a pedal car.
Best tours & tickets for Alun-Alun Kidul
These top-rated experiences are an easy way to enjoy Alun-Alun Kidul from a base on Malioboro:
Evening food walk from $15 Yogyakarta: Nighttime Walk and Food Tour
An evening walk through the centre of Yogyakarta with a local guide who orders for you at street stalls and small warungs, explains what you are eating and takes you down lanes you would not find alone. With several hundred reviews and a top score, it is the easiest way to get past the tourist-priced stalls and try the real thing. Check the listing for the exact meeting point and which tastings are included.
- Street food tastings with a local guide after dark
- The most-reviewed food tour in Yogyakarta on GetYourGuide
- Evening is when the Malioboro area is at its liveliest
Guided walking tour from $16 Yogyakarta: Sultan’s Palace and Water Castle Guided Tour
A guided walk through the two royal sights south of Malioboro: the Kraton, where the Sultan of Yogyakarta still lives, and Taman Sari, the 18th-century pleasure garden with its bathing pools and tunnels. Both are much more rewarding with someone to explain what you are looking at. Entrance fees may be paid separately — check the option you choose.
- The Kraton, living palace of the Sultan
- Taman Sari’s pools and underground passages
- A guide to explain court life and symbolism
Becak tour from $21 Yogyakarta: Heritage Tour with Pedicab
A half-day round of the heritage sights by becak, the cycle rickshaw of Java, with the route and price settled before you set off — which removes the bargaining and the unwanted shop stops that street-hailed rides sometimes bring. Reviews are still few, so read the most recent ones.
- See the old city from a becak seat
- Price fixed in advance — no haggling
- New listing with few reviews
