Kota Gede
Kota Gede
3.5
About
The old section of the town which contains an old mosque that holds the remains of the first sultan of Mataram.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
3.5
303 reviews
Excellent
68
Very good
124
Average
83
Poor
21
Terrible
7
David H
Yogyakarta275 contributions
Apr 2018
Kota Gede has always been an illusive section of Yogya.
The front that it puts on for tourists of cheap repetative silver shops and a few random cheap cafe's and warunds, belies the underlying aura of this quite mythical old city.
It's good to reflect while wandering the streets of Kote Gede, on the old days when this really was a separate city, before it was swallowed up by ever expanding Yogya. Till today it retains it's own style, best found in teh small back alleys where silversmiths still work, and where you can still visit, learn to make a ring, or design something and have a bunch of artisans make 1 or 1,000 for you. The old cemetry is well worth a visit and i quite like the old market. There is even a couple of well known restaurants and a growing local cafe scene .
Kote Gede remains an under-developed part of Yogya, that remains hard to get to know, but can be worth the effort. If you don't make that effort or go with a local then it can be boring, repetitive and hot. This is not tourism on a platter, it's tourism you still have to dig for a bit
if you like my reviews please click helpful, as it adds encouragement for long-term travellers like me to leave more :)
The front that it puts on for tourists of cheap repetative silver shops and a few random cheap cafe's and warunds, belies the underlying aura of this quite mythical old city.
It's good to reflect while wandering the streets of Kote Gede, on the old days when this really was a separate city, before it was swallowed up by ever expanding Yogya. Till today it retains it's own style, best found in teh small back alleys where silversmiths still work, and where you can still visit, learn to make a ring, or design something and have a bunch of artisans make 1 or 1,000 for you. The old cemetry is well worth a visit and i quite like the old market. There is even a couple of well known restaurants and a growing local cafe scene .
Kote Gede remains an under-developed part of Yogya, that remains hard to get to know, but can be worth the effort. If you don't make that effort or go with a local then it can be boring, repetitive and hot. This is not tourism on a platter, it's tourism you still have to dig for a bit
if you like my reviews please click helpful, as it adds encouragement for long-term travellers like me to leave more :)
Written June 22, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Joe Pranoto Marselo
Jakarta, Indonesia211 contributions
Nov 2011 • Family
this is the head quarter of silver handicrafts, where buyer can meet the artist / carver / craftsman directly and order a model.
Written December 25, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
justemily
singapore143 contributions
Aug 2011 • Friends
When we told the driver we had hired with the van we wanted to go to Kotagede, we were brought straight to an expensive silver/souvenir shop with a restaurant upstairs. He was truly puzzled when we told him we were looking for an old attraction.
After asking around he managed to bring us to a part of Kotagede compound comprising a few small traditional buildings. There were these huge ficus trees which looked mysterious cos of the setting sun glowing thro it's massive tangle of roots n the offerings at its foot. Within the area, there are some indonesian style doorways topped with the rangda face,beautifully carved wooden doors n old brick walls. It is a quaint area, with cool open air halls, tiny little gardens n elderly local people chatitng quietly.
There is an old mosque there (said to be the oldest in Jogja) n u can go into the compound. As with many other lesser known places of interest, a good guide or informative signs would really help.
After asking around he managed to bring us to a part of Kotagede compound comprising a few small traditional buildings. There were these huge ficus trees which looked mysterious cos of the setting sun glowing thro it's massive tangle of roots n the offerings at its foot. Within the area, there are some indonesian style doorways topped with the rangda face,beautifully carved wooden doors n old brick walls. It is a quaint area, with cool open air halls, tiny little gardens n elderly local people chatitng quietly.
There is an old mosque there (said to be the oldest in Jogja) n u can go into the compound. As with many other lesser known places of interest, a good guide or informative signs would really help.
Written August 20, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dawn C
52 contributions
Dec 2024 • Solo
Beware single female travellers. If you have a guide called opie...she will pretend to be in her 30s when my guide said she was 27. She will say she is in her 30s but doesn't know what to do and ask your advice. She will say she hasn't done the dirties yet. It's all to get a big tip out of you. The tour itself is boring. Don't waste your money.
Written January 10, 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CAN92Keaton
5 contributions
Aug 2014 • Couples
When visiting Kota Gede be prepared to spend more on Silver than anywhere else across Indonesia (and Canada). The cost per gram of silver, that the many stores were averaging, was between Rp. 130,000 - 150,000 or Cnd.$13 - $15.
They weigh the ring with the stone attached so the actual weight is skewed.
My girlfriend was interested in a skinny 92.5 silver ring and we requested to know the price. The man lifted the ring off its platform and handed it over saying the cost was 500.000. Confused why it was so expensive I reached over and grabbed the platform out of his hand and read the price stamped on the bottom. It said 175,000. That should've been the starting price to bargain off of, not 500,000.
This happened at every store and the initial profiling immediately grew the price to an outrageous amount. After visiting around 12 different stores, we ended up leaving with no silver. If you wish to purchase silver I recommend going elsewhere as this location targets tourists to pay an extremely overpriced amount. Also be prepared to call a taxi ahead of time because no taxis drive around this area.
They weigh the ring with the stone attached so the actual weight is skewed.
My girlfriend was interested in a skinny 92.5 silver ring and we requested to know the price. The man lifted the ring off its platform and handed it over saying the cost was 500.000. Confused why it was so expensive I reached over and grabbed the platform out of his hand and read the price stamped on the bottom. It said 175,000. That should've been the starting price to bargain off of, not 500,000.
This happened at every store and the initial profiling immediately grew the price to an outrageous amount. After visiting around 12 different stores, we ended up leaving with no silver. If you wish to purchase silver I recommend going elsewhere as this location targets tourists to pay an extremely overpriced amount. Also be prepared to call a taxi ahead of time because no taxis drive around this area.
Written August 28, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
peen1108
Petaling Jaya, Malaysia71 contributions
Jun 2011
Like the previous reviewer said, I came here just to look at silver and batik. You get a 5-min introduction to how silver/batik is processed. And then you are ushered into a showroom where they hope you will purchase something. If you are not interested in silver/batik, give this place a miss.
Written June 9, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
royindiana
Bangkok, Thailand9 contributions
There is nothing here except some silver and batik factory. If this is not your priority just skip this whole town.
Written July 9, 2008
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
KomodoDragonJakarta
Jakarta34 contributions
Dec 2015 • Solo
Psst here's a little secret. Behind those silver shops are some of the best preserved Javanese houses, from hundreds of years old to 1950s MidCentury modern. Hidden alleys, maze like, snake through courtyards, and little enclaves. There's also an ancient mosque, a traditional market and a few other points of interest. Think of it as Jogja's version of Beijing's old Hutongs, but with a bit more variety and less grumpy people. Visiting Kota Gede only for its silver would be tragically incomplete. Visit before either of these two things happen: (1) Tourists discover it and like Jakarta's Old Town district, the place gets overrun by selfie sticks and street vendors, or (2) More locals discover the joy of renovating. Tip: start at Monggo chocolate factory, walk northwards.
Written February 6, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kool123934
Singapore, Singapore203 contributions
May 2013 • Couples
It took us about 30 minutes by car to travel from downtown Yogyakarta to this age-old silver jewelry production centre in central Java. Initially, we visited some big shops along the main street but realized that prices were fixed and not very attractive. As we were about to give-up and leave the town, we stumbled upon a small shop down the street (Jalan Mondorakan) manned by 2 friendly ladies. The shop is built on a hill slope with 3 levels of showcases; prices indicated on the price tag were much lower compared to the bigger shop. My wife selected some items from the showcase on the first level and they were willing offer discount of 10% to 30%. We paid about IRP 2 millions (about USD200) for 13 items. The story did not end there. Upon completion of our purchase, the older lady offered to take us to a workshop (at Kebohan KG) where they offered even more attractive design for selection. At the workshop, we spent another Rp6 millions (about USD600) for 20 bigger items with gemstone setting. My wife being a jewelry lover was very happy with her purchases.
Written May 28, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Asanssahin
59 contributions
May 2016 • Couples
So sophisticated area.calm people, good architecture, there are a lot of artificial mini shops. I liked there really
Written May 25, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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