Free Shuttle Bus for Tourists to Yogyakarta City Centre

Destination managers in Yogyakarta City are responding to the policy banning tourist bus parking in the city centre by providing free shuttle buses for tourists. The Yogyakarta City Government has prohibited tourist buses from entering or passing through the Zero Kilometre Point area, the end of Malioboro Street, which is surrounded by family destinations such as Taman Pintar to Beteng Vredeburg. This policy aims to curb high traffic density and pollution in the area. In addition to being banned from passing through, tourist buses are also prohibited from parking and dropping off tourists near the area. “We have prepared a shuttle bus fleet with a capacity of 60 passengers per trip for back-and-forth journeys,” said Karmila, Manager of Taman Pintar Yogyakarta Destination, on Tuesday, 5 May 2026. Karmila explained that before this ban on buses entering the city centre, tourist groups using buses would disembark at the Senopati Special Parking Area (TKP), located directly opposite the destination. The Senopati TKP itself is the only large tourist bus parking area closest to the Malioboro area after the Abu Bakar Ali TKP was demolished. After the ban took effect, tourist groups using buses are dropped off at other locations, including the Ngabean TKP, about two kilometres west of Taman Pintar, or the Kotabaru Coffee Tower parking lot. “So this shuttle bus is to ensure tourists’ accessibility remains comfortable even though the bus parking location has shifted, especially for school groups who are the main visitors,” she said. For shuttle bus usage, tourist groups that have made reservations will be directed to the designated drop-off points. “We are also coordinating across regional agencies to add fleet support if there is a surge in visitors during long holidays,” Karmila stated. Meanwhile, the Yogyakarta City Transportation Department stated that after large tourist buses were banned from the Senopati TKP, it is now redirected as a parking location for private vehicles and minibuses. “We are also preparing this Senopati TKP to become a base for traditional transportation modes such as becak and andong,” he said. This step is taken in response to the high interest from tourists wanting to explore the Jeron Beteng Keraton Yogya area, including the increasingly popular Ngasem Market area. “After the absence of bus parking activities, the Senopati TKP is now more accessed by private vehicles and minibuses, making it a point for onward transport modes,” said Agus Arif Nugroho, Head of the Yogyakarta City Transportation Department. According to him, tourists wishing to head to cultural heritage areas around the city centre can directly book traditional transportation services like andong at the location through the provided information boards. The static capacity of the Senopati TKP currently accommodates around 10 andong and 30 becak at a time, which, calculated with a 12-hour operational rotation system, is estimated to serve up to 60 andong and more than 200 becak every day.