Train through Java
Travelling by train is the best way to see the island of Java, and it's so much easier to do than you may think. Choooo chooo!
Choooo chooooo! All aboard, boys and girls, it's time to (convince you to) go on a train journey across Java!
Before stepping onto the platform at Bangyuwangi station, I was slightly skeptical about whether training all the way from eastern Java, to the capital city of Jakarta on the west coast was even possible. Indonesia didn't strike me as a place with a super advanced public transport system - but. boy was I wrong! The trains on Java were incredible.
PRO TIP: Book tickets through the KAI app or website. It's the official train booking platform that most locals use, and offers you standard prices that haven't been increased by third-party apps such as 12Go.
We took the economy classes on every train (budget backpacking core) and were blown away by the standard of them. They were clean, relatively comfortable, always on time, and easy to navigate. There were food and drinks for purchase (we tried a nasi goreng and gave it a whooping 7/10, which is high by our standards!) and spectacular views of Java the entire way.
If you're planning a trip to Java and have time to explore the whole island, I'd definitely recommend taking the trains. It was easy, affordable, and a fun way to see the country.
If you want to see more of what the trains are like, or want to watch 20 minutes of us being silly, check out our YouTube video.