The Alun-Alun is the main public square of Purwokerto, a large grassy quadrangle flanked by the Grand Mosque on the west, the Bupati's residence on the south, and a row of food stalls and warungs on the east. In the morning it is used for school exercise classes and tai chi; in the late afternoon and evening it fills with families, couples and groups of students sitting on mats, eating mendoan and grilled corn, while children chase each other around the two giant banyan trees that mark the centre.
The square is the natural starting point for a walk around central Purwokerto: from here, Jalan Jenderal Soedirman runs east towards the colonial-era post office and the railway station, while Jalan Bank to the south leads into the old commercial district. The Grand Mosque (Masjid Agung Baitussalam) on the west side is open to non-Muslim visitors outside prayer times and has a striking blue dome. Evening is the best time to come, when the square is at its liveliest and the temperature has dropped.