Java's cultural traditions are alive and thriving, and catching a live performance is one of the best things you can do on the island. Gamelan orchestras, wayang kulit shadow puppet shows, and classical Javanese dance are performed regularly at the royal courts in Yogyakarta and Solo, as well as at temples and cultural centers across the island.
The Ramayana Ballet at Prambanan, performed on full-moon nights against the backdrop of the floodlit temple, is spectacular. In Yogya, the Keraton hosts weekly performances of wayang kulit, wayang golek, and classical dance that are open to the public. Solo's Sriwedari Amusement Park stages wayang orang (human puppet theater) based on the Hindu Ramayana and Mahabharata epics.
Beyond the performing arts, Java's volcanoes offer serious trekking. Sunrise hikes up Mount Bromo, multi-day climbs of Mount Semeru, and the shorter but still dramatic ascent of Mount Merapi near Yogyakarta are all popular. The Dieng Plateau in central Java combines volcanic craters, colored lakes, and some of Java's oldest Hindu temples in one otherworldly landscape.