Yogyakarta has a tropical monsoon climate with two distinct seasons. The dry season (May to October) is the most comfortable time to visit: clear skies, low humidity, and the best conditions for seeing Borobudur at sunrise or climbing Merapi. This period coincides with the main tourist season, so accommodation and tour prices are higher.
The wet season (November to April) brings daily rain, usually in the afternoon, and can make Merapi invisible for days at a time. That said, Yogyakarta is rarely shut down by rain, and the wet season brings lush green landscapes and far fewer tourists. January and February are the wettest months.
The Sekaten festival — a week of ceremonies and a lively market around the Kauman Great Mosque — marks the Prophet Muhammad's birthday and draws large crowds from across Java. Its timing shifts annually with the Islamic calendar. The Yogyakarta Arts Festival (Festival Kesenian Yogyakarta), held each June-July, fills the city with Javanese and contemporary performance for about a month.