If you’re visiting Yogyakarta and need an activity that’s both fun and educational, taman pintar with kids is an easy choice to add to your itinerary. It combines outdoor play areas, a science museum, and a planetarium in one central location, making it simple for families to spend a half or full day here without running all over Jogja. While some parts are a bit dated, there’s plenty to keep children curious and engaged.
During our month in Indonesia, we spent a morning here and found it to be a good mix of learning and play. Everything is close together, the layout is easy to navigate, and the variety of activities works well for kids of different ages. Whether you’re looking to give your children a break from sightseeing or want a more structured family-friendly outing, this spot is worth considering.
What is Taman Pintar and Who Will Love It Most
Taman Pintar is basically a mix of a playground, a science museum, and a planetarium all in one spot. It’s built for kids to touch, explore, and try things for themselves instead of just looking at displays.
From what I’ve seen, it’s best for kids in that 4 to 10 age range. That’s when they’re old enough to really get into the science activities but still young enough to love the playground. Our kids were three and five when we went, and they still had a great time, but I think the sweet spot is when they’re a little older and can do more of the hands-on stations without help.
Why it works for families
- Outdoor play: There’s a playground with climbing areas, talking pipes, and water features. Some parts are a little worn, but the kids didn’t care.
- Indoor learning: The museum has different zones where kids can try things like static electricity, puzzles, and interactive science exhibits.
- Planetarium: The show is short and simple, with visuals that kids enjoy, even if they don’t understand the Indonesian narration.
- Easy location: It’s right near Malioboro Street in central Yogyakarta, so it’s simple to add into your day without a lot of extra travel.
If you want something that’s fun, affordable, and keeps kids busy for a few hours while still feeling like you’re doing something educational, Taman Pintar with your kids is a solid choice.
Getting There
Taman Pintar [click for location] is right in central Yogyakarta, just a short walk from Malioboro Street. That’s one of the busiest and most popular areas in the city, so you’re not heading far out of the way to get there.
The easiest option is to book a Grab car through the app. That’s what we did, and it worked perfectly. It was cheaper than a motorbike taxi, we didn’t have to haggle over the price, and we avoided the parking hassle. Our driver dropped us right at the front entrance where you see the water features and the big sign. You know you’re in the right place as soon as you spot it.
If you’re already on Malioboro Street, you can walk to Taman Pintar in about ten minutes depending on your starting point. The streets can be busy, so if you have little kids, I’d still recommend taking a Grab for convenience and safety.
You can also take a traditional taxi or a becak (pedicab) if you want more of a local experience. Just make sure you agree on the price before you start the ride.
Mom-to-mom tips for getting there
- If you’re traveling with kids, avoid motorbike taxis for anything more than a very short trip. The traffic fumes and lack of proper seating for children make it less comfortable and less safe.
- Grab cars are usually the best value for families. You can order one with air-conditioning and enough space for everyone.
- Go earlier in the morning if you can. The streets and entrance area get busier as the day goes on, especially when school groups arrive.
Ticket Prices, Opening Hours, and Planning Your Visit
When you get to Taman Pintar, you can choose to just enjoy the free outdoor playground or pay for tickets to access the science museum, planetarium, and other activities. The ticketing setup can feel a little confusing at first because each area is priced separately, so here’s how it works.
Current ticket prices (as of 2025)
- Oval and Square Buildings (science museum areas): Rp 14,000 for kids and Rp 24,000 for adults
- Planetarium: Rp 25,000 per person, regardless of age
- Other attractions like Dino Adventure, 4D theater, and creative workshops range from Rp 8,000 to Rp 48,000 depending on the activity
You buy tickets at the counters near the entrance. If you’re planning to do more than one activity, it’s best to decide upfront so you’re not going back and forth between counters.
Opening hours
- Open Tuesday to Sunday from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM
- Closed on Mondays except during school holidays when they sometimes open for special programs
Best time to go
- Morning is best. You’ll have cooler weather for the outdoor play and fewer crowds in the museum.
- By mid-morning, school groups start arriving and it can get noisy and busy.
- If you want to catch the planetarium, check the schedule at the ticket counter when you arrive so you can plan your day around the show times.
Mom-to-mom tips for planning
- Bring some small cash for tickets because not every counter takes cards.
- If your kids are little, you might be fine with just the free playground and one paid activity.
- For a half-day visit, start around 8:30 AM and finish before lunch to avoid the hottest part of the day.
Outdoor Play Areas
One of the best things about Taman Pintar with kids is that you don’t need to buy a ticket to enjoy the outdoor playground. If you’re looking for a free and easy way to let the kids burn off some energy, this is it.
The playground is simple but has enough variety to keep kids interested for a while. There are talking pipes where they can send sounds back and forth, climbing structures, and a water corridor that sprays across the walkway. There are also pulley systems, slides, and a sand play area that feels a bit like a small sand palace.
Some of the equipment is a little worn or not working, but our kids didn’t notice. What they did notice is that there’s not a lot of shade. The space is mostly open with just a little cover from trees and nearby buildings. On a sunny day, it heats up quickly, so mornings are definitely the most comfortable time to be outside.
Mom-to-mom tips for the outdoor area
- The playground is free to enter, so you can use it even if you skip the museum or planetarium.
- Bring hats, sunscreen, and water if you plan to stay outside for more than a few minutes.
- If you have toddlers, keep an eye on them because some climbing areas don’t have a lot of safety padding underneath.
- There’s no dedicated seating for parents, so you might end up standing or sitting on the edge of the play structures while the kids play.
Inside the Science Museum
Once you buy your tickets and head inside, you’ll find the main museum split into different zones. This is where Taman Pintar with kids really shows its learning side. Instead of just looking at displays, kids can press buttons, move levers, and try experiments for themselves.
Our kids loved the electrostatic generator where their hair stood straight up, and they kept going back to the skeleton display that let them see how bones move. There are sections for physics, biology, environmental science, dinosaurs and even some cultural exhibits. It’s not high-tech by international science museum standards, but it’s interactive enough to keep kids engaged.
For younger kids, there’s plenty they can still touch and try, even if they don’t fully understand the science behind it. Older kids will get more out of reading the signs and trying the experiments. Just keep in mind that not everything is always open, so it’s worth asking at the ticket counter which zones are operating that day.
Mom-to-mom tips for visiting the museum
- Plan for about an hour inside if you have young kids, maybe longer if your kids are over 7 and like to explore slowly.
- Some signs and explanations are in Indonesian only, so be ready to explain things in your own words.
- The museum can get noisy when school groups come through, so mornings are quieter.
- Bring a small snack or water for breaks. You can’t eat inside the exhibits, but you can step out and come back in with your ticket.
The Planetarium Experience
The planetarium at Taman Pintar is a nice add-on if you want to give the kids something different. The show is about 30 minutes long, so it’s short enough to hold their attention but still gives them that “wow” factor of sitting under a dome and watching the stars and planets above them.
The narration is in Indonesian, so if you don’t speak the language, you won’t catch the explanations. That didn’t bother our kids at all, they were just fascinated by the visuals. It’s not a high-tech production, but for many kids, this might be their first planetarium visit, so it still feels special.
The seats are comfortable, and the space is air-conditioned, which makes it a nice break from the heat outside. You do need to buy separate tickets for the planetarium when you arrive, so if you want to go, it’s best to get them right away before showtimes fill up.
Mom-to-mom tips for the planetarium
- Check the schedule at the ticket counter as soon as you arrive so you can plan your visit around the showtimes.
- Since the show is in Indonesian, you can prep your kids ahead of time with a few fun space facts in English.
- If your kids are under 3, they might not sit still for the full show, so keep that in mind before buying tickets.
- The planetarium is a good spot to cool down before heading back outside.
Pro tips for Visiting Taman Pintar with Kids
If you want your visit to Taman Pintar to go smoothly, a little planning makes a big difference. Here’s what worked for us and what I wish I had known before we went.
Go early
- Arrive right when they open at 8:30 AM. The weather is cooler, and you’ll beat the school groups that start arriving mid-morning.
- Morning light also makes the outdoor play area more comfortable since there’s not much shade.
Decide your activities before buying tickets
- Each attraction has its own ticket, so it’s easier to decide upfront whether you want just the playground, the science museum, the planetarium, or extra activities like the Dino Adventure or 4D theater.
- Ask at the ticket counter what’s open that day, sometimes certain zones are closed.
Pack light but smart
- Bring hats, sunscreen, and water bottles for the outdoor areas.
- Have small cash for tickets since not all counters accept cards.
- Pack a small snack for younger kids in case they get hungry between activities.
Combine it with other nearby attractions
- Taman Pintar is close to Malioboro Street, the Fort Vredeburg Museum, and the Yogyakarta Smart Park. You can pair it with one of these if you want to make it a half-day outing.
Final Thoughts: Was It Worth It?
If you’re visiting Yogyakarta with kids, I’d say yes, Taman Pintar is worth adding to your itinerary. It’s affordable, easy to get to, and keeps kids busy without exhausting parents.
Our kids enjoyed both the outdoor play area and the hands-on exhibits inside the museum. The planetarium was a fun bonus, even though the narration was in Indonesian. For us, it worked well as a half-day outing, especially when paired with a walk through Malioboro Street afterward.
More on the Blog:
Learn more about taking your kids to Taman Sari.
