In the same grounds as the Prambanan complex stands Candi Sewu, a Buddhist temple built around 775AD. Its proximity in space and time of construction to Prambanan and other Hindu temples in the area underlines the peaceful co-existence of these religions in Central Java in the eighth and ninth centuries. Sewu is another magnificent spectacle. Its name means “Thousand Temples” although there are actually 'only' 249 – one main temple and eight Candi Apit surrounded by 240 smaller Perwara shrines, each of which contained a Buddha image. One or two of these have been renovated, as has the solid looking main candi in the centre, although it too was somewhat damaged by the 2006 earthquake.

The beautiful Candi Kalasan stands beside a massive banyan tree in a village just off the main road on the outskirts of Yogyakarta and is the oldest known Buddhist structure in Indonesia constructed about 750. It is a tall, imposing, polygonal temple and its main chamber is believed to have housed a large bronze statue of Tara, the female Bodhisattva. Dominating the southern side of the temple is Java's most iconic depiction of Kala, a god-like representation of the destructive nature of time, and a mixture of Javanese cultural tradition, Hindu mythology, and Buddhist symbolism.

Candi Sambisari is an exquisite Hindu temple unearthed by a farmer in 1966. The main shrine was ninety-five percent intact when it was excavated, thanks to 6.5 metres of volcanic ash, sand and gravel that had accumulated on top of the whole site. It is a quite delightful, rather squat, small temple with a large highly polished lingam mounted on a large yoni that fills the small chamber inside. It was originally covered by a wooden roof supported by many pillars, the bases for which can still clearly be seen.

Candi Mendut is a small but graceful Buddhist temple a few kilometres from Borobudur. Inside is an exceptionally fine, large (3m) sitting Buddha flanked by Bodhisattvas.