Universitas Islam Indonesia is located in Yogyakarta—the most liveable city in Indonesia. The fertile plains of Yogyakarta have been the cradle of Javanese culture, where local Hinduism is strongly bound to Islamic values. This eclecticism is beautifully summarized in the life of Yogyakartanese with Kraton Yogyakarta (Sultan Palace) which lies in its centre.

Despite conversion to Islam sometime in the 16th century, the people of Yogyakarta have managed to maintain a strong link with the Hinduism, which persistently characterizes most parts of Asian cultures. This is evident not only in the theatrical tradition but, more importantly, in the people’s character and manners. Within a few kilometres around Yogyakarta are some of the most spectacular sights in all Asia, both natural and manmade, including Borobudur and Prambanan temples and countless other masterpieces of Asian architecture.

Yogyakarta is a ‘twenty-four-hour city’. Life runs in a quiet and subtle way; the gentle touch of Javanese culture seems to dominate the city. Malioboro Street, the heart of Yogyakarta, has an impressive night life that constantly serves as a source of fascination for foreign tourists. At 6 p.m., when the street lamps are brightly lit, street vendors, amateur artists, buskers and other entertainers start orchestrating the night life in order to make their ends meet. As soon as stores, department stores, supermarkets, and malls close their doors at 9 p.m., the fate of the night life is taken over by hundreds of instant traditional restaurant lesehan setting up along the side-walks and serving as convenient places for leisure seekers. They are open until dawn.

In general, Yogyakarta knows only two seasons: wet season (October through April) and dry season (April through October). The temperature varies between 25–32 ˚C. Yogyakarta can be reached by air either from the Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali or the Sukarno-Hatta International Airport in the capital city of Jakarta. The connecting flight to Yogyakarta from both Bali and Jakarta takes approximately one hour. The city is also efficiently linked with Jakarta and Surabaya by bus and train services operating every day.