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Capital and largest city of North Sumatra, Indonesia
Photo: Pratechno, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Medan is a very large city on the north coast of the island of Sumatra in Indonesia, and the capital and largest city of North Sumatra province. Medan isn't a tourist destination, but it's a convenient stepping stone to other places like the 'weekend getaway' Berastagi, the island of Penang, Malaysia, and the popular, beautiful crater lake, Lake Toba.
From the travel guide. Select a place for details, a map and what is nearby.
Vihara Gunung Timur
A Daoist temple of significant scale located about 500 m from Sri Mariamman Temple. It contains a large paved area with an impressively scaled incense burner, two covered badminton courts, a very large main hall and is partly surrounded by a moat and walls. It is particularly crowded with worshippers on Chinese New Year and Cap Go Meh.
Masjid Raya Medan or Masjid Raya Al Mashun
Built in 1906 and completed in 1909, the mosque was designed by a Dutch architect mixing Moroccan, European, Middle Eastern and Malay styles. During the month of Ramadan the whole Jalan Masjid Raya is closed to hold a night market where food and merchandise are sold. Women can visit, too, but they have to enter the central hall through a separate door and stay behind a provisory wall that separates the hall in two. Around the mosque is a graveyard for the sultan's extended family.
Catholic shrine with Tamil Hindu-style architecture, devoted to Our Lady of Good Health.
One of the biggest Buddhist temple complexes in Medan, it is decorated with various statues of mythical Chinese creatures like dragons, kirin and phoenixes. To the left wing is a pond housing koi fish, while the right wing houses a playground, souvenir shop, a vegetarian canteen and a coffeehouse. The main hall houses statues of Buddha Sakyamuni, Bodhisattva and the Bodhisattva Satyakalama Avolokitesvara. As this is a holy site, always obey the regulations stated by the temple.
Istana Maimun
A royal palace of Sultanate of Deli, built by Sultan Makmun Al Rasyid Perkasa Alamsyah in years 1887–1891, the palace covers 2,772 m² and has 30 rooms. It has unique interior design, mixing elements of Malay cultural heritage, Islam, Spanish, Indian and Italian style. Only a small number of rooms can be visited, with a history of the sultan family and a few artefacts, portraits and photographs and partly occupied by shops. Quite busy and popular place with locals and tourists. Additional fee if want to get photos in traditional costume (Rp50,000). No English text.
Opened in 1999 and is chiefly the most incredible global taxidermy collection you could imagine. This place has to be seen to be believed - it's the sort of thing that could only happen in Asia! A veritable treasure-chest, it features numerous critters of sea, land and sky as well as the collected flotsam of the eccentric founding Afghan's life hunting big game, fishing, hob-nobbing and generally getting around the world. An obvious labour of love by Doctor Rahmat, who has since been installed as the chairman of the Indonesian Museum Association, this place is a small stay against the sea of Sumatran rain forests being destroyed and poached every year. Worth supporting against ill-contrived zoos otherwise found throughout the region.
Kuil Shri Mariamman
A Tamil Hindu temple. Beware: there are two of these! This one's the one on the corner not so far from town. The other one is down a long alley and is closed up. Featuring many brightly colored statues of all the major gods from the Tamil Hindu pantheon and a few naga stones, this temple is testament to the reach of the ancient Tamil maritime empire and the age of the Tamil community in Sumatra. Events regularly take place at this temple.
Located in the old Chinese school 50 m to the right of the Shri Mariamman Tamil Hindu Temple, opposite the maternity hospital. After you walk in to the impressive grounds, turn to the left and walk behind the stairway. The humble temple hall is located to your left. Note: Do not enter without both permission and proper attire! There is supposed to be a larger one elsewhere in the city.
Rumah Tjong A Fie
This mansion was built by an important businessman in Medan, a leader of the local Chinese community who formed several successful business ventures in his lifetime, working with both Dutch colonial authorities, Indonesian Muslims, plantation owners, exporters and worldwide traders of all stripes. Because of his substantial wealth and philanthropic activities involving mosques, hospitals, temples and orphanages, Tjong A Fie became a defining figure in the history of Medan. He worked to improve conditions for those on tobacco, rubber and other plantations, objecting to indentured servitude and other degrading work conditions for ethnic Chinese laborers. This colorful and ornately decorated building tells his story, and that of his descendants, as well as filling in some details about the city's past.
Menara Air Tirtanadi
One of Medan's icons, the water tower was built by the Dutch government in 1908 with a height of 42 m. It is state-owned by PDAM Tirtanadi.
Kebun Binatang Medan
See critically endangered local fauna, Sumatran tiger. It is the only surviving tiger population in the Sunda Islands.
Museum Negeri Sumatra Utara
It is the largest museum in North Sumatra which displays various historical and cultural relics of the nation, arts and crafts from various ethnic groups in North Sumatra.
The water theme park is located in Cermin Beach, Serdang Bedagai. The theme park is organized by a Malaysian investor and the local government. Swimming, sun bathing and kayaking. To go there, take a rental car, private car or mini bus (sudako) at Jalan. MT. Haryono (in front of Medan Mall) and stop at Perbaungan city. Then take a machine trishaw to the beach. The whole journey may take about 1-2 hours.
Located on the 17th floor of the JW Marriott has full 5-star hotel spa facilities, with a one hour massage from Rp250,000 for 1-hour massage, more for more elaborate rituals. This is of course a very expensive fee in Indonesia.
Located in the heart of Medan. Skillful, clean and very affordable by local standards. Reservations are recommended.
There are two branches of Eucalyptus Spa in the city, one at the Travellers Suite hotel. Prices there are lower, from Rp120,000 for 1 hour.
Historic coffee house with excellent Lintong Coffee served up by Apek. This place was set up by Apek's father in 1922. Serves kopi susu and roti bakar srikaya (kaya toast). Contains stalls with Indian roti cane bread with goat curry, martabak and soto soup. Outside are nasi gurih, bakmi and kwetiau noodles. Piece of Medan history.
This is nice place for real, homely Indian food.
The North and south Indian restaurant is one of Medan's best kept secrets, which has been featured in Kompas newspaper as the only restaurant in Medan which serves a wide range of authentic North-Indian cuisine. It offers delicious vegetarian and curry dishes.
Well known for its rendang (Padang-style beef dish cooked slowly in coconut gravy and chili) and ayam pop (Padang-style chicken dish cooked in coconut gravy), it has many branches including RM Berjaya.
Serving tasty and cheap lontong sayur (rice cakes in hot vegetables curry), this humble eatery is not much to look at for the uninitiated. There are queues to buy breakfast and lunch here.
Has been dubbed by an Indonesian lifestyle magazine as the most popular local dish in Medan. A simple dish of noodle served with chili sauce and crab, rumour has it that the secret ingredient which make the Aceh-style noodle irresistible is a dash of Acehnese marijuana, which is the commonest drug that could be imported illegally from the region. But that, of course, only heightened the mystery and the notoriety of the delicious mie Aceh.
Located in Medan's "Little India" or Kampung Keling as it's called by locals. They offer, of course, Indian and Indonesian cuisine. Business begins when the sun sets and goes until 02:00 Well known for satay (chicken, lamb, mutton, liver, intestine, etc.), fried rice and martabak telur (egg pancake topped with diced potatoes, and onions, often served with curry). Also excellent Minang style "pick and mix" rice and fruit juices.
Indonesian and Japanese noodles. AC.
Small street food stall. Likely one of the cheapest places but still good.
As the name implies, serves tasty Sundanese food and beverages such as Nasi Liwet and Es Delima. It's at the heart of the city at the corner of S.Parman and Hasanuddin so it's hard to miss if you travel around the city. Its reasonably priced and wide array selection of delicious food is well known to the locals and visitors. Koki Sunda now opens in Tanjung Morawa and Pekan Baru.
This is where some of the oldest Chinese eateries in Medan serve their renowned cuisines, such as mie pangsit tiong-sim (noodle served with stuffed dumplings), kwetiau goreng (wok-fried Chinese rice-fettuccine), popia (Chinese-style vegetable-stuffed spring roll) and many more. If you want to eat halal, of course you should beware of the pork content in the dishes, but you could always ask for a no-pork version of the dish and a different wok to cook your food in.
Used to be the restaurant in Medan, this unique restaurant can trace its history back to the Dutch colonisation. The food has a nostalgic taste clinging on every bite, such as the ox-tongue sandwich and the bitter-ballen, but the best experience you could have here is watching the buzz of Kesawan Square from your rattan chair on the verandah. Also famous for its cake.
A unique Batak restaurant where you can find the gems of Batak dishes, without all the germs. Cafe-like ambience with non-stop jazz music. Serves a reasonably-tasting saksang (a pork dish cooked in pork blood), babi panggang karo (Batak/Karo-style chopped roast-pork) and arsik (Batak-style fish dish). Don't forget to taste the hot pora-pora (a dish of sauteed papaya and cassava leaves cooked in coconut gravy and rawit chili).
Serves traditional Halal Batak-Karo dishes, like arsik, a traditional goldfish/carp dish, and ayam cipera, a type of Karo soup made with corn, chicken, and other spices and left to stew in water.
Serves mainly Chinese style menu. Dim sum is served usually for breakfast and lunch only. Try their coconut Thai dessert or specialty tofu dish.
A German restaurant in town.
The home-made roll cakes with variety of tastes, such as cheese, blueberry, mocha. The most famous roll cakes in town.
They have European-style "best natural yogurt in Indonesia". Located at TASBI Complex. They are producing many kinds of goat and cow milk cheeses, as well. For the goat milk products they are using fresh, pasteurized (twice) organic goat milk.
Bika Ambon, spekoek, prunes, roll cake (Bolu Gulung), breads. They bake items fresh every day and also make their on syrups, including marquisa syrup, terong belanda syrup and kietnah syrup.
Popular especially with youngsters.
Offer outdoor seating just beside Deli river, but many mosquitoes at night.
The only branch of Healy Mac's in Indonesia. Nice food. Priced reasonably.
Good food and reasonable priced drinks. Live music usually starts at 21:00. Occasionally may hires famous singers.
Retro
A pool bar with big screen playing sports channel (football games on the weekends) accompanied by regular live bands and DJ performance. It also has a large collection of wine from all over the world.
Was once one of the most popular going out pubs for expats in the city, but now is a little run down and attracts a sleazier crowd. It features live music from local bands. It's fairly small, fairly popular and is crowded on the weekends with groups of friends, couples, and some rather friendly girls hanging out. A bit expensive for the standard.
A/C single or double rooms. Free Wi-Fi. Free lockers. Bring your own lock.
Budget accommodation next to the Grand Mosque. Includes breakfast. It is reasonably clean and central.
Looks more expensive than it is. A range of rooms are available in this medium-size hotel, starting at Rp120 000. They also have very reasonable monthly rates.
Futuristic capsules, no upper bedsheet, small foldable tray/table (detachable from wall). Shower, towel, hot+cold water, soap, no shampoo. No water bottle, water fountains fine to use for refill. Two lockers (one for shoes, one for cabin-sized bag). Toilets with toilet gun/shower but no toilet paper. Rooftop. Small market/bazaar outside the hostel. on the main street some nights, but noise does not reach inside capsule. Ground or 1F as café+ reception, 2F female dorm, 3F male dorm, 4F rooftop. There is no power point inside capsule. It has two USB-A sockets (labeled "fast" and "slow", but both are very bad). Bad Internet upload. 24-hour front desk. Friendly staff. Street food outside is fantastic. There's a small, but super nice shopping centre a very short walk down the street, across a short bridge, with supermarket downstairs, restaurants on ground, and cinema and skating rink on the top floor. Good for a touch of civilization before/after jungle trekking.
Discounts on weekends. Breakfast buffet included in the price. SatTV with HBO, Star Sports, Discovery Channel, CNN. A/C. Clean, but room doors not properly noise-proofed, so you will hear anything and anyone walking the corridor on their way from the elevator. Bring ear plugs if you are a light sleeper. There is a children pool on the 3rd floor.
Clean, no-frills modern hotel with hot & cold shower, air conditioner and Wi-Fi in rooms and cafe. Provide free shuttle to train station.
Hotel De Boer
A 4-star hotel. The oldest hotel in Medan was built in 1898.
A 3-star hotel.
3-star hotel with 106 rooms, offer shuttle service to train station, 24-hour room service, cafe & bistro, fitness center, etc.
Pleasant 5-star hotel with 311-rooms, free Wi-Fi, professional staff, gym and large swimming pool and excellent, inexpensive Indonesian food available on 24-hour room service (international options are available but perhaps less impressive). Sometimes takes tour groups. Popular music venue The Tavern.
Club Premiere Sky Lounge on 10th floor.
Charming oasis of a hotel in the suburbs south of Medan, on the route to Berastagi. There are 14 cottage-style rooms and the service includes breakfast in the restaurant and free Wi-Fi. There is a swimming pool for guests. Owners and staff are very friendly and helpful. Watch out for the geese in the hotel grounds!
Opened on May 2017, the 131-rooms hotel is easily recognized by its distinctive exterior architecture with purple color. Part of favehotels chain.
5-star hotel opened in 2007 near business and government district. Resort style swimming pool, Pool Cafe, the Lounge and the Kitchen restaurant.
The building is in the national archive of historic places and was restored.
5-star hotel.
4-star luxury hotel in Medan with 260-rooms.
Previously Grand Angkasa Hotel, now taken over by Accor group and the place was renovated. A 5-star hotel with 266-rooms, free Wi-Fi, personal safety box and a choice of smoking/non-smoking room. Its location is a bit far from shopping center or other landmarks, so you need to take taxi to go somewhere place. Student from the nearby university have been known to cause violence when there are strikes. Just stay in the room should a strike happen.
5-star hotel with 246 guest rooms in the CBD. Adjacent to the Cambridge condominium and city square. Rooftop dining at the "Edge Restaurant" or chill out while listening to live music at the "View Music Lounge & Bar" on the 26th floor.
Cambridge City Square consists of office spaces, a mall, condominium and the Grand Swiss-Belhotel International linked together. The mall is less than a quarter of the size of Sun Plaza, but houses many restaurants and cafes like Nelayan Jala-jala (dim sum restaurant), Starbucks Coffee, Es Teler 77 (Indonesian street food), Pepper Lunch (teppanyaki restaurant), Haagen-Dazs, Magal and many more. There's even ice skating. A Berastagi Supermarket is in LG floor. There are also several boutiques which sell knock-off "branded" items.
An upscale-mall, Centre Point aims to combine mall, apartments, hotel and office into one big integrated complex. Has Mr. DIY, Lotte Mart (Korean hypermarket), Cinema XXI (movie theater) & food court in top floor, Metro (department store), a modern gym, and many more international retailers of brand-name items. If you take a train from airport, after exiting train station, you can cross the street into the mall.
No longer grand, this out-of-fashion mall is adjacent to Hotel Aryaduta in the city center. Used to be popular, but most outlets have now closed, as happens to malls in fickle Medan. All the large stores have left, but there are still a few small shops selling things like gems and CDs, and a few good restaurants. Be sure to try Tiong Sim Noodle & Hong Kong BBQ (open until 02:00 daily!): Their roasted pork and noodles is very famous locally. Nearby Sun Plaza is a livelier destination - it's about a 10-min drive or 15min walk from Palladium. Lippo Plaza is between the two.
A popular place for shoppers where you can find almost everything from fine jewelery, clothing and food to groceries. Directly connected to Pusat Pasar, a big traditional market behind Medan Mall. The adjacent Olympia Mall is a wholesale market.
One of the major malls in Medan, renowned for selling electronics and gadgets. Has Transmart Carrefour (hypermarket), Matahari (local department store), Ayam Kalasan (Indonesian restaurant famous for its roast chicken), and many other chain restaurants. Slightly cheaper than Sun Plaza. On the top floor, you will find many small outlets selling gadgets or PCs and accessories and a Mr DIY. Cell phone network Three ("Tri") has its Medan office near the KFC.
Located downtown in the Central Business District area, just at the border of Kampung Keling (Little India), surrounded by major international banks. It is one of the largest high-end shopping malls in Medan. Plenty of food choices from western to eastern. Has more luxurious goods than other malls in town; however, many of them are knock-off branded products. The products can range from C to AAA grades. It is strongly advised to bargain. Some good buys include Mont Blanc pens which can be purchased for Rp100,000-200,000 apiece, complete with gift box and warranty card. Also has ice skating, Cinemaxx (movie theater), Sogo (department store), Gramedia (largest book store chain in Indonesia), Ace Hardware, etc. Very crowded especially on weekends or public holidays.
One of the oldest malls with large Matahari (department store), Timezone arcade, top-floor food court and limited international brand stores. Located near Chinatown. There's a wholesale market beside Thamrin Plaza called Pasar Rame that opens from 09:00-17:00 daily. Look around for dried fruit with sugar.
A long-running little shopping center across the street from the big mosque, very convenient to the hotel district, but not yet recovered from the Corona period. It may look abandoned, but it's open. Unlike the giant chain malls, this one sells mostly locally made clothing and home furnishings. Lots of rattan furniture, interesting plastic table and chair creations, toys, tents... There is also a large arcade and kids' playground on the top floor, a supermarket on the ground floor, as well as a popular bowling alley, pool hall, and a gym on the 3rd floor. The gym is well equipped, other than a lack of enough dumb bells, and costs either Rp20,000 per visit or you can become a monthly member. Gymnastics for kids opened recently, also on the 3rd floor. Cell phone shops near the front entrance. Across Jln Amaliun from Yuki there is a food center and cafe. Buses to Siantar and thereabouts leave from the parking lot. There are also many food stalls and cafes along Jln Amaliun.
A central market, sells vast array of meat, fish, fruit and vegetables. Plaza Medan Fair is very nearby.
A supermarket and small department store for children's school uniforms and other items. Their old building next to the railway tracks is now closed and they have moved into the Madani Hotel Building.
Medan's cell phone plaza. Four floors almost completely devoted to phones. Pretty girls do their best to get you to choose their booth, from the hundred or so which all seem to offer the same merchandise. There's a food center, a cinema, and kids' amusement area on the top, and there are also a couple of fast food joints, a supermarket and a gym on the ground floor. There are also phones and accessories shops across the street.
Not a mall, just a good sized shop that has been a long running source for all those hard to find food items that foreigners crave. They have a lot of competition since the giant supermarket chains have arrived, but you will still find items here that you won't get anywhere else in Medan. Personal service and very reasonable prices. Cheeses, interesting local coffees, and health food items. Well worth visiting.
The largest upscale mall, part of Podomoro City Deli Medan. Their tenants include Sogo Dept Store, Marks & Spencer, Pull & Bear, Uniqlo, Tumi, Swarovski, Transmart Supermarket, Ace Hardware, Starbucks and many more.
By plane
Medan's civilian airport, Kualanamu International Airport (KNO), is in Deli Serdang, about 45 minutes from the city. It handles domestic and regional international flights.
By bus
The central station for all larger buses in Medan is Amplas Bus Station (not located in the center of the city though).
By car
The Trans-Sumatran Highway that connects the whole island crosses Medan's city center. Toll roads exist but only as far as Binjai to the north west and Tebing Tinggi to south east.
By boat
Medan is not near the sea, but nearby Belawan is a major port. The passenger terminal is called Bandar Deli.
By train
Medan is connected by rail to other conurbations on the eastern coast of Sumatra, such as Tanjung Balai, Rantau Prapat, Pematang Siantar and Binjai.
By becak
There have long been two types, the noisy smelly motorized ones, called becak motor, and the human powered pedal ones, called becak dayung, or in English, trishaws or pedicabs.
By taxi
Try to get a taxi from a reliable place such in front of malls, shopping centers or airport. Many taxi drivers will resist the use of a meter and want to bargain.
Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Beringin · International · KNO
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