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Medan is a city on the north coast of the island of Sumatra in Indonesia, and the capital of North Sumatra province.

Understand

Medan skyline

Medan is the fourth-largest city in Indonesia after Jakarta, Surabaya and Bandung. With a population of about 2 million people, it is the largest city outside of Java. No ethnic group forms a majority; the largest ethnic groups are the Chinese, Javanese, Toba-Batak, Minangkabau, Mandailing Batak, Karo Batak, Southern Indians, and Northern Indians, and there are many more ethnic minorities.

Each ethnic group contributes to thousands of tasty, mouth-watering dishes found in every corner of Medan. They offer to locals and tourists dozens of food streets and hawker centres to suit their appetite at any time of the day. From the sweet Javanese cuisine, to delicious Batak grilled pork, to hot Padang dishes, from savoury Chinese noodles, to spicy Indian curry, this varied cuisine is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It is obvious why the locals are so into food. The city is quite well known for "food-tourism", especially amongst other Indonesians.

It's interesting to contrast the old, Dutch style green areas, with parks, lawns, and huge old Dutch houses (now turned into government offices or commercial business) and the hundreds and hundreds of newer, shoddy shophouses sprawled together by the hundreds in the commercial areas along with a few modern style malls.

Look out for the motor becaks! A sort of motorized rickshaw, they are a common sight throughout Medan, spewing black smoke everywhere.

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.

Get in

Medan's Kualanamu International Airport and Belawan sea port are visa-free and visa-on-arrival points.

For more visa information, see the Indonesia page.

By plane

Medan's international airport, 1 Kualanamu International Airport (KNO IATA), is in Deli Serdang, about 45 minutes from the city. It handles domestic and regional international flights.

After arrival, ATMs are quite easy to find in the interior of the airport. An information desk is also available.

International

There are direct international flights from Penang (for around US$70 return) and Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, Singapore, and Bangkok.

Popular routes are Penang, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.

Domestic

For destinations within Indonesia, there are some regional airlines and LCC that serve Medan to other cities, mostly around Sumatra island.

Public transport

Train service is provided by Railink, a joint venture between Angkasa Pura II and Indonesian Railway. It is the first integrated airport rail link in Indonesia. City check-in and electronic tickets are also available for passengers' convenience.

The airport train runs up to 21 trips (including one facultative trip) a day in each direction with the first trip from 2 Medan Main Train Station beside Merdeka Square on Balai Kota street at 04:00 and the last trip from the airport at 22:00. The last train from the city goes at around 21:00, but check at the train station for the latest schedule. It is the fastest way to get from the airport to central Medan, taking 31-41 minutes. Be aware that at the train station in Medan, for some strange reason, officially tickets can be purchased only by credit or debit card, not with cash. A one-way ticket costs Rp100,000, unless you can find a promotional offer. A promotional ticket can sometimes be purchased for Rp55,000 online, or through travel agents or external channels (not from vending machines and ticket counters), no schedule change is allowed and the ticket is not refundable. Most updated schedule, pricing and booking can be checked here or from Mobile Application Railink, but it is advised to check at the train station if you want to travel either very early or late. Payment can be done by Klik Pay BCA, Click Pay Mandiri, Visa or Mastercard debit/credit cards.

Buses operated by state-owned bus company DAMRI connect the airport to two destinations in Medan, Jl. Gatot Subroto next to Plaza Medan Fair and Amplas bus terminal. The bus ticket is a lot cheaper than the airport train and normally takes 60-90 minutes to reach the airport, if traffic is not heavy. The last bus from Plaza Medan Fair goes at around 18:00, but this may change from day to day. If you miss the last one, you might be able to get together with others waiting there to go in on a taxi or grabtaxi. Or take a rickshaw to the train station and take one of the last trains of the day.

ServiceDestinationFare
Kualanamu Airport Bus
DamriAmplas Bus TerminalMedanRp25,000
DamriPlaza Medan FairMedanRp30,000
ALSBinjai Super MallBinjaiRp40,000

Taxis are Rp130,000-150,000 for the ride to the city center, but will leave immediately, arrive quicker and be more comfortable than the bus. There is a Rp10,000 surcharge to all fares for airport pickup on top of the metered rate. Taxi drivers may be reluctant (that is, the fare may be much higher) to make the trip late at night.

By bus

The central station for all larger buses in Medan is 3 Amplas Bus Station (not located in the center of the city though). This is where a lot of the smaller minivans go, and where travelers need to go to make connecting buses to further cities. Many of the large air-conditioned buses perform overnight routes.

Larger, non air-conditioned buses and large luxury buses (often Mercedes) that are air-conditioned (some have toilets on board, though they are squatting toilets that are difficult to use when the buses are moving, given driving habits and road conditions throughout Sumatra).

  • Trans Mebidang. A bus rapid transit system operated by the state-owned transport company Damri that serves various places around Medan, Binjai, and Deli Serdang. There are two lines that stops at various designated bus stops. Operating hours are 06:00-22:00. Fixed price:
    • Medan - Lubuk Pakam line: Rp7,000
    • Medan - Binjai line: Rp6,000
  • Makmur/Halmahera, Jl. Sisingamangaraja Km 6,7. Large buses (AC or non-AC), runs daily (usually overnight) to major cities in Riau province.
  • ALS (Antar Lintas Sumatera), Jl. Sisingamangaraja Km 6,5. Large buses (AC or non-AC), with route to southern part of North Sumatra, Padang, Bukit Tinggi, Pekanbaru, Palembang, Kerinci, and major cities in Java island (Jakarta, Malang, Yogyakarta, Semarang, Bandung).
  • Sempati Star, Jl. Asrama. Luxury double-decker bus with toilet, entertainment screen on board, pillow & blanket, serves several cities in Aceh province. Prices range from Rp180,000 for Patas Executive to Rp430,000 for First Class (2017).

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 4 Bandar Deli.

Ferries no longer run to Penang from Belawan. The nearest international ferry port is Tanjung Balai, Asahan, about four hours by train from Medan.

To/from other parts of Indonesia: Domestic routes are served by Pelni, it links Belawan with various ports in Sumatra and other Indonesian islands.

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. Executive, business and economy class trains are available, but if your budget allows, take the better class trains, which are faster and more comfortable. Tickets cost between Rp5,000 (economy) to Rp120,000 (executive). Online booking is available at here.

Get around

Medan city is swamped by becaks and taxis (the preferable choice to get around). There is also a form of public transport known as the angkot (small minivan).

By becak

There are 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. You have to be a good negotiator if you want to go by becak, with price ranging between Rp5,000-30,000 depending on distance and bargaining skills. The pedal ones are becoming scarce, but are much more fun for short trips. Most of their drivers are getting on in years, so they might not want to go too far.

Beware of scam artists who quote you one price to lure you in, even by showing a physical note to show you how much it'll cost, and then demand 10 times that amount when you arrived at your destination. Somehow, it's always 10 times: for example, 3,000 becomes 30,000, 5,000 becomes 50,000.

An audio and video recording of their license card in the becak and the conversation about what was agreed would be a useful defense.

Very few becak drivers speak more than a few words of English, but a map and lots of pointing will get you to the right place, even if it takes twice as long as you thought.

By taxi

Try to pick 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. Taxis with meters may put them on, but then say there is a minimum charge.

Try to avoid the use of taxis other than Bluebird or Express and always use the meter as they are the two most reliable taxi companies in Medan, this is a general rule that applies throughout the regions of Indonesia where either of these two taxi companies are available.

  • Express Taxi, ☏ +62 61 455 2211. White taxis (usually Toyota Vios), they can usually be found around Medan, especially around central city and mostly use meter. Call in advance and they will come in time too (minimum fee by call is Rp25,000). 
  • Blue Bird Taxi, ☏ +62 61 846 1234. Blue color taxis, the newest taxi company to start operate in Medan. Friendly drivers and always use meter. Minimum fee by call is Rp20,000. 

Medan is also served by online transport. You book them via their app from smartphones. Payment can be by cash, card or electronic wallet. The fee is calculated by app, so no need to bargain. Regularly offer promotions.

  • Grab The most popular choice and has the largest operated fleets.
  • GO-JEK Famous for its bike fleets, but also start offering car services.

There have been cases of online transport cars being attacked in a few places like the airport and train station when picking up passengers, though the situation seems to have calmed down. Consult your driver for pick-up point to avoid any problems.

By bus

Public transport is rather haphazard, though there are more or less fixed prices. Small minivans (called sudako or angkot by locals) have painted numbers (1 to 267 in Medan, or sometimes letters like MRX) that signify their routes, which even locals don't have memorized. If you speak Indonesian, just ask where people are standing by the roadsides which "bus" number corresponds to your location and what the price is in advance. When a van with the appropriate number approaches, flag them down as they don't make scheduled stops (just drive along a given route and drop off passengers when told or pick up new passengers when flagged). If you are a westerner, you might want to confirm the price before getting in, though there is another school of thought which believes it is better to just hand over Rp5,000 when you get to your desired destination, especially since drivers are always in a hurry and rarely speak any English. This type of transportation should only be braved by those with a point-to-point knowledge of Medan and a working knowledge of Indonesian so they know where to tell the driver to stop, unless you have a local friend who can take you around, or you have plenty of time to explore the city. Standard fare around town (per 2018) is Rp5,000/trip. One easy route is Minibus #3 from the great mosque (at the side of Yuki Simpang Raya mall) to Sambu bus station near Medan Mall. Another useful route is MRX which goes between Amplas Bus Station - Yuki Simpang Raya - Merdeka Walk (near the train station) - Plaza Medan Fair (near Petisah Market)- Plaza Millenium and beyond.

Talk

All locals will be able to speak Indonesian. However, the ethnic Chinese can often be heard speaking a localised variant of Hokkien known as Medan Hokkien, which is almost identical to Penang Hokkien spoken across the Strait of Malacca.

Medan has a very high level of education and many younger people speak English very well. Those over 50 or 60 also tend to speak English and some even Dutch. If you find yourself stuck just tell the person you need someone who speaks English to help and there will be someone there in a matter of minutes. Speaking English well is a highly regarded skill by the locals so anyone who does so is well known and can be found quickly.

The locals will really appreciate your efforts to learn Indonesian, and please not be offended if they will laugh loudly with you too. It is not a mocking expression.

See

One of Medan's numerous mosques, with tiled minaret and domes visible.
A tiny random portion of the many impressive rooms of taxidermy at the Rahmat International Wildlife Museum and Gallery.
Entrance to the Chinese Daoist temple of Vihara Gunung Timur.
View toward the main hall with incense burner at left. Chinese Daoist temple of Vihara Gunung Timur.
Street view of Perhimpunan Shri Mariamman, a Tamil Indian Hindu temple.
Tjong A Fie Mansion, the command center of the local Chinese community at the turn of the 20th century.

Many tourists choose to use Medan as a quick through-point to travel elsewhere in Sumatra, but the city offers a glimpse of a large Indonesian city still unfrequented by western tourists, and shouldn't be quickly dismissed. However, Medan is more chaotic and has a bit more litter than Jakarta or Denpasar and open sewers abound. Furthermore, not as many people speak English in Medan as in other large Indonesian cities, but even a short list of useful expressions goes a long way, and Sumatrans are still unjaded by westerners.

Medan hosts a great lot of very nice Art Déco buildings from the Dutch colonial era, like the Old City Hall, the Post Office, the Great Mosque and many business buildings in and around Jl. Ahmad Yani. Some of them are in horrible shape, but most of them maintain their old splendour.

Other attractions include:

  • 1 Gunung Timur Temple (Vihara Gunung Timur), Jalan Hang Tuah. 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. Free. 
  • 2 Great Mosque of Medan (Masjid Raya Medan or Masjid Raya Al Mashun), corner of Jalan Masjid Raya and Jalan Sisingamaraja (a 5-min walk to the east from Maimoon Palace, across Yuki Simpang Raya department store). 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. Free. 
  • 3 Graha Maria Annai Velangkanni, Taman Sakura Indah, Jalan Sakura III No. 10 Tanjung Selamat. Catholic Shrine with Tamil Hindu-style architecture, devoted to Our Lady of Good Health. Free. 
  • 4 Maha Vihara Maitreya, Jl. Boulevard Utara No. 1, Cemara Asri. Open most the times. One of the biggest Buddhist temple complex in Medan, the temple is decorated with various statues of mythical Chinese creatures like dragon, kirin and phoenix. To the left wing is a pond housing koi fish, while in 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. Free. Maha Vihara Maitreya (Q24896590) on Wikidata Maha_Vihara_Maitreya on Wikipedia (updated May 2018)
  • 5 Maimoon Palace (Istana Maimun), Jalan Brigjend Katamso (5 mins walk from Great Mosque). 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. Quite busy and popular place with locals and tourists. Free. 
  • 6 Rahmat International Wildlife Museum & Gallery, Jalan S. Parman No 309, ☏ +62 61 456 9964, . 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 rainforests being destroyed and poached every year. Worth supporting against ill-contrived zoos otherwise found throughout the region. Rp50,000. Rahmat International Wildlife Museum & Gallery (Q18393164) on Wikidata Rahmat International Wildlife Museum & Gallery on Wikipedia 
  • 7 Sri Mariamman Temple (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 brighty coloured 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. Free. 
  • Sikh 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. Free. 
  • 8 Tjong A Fie Mansion (Rumah Tjong A Fie), Jalan Ahmad Yani (Ten minutes' walk south of the train station, across Tip Top restaurant). The former mansion of the leader of the local Chinese community of Medan (then Deli) who succeeded in ingratiating himself with both the Indonesian Muslims and the Dutch colonial authorities. No mention is made of his relations with the local Indian community. He became very rich on the profits of his hard-working countrymen, importing them as labour for Dutch plantations and shipping them off when they became destitute or impoverished through overwork, old age or opium. This colourful and ornately decorated building tells his story and that of his descendants, as well as filling in some details about the city's past. Rp35,000. 
  • 9 Tirtanadi Water Tower (Menara Air Tirtanadi), Jalan Sisingamaraja No. 1 (intersection of Jalan Sisingamaraja, Jalan Pandu and Jalan Cirebon). 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. Free. Tirtanadi Water Tower (Q19746232) on Wikidata Tirtanadi Water Tower on Wikipedia 

Do

Theme parks

  • 1 Pantai Cermin Theme Park & Resort, Sales office : Jalan D.I. Panjaltan No. 153, Theme Park : Dusun 1 Desa Pantai Cermin Kanam, Kec. Pantai Cermin, Kabupaten Serdang Bedagai, ☏ +62 61 4510956 (Sales office), +62 61 4562893, fax: +62 61 4520922. weekdays 11:00-17:00, weekends and public holidays 09:00-18:30. 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. weekdays: Rp40,000 (adult), Rp20,000 (children); weekends and public holidays: Rp60,000 (adult), Rp40,000 (children). 

Spa

Although Sumatra does not have the same international reputation as Bali or Thailand for massage, it still forms a significant part of local culture. In rural areas, there will usually be a masseuse available for low cost, if you ask around, while Medan offers true 'spa' facilities, which are highly recommended for anyone seeking a spa experience away from the hustle and bustle of the city at a fraction of the cost elsewhere in the world.

Mostly hotels also have their own spa. You can contact your receptionist for further info.

  • Quan Spa, JW Marriott Hotel 17th floor, ☏ +62 61 455 3333, . Daily 10:00-21:00. 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. From Rp250,000 for 1-hour massage. 
  • Zengarden, Jalan S No. 22/272 Parman, ☏ +62 61 4519306, +62 61 77029845, . Weekdays: 10:00-22:00, weekends: 09:00-21:00. Located in the heart of Medan. Skillful, clean and very affordable by local standards. Reservations are recommended. Rp150,000-280,000. 
  • Eucalyptus Spa. 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. 
  • De'Spa, Jalan Malaka No.136, ☏ +62 61 4148416. 
  • Ocean Spa, Cemara Asri. 

Family karaoke

  • H.o.M.E Family Karaoke, Jl. Pattimura, ☏ +62 61 4536567. 
  • Inul Vizta Family Karaoke, Jl. Multatuli. 
  • Karaoke Keluarga (K2) Family Karaoke, Kompleks Multatuli, ☏ +62 61 4575055. 
  • NAV Family Karaoke, Jl. Raden Saleh and Jl. Palang Merah. 

Buy

Though Medan doesn't have many super malls like Jakarta or Surabaya, it does have plenty of medium-sized malls. Many new malls have been built, with more under construction.

  • 1 Cambridge City Square, Jalan S. Parman No 217 (intersection of Jalan S. Parman, Jalan Gajah Mada & Jalan Zainul Arifin (5-min walk from Sun Plaza along Jalan Zainul Arifin), ☏ +62 61 455 4999. Daily 10:00-22:00. 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, Grand Duck King (Chinese restaurant famous for their duck cuisine), Es Teler 77 (Indonesian street food), Pepper Lunch (teppanyaki restaurant), Haagen-Dazs, and Jittlada (Thai cuisine). A small supermarket, Berastagi Supermarket, is in LG floor. There are also several boutiques which sell knock-off "branded" items. 
  • 2 Centre Point, Jalan Timor (behind the train station). Daily 10:00-22:00. Largest upscale-mall after Sun Plaza, Centre Point aims to combine mall, apartments, hotel and office into one big integrated complex. As of 2018, the apartments were still under construction. Has Lotte Mart (Korean hypermarket), Cinema XXI (movie theater) & food court in top floor, Parkson (department store), modern gym, and many more international retailers of brand-name items. Mr DIY opened in 2019. If you take a train from airport, after exiting train station, you can cross the street into the mall. (updated May 2018)
  • 3 Grand Palladium Mall, Jalan Kapten Maulana Lubis No. 8. Daily 10:00-22:00. No longer so 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. There's a vape shop near the mall's front entrance. Nearby Sun Plaza is a livelier destination - it's about a 10min drive or 15min walk from Palladium. Lippo Plaza is between the two. 
  • Hels, Jalan Sei Batang Serangan No 39/54, ☏ +62 61 4573166, . Complete design services in graphics and fashion. Rp10,000-120,000. 
  • 4 Medan Mall, Jl. MT Haryono. Daily 10:00-22:00. 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. 
  • 5 Plaza Medan Fair, Jalan Gatot Subroto No 30. Daily 10:00-22:00. 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. Cell phone network Three ("Tri") has its Medan office here. 
  • 6 Sun Plaza, Jalan Zainul Arifin Nomor 7 (intersection of Jalan Zainul Arifin & Jalan Diponegoro). Daily 10:00-22:00. 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. There is a hypermarket chain, Hypermart, on the top floor. 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 Cinemaxx (movie theater), Sogo (department store), Gramedia (largest book store chain in Indonesia), Ace Hardware, etc. Very crowded especially on weekends or public holidays. Sun Plaza (Q12517712) on Wikidata Sun_Plaza_(Medan) on Wikipedia (updated May 2018)
  • 7 Thamrin Plaza, Jl. Thamrin. Daily 10:00-22:00. 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. 
  • 8 Yuki Simpang Raya Shopping Mall, Jl Sisingamangaraja XII (across the street from Masjid Raya), ☏ +62 61 7354027. Daily 10:00-22:00. A long running little shopping center, very convenient to the hotel district. Unlike the giant chain malls, this one sells mostly locally made clothing and home furnishings. There is also a large arcade and kids' playground on the top floor and a supermarket in the basement, as well as a popular bowling alley and pool hall, tasty reasonably priced restaurant, and a good gym on the 3rd floor. The gym costs Rp20,000 per visit. You can also become a monthly member. Cell phone shops and a fast food chain outlet near the front entrance. (updated May 2017)
  • Masindo Jewellery, Jalan Gwangju No 30, ☏ +62 61 4519101. In the center of the city. Various jewellery including necklaces, bangles, bracelets, earrings, men's and women's rings, pendants in 24K gold which are structured by pearls, and a diversity of gemstones. Designed by an expert designer. A branch known as D'On Jewellery specializes in diamonds. 
  • Pasar Petisah. A central market, sells vast array of meat, fish, fruit and vegetables. Plaza Medan Fair is very nearby. (updated May 2018)
  • [dead link] TauKo Medan, Jalan Sei Batang Serangan, ☏ +62 61 4573166, . Merchandise including t-shirts. From Rp65,000. 
  • Tondi Gallery, Jalan Keladi Buntu No 6 (close to Jalan Sriwajaya and University of Dharma Agung). M-Sa 10:00-17:00, Su 12:00-17:00. Contemporary art by local, national and international artists. 
  • Gelora Plaza, Jln Sisingamangaraja and Jln Amaliun. A supermarket and small department store for children's school uniforms and other items. Their old building next to the railroad tracks is now closed and they have moved into the Madani Hotel Building. (updated Jun 2019)
  • Plaza Millenium, Jln Kapitan Muslim (on the MRX minibus route). 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. (updated Aug 2019)
  • Mr Ben's, Jalan Muara Takus 70-72 (near Jln Pagaruyung food street in Kampung Keling), ☏ +62 61 4554116. 07:30-19:30, closed Sunday. 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. (updated Aug 2019)

Eat

With diverse ethnic races, Medan truly is a heaven of culinary. You can find a combination of Chinese food, Western food, Indonesian food, etc all around the city. Common sights are mie pangsit (a variant of wonton noodles, sometimes without wonton - commonly pork, but beef and chicken version exist), nasi padang or nasi minang, kwetiau/bihun/mie/nasi goreng (fried noodle/kway teow/vermicelli/rice), bakso (meatball soup served with/without noodle) and sate padang (satay with spicy yellow sauces origin from West Sumatra).

Budget

  • Apek's Coffee House, Jalan Hindu, Kesawan. Historic coffee house with excellent Lintong Coffee served up by Apek. This place was set up by Apek's father in 1922. Serves roti srikaya (kaya toast). Contains stalls with Indian roti cane bread with goat curry and martabaq and Malay soto soup. Outside are Malay fried rice and Chinese kwetiau noodles. Piece of Medan history. 
  • Bollywood Food Centre, Jl. Muara Takus No 7 (behind Sun Plaza), ☏ +62 61 453694. This is nice place for real, homely Indian food. 
  • Cahaya Baru Indian Restaurant, Jalan Teuku Cik Ditiro. The North-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. 
  • 1 RM Garuda, Jalan H. Adam Malik, ☏ +62 61 453 7346, . 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. (updated May 2018)
  • Kwetiau Kerang, Jl. S Parman no 22. 
  • Lontong Sayur Kak Lin, Jalan Teuku Cik Ditiro. 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. 
  • Dr Mansyur Avenue. Near USU, this avenue has developed into one of the hottest hangout places in town, lined with new cafes and restaurants serving great food at student prices. 
  • 2 Mie Aceh Titi Bobrok, Jl. Setia Budi. 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. (updated May 2018)
  • 3 Pagaruyung Alley. 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 2AM. Well known for satay (chicken, lamb, liver, intestine, etc.), fried rice and martabak telur (egg pancake topped with diced potatoes, and onions, often served with curry). Also excellent Javanese style "pick and mix" rice and fruit juices. 

Mid-range

  • 4 Koki Sunda, ☏ +62 61 4533282. 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. 
  • 5 [dead link] Gelato Bar, Jalan Pattimura No 66, ☏ +62 61 453 3166. Su-Th 10:00-22:00; F Sa 10:00-00:00. Italian gelato dessert and many popular pasta dishes are available. It's a good place to hang out and relax. Also open on Centre Point. 
  • 6 Merdeka Walk (just across the train station.). A complex of restaurants and food stalls with a variety of Asian and western food. It is a landmark of Medan and quite a happening place at night. 
  • Jalan Selat Panjang/ Sumatra/ Semarang. This is where some of the oldest Chinese eateries in Medan serve their renown cuisines, such as mie pangsit tiong-sim (noodle served with stuffed dumplings), kwetiau goreng (wok-fried Chinese rice-fettuccine), pokpiah (Singapore-style vegetable-stuffed dumpling) 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. 
  • 7 Tip Top Restaurant, Jalan Jenderal Ahmad Yani no 92 A-B (across Tjong A Fie Mansion), ☏ +62 61 4514442, . 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. 
  • 8 Ondo Batak Grill. 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). 

Splurge

  • 9 Roland's German Restaurant, ☏ +62 61 8214379. The only German restaurant in Medan, located at the main entrance to Taman Setia Budi Indah complex. (updated May 2018)
  • 10 Taipan Restaurant, Capital building, 1st Floor, ☏ +62 61 4556333. Serves mainly Chinese style menu. Dim sum is served usually for breakfast and lunch only. Try their coconut Thai dessert or specialty tofu dish. (updated May 2018)

Others

Durian is one of the most famous fruits of both Medan and North Sumatra. Get the best price and taste when the season comes, which on July and December. North Sumatra has a lot of durian fields like; Sibolangit, Brastagi, Langkat, Sidikalang, Siborong-borong, Tarutung, Sibolga, Nias, Padang Sidempuan, Lima Puluh and Perbaungan. Get Medan durian at Jalan Sumatera, Jalan Semarang, Jalan Adam Malik, Ucok Durian, and more. Rp5,000-50,000 each depending on size and season.

The whole Jalan Majapahit on Petisah area (across Cambridge City Square) got lot of stores selling home made cakes and juices where you can shop selectively. Most stores also allow sampling before buying. Try the local specialty bika ambon (spongy-texture cake with pandan flavor) or marquisa (passion fruit) juice.

  • Bolu Meranti, Jl. Kruing, Petisah. The home-made roll cakes with variety of tastes, such as cheese, blueberry, mocca. The most famous roll cakes in town. (updated May 2018)
  • Dewi Plaza Bakery, Jl. Lampung No.8B, ☏ +62 61 7344272. One of the best cake shops in Medan. (updated May 2018)
  • Medan Home Dairy, ☏ +62 813 9703 3540. 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, pasteurised (twice) organic goat milk. 
  • Zuki Bakery, Jl. S.Parman No.103. 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. (updated May 2018)

Drink

There are several clubs, pubs and karaoke joints to visit at night in Medan.

  • 1 Bistronomix, Jl. Perintis Kemerdekaan (just across JW Marriott Hotel). Popular especially with youngsters. (updated May 2018)
  • Samera Cafe (previously Corner Cafe Raya), Jl. Sipisopiso (next to Mesjid Raya - The Grand Mosque). Right in the heart of Medan's backpacker area and you are likely to meet other travellers and perhaps a few die hard expats here. Its location means that you will get deafened by the call to prayer several times a day. Gone quiet since the opening of the new airport, but be careful, drugs may be offered here and undercover police used to frequent the place. (updated Oct 2019)
  • Equator KTV & Pub, Hongkong Plaza. (updated May 2018)
  • Jet Plane KTV, Plaza Medan Fair. (updated May 2018)
  • 2 Harbour 9, Forum 9 building ground floor (near Lapangan Benteng). Offer outdoor seating just beside Deli river, but many mosquitoes at night. (updated May 2018)
  • Healy Mac's, Centre Point complex Blok M. The only branch of Healy Mac's in Indonesia. Nice food. Priced reasonably. (updated May 2018)
  • 3 Hollywings, Jl. A Rivai. Good food and reasonable priced drinks. Live music usually starts at 21:00. Occasionally may hires famous singers. (updated May 2018)
  • Medan Club & Pub, Jl. Kartini (behind the Governors office, just down from Sun Plaza). This is now the go to place for the expats of Medan. Beer is relatively cheap and food is passable, but the company and the source of local info is the reason to come here. (updated May 2018)
  • New Zone Entertainment, Jl. Kolonel Sugiono. (updated May 2018)
  • Retrospective Entertainment (Retro), Jl. Putri Hijau, Capital Building 6th Floor. (updated May 2018)
  • Shoot Pool Lounge & Sports Bar, Jl. Kapten Pattimura 423, ☏ +62 61 453 1884. 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. 
  • Sky Club, Jl. Kumango 1A (near Kesawan Square and Merdeka Walk). This friendly karaoke bar has good cold beer, Chinese food and friendly service. You can participate in the singing, request to watch satellite news or sports, talk to the locals or just sit and relax in this friendly atmosphere. (updated May 2018)
  • Stroom KTV, Selecta. (updated May 2018)
  • The Tavern Pub, Hotel Danau Toba. 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. (updated May 2018)

Sleep

Budget

  • Blue Angel (Ponduk Wisata Angel), Jl. Sisingamangaraja No 70. Very popular budget backpacker place with a cafe attached. Free Wi-Fi in the lobby/restaurant. Rooms small, basic, clean. Windows and door handles provide doubtful security, better not leave valuables in your room. single room Rp80,000, double room Rp130,000, dorm bed Rp90,000. 
  • Dzhong Backpackers Hostel, JL Muara Takus (near Sun Plaza and Jln Pagaruyung night food market), ☏ +62-822-7309-3888. Check-out: 12:00. A/C single or double rooms. Free Wi-Fi. Free lockers. Bring your own lock. Single Rp100,000, double Rp125,000. (updated Oct 2017)
  • Hotel Residence, ☏ +62 61 7760 0980. Budget accommodation next to the Grand Mosque. It is reasonably clean and central. Unmarried couples are not allowed to sleep in the same room. Rp80,000-160,000. 
  • Hotel Zakia, ☏ +62 61 732 2413. Budget accommodation next to the Grand Mosque. Includes breakfast. It is reasonably clean and central. Rp55,000-120,000. 
  • Trav-fella Homestay, Jalan Sisingamangaraja No.66 (50 m from the Grand Mosque Al-Mashun), . Clean, friendly people, good information. Located in the heart of the tourist area Single from Rp35,000 and double room up to Rp80,000. 
  • Wisma Wahana Daya Pertiwi, Jalan HM Yamin (a short walk from the railway station). Owned by the railway company, clean, decent, cheap. Restaurant Permata DSM is acceptable. Superior rooms Rp135,000/night, suites Rp250,000. 
  • Yap Hostel, Jalan Kelapa No 8-C (from Jl. Putri Hijau traffic light in front of Deli Plaza, turn left to Jl. Guru Patimpus, go straight after you pass the bridge; Jl. Kelapa is the 2nd street on the left side (after Jl. Sei Deli)), ☏ +62 81 2609 4203, +62 81 165 4865, . Check-out: 12:00. Budget backpacker accommodation for women only. Very clean and well maintained. Very near Airport Railink station and Airport Bus Terminal to catch early morning flights. Free Wi-Fi, hot shower, air conditioned room, personal power points, lockers. Rp70,000/person. 
  • Pondok Wisata Istana XI, Jl Amaliun 9 (opposite Yuki Plaza parking lot side entrance), ☏ +62 61 733 1190. 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. (updated Aug 2019)

Mid-range

  • 1 Antares Hotel, Jalan Sisingamaraja No 84 (on same street and near Hotel Garuda Plaza and Hotel Sumatera), ☏ +62 61 732 4000. 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. Rooms from Rp229,000. 
  • Candi Hotel, Jalan Darussalam No. 124, ☏ +62 61 4536 888, . From Rp275,000. 
  • Citi International, . Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 12:00. Clean, no-frills modern hotel with hot & cold shower, air conditioner and Wi-Fi in rooms and cafe. Provide free shuttle to train station. From Rp242,000 per night for Standard Room. 
  • 2 Jalan Sun Yat Sen No. 77, ☏ +62 61 736 3479, fax: +62 61 7324 857. 
  • 3 Jalan Palang Merah No 112A, ☏ +62 61 736 3479, fax: +62 61 7324 857. 
  • 4 Garuda Plaza Hotel, Jalan Sisingamaraja No 18 (south of Tirtanadi Water Tower, about 5min walk), ☏ +62 61 736 1234, +62 61736 1111, . Check-in: 10:00, check-out: 12:00. 4-stars, 250 rooms in the city center with free Wi-Fi in public areas, rooms, meeting facilities; swimming pool, major local bank ATM, shuttle bus, etc. From Rp350,000 per night. 
  • 5 Grand Swiss-Belhotel Medan, Jalan S. Parman No. 217 (adjacent to Cambridge City Square), ☏ +62 61 457 6999. 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. From Rp350,000. 
  • 6 Hermes Palace Hotel, Jalan Pemuda No 22 (southeast of Tjong A Fie Mansion, about 10min walks), ☏ +62 61 4515 777, fax: +62 62 4515 999, . 3-star hotel with 106 rooms, offer shuttle service to train station, 24-hour room service, cafe & bistro, fitness center, etc. From Rp530,000. 
  • 7 Hotel Danau Toba International, Jalan Imam Bonjol No. 17 (5min walks west from Sun Plaza, the same street with Vihara Borobudur), ☏ +62 61 4157000, . 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. From Rp500,000 per night. 
  • 8 Hotel Soechi International (Novotel Soechi), Jalan Cirebon No 76A (across the Tirtanadi Water Tower), ☏ +62 61 456 1234, . 4-star hotel in the city center, attached to a mall. Has a pub (3rd floor) and karaoke club and Wi-Fi on 8th floor for Rp75,000/day. Provide airport transfer. From Rp275,000. 
  • 9 Santika Premiere Dyandra Hotel, Jalan Kapten Maulana Lubis No 7 (Across Lapangan Benteng), ☏ +62 61 451 1999, . Club Premiere Sky Lounge on 10th floor. From Rp 650,000. (updated May 2018)
  • Hotel Deli River and Restaurant Omlandia, Jl. Raya Namorambe No. 129, ☏ +62 61 7032967, . Check-in: 10:00-20:00, check-out: 13:00-14:00. 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! around Rp725,000. (updated Jan 2017)
  • 10 favehotel S. Parman Medan, Jl. S. Parman No 313A (Just besides Rahmat International Wildlife Museum & Gallery), ☏ +62 61 8881 5929, . Opened on May 2017, the 131-rooms hotel is easily recognized by its distinctive exterior architecture with purple color. Part of favehotels chain. from Rp 350.000. (updated Jul 2017)

Splurge

Stay healthy

Medical services are easily obtained in Medan. Pharmacies litters around and generally open from Monday to Saturday (usually 09:00-21:00, some may open until 17:00), the same with clinics. On Sunday, most pharmacies and clinics are close, but there are several 24/7 pharmacies called K-24.

Most hospitals open 24/7 and have Emergency Department and ICU. Hospital fees range from medium to expensive. Not all hospitals accept insurance - check before admitting.

Generally, locals have little confidence with hospitals and their medical staffs performance. Locals prefer going to Malaysia (Penang, Kuala Lumpur or Malacca) or Singapore to treat chronic or acute conditions. Such perception has improved considerably, but skilled medical staff are still few. If you are in doubt, avoid government-owned hospital and opt for private hospital instead.

Connect

Free Wi-Fi is offered in most cafes & restaurant; just ask the staffs. Otherwise, plenty of internet cafes sprawl around the city, especially in rural areas. SIM card with internet quota also is very affordable and can be easily obtained.

The area code for Medan and surrounding area is 061.

  • 6 Pos Indonesia, Jl. Pos no 1 (main office) (across Merdeka Walk). State owned postal service that is quite reliable. Has many branches around the city. The main office is easily distinguished by its architectural style from the Dutch colonial era. Parcels services is slow compare to local private-owned services like TIKI or JNE. Not recommended for shipping parcels internationally. Pos Indonesia (Q4273095) on Wikidata Pos Indonesia on Wikipedia (updated May 2018)
  • DHL Express. Largest logistic company in the world, very reliable and fast, especially if shipping internationally. Serves local shipment as well, but you can use cheaper alternatives. DHL (Q489815) on Wikidata DHL_Express on Wikipedia (updated May 2018)
    • 7 Jl. Sisingamangaraja No 27/39 (Hotel Garuda Citra). (updated May 2018)
    • 8 Jl. Cemara No 29. (updated May 2018)
  • 9 TNT Express, Jl. Cemara No 8. Subsidiary of FedEx. TNT Express (Q1105744) on Wikidata TNT_Express on Wikipedia (updated May 2018)
  • TIKI. One of the most popular logistic services used by local, it's reasonably cheap, fast and reliable. Several drop-off point around cities, just look for store with TIKI logos. Be sure to insure your parcels if you ship valuable items. (updated May 2018)
  • JNE. The other most popular alternatives for JNE. Offer same advantages and roughly same price. Several drop-off point around cities, just look for store with JNE logos. Be sure to insure your parcels as well if you ship valuables. (updated May 2018)
  • J&T Express. Coverage is lower than JNE or TIKI, but price is very competitive. Drop off points are still few, but you can ask for collection. (updated May 2018)

Consulates

Go next

  • Berastagi - a beautiful mountain resort, about 1½ hours' drive from Medan; popular among Medan people for weekend getaways. When it is deemed safe, you can hike the two nearby volcanoes, Sinabung and Sibayak. Check with the local authorities before hiking, as Sinabung volcano erupted on 2014, and and alert in 2015 caused the evacuation of 10,000 people.
  • Kabanjahe - the capital of the Karo Regency. You can observe and experience the life of Karo people by visiting the villages around Kabanjahe. Kabanjahe is also a convenient post to climb Mount Sinabung. If you wish to spend the nights in the villages of Karo people, go to Gumagaba Youth Hostel located on Jalan SM Raja Simpang Amplas, Medan for information..
  • Bukit Lawang - A 3-hour journey from Medan, the latter half of the journey being a rather bumpy and pot-holed ride. A little village on the edge of Gunung Leuser National Park that was once home to an Orangutan rehabilitation center, which is now closed. However, regular feeding sessions take places at the feeding platforms. Jungle treks can be arranged or you can just relax by the river.
  • Lake Toba - one of biggest fresh water lakes in the world. Formed by volcanic eruption. Has a large island, Samosir, in the middle. It is an absolute must see, a really magnificent place full of Batak culture on the shores of a mesmerizing lake. The food is wonderful, accommodation is cheap and the climate is perfect, it seems to be 25°C all the time. Rent a scooter to explore Samosir.
  • Pulau Weh - Garuda Indonesia operates three weekly flights to Sabang (Indonesia) on Pulau Weh, where some of Indonesia's finest diving can be found.


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