Top places to visit in Medan

• Maimun Palace (Istana Maimun)

  royal palace · 4.5 rating · about 1.3 h · check the fee at the gate

  The stunning 1888 Deli Sultanate palace blending Malay, Islamic, Italian Baroque, and Spanish Moorish architecture. The yellow walls, arched colonnades, and throne room are open for visits. Most spectacular at dusk when the facade is…

• Tjong A Fie Mansion

  colonial mansion · 4.6 rating · about 1.3 h · check the fee at the gate

  A stunning 1900 colonial mansion built by Hakka merchant and philanthropist Tjong A Fie — a synthesis of Chinese, Malay, and Art Nouveau styles. Guided tours reveal original teak furniture, ancestral portraits, and stories of the man who…

• Lake Toba (Danau Toba)

  caldera lake · 4.8 rating · about 8 h · free entry

  The world's largest volcanic lake — a caldera lake 100km long formed by a supervolcanic eruption 74,000 years ago. Set 4–5 hours from Medan, the Batak cultural heartland is filled with colourful traditional houses, coffee plantations, and…

• Great Mosque of Medan (Masjid Raya Al-Mashun)

  historic mosque · 4.7 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  A magnificent 1909 mosque commissioned by Sultan Maimun with a spectacular blend of Moorish, Mughal, and Malay architecture — octagonal marble floor, soaring domes, and detailed tilework. Non-Muslim visitors welcome outside prayer times.…

• Merdeka Walk

  city square · 4.5 rating · about 1 h · free entry

  Lively open-air dining and entertainment promenade on the historic Merdeka Square.

• Graha Bunda Maria Annai Velangkanni

  shrine church · 4.8 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  Striking Indo-Mughal-style Catholic shrine church dedicated to Our Lady of Good Health.

• Maha Vihara Maitreya

  buddhist temple · 4.7 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  One of Indonesia's largest Buddhist temples, set in the Cemara Asri complex with vast halls and gardens.

• Rahmat International Wildlife Museum & Gallery

  wildlife museum · 4.6 rating · about 1.5 h · entry Rp60,000 (≈ ₹320)

  Large private museum of taxidermied wildlife from around the world, founded by hunter-conservationist Rahmat Shah.

• Museum Negeri Sumatera Utara

  state museum · 4.5 rating · about 1 h · entry Rp10,000 (≈ ₹53)

  North Sumatra's state museum covering Batak, Malay and regional history and ethnography.

• Shri Mariamman Temple

  hindu temple · 4.6 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate

  Medan's oldest Hindu temple (1884) in the Kampung Madras (Little India) district.

• Vihara Gunung Timur

  chinese temple · 4.7 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate

  The largest Taoist temple in Medan, a colourful century-old Chinese place of worship by the Babura river.

• Gundaling Hill (Berastagi)

  Viewpoint · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  A 1,575m hilltop 3km from Berastagi town with panoramic views of Mount Sinabung and Mount Sibayak, a standard stop on Medan-to-Berastagi highland day trips.

Things to do

• Istana Maimoon Palace & Great Mosque of Medan Tour Cultural · 2.5 h · from IDR 50,000 per person
• Bukit Lawang Orangutan Jungle Trek Outdoor · 6 h · from IDR 700,000 per person
• Lake Toba & Samosir Island Full Day Tour Sightseeing · 12 h · from IDR 900,000 per person
• Berastagi Highlands Full-Day Tour Activity · 12 h · from IDR 450,000 per person
• Tjong A Fie Mansion & Medan Heritage Walking Tour Activity · 3 h · from IDR 200,000 per person

Day trips and tours

• Lake Toba & Samosir Island Full Day 14 h · from IDR 600,000

Where to stay in Medan

• City Center about IDR 1,800 per night

  North Sumatra city with mid-range hotels

Hotels

• JW Marriott Medan 5-star · IDR 1,800,000 to IDR 6,000,000 per night
• Aryaduta Medan 4-star · IDR 800,000 to IDR 2,200,000 per night
• Karibia Boutique Hotel Medan 4-star · IDR 450,000 to IDR 950,000 per night
• Grand Mercure Medan Angkasa 5-star · IDR 900,000 to IDR 2,500,000 per night
• Santika Premiere Dyandra Medan 5-star · IDR 750,000 to IDR 2,000,000 per night
• The Adimulia Hotel Medan 4-star · IDR 500,000 to IDR 1,200,000 per night

Where to eat

• Mie Aceh Titi Acehnese, Indonesian, Noodles · about IDR 45,000 per person
• Wajir Seafood Seafood, Chinese, Indonesian · about IDR 90,000 per person
• Restoran Garuda Medan Padang, Minangkabau, Indonesian · about IDR 50,000 per person
• Tip Top Restaurant Dutch-Indonesian, European, Ice Cream · about IDR 40,000 per person
• Soto Kesawan Pak Saman Indonesian, Malay · about IDR 28,000 per person
• Garuda Restaurant Medan Padang, Minangkabau, Indonesian · about 75,000 per person
• Sari Laut Nelayan Seafood, Chinese, Indonesian · about IDR 85,000 per person
• Rumah Makan Sederhana (Merdeka Walk) Padang, Indonesian · about IDR 42,500 per person

Getting to Medan

Airport: Medan (KNO)

How visitors arrive in Medan

• Fly into Kualanamu Airport By air · common

  Kualanamu International Airport in Deli Serdang is the main gateway, with domestic and regional international flights and an airport train, bus and taxis into the city. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Bus from other Sumatran cities By road from Sumatran towns · common

  Long-distance buses and minivans arrive at Amplas and other terminals from Riau, Padang, Aceh and Java; the Trans-Sumatran Highway passes through the city. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Train from east-coast towns By train from Sumatra east coast · possible

  Rail links Medan with Binjai, Pematang Siantar, Tanjung Balai and Rantau Prapat. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Domestic ship via Belawan By ferry from Belawan · possible

  Belawan is the nearby port and receives domestic PELNI services. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

From the airport to the centre

• Airport train from Kualanamu

  The Railink airport train runs between Kualanamu and Medan main station beside Merdeka Square; tickets are card-only per the page. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• DAMRI bus from Kualanamu

  DAMRI buses go to Jl Gatot Subroto by Plaza Medan Fair and to Amplas bus terminal. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Taxi from the airport

  Taxis leave straight from the airport and offer door-to-door service into the city. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

Getting around

• Ride Hail

  Grab, Gojek, Maxim and inDrive operate in Medan and are booked through the phone, with the fare worked out by the app.

  Get the Grab app

• Walking

Safety and scams to avoid

• Scooter rental damage claim

  Kuala Namu Airport unofficial taxi touts · Medan city centre rental shops · Lake Toba ferry overcharges at Parapat

  Pre-existing damage is invoiced when you return the scooter — often Rp 2–5M.

  How to avoid it: Video the scooter on pickup. Rent only via your hotel.

Best time to visit Medan

• Jan 31°C
• Feb 32°C
• Mar 33°C
• Apr 33°C
• May 33°C
• Jun 33°C
• Jul 33°C
• Aug 32°C
• Sep 32°C
• Oct 31°C
• Nov 31°C
• Dec 31°C

More in Indonesia

• Jakarta
• Bali
• Yogyakarta
• Bandung
• Surabaya
• Labuan Bajo

Frequently asked questions about Medan

How many days do you need in Medan?

A typical trip to Medan is 1-2 days.

What are the top-rated places to visit in Medan?

The highest-rated places in our Medan guide are Lake Toba (Danau Toba), Graha Bunda Maria Annai Velangkanni, Great Mosque of Medan (Masjid Raya Al-Mashun), Maha Vihara Maitreya, Vihara Gunung Timur.

Where should I stay in Medan?

Our guide covers these areas to stay in Medan: City Center.

How do I get around Medan?

Ways to get around Medan covered in our guide: Ride-hailing app, Walking.

What scams should I watch out for in Medan?

Scams reported to us for Medan include Scooter rental damage claim. Each is explained in the guide, with how to avoid it.

What is the weather like in Medan?

Average daytime highs in Medan run from 31°C in Dec to 33°C in Jun.

Which airport is nearest to Medan?

The nearest airport to Medan has the code KNO.