Top places to visit in Palembang

• Ampera Bridge (Jembatan Ampera)

  river bridge · 4.5 rating · about 1 h · free entry

  Palembang's defining landmark — a 1,117m lift bridge built in 1965 spanning the Musi River, now illuminated spectacularly at night. The bridge connects the city's two halves and serves as the backdrop for the Musi Triboatton river…

• Masjid Agung Palembang (SMB I Jayo Wikramo)

  grand mosque · 4.8 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate

  The grand 18th-century Great Mosque of Palembang, blending Chinese, European and Malay styles.

• Benteng Kuto Besak

  historic fort · 4.5 rating · about 0.8 h · entry Rp5,000 (≈ ₹27)

  18th-century Palembang Sultanate fortress on the Musi riverfront, a popular gathering spot.

• Taman Kambang Iwak

  city park · 4.6 rating · about 0.8 h · free entry

  Leafy lakeside city park (KI Park) with a jogging track and cafes in the Talang Semut quarter.

• Jakabaring Sport City

  sports complex · 4.6 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  Major sports complex built for the SEA Games / Asian Games, with a lake, stadium and recreation areas.

• Museum Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II

  history museum · 4.3 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  A grand colonial-era museum set in a reconstructed kraton-style building housing artefacts from the ancient Srivijaya Buddhist maritime empire (7th–13th century CE) and the Palembang Sultanate. Exhibits include gold jewellery, ceramics,…

• Pulau Kemaro

  temple island · 4.5 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  Small island in the Musi River with a nine-tier Chinese pagoda and a Buddhist temple, reached by boat.

• Museum Al-Qur'an Al-Akbar

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

  Museum in Gandus displaying giant hand-carved wooden panels of the entire Quran text, a distinctive Palembang cultural landmark.

• Punti Kayu Forest Park

  Nature · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  City-edge protected pine forest park with a small zoo, walking trails and swimming pools, a green escape within Palembang.

• Monumen Perjuangan Rakyat (Monpera)

  Heritage · about 0.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  Monument commemorating the five-day battle of Palembang against the Dutch in 1947, centrally located near the Great Mosque.

Things to do

• Ampera Bridge & Musi River Sunset Cruise Outdoor · 1.5 h · from IDR 150,000 per person
• Pempek & Sriwijaya Culture Food Walk Culinary · 2.5 h · from IDR 200,000 per person
• Balaputradewa Museum & Sriwijaya Heritage Tour Cultural · 2 h · from IDR 50,000 per person

Where to stay in Palembang

• City Center about IDR 1,500 per night

  South Sumatra city with mid-range hotels

Hotels

• Aryaduta Palembang 4-star · IDR 750,000 to IDR 2,000,000 per night
• Novotel Palembang 4-star
• Aston Palembang Hotel & Conference Center 4-star
• RedDoorz @ Jalan Bangau Palembang 2-star · IDR 150,000 to IDR 250,000 per night

Where to eat

• Mpek-Mpek Candy Palembang, Indonesian, Street Food · about IDR 25,000 per person
• Pindang Musi Rawas Bu Aisyah Palembang, South Sumatran, Indonesian · about IDR 45,000 per person
• Sate Kerbau Ki Merogan Palembang, Indonesian, Grilled · about IDR 35,000 per person
• Pempek Saga Sudi Mampir indonesian · about IDR 35,000 per person
• Pempek Vico indonesian · about IDR 35,000 per person
• Pempek dan Kerupuk 1707 indonesian · about IDR 35,000 per person
• Sarinande Tempo Doeloe indonesian · about IDR 120,000 per person
• RM Sri Melayu indonesian, seafood · about IDR 120,000 per person

Getting to Palembang

Airport: Palembang (PLM)

How visitors arrive in Palembang

• Fly into Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II Airport By air · common

  The main air hub, with flights from Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore; an LRT line links the airport to the city. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Bus from Sumatra and Jakarta By road from Sumatran cities · common

  Intercity buses from other Sumatran cities and from Jakarta arrive at the Alang-Alang Lebar terminal. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Train from Bandar Lampung By train from Bandar Lampung · possible

  Rail service is limited, with trains from Bandar Lampung and Lubuklinggau arriving at Kertapati Station. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

From the airport to the centre

• Palembang LRT from the airport

  The airport has its own LRT station, Bandara SMB II, with the LRT line running to the city centre. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Taxi from the airport

  Taxis can be hailed at the airport for the road trip into the city. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

Getting around

• Metro

  Palembang has a single elevated LRT line that links the airport with the city centre and the Jakabaring sports complex, with a stop near the Ampera Bridge.

• Ride Hail

  Get Grab in Indonesia · Get the Gojek app

• Walking

Safety and scams to avoid

• Scooter rental damage claim

  Ampera Bridge area touts · Palembang city centre rental stalls · Jakabaring waterfront hawkers

  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 Palembang

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

More in Indonesia

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

Frequently asked questions about Palembang

How many days do you need in Palembang?

A typical trip to Palembang is 1-2 days.

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

The highest-rated places in our Palembang guide are Masjid Agung Palembang (SMB I Jayo Wikramo), Taman Kambang Iwak, Jakabaring Sport City, Ampera Bridge (Jembatan Ampera), Benteng Kuto Besak.

Where should I stay in Palembang?

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

How do I get around Palembang?

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

What scams should I watch out for in Palembang?

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

What is the weather like in Palembang?

Average daytime highs in Palembang run from 31°C in Jan to 33°C in Sep.

Which airport is nearest to Palembang?

The nearest airport to Palembang has the code PLM.