Top places to visit in Pekanbaru

• Masjid Raya An-Nur

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

  Grand provincial mosque blending Malay, Turkish, Arab and Indian design — the "Taj Mahal of Riau".

• Balai Adat Melayu Riau (Riau Malay Cultural Hall)

  cultural heritage · 4.2 rating · about 1.3 h · check the fee at the gate

  The premier cultural showcase of Riau Malay heritage — a grand traditional stilt-house complex with exhibition halls tracing Riau architecture, textiles, traditional medicine, and court ceremonies. Performances of zapin dance and kompang…

• RTH Putri Kaca Mayang

  city park · 4.3 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  Central green city park with a jogging track, play areas and an open-air theatre.

• Alam Mayang

  recreation park · 4.3 rating · about 2 h · entry Rp25,000 (≈ ₹130)

  Family recreation park with fishing lakes, gardens and rides on the city's east side.

• Pasar Bawah

  traditional market · 4.4 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  Riverside Chinatown market famous for souvenirs, ceramics and local snacks.

• Anjung Seni Idrus Tintin

  arts venue · 4.4 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate

  Striking Malay-architecture arts venue at the Bandar Serai cultural park.

• Museum Daerah Riau Sang Nila Utama

  provincial museum · 4.3 rating · about 1 h · entry Rp5,000 (≈ ₹27)

  Riau provincial museum of Malay history, culture, crafts and natural history.

Things to do

• Siak Sri Indrapura Palace Day Trip from Pekanbaru Cultural · 6 h · from IDR 350,000 per person
• Pekanbaru Riau Malay Cultural Experience Cultural · 3 h · from IDR 150,000 per person

Where to stay in Pekanbaru

• City Center about IDR 1,500 per night

  Riau capital with mid-range accommodation

Hotels

• Novotel Pekanbaru 4-star · IDR 600,000 to IDR 1,400,000 per night
• Grand Zuri Pekanbaru 4-star · IDR 650,000 to IDR 1,800,000 per night
• Aryaduta Hotel Pekanbaru 4-star
• Swiss-Belinn SKA Pekanbaru 3-star

Where to eat

• Sushi Tei Pekanbaru Japanese, Sushi, Asian · about IDR 120,000 per person
• Koki Sunda Sundanese, Indonesian · about IDR 75,000 per person
• Gulai Ikan Patin Bu Yuni Riau Malay, Indonesian · about IDR 65,000 per person
• Mie Sop Ayam Pak Ongah Riau Malay, Indonesian · about IDR 25,000 per person
• Kedai Kopi Kimteng Coffee Shop, Indonesian, Chinese · about IDR 25,000 per person
• Pondok Gurih Indonesian, Seafood, Malay · about IDR 70,000 per person
• Sultan Resto indonesian, malay · about IDR 72,500 per person
• RM Pauh Piaman indonesian, padang · about IDR 45,000 per person

Getting to Pekanbaru

Airport: Pekanbaru (PKU)

Getting around

• Ride Hail
• Walking

Safety and scams to avoid

• Scooter rental damage claim

  Sultan Syarif Kasim II Airport taxi touts · city centre scooter rental stalls · Siak Palace day-trip overcharges

  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.

More in Indonesia

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

Frequently asked questions about Pekanbaru

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

The highest-rated places in our Pekanbaru guide are Masjid Raya An-Nur, Pasar Bawah, Anjung Seni Idrus Tintin, RTH Putri Kaca Mayang, Alam Mayang.

Where should I stay in Pekanbaru?

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

How do I get around Pekanbaru?

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

What scams should I watch out for in Pekanbaru?

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

Which airport is nearest to Pekanbaru?

The nearest airport to Pekanbaru has the code PKU.