Medan: 10 places for sultan's palaces, rainforest and cool highlands
A yellow-and-gold sultan's palace, a grand old mosque, a merchant's mansion, rich street food and, a few hours away, wild orangutans and a volcano town in the cool Karo hills - Medan is North Sumatra's big city and the best starting point for all of it. Plan it with a map and a free trip planner on WhatsApp.
Chosen for first-time and returning visitors. Add the ones you like to your trip - we turn them into a plan.
#01Sultan's palaceCity centre
Maimun Palace (Istana Maimun)
The palace of the Deli Malay sultans, begun in 1888 and painted in royal yellow. Its look mixes Malay, Islamic and European ideas, and the grand reception hall still holds the throne and family portraits.
⏱ 1-1.5 hours
🚗 in the city centre
🌅 Morning
Our tipOnly part of the palace is open to visitors, and it is still used for royal family events, so access can change. We check it for your day. Dress neatly and keep your voice down inside.
Built for the Deli sultan and finished in 1909, with a large dome, tall arches and richly decorated halls in a style that blends Middle Eastern, Indian and European influences. It stands close to the palace, so the two are easy to visit together.
⏱ 45 min-1 hour
🚗 about 5 min from Maimun Palace
🌅 Morning or late afternoon
Our tipVisitors are welcome outside prayer times; dress modestly and cover shoulders and knees (cover your hair if you are a woman). Some areas may be closed to visitors during prayers.
The old home of Tjong A Fie, a Chinese-Indonesian businessman and community leader of early 1900s Medan. The house blends Chinese, Malay and European styles, with carved wood, tiles and family furniture that show how wealthy families lived then.
⏱ 1-1.5 hours
🚗 in the city centre
🌅 Morning
Our tipVisits are usually done as a short guided tour and the house is now a museum, so opening times and tour rules can vary. We check them for your dates. Combine it with a walk around Kesawan.
The old commercial quarter around Lapangan Merdeka (Merdeka Square), where colonial-era shophouses, banks and the old post office still stand. Nearby Merdeka Walk is a busy open-air eating area at night.
⏱ 2 hours
🚗 in the city centre
🌅 Late afternoon into evening
Our tipThe pavements are narrow and traffic is busy, so walk with care. Go in the cooler late afternoon, and keep your phone and bag close in crowded spots.
A Catholic shrine in the Indian (Tamil) tradition, dedicated to Our Lady of Good Health, with white towers and domes that look more like a temple than a typical church. It reflects the Indian community that has long lived in Medan.
⏱ 45 min-1 hour
🚗 about 20-30 min from the centre
🌅 Morning or late afternoon
Our tipIt is a working place of worship: dress modestly, stay quiet during services and ask before photographing people praying. Visiting hours may change around services and feast days.
#06FoodAcross the city & Pancur Batu
Medan food: durian, soto & bika ambon
Medan is a food city that mixes Malay, Batak, Chinese, Indian and Javanese cooking. Try soto Medan (a spiced coconut-milk soup), bika ambon (a springy honeycomb-textured cake), sweet egg tea and local durian, which many people drive out to Pancur Batu to eat.
⏱ 2-3 hours
🚗 in town; Pancur Batu durian stalls about 45 min-1 hr away
🌅 Evening; durian in season
Our tipDurian is seasonal and the season varies from year to year, so we cannot promise it for your dates. Some Batak and Chinese-run eateries serve pork, so look for a halal sign or ask first.
A riverside jungle village at the edge of Gunung Leuser National Park, known for treks in search of Sumatran orangutans in the rainforest, plus gibbons, macaques and tropical birds. The Bohorok river runs through the village.
⏱ 1-2 days
🚗 about 3-4 hrs by road from Medan
🌅 Dry months, morning treks
Our tipOrangutan sightings are never guaranteed - they are wild animals. Treks go with a local guide; keep your distance, never feed or touch them, and stay away if you are ill. The river can rise fast after heavy rain.
A cool hill town at roughly 1,300 m, famous for its fruit and vegetable market and views of the volcanoes. Gundaling Hill is an easy viewpoint, while Mount Sibayak (about 2,200 m) is a popular hike. Traditional Karo houses are in villages nearby.
⏱ Full day or overnight
🚗 about 2-3 hrs by road from Medan
🌅 Morning, dry months
Our tipVolcano areas can be closed when activity rises, so we check the status before you go. Start the Sibayak hike early, wear sturdy shoes and bring a jacket - it is much cooler than Medan.
A slender waterfall that drops roughly 120 m from the plateau toward Lake Toba, with viewpoints at the top that look out over the lake and the green valley below. It is often paired with Berastagi on the same trip.
⏱ 1-1.5 hours at the site
🚗 about 1-1.5 hrs beyond Berastagi, roughly 4 hrs from Medan
🌅 Morning, clear weather
Our tipWalking down to the base means a long staircase, and the climb back up is tiring; the top viewpoint alone is easy. Mist and rain can hide the view, so go in the morning and keep time spare.
Parapat is the main lakeside town on the way to Lake Toba, the huge volcanic lake with Samosir Island in the middle. It is a long trip from Medan, so it works best as a stay of a few days. See our separate Lake Toba guide for what to see on the lake.
⏱ 2-3 days (see our Lake Toba guide)
🚗 about 4-5 hrs by road from Medan
🌅 Dry months
Our tipDo not try it as a rushed day trip from Medan; allow at least one night. Road times vary with traffic and weather, and ferries to Samosir run on their own schedule, so we plan it with you.
Starting points we adjust to your dates, budget and hotel choice. Prices depend on the hotel and season, so we quote them for you.
Medan city classic2 days / 1 night
Palace, mosque, mansion & street food
👥 First visit, couples, history and food lovers
Maimun Palace and the Great Mosque in the morning
Tjong A Fie Mansion and a walk through Kesawan
Graha Maria Annai Velankanni church
An evening of Medan food
🏨 4-star hotel in the city centre
PriceOn requestWe quote today's hotel rates for your dates
Most popular
Orangutans & jungle3 days / 2 nights
Bukit Lawang rainforest adventure
👥 Nature lovers, families with older children, couples
A night in Medan with a short city tour
Private car with driver to Bukit Lawang
Guided jungle trek to look for orangutans (sightings not guaranteed)
Relaxing by the Bohorok river
🏨 City hotel plus a riverside lodge
PriceOn requestWe quote today's hotel rates for your dates
Karo highlands & Lake Toba4 days / 3 nights
Volcano views, waterfall and the big lake
👥 Families, friends, slow travellers
Berastagi market, Gundaling Hill and a Karo village
Sipiso-piso waterfall viewpoint
Continue to Parapat on Lake Toba (see our Lake Toba guide)
Optional Mount Sibayak hike if volcano status allows
🏨 Hotel in Berastagi and a lakeside hotel in Parapat
PriceOn requestWe quote today's hotel rates for your dates
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Car with driver and guides arranged on request
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Practical tips
Getting there
Kualanamu International Airport (KNO) is about 45-60 minutes from the city centre by car, and an airport train also links it with the city centre. Flights come from Jakarta and other Indonesian cities, and there are usually regional flights too, so we check current routes for your dates.
Best time
Medan is hot and humid all year and rain can fall in any month. Roughly the drier months are best for Bukit Lawang treks and the highlands; the rainy months can make roads slippery and rivers rise. The Karo hills are much cooler than the city.
Respect & dress
Medan is home to Malay, Batak, Karo, Chinese, Indian and Javanese communities. Cover shoulders and knees at mosques, temples and churches, stay quiet during prayers and ask before photographing people. Most local food is halal, but some Batak and Chinese eateries serve pork, so ask first.
Getting around
In the city use ride-hailing apps or taxis; the motorised pedicabs called becak motor are a local option for short rides. Traffic can be heavy, so allow extra time. Bukit Lawang, Berastagi, Sipiso-piso and Lake Toba are spread out on winding roads, so a car with driver is the easiest way to combine them.
Opening hours, tickets, access and rules change (for example visitor quotas, volcano or sea conditions and closures) - we check them for your dates. Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each picture; map: OpenStreetMap. Last checked 10 October 2026.
#01Sultan's palaceCity centre
