What are the best things to do in Medan?
Top picks in Medan include Gunung Timur Temple, Great Mosque of Medan, Maimoon Palace, Rahmat International Wildlife Museum & Gallery. See the full list and itinerary on this Medan travel guide.
Photo: Daniel Berthold · CC BY-SA 4.0
Why visit Medan
Travel guide for Medan, Indonesia — practical tips, places to visit, and planning help.
Medan is a stop in Indonesia, not a country-in-a-weekend. Plan about 3 days. If time is short, prioritise Gunung Timur Temple, Great Mosque of Medan, Maimoon Palace instead of racing the whole list. Mid-range ground costs are about 30–95 USD per person per day, excluding international flights. Best time: November–March for cooler, drier conditions. Rankings, stay length and cost bands on this page come from Global Itinerary’s trip-planning models.
Best time
November–March for cooler, drier conditions
Weather
Varies from tropical to temperate depending on the season
Experiences
Things to do in Medan
1
Gunung Timur Temple
2
Great Mosque of Medan
3
Maimoon Palace
4
Rahmat International Wildlife Museum & Gallery
5
Sri Mariamman Temple
6
Sikh Temple
7
Pantai Cermin Theme Park & Resort
8
Zengarden
Budget travel
Free things to do in Medan
Gunung Timur Temple
Great Mosque of Medan
Sri Mariamman Temple
Sikh Temple
Pantai Cermin Theme Park & Resort
Zengarden
Mostly free or pay-what-you-like — always double-check opening times and any seasonal fees before you go.
Plan your trip
Medan itinerary (3 days)
- 1
Day 1
Icons & landmarks
- Visit Gunung Timur Temple
- Visit Great Mosque of Medan
- Visit Maimoon Palace
- Eat at Kedai Kopi Apek
- 2
Day 2
Culture & neighborhoods
- Visit Rahmat International Wildlife Museum & Gallery
- Visit Sri Mariamman Temple
- Visit Sikh Temple
- Eat at Bollywood Food Centre
- 3
Day 3
Markets, parks & hidden corners
- Visit Pantai Cermin Theme Park & Resort
- Visit Zengarden
- Eat at Cahaya Baru Indian Restaurant
Budget
Medan trip cost
Budget
USD 15–35
per person / day
Mid-range
USD 30–95
per person / day
Luxury
USD 110–180+
per person / day
Typical on-the-ground spend in Medan, Indonesia. Hostel/guesthouse + local meals ≈ budget; comfortable hotels + mix of dining ≈ mid-range; luxury hotels and fine dining ≈ luxury. Figures exclude international flights.
Trip budget estimator
Typical mid-range for Medan
Estimated total (USD)
$1,900
≈ $950 per person · $271 per day group total
Ground costs ≈ $65/person/day (lodging + food + transport + activities)
Defaults match Medan mid-range ground costs (budget 15–35 · mid 30–95 · luxury 110–180+ USD/day). Edit freely — flights vary by origin.
Where to eat
Local favourites
Kedai Kopi Apek
Historic coffee house with excellent Lintong Coffee served up by Apek. This place was set up by Apek's father in 1922. Serves kopi susu and
Bollywood Food Centre
This is nice place for real, homely Indian food.
Cahaya Baru Indian Restaurant
The North and south Indian restaurant is one of Medan's best kept secrets, which has been featured in Kompas newspaper as the only restauran
Restoran Garuda
Well known for its rendang (Padang-style beef dish cooked slowly in coconut gravy and chili) and ayam pop (Padang-style chicken dish cooked
Lontong Kak Lin
Serving tasty and cheap lontong sayur (rice cakes in hot vegetables curry), this humble eatery is not much to look at for the uninitiated. T
Mie Aceh Titi Bobrok
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
Where to stay
Tourist favourites & top-rated
Hotel Zakia
Budget accommodation next to the Grand Mosque. Includes breakfast. It is reasonably clean and central.
Antares Hotel
Discounts on weekends. Breakfast buffet included in the price. SatTV with HBO, Star Sports, Discovery Channel, CNN. A/C. Clean, but room doo
Swiss-Belinn Medan
A 3-star hotel.
Hermes Palace Hotel
3-star hotel with 106 rooms, offer shuttle service to train station, 24-hour room service, cafe & bistro, fitness center, etc.
Danau Toba International Hotel
Pleasant 5-star hotel with 311-rooms, free Wi-Fi, professional staff, gym and large swimming pool and excellent, inexpensive Indonesian food
Shopping
- Cambridge City Square
- Centre Point
- Grand Palladium Mall
- Medan Mall
- Plaza Medan Fair
- Sun Plaza
Nightlife
- Bistronomix
- Harbour 9
- Healy Mac's
- Holywings
- Retrospective Entertainment
- Shoot Resto Bar Club
Museums & culture
- Gunung Timur Temple
- Great Mosque of Medan
- Maimoon Palace
- Rahmat International Wildlife Museum & Gallery
- Sri Mariamman Temple
- Sikh Temple
In pictures
Medan gallery
Photos: Daniel Berthold, Bluesatellite, Adhmi, Rochelimit — via Wikimedia Commons
Good to know
Medan travel FAQs
When is the best time to visit Medan?
November–March for cooler, drier conditions.
How many days do I need in Medan?
Plan at least 3 days in Medan for the highlights on our suggested itinerary; add more time for day trips.
Where should I stay in Medan?
Popular stays in Medan include Hotel Zakia, Antares Hotel, Swiss-Belinn Medan. Book central areas if you want to walk to major sights.
How much does a trip to Medan cost?
On the ground in Medan (excluding international flights), budget travellers often spend about 15–35 per person per day, mid-range about 30–95, and luxury about 110–180+ (USD). Typical on-the-ground spend in Medan, Indonesia. Hostel/guesthouse + local meals ≈ budget; comfortable hotels + mix of dining ≈ mid-range; luxury hotels and fine dining ≈ luxury.
Keep exploring
