Medan, Indonesia
Medan is a regional capital of 2,486,283 people in North Sumatra, Indonesia, founded in July 1, 1590.
Why visit Medan
Townapedia lists 15 museums and landmarks, 7 parks and trails, 252 places to eat, 78 places to stay and 7 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Universitas Methodist Indonesia, Nommensen HKBP University, Museum Perjuangan Pers Sumatera Utara and Rahmat International Wildlife Museum and Gallery.
Weather in Medan
Forecast from MET Norway (CC BY 4.0). Full forecast
About Medan
Medan ( meh-DAHN, Indonesian: [ˈmɛdan] , Batak: ᯔᯩᯑᯉ᯳) is the capital and largest city of the Indonesian province of North Sumatra. The nearby Strait of Malacca, Port of Belawan, and Kualanamu International Airport make Medan a regional hub and multicultural metropolis, acting as a financial centre for Sumatra and a gateway to the western part of Indonesia. About 60% of the economy in North Sumatra is backed by trading, agriculture, and processing industries, including exports from its 4 million acres of palm oil plantations. The National Development Planning Agency listed Medan as one of the four main central cities in Indonesia, alongside Jakarta, Surabaya, and Makassar.
From the Wikipedia article Medan (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Travel tips from other travellers: Medan on Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Things to do7
Universitas Methodist Indonesia
School · 0.7 km
Private university in Indonesia
Nommensen HKBP University
School · 2.2 km
University in North Sumatera, Indonesia
State Islamic University of North Sumatra
School · 6.5 km
University in Indonesia
University of North Sumatra
School · 2.7 km
National university in North Sumatera, Indonesia
Museums and landmarks15
Museum Perjuangan Pers Sumatera Utara
Museum · 1.6 km
Jalan Sei Alas, Medan
Monday - Saturday (9AM-4PM) and Sunday (9AM-3.30PM)
Rahmat International Wildlife Museum and Gallery
Museum
309 Jalan S. Parman, Medan
Mo-Su 09:00-17:00
Museum Perjuangan TNI
Museum · 0.8 km
Monday - Friday (8AM-3.30PM)
Jalan Zainul Arifin, Medan
North Sumatra Museum
Museum · 3.7 km
Museum in North Sumatra, Indonesia
Rahmat International Wildlife Museum & Gallery
Museum
Museum in Indonesia
Sumatran Numismatic Museum
Museum · 1.7 km
Museum in Aceh Jaya, Indonesia
PT PP London Sumatera
Monument and historic site · 1.4 km
Mo-Su 08:00-18:00; Apr 10-15 off; Jun 08:00-14:00; Aug off; Dec 25 off
3 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds7
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Restaurants and cafes252
Cafe play1628
Cafe · 0.8 km
Agen play1628 terbaik di Indonesia, khususnya kota medan
88 Jalan Nibung II, Medan
24/7
Hakata Ikkousha
Restaurant · Japanese
80-82 Jalan Taruma, Petisah Tengah, Kecamatan Petisah Tengah, Medan
Mo-Su 11:00-21:00
Monk's Coffee Roasters
Cafe · Breakfast, Coffee Shop, Indonesian · 1.1 km
2 Jalan Cut Mutia
Mo-Su 08:00-22:00
BPK Olakisat
Restaurant · 1.3 km
Rumah Makan Non-Halal, Menjual daging babi panggang dengan resep khas Karo
22 Jalan Dame
Mo-Su 10:00-20:00
Dimsum Babura12
Restaurant · 0.9 km
Dimsum & Steamboat
12 Jalan Babura Lama
Mo-Su 07:00-21:15
Happy Vegan
Restaurant · Indonesian · 1.0 km
27 Jalan Kota Baru II, Kota Medan
Mo-Sa 08:30-20:30; Su 07:00-20:30
240 more on the map.
History
Medan is located in what was once the Kingdom of Aru, founded by the Karo people and flourishing between the 13th and 16th centuries. A number of archaeological sites survive near Medan, including Kota Rentang, a port settlement in the Hamparan Perak area; Kota Cina, an ancient trading site in Medan Marelan; and Benteng Putri Hijau, a fort ruin in Deli Tua.
In the sixteenth century, Guru Patimpus Sembiring Pelawi, a Karonese man from the Karo Regency, converted from Pemena to Islam. While traveling to study under Datuk Kota Bangun, Guru Patimpus met and married the Princess of Pulo Brayan. Accompanied by their two sons, Kolok and Kecik, the couple founded Medan village between the Deli and Babura Rivers.
In 1632, the Aceh Sultanate under Gocah Pahlawan expanded to include Medan. Perunggit succeeded his father in 1669, and declared the Deli Sultanate, including Medan, independent of the Aceh Sultanate.
From the History section of Medan on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay78
Airy Hotel Medan Petisah Waringin
Motel and hotel · 1.6 km
6 Jalan Darussalam, Medan
Churches and places of worship62
Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Church · 1.6 km
Gereja Katedral Medan - Santa Perawan Maria Yang Dikandung Tanpa Noda
Church · Catholic · 1.6 km
1 Pemuda
Vihara Setia Budi
Place of worship · Mahayana · 1.8 km
6d Jalan Irian Barat, Kota Medan
Shopping34
Brastagi Supermarket Gatot Subroto
Grocery · 1.6 km
288 Jalan Gatot Subroto, Sei Puth Tengah, Kecamatan Medan Petisah
Toko Buku Selecta
Shop · 1.8 km
3 Jalan Irian Barat, Gg. Buntu, Kecamatan Medan Timur,, Medan
Gas and EV charging4
Schools, colleges and libraries63
Dinas Perpustakaan dan Kearsipan Medan
Library · 0.6 km
270 Jalan Iskandar Muda, Medan
Healthcare65
Map of Medan
250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Getting there and nearby towns
Soewondo Air Force Base (MES) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 3 km away.
- Sunggal 6 km west, about 6 min by car
- Deli Tua 9 km south, about 9 min by car
- Binjai 20 km west, about 20 min by car
- Belawan 21 km north, about 21 min by car
- Percut 22 km east, about 22 min by car
- Stabat 29 km northwest, about 29 min by car
- Perbaungan 32 km east, about 32 min by car
- Labuhan Deli 33 km north, about 33 min by car
- Berastagi 47 km south, about 47 min by car
- Kabanjahe 57 km south, about 57 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB.
Reviews, tips and questions
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Sources and licences
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, coordinates, regions and time zone
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Medan city 2019 (cropped), Bluesatellite, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Universitas Methodist Indonesia, Herryz, CC BY-SA 4.0
- UNIMEDRectorate, Davidelit, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Rektorat USU, Herryz, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Museum Negeri Sumatera Utara Medan, Harditaher, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Gereja Katolik Katedral Medan, Christian Advs Sltg, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Primate Taxidermy, Rahmat International Wildlife Museum and Gallery, Pratyeka, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Museum Uang Sumatera, Harditaher, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Skewed Front View, Tjong A Fie Mansion, Medan, Pratyeka, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Perhimpunan Shri Mariamman (Mariamman Hindu Temple), Medan, Pratyeka, CC BY-SA 3.0
- COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM De Esplanade TMnr 60024753, Unknown author Unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Masjid Lama Gang Bengkok Medan 2021, HaidirAndiNovianto, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Koleksi Gambar dan koran di Museum Perjuangan Pers Sumatera Utara 1, Lim Natee, CC BY 4.0
- Museum Perjuangan TNI Medan, Rochelimit, CC BY-SA 4.0
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