Hotels in Medan

Medan: Gateway to Sumatra's Highland Interior

Medan, the capital of North Sumatra province, is Indonesia's third-largest city with a population exceeding 2.4 million. Founded as a tobacco plantation settlement in 1590 and expanded under Dutch colonial rule in the 19th century, it retains architectural remnants of that era along Jalan Brigjend Katamso and around Merdeka Square, where the colonial-era Medan City Hall still stands. The city sits roughly 60 km from Lake Toba — the world's largest volcanic lake — making it the main transit hub for travellers heading inland to the Batak highlands.

Where to Stay and Getting Around

Hotels cluster around Jalan Imam Bonjol in the commercial centre and near Sun Plaza in the newer business district along Jalan Zainul Arifin. Budget guesthouses line the streets of Petisah, while international-brand hotels occupy the Polonia and Merdeka corridors. The city's mixed Chinese, Malay, Tamil, and Batak heritage shapes its food scene — Tip Top Restaurant, open since 1929 on Jalan Jenderal A. Yani, is a concrete landmark for Dutch-era Medan cuisine.

Practical Tips

• Airport: Kualanamu International Airport (KNO) lies 39 km southeast; an express train connects it to Medan in roughly 30 minutes.
• Currency: Indonesian Rupiah (IDR); ATMs are widely available near Sun Plaza and Merdeka Square.
• Climate: Equatorial, with rain possible year-round; pack a compact umbrella for afternoon showers.
• Onward travel: Shared minibuses (angkot) and private cars depart for Lake Toba from Amplas Bus Terminal in the south of the city.