Things to do & places to visit in Sumatra, Indonesia

Sumatra #3 destination in Indonesia 2023. The average rating score is 4.15 based on 27.2k traveler reviews, of 271 attractions. Timezone: Asia/Jakarta, current date and time: Sunday, April 28, 2024, 23:36.

Top things to do (21)

Top places to visit (30 attractions) view more »

5.0 Delta Spa & Health Club Pekanbaru (369 reviews)
- Marvelous place
Spas

Very good service, friendly staff, delicious food. Worth for the price, enjoy every second in this place See more..
5.0 Bukit Lawang Jungle (176 reviews)
- Christmas & New Year Family Adventure
Sunday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Nature & Wildlife Areas

For 16 days my family of 11 (5 children) toured around Lake Toba, Medan, Tangkahan and Bukit Lawang. Everyone loved the 6 hour jungle trek seeing orangutans, Thomas Leaf Moneys and various others. Private picnic lunch and tubing down rapids was a definite highlight. Guides wonderful, very capable, knowledgeable and very helpful. Bukit Lawang is a great safe place to explore. See more..
4.5 Airport Railink Services (1.308 reviews)
- It's an option
Spent More than 3 hours Public Transportation Systems

We Are First and Biggest Airport Train Services in Indonesia. We provide a smart chocice and convinient tarnsport to the City trough Exclusive Railway See more..
4.5 Lake Toba (851 reviews)
- Explore the many angles of Lake Toba
Sunday: 2:00 PM - 10:00 PM Bodies of Water

Beautiful views from different angles of the huge lake Toba. So please explore top view and lowland view also. Recommended to spend more than 2 days because many attractions around the lake including the island of Samosir. There are also many affordable community small hotels next to lake for selection on accomodation. I engaged a a tourguide Adam Nainggolan from a local tour company called Rafnam Jaya Wisata. Bery afforadable in a private car. Adam Nainggolan was also very funny, knowledgeable and experienced, highly recommended guide. See more..
4.5 Tanjung Tinggi Beach (764 reviews)
- Avoid the weekend if you are a Western Woman
Sunday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Beaches

We have visited this beach a few times. Through the week it is quiet but weekends are local family gathering times.Beaides being crowded and having loads of big blow up seams and boats on the beach , If you are western woman and used to wearing a swimming costume ( mine is one piece and not high cut) you will be stared at , especially by the men ( I am also in my 50s !). All the local women wear Islamic dress to swim in also. In addition there is rubbish. There is a beach around the corner where we had a picnic with our local friends and it is littered with rubbish. The locals don't seem to mind and drop rubbish everywhere. Western tourists will stop coming when the rubbish gets worse and starts to float in the beautiful clear waters of this beach. A sad inevitability as locals don't see the ramifications of fouling their own nest. See more..
4.5 Lengkuas Island (668 reviews)
- Another checklist ticked!!
Spent 2-3 hours Islands

Lengkuas Island located in the waters of the Belitung Island, and is about 30 minutes away by boat from Tanjung Kelayang beach or Tanjung Binga in District Sijuk, Belitung.In Lengkuas Island there is Lighthouse, built by Dutch colonial in 1882 and still actively working for marine navigation. Visitors must wash feet with fresh water before entering the lighthouse buildings constructed of steel, because the sea water can cause rust on the building. From the lighthouse, you can see beauty of the white sandy beaches on the island with giant granite rocks and clear sea water greenish. See more..
4.5 Mount Sibayak (578 reviews)
- Medan tour
Spent 1-2 hours Volcanos

Rented a guide called Johanes’s and Gabriel for the duration of our 6 day trip around sibayak toba and Bukit lawang. Guide was perfect as he spoke fluent English and was very informative very attentive to our needs and would always know what to do to make us enjoy the trip didn’t make us pay extra also and was very transparent about the costs. For 5d4n tour accommodation food hotel and driver included is only 9.3 million rupiah find it hard to beat it for value anywhere else not to mention it’s for two people additional 2 days we hired the driver for extra one million rupiah and it was well worth it as he drove us everywhere and also offered the protection that we needed. Thanks for making our trip fuss free and enjoyable. Johanes +62 822 72257804 Gabriel +62 821-6717-3001 See more..
4.5 Baiturrahman Grand Mosque (442 reviews)
- Grand and Beautiful Mosque
Religious Sites

This Mosque is so grand and beautiful, you need to spare your time to visit this place. If you're not wearing hijab, make sure to bring some scarf to cover your hair. You don't need to pay anything to go inside the mosque, but you need to prepare some cash to rent some shoes storage because you not allow to wear any footwear while in it. See more..
4.5 Mikie Funland (417 reviews)
- Not so awesome amusement park but the people there is okay and proffesional
Sunday: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Spent More than 3 hours Amusement & Theme Parks • Rides & Activities • Playgrounds

The best recreation's spot for your family and friends. We are the first theme park for family in North Sumatra that have 35 over different kinds of attractions that can be played all day, using just one ticket. See more..
4.5 Pagaruyung Palace (365 reviews)
- A Great Palace to visit
Architectural Buildings

Visited this rebuild palace, I was so amazed by its colourful decoration which not just colour to make it beautiful but also full of meaning. Burned for the first time and was rebuild and again burned bcoz of thunder. This palace that you visit nowadays is the second rebuild. Having less treasures that we can see, not make it unworthy to visit. You can meet the palace guide that can explain very detail. Very interesting history of the Sumatera Royal Family life. Here you can also rent a traditional custom to wear and take pictures with it.. See more..
4.5 Pahawang Island (328 reviews)
- Great for snorkelling and beach fun
Islands

Get a boat from Ketapang Jetty. There were 4 piers with lots of boats to choose from. Choose from traditional wooden boats which are cheaper but slow paced or higher priced fast fiberglass speed boats. We haggled for a fast speed boat to take us snorkelling and island hopping for half a day at 700K Rupiah. We got it from Pak Yayat at Pier 2. Pahawang is excellent for snorkelling. Just off shore the island the residents built platforms with small food/drink booths. They moored the boats there as bases for snorkelling. You can hop from one platform to another. Fantastic ideas to preserve the corals but unfortunately the inexperienced snorkellers ravaged through some of the patches closer to te beach. Great for an overnight trip as well at some of the local folks' homestays on the island. See more..
4.5 An-Nur Grand Mosque (270 reviews)
- Great mosque
Religious Sites

Very photogenic structure. A masterpiece of architecture. Must visit if you pass nearby. Beautiful outside, Comfortable air conditioned room inside the praying room. See more..
4.5 Marian Shrine of Annai Velangkanni (261 reviews)
- Amazing
Religious Sites

A Miraculous Shrine where spring water from underneath the statue of Our Lady of Good health. The architecture is very unique and the shrine of the top 10 tourist spot of Indonesia. Hundreds of thousands people from all over the world come here to pray and give thanking for favours received. It's a must. Visit place. My family and I have visited many times. This time we also gave away some provision and gifts to the refugees families of Sri Lanka. Also to St. Angela orphanage. Many thanks to all my friends and family members who shared in this charity mission. We pray for all the people of the world and for a better and a peaceful nations. See more..
4.5 Tanjung Kelayang Beach (244 reviews)
- Quite Beach
Beaches

We enjoy the visit while eat lunch at RM Batu Garuda. The food is Delicious & cheap, but took a super long time to serve. The beach is quieter than Tanjung Tinggi but we don’t see any proper shower for cleaning up after playing at the beach. Only at the restaurant we saw a water station to clean up. See more..
4.5 Lampuuk Beach (234 reviews)
- One Of Beautiful Beach In Aceh
Beaches

Lampuuk beach is very beautiful and the scenery is amazing.Blue water mixed with green, white sand, green hills and cliffs is perfect to enjoy. When the weather is very hot I buy coconut ice, the price of one coconut 10.000 rupiah, can make me really enjoy there. there are many types of seafood available there and it tastes very delicious. Facilities such as beach swings and other available there are suitable for visitors who like to take pictures. I spent time to taking pictures. Anyone who wants to take a trip to Aceh, I recommend Lampuuk beach to visit. See more..
4.5 Great Mosque of Palembang (208 reviews)
- Palembang's Grand Mosque
Religious Sites

Indonesian mosques are on very few travellers itineraries, but many of the old ones have a great deal of charm. They show the locals trying to accommodate Islamic liturgical demands within the confines of traditional Indonesian architectural forms. This process resulted in some of the most original and unusual looking mosques outside the Middle East. This mosque, dating from the 1720s, is a particularly fine example of this process. Demonstrating both the piety of the Sultan of Palembang and his burgeoning wealth from trade with Arabs (who didn't want to deal with Dutch infidels), Mesjid Agung, or The Great Mosque, is a beautiful synthesis of Chinese, Javanese and Arabic influences. The restoration from 1987 was very sympathetic and the building has been well-maintained since. See more..
4.5 Harau Canyon (202 reviews)
- Amazing Place to do a trekking
Canyons

we went there about 3 months ago and did a trekking all around places in Harau. it's really amazing to meet up local people and shared things here. See more..
4.5 Lengkuas Beach (191 reviews)
- Clean Water
Beaches

Lengkuas Island located in the waters of the Belitung Island, and is about 30 minutes away by boat from Tanjung Kelayang beach or Tanjung Binga in District Sijuk, Belitung.In Lengkuas Island there is Lighthouse, built by Dutch colonial in 1882 and still actively working for marine navigation. Visitors must wash feet with fresh water before entering the lighthouse buildings constructed of steel, because the sea water can cause rust on the building. From the lighthouse, you can see beauty of the white sandy beaches on the island with giant granite rocks and clear sea water greenish. See more..
4.5 Pulau Batu Berlayar (161 reviews)
- Our favorite island
Points of Interest & Landmarks

No one there cos it is so small... but you get lots of photo opportunities. Such a pretty island. Relaxing and serene See more..
4.0 Ampera Bridge (830 reviews)
- Historic and Iconic
Bridges

It might not be as grand as the Golden Gate in San Francisco, but AMPERA holds the historical value to the locals. You may walk across it or like me, my local friend took me on a motorcycle ride. For now, motorcycle may stop on the bridge for your photo session etc. The scenery at night is way better than the day. See more..
4.0 Bukittinggi Clock Tower (660 reviews)
- Jam Gadang (Bukittinggi Clock Tower)
Monuments & Statues

Jam Gadang is a city square in the heart of Bukittinggi. A number of restaurants, local stores, local food can be found here. Sianok Valley can be seen from here, the weather was definitely not as hot as Padang, the capital of West Sumatra Province. We came here in the afternoon to enjoy the scenery and take some photos. Since it's Sunday afternoon, it was quite crowded. Families, friends visited this place, sitting around chit-chatting, children running around. We also enjoyed live performance of a group coming from Padang just to entertain the crowds. The crowds got bigger at night to enjoy the live performance. See more..
4.0 Tjong A Fie's Mansion (580 reviews)
- What a grand mansion and lifestyle.
Speciality Museums

This interesting attraction opens its doors at 9am and charges a IDR35,000 entrance fee which was well worth it. The building looks old and dilapidated from the outside but very grand and posh on the inside and clearly shows how the very wealthy and super influential lived their lives in the past. The entrance fees cover the services of a guided tour around the mansion and on a busy day they have up to five guides doing the honour of showing the visitors around. The guide we had was very knowledgeable and dedicated about what she's doing. She brought us on a wonderful journey around the mansion showing us the various rooms and sections of the very huge house, upstairs as well as downstairs and at the same time narrating about the owner's lifetime accolades and achievements. This is a definite must-visit when in Medan. See more..
4.0 Aceh Tsunami Museum (554 reviews)
- Free, Informative, Friendly and Safe
Speciality Museums

Great attraction for Banda Aceh. Not only is it completely Free (free parking, free admission, free movie inside) but it is informative, educational, emotional considering the tales of destruction inside and also Safe. It is Safe because it is a giant three story building made of concrete (Three high ceiling floors, so equivellant of six stories) and thus it is also a tsunami shelter for the people should another disaster happen in this Earthquake zone of the world. Very impressed. See more..
4.0 Medan Grand Mosque (519 reviews)
- A Historical mosque
Religious Sites

A historical mosque built in 1800's. It located in the center of medan city. You can find it near the maimun palace. If you are in medan city, you have to visit this mosque especially if you like oriental architecture. See more..
4.0 Kaolin Lake (421 reviews)
- The blue color of the lake just amazing!
Sunday: 7:30 AM - 6:00 PM Bodies of Water

The blue color of the lake hust contrast with the white surrounding. Just careful when you come here, do not let your feet get into the water since you will get stuck and very hard to pull you off. REMEMBER: follow every words from your TOUR GUIDE! The white kaolin surrounds the lake could suck you up if your feet got into the water. The sunrise moment is just the amazing one! You should see it! See more..
4.0 Lake Maninjau (365 reviews)
- Isabelle (France)
Bodies of Water

We visited Minanjau lake area in August 2019. This is a beautiful lake, that is surrounded by lushy mountains. Moreover, there are many beatiful villages in the surroundings and rice fields. We were very lucky, because we saw the Independence festivities in the villages and people had on their beautiful and colourful traditional costumes. In a village, we also saw a family making the famous cakes with durian fruits!!! See more..
4.0 Sipiso Piso Waterfall (362 reviews)
- popular tourist spot
Sunday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Spent More than 3 hours Waterfalls

We stopped here on the way to Lake Toba and fortunately it was off-season so not many visitors were there. The falls were a magnificent sight but a long way down if you wanted to climb 700 steps to the bottom. Near the car park there were several warungs where you could eat and many souvenir shops selling the usual. See more..
4.0 Museum Kata Andrea Hirata (347 reviews)
- wonderfull place
Sunday: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Speciality Museums

Last June I visited the Andrea Hirata Museum. I am very happy to be there. There are lots of literary works of Andrea Hirata. filled with many colors on the walls make the place even more beautiful. this place is very good visit for tourists who like literature. See more..
4.0 Sianok canyon (346 reviews)
- Good guide for hike in the canyon
Canyons

I hired Pentai (+62 853 6361 3494) to be my guide for a half day canyon trek. He was great. He carefully led me through the jungle, up and down the side of the canyon, across the river and then through an agricultural village where stopped to talk to farmer and see an incredible array of produce being grown. As per my request, he also patiently worked with me all day on my Bahasa Indonesia (as I had requested he to). After 5 hours I was exhausted, but in a good way. I think we walked half way to Lake Maninjau before a surrendered. Then we took a bus back to Bukit TInggi. Great day out. See more..
4.0 Anai Valley Waterfall (337 reviews)
- a Legendary waterfall in the middle of National Park
Sunday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Waterfalls

The waterfall is located just by the roadside on the main road from Padang to Bukittinggi, which was really easy to find and required no effort to reach it. This is a legendary waterfall, not too high but pretty good as a spot to take picture. See more..