ID · North Sumatra · 3.59°N 98.67°E

medan

Durian, bika ambon and soto: a proper makan trip a short hop from KL.

Best time
Hot and humid all year. Rain can come in any month, and it's usually heaviest towards the end of the year.
How long
2–3 days
Getting there
About 1 hour's flight from KL (or Penang) to Kualanamu International Airport. The airport train runs into the city centre in about 45 minutes.
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ID · North Sumatramedan3.59°N 98.67°Egowherelah.com
Dear group chat,Durian, bika ambon and soto: a proper makan trip a short hop from KL.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingMedanID, North Sumatra
KLmedan
≈ 339 km from KL, as the crow flies
The downtown of Medan in January 2019

Photo: Bluesatellite · CC BY-SA 4.0

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Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.

North Sumatra's capital is a big, loud, multicultural city just across the Strait of Malacca. Most Malaysians come to eat: durian, bika ambon, soto and plenty more. Add a sultan's palace and some colonial-era streets, and it's an easy base for Lake Toba, Berastagi and Bukit Lawang.

Makan

  1. DurianMedan durian is famous, and Durian Ucok is the name everyone knows.Map ↗
  2. Bika ambonA chewy, honeycomb-textured cake. Jalan Majapahit is lined with shops selling it.Map ↗
  3. Soto MedanRich, yellow soto in coconut milk, with chicken or beef.Map ↗
  4. Mie AcehSpicy, thick noodles from neighbouring Aceh, easy to find around the city.Map ↗

Things to do

  1. Maimun PalaceThe yellow palace of the Deli sultanate, mixing Malay, Mughal and European styles.Map ↗
  2. Great Mosque of MedanThe black-domed Masjid Raya Al-Mashun, a short walk from the palace.Map ↗
  3. Tjong A Fie MansionThe grand old home of a Chinese tycoon in the Kesawan old town.Map ↗
  4. BerastagiA cool highland town about 2 hours away, with fruit markets and volcano views.Map ↗
  5. Bukit LawangA jungle village about 3–4 hours away where you can trek to see orangutans.Map ↗

Good to know

  • Traffic is heavy. Use Grab or Gojek and leave extra time.
  • Dress modestly at the Great Mosque and Maimun Palace.
  • Check volcano alerts before going to Berastagi. Mount Sinabung has erupted in recent years.

Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.