ID · South Sumatra · 2.99°S 104.76°E
palembang
Pempek city on the Musi River, with the Ampera Bridge lit up at night.
- Best time
- Hot and humid all year. The drier months, roughly June to September, are easiest, but smoke haze from land fires can hit the region in dry spells.
- How long
- 2 days, 1 night
- Getting there
- About 1.5 hours' flight from KL when direct flights are running; otherwise connect through Jakarta, about an hour away by air. The LRT runs from the airport into the city.
palembang
Dear group chat,Pempek city on the Musi River, with the Ampera Bridge lit up at night.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingPalembangID, South Sumatra
Photo: Gaudi Renanda · CC BY-SA 4.0 Photo: fitri agung from Pekanbaru, Riau, Indonesia, Indonesia · CC BY 2.0 Photo: Firzafp · CC BY-SA 4.0 Photo: Gunawan Kartapranata · CC BY-SA 3.0 Photo: Gaudi Renanda · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.
South Sumatra's capital spreads along both banks of the wide Musi River. It was once the seat of the Srivijaya kingdom, but today most visitors come for pempek, the chewy fish cakes the city is famous for. Evenings by the river, with the Ampera Bridge lit up, are the main event.
Makan
- PempekFish cakes in many shapes, from the egg-filled kapal selam to the long lenjer, eaten with sweet-sour cuko sauce.Map ↗
- TekwanSmall fish balls in a light prawn broth with glass noodles and mushrooms.Map ↗
- Pindang patinCatfish in a sour, spicy broth, a classic Palembang lunch.Map ↗
- Martabak HARPalembang's egg martabak comes with a curry and potato gravy. Martabak HAR is the long-running name.Map ↗
Things to do
- Ampera Bridge and the riverfrontThe big red bridge over the Musi is the city's symbol. Watch it light up from the riverside by Benteng Kuto Besak fort.Map ↗
- Kemaro IslandTake a boat down the river to this island with a Chinese temple and a tall pagoda. It gets very busy at Cap Go Meh.Map ↗
- Great Mosque of PalembangThe old sultanate mosque near the bridge, mixing local, Chinese and European styles.Map ↗
- Bayt Al-Qur'an Al-AkbarA giant Quran carved into wooden panels, displayed in a hall on the edge of the city.Map ↗
- Srivijaya Archaeological ParkA riverside park and museum on a site linked to the old Srivijaya kingdom.Map ↗
Good to know
- Many shops vacuum-pack pempek for travel, so you can bring some home.
- Haze from forest and peat fires can be bad in dry spells. Check air quality before you fly.
Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.