Medan is one of the largest cities in Indonesia . It is famous for its architecture and rich cuisine. For adventures in Sumatra, Medan is an ideal starting point. It is easy to get to Gunung-Leser National Park , and a few hours' drive from the city is Lake Toba .
Climatic conditions
If you look at the city of Medan on the map, it is obvious that this is the north-eastern coast of the island of Java in Indonesia.
The climate here is tropical. The average annual temperature is approaching + 30 ° C, in the coldest months the temperature does not fall below + 25 ° C. The hot months are July-October, then the south-west winds predominate. In Medan there is a large amount of precipitation - 2137 mm.
Attractions and vacations
Many tourists see the city as a starting point for their travels to Sumatra, but it is interesting in itself. Looking at Medan's photo, you can notice many attractions :
- Maimoon. This 30-room palace was built by the Sultan of Delhi in 1888, and the architecture shows Malay, Mongolian and Italian motifs.
- Medan Grand Mosque. The mosque is located on Masjid-Raya street, about 200 m from the first sight. The mosque is decorated in Moroccan style.
- Vihara Gunung Timur (Buddhist temple). Temple of Chinese Taoism, the largest in the city of Medan, in Indonesia and, possibly, also on the island of Sumatra.
- Marian Shrine of Annai Velangkanni. It is a Catholic temple in the Indo-Mongolian style, it is dedicated to Our Lady of Good Health.
- Two-colored waterfall. Located in the village of Durin Sirugun, at the foot of Mount Sibayak. The colors of this waterfall are light blue and grayish white due to the content of phosphorus and sulfur.
At first glance, it may seem that Medan is perfect for sea recreation . But tourists are disappointed, as the only city beach is an hour's drive from the center, and it is not prepared for a civilized holiday. The infrastructure is represented by old wooden houses, which can be rented for $ 2 per day. On the beach, rest mostly locals. For tourists, the coast next to Medan is not associated with the beautiful beaches of Indonesia, for which foreigners are sent to the country.
Hotels
Medan is a large city, and the choice of hotels here is also great. You can choose your place of residence:
- Grand Swiss-Belhotel Medan 5 *. There are 240 rooms in it. They are well equipped and beautifully decorated. The hotel has an outdoor pool, spa, beauty salon, fitness room. It is located in the center of the city.
- Danau Toba Hotel. There are 311 modern rooms here. The hotel has modern facilities, Wi-Fi throughout, a pool with beautiful garden views, a Cafe Terrace restaurant and a lounge bar. The hotel offers 24-hour room service, a fitness center and a business center.
- Ponduk Wisata. Very popular budget hotel. It is located among the natural greenery. Traditional Indonesian rooms are available. The hotel is just 100 meters from the hot spring Banjar. There is a restaurant and free internet in public areas.
Restaurants
Medan is a multinational city. Each people adds their own local cuisine, thanks to which here is a real paradise for gastronomic tourists. In the city there are many restaurants of different levels:
- Restoran Garuda. Serve here quickly. The food is varied and tasty. Many dishes prepared on a grill, salads with seafood, dishes from beef. Dinner will cost $ 10.
- Restaurant Miramar. Here is a fine cuisine. Many different seafood dishes, dishes of Chinese and Indonesian cuisine.
- Tip Top Restaurant. Here is a very pleasant atmosphere. The menu is very diverse, featuring dishes of Indonesian , Chinese and European cuisine. The restaurant is very tasty homemade ice cream.
Shopping
There are many shopping centers in Medan:
- Medan Mall - the prices here are low, you can buy everything you need for recreation. The shopping center is connected to the market, which allows buying fresh food and visiting inexpensive cafes;
- Ramayana Aksara Plaza - a very cheap clothing store;
- Sun Plaza is the largest shopping center in Medan, where there are shops, cafes and entertainment.
Medan markets are much more interesting than shopping centers. There are several of them:
- Pasar Rame - from early morning here they sell Chinese food and dried fruits;
- Pusat Pasar - the main product is spices, fish, vegetables and fruits;
- Payak Ikan Lama - seafood market;
- Sambas - here you can buy fish and meat.
How to get there?
By plane, you need to fly to Kuala-Namu airport , and from there for $ 10 you can take a taxi to Medan. It is best to use the services of Blue Bird. It is also possible to get by bus to the city bus terminal for $ 1.
In the city of Medan, tourists are offered such types of transport as buses, minivans, taxis and rented cars.