North Sumatra · Indonesia
Where to stay in Pematangsiantar
Pematangsiantar is a city in North Sumatra, Indonesia, home to about 278,000 people.
- Nearest airport
- KNO78 km · Kualanamu International Airport
- Currency
- IDRrupiah
- Time zone
- Asia/Jakarta
- Language
- Indonesian
About
About Pematangsiantar
Pematangsiantar (sometimes written as Pematang Siantar, acronym PS or P. Siantar, colloquially just Siantar), and also known as the City of Pematangsiantar, is an independent city in North Sumatra Province of Indonesia, surrounded by, but not part of, the Simalungun Regency, making Pematangsiantar an enclave within Simalungun Regency.
With 280,000 inhabitants, Pematangsiantar is the second biggest city in the province of North Sumatra. The centre of the town has two main roads where you can find almost everything you need. The food market is between these streets. There is one small shopping centre including a very small cinema. The population of the town are mostly of the Batak ethnic group. Also many Chinese and Javanese live here. In contrast to the rest of Indonesia the majority are Christians and not Muslims.
Wikipedia and Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Things to do
What to see and do in Pematangsiantar
See
- Avalokitesvara Temple
- Pematangsiantar Zoo
- Sidamanik Tea Plantation
Do
There are two swimming pools in the city: the one of Siantar Hotel which is open to the public for a small fee (they also have a small gym), and a public swimming pool. Neither has a water filtering system, but change the water twice a week - so ask before immersing yourself! About 15 minutes south of the city center (direction Sibolga) there are natural springs and fountains where you can hang out in small pools.
- Siantar Hotel
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Which part of Pematangsiantar to stay in
There are not so many places to stay in Siantar. The most famous one is for sure Siantar Hotel, which is not an accommodation for budget travelers (free Wifi in the lobby though). A small guesthouse (Siantar GH) is close to the bus station in Siatas Barita. Relaxed place with garden owned by a German traveler. You can stay for less than Rp20,000 per night. There are some small guesthouses called Losmen in the city center area, like the one in Jl. Cokro and above (2nd floor) Kopi Tiam (old coffee shop) at Jl. Merdeka. Budget accommodation is available at the church-owned Wisma Tuluy north of the city center (Jl. Gunung Simanuk-manuk): Very clean.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Hotels in Pematangsiantar
14 hotels within 25 km of the centre, as recorded in Wikidata. Each name links to its encyclopedia article where there is one.
| Hotel | Opened | From centre |
|---|---|---|
| Els Guest House RedPartner RedDoorz | 1.1 km | |
| Grand Palm Hotel | 0.8 km | |
| Horison Hotel Pematangsiantar | 3.9 km | |
| Hotel Maharani (Syariah) RedPartner RedDoorz | 0.5 km | |
| OYO 2310 Residence 68 OYO Rooms | 1.2 km | |
| OYO 2916 Op Samuel Homestay OYO Rooms | 4.4 km | |
| OYO 796 Penginapan Fergael OYO Rooms | 6.1 km | |
| OYO 90509 Nadia Hotel OYO Rooms | 3.3 km | |
| RedDoorz @ Pematangsiantar RedDoorz | 0.9 km | |
| RedDoorz @ Pematangsiantar 2 RedDoorz | 0.6 km | |
| RedDoorz near RS Harapan Pematangsiantar RedDoorz | 2.2 km | |
| RedDoorz Plus near Ramayana Pematangsiantar RedDoorz | 1.4 km | |
| RedDoorz Syariah near Jalan Asahan Pematang Siantar RedDoorz | 3.2 km | |
| Sapadia Hotel Siantar | 1.0 km |
All 14 hotels in Pematangsiantar, with their history and operators
When to go
The best time to visit Pematangsiantar
Pematangsiantar has no month that is both mild and dry by the measure used here. May is the warmest month, with average highs of 32 °C; October is the wettest, with about 331 mm of rain.
Comfortable means average daytime high between 18 °C and 29 °C and under 80 mm of rain in the month. Averages for 1991–2020 over the surrounding area, a grid square about 50 km across, so a coast or a nearby mountain can make the town itself warmer or cooler. Data: CRU TS v4.10, Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia (Open Database License).
Getting there
Getting to Pematangsiantar: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Kualanamu International Airport (KNO), about 78 km from the city centre in a straight line; Alas Leuser Airport (LSR, 141 km) is also within reach.
Getting in
The main way to get into Pematangsiantar is via Medan which has daily flights from neighboring countries Malaysia (Penang, Kuala Lumpur) and Singapore. There are also many flights from Jakarta and other major cities of Indonesia. From Medan you can easily get shared taxis to Pematangsiantar that cost around Rp40,000-50,000 per person. The journey takes roughly 2 hours. The other option is by train (Rp22,000), which takes slightly longer (around 4 hours), but is worth the experience. Trains depart daily from Medan on 1400 and from Siantar railway station on 0620.
Getting around
Easiest way to get around is by becak pronounced bey-chak. It's worth the experience. You can find these old bikes only in Siantar. Old BSA made in England. Special sound, special look and every becak is unique and lovely modified. The cheap way is to go by minibus, which cost only Rp5000 for same distance, but without help you will not find your way. There are no bus schedules. You can rent a motorbike at the Siantar Guesthouse. You can rent 150cc Classic Vespa for about Rp60,000 per day.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
KNO · Kualanamu International Airport
LSR · Alas Leuser Airport
Local knowledge
Eating, drinking and staying safe in Pematangsiantar
Eat
You can find all the traditional Indonesian food here. Bataks for example love babi panggang which are small pieces of roast pork with a special blood sauce. Also ikan mas arsik (goldfish) and cincang (small pieces of pork) are traditional Batak dishes. Besides Batak dishes you will also find many Chinese restaurants. Most famous Chinese dish from this area is Mie Keriting Siantar, a variation of wonton noodles. The most popular place to eat Chinese food and Chinese Indonesian fusion foods is Jl. Surabaya (one of the roads connecting the two main roads of the city) which offer an array of Kedai (eating houses) and Kopi Tiam (literally coffee house).
Drink
Bars as such don't exist here. The main options are karaoke bars, where you rent a private room, though these tend to be expensive (beers around Rp50,000) and are not really aimed at casual visitors. A more atmospheric alternative are the tuak shops found all around town, where old and young alike sit drinking tuak — a local white palm wine — and playing guitar. A glass costs around Rp1,000, though locals will often wave away payment. A root beer/sarsparilla style soft drink called 'Badak' (meaning rhino) is a popular beverage across Sumatra, especially in Sumatera Utara. The headquarters and factory are based in Siantar.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Questions
Pematangsiantar: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Pematangsiantar?
Pematangsiantar has no month that is both mild and dry by the measure used here. May is the warmest month, with average highs of 32 °C; October is the wettest, with about 331 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Pematangsiantar?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Kualanamu International Airport (KNO), about 78 km from the city centre in a straight line; Alas Leuser Airport (LSR, 141 km) is also within reach.
What currency is used in Pematangsiantar?
rupiah (IDR).
Nearby
Destinations near Pematangsiantar
Sources: city facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia; airports from OurAirports; climate from CRU TS v4.10 (University of East Anglia Climatic Research Unit), 1991–2020 monthly means, 0.5° grid; places to stay, guest scores and amenities from each operator's own public pages. How this guide is made.