Cities Of North Sumatra

Medan

Medan is the fourth-largest city in Indonesia after Jakarta, Surabaya and Bandung. With a population of about 2 million people it is the largest city outside of Java. There is no single ethnic group forming a majority; the largest ethnic groups are the Chinese, Javanese, Toba-Batak, Minangkabau, Mandailing Batak, Karo Batak, Southern Indians, and Northern Indians, and there are many more ethnic minorities.

Each ethnic group contributes to thousands of tasty, mouth-watering dishes found in every corner of Medan. They offer to locals and tourists alike dozens of food streets and hawker centres to suit their appetite at any time of the day. From the sweet Javanese cuisine, to delicious Batak grilled pork, to hot Padang dishes, from savoury Chinese noodles, to spicy Indian curry, this varied cuisine is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It is obvious why the locals are so into food. The city itself is quite well known for "food-tourism", especially amongst other Indonesians.

It's interesting to contrast the old, Dutch style green areas, with parks, lawns, and huge old Dutch houses (now turned into government offices or commercial business) and the hundreds and hundreds of newer, shoddy shophouses sprawled together by the hundreds in the commercial areas along with a few modern style malls.

Look out for the motor becaks! A sort of motorized rickshaw, they are a common sight throughout Medan, spewing black smoke everywhere.

Overall, Medan isn't really a tourist destination, but it's a convenient stepping stone to other places like the 'weekend getaway' Berastagi, the island of Penang, Malaysia and, of course the ever popular, beautiful crater lake Lake Toba.

 

Great Mosque

Berastagi

Berastagi (Dutch: Brastagi), meaning "rice store", is a town and subdistrict of Karo Regency situated on crossroads on the main route linking the Karo highlands of Northern Sumatra to the coastal city of Medan. Berastagi town is 70 kilometers south of Medan and about 1,300 meters above sea level. The village rose to significance when Dutch settlers in Sumatra opened a boarding school there in the 1920s.

The main economic activities in Berastagi, centre on the colourful fruit and vegetable market and on tourism. Berastagi is famous for its passion fruit. The main attractions of the town are the two active volcanoes; Mount Sibayak, with its hot springs, and Mount Sinabung. Each mountain can be climbed in one day, but a guide is needed.

The town is also a stop on the way to Lake Toba. The dominant ethnic and linguisitic group is Karo Batak.

Berastagi is 11 km from the capital Karo Regency government in Kabanjahe. Airport bus from Kabanjahe directly to the new Kuala Namu International Airport v.v. is available.

Fruit Market At Berastagi

Padang Sidempuan

Padang Sidempuan is a city in North Sumatra, Indonesia, and the former capital of South Tapanuli Regency, which surrounds the city. is a city in North Sumatra, Indonesia, and the former capital of South Tapanuli Regency, which surrounds the city.

Parapat

Parapat is a small town in North Sumatra province on the edge of Lake Toba, on the Uluan Peninsula where it forms the narrowest eastern link to Samosir Island. It is the primary transit point by ferry for visitors going to Samosir Island, and connected via Trans-Sumatran Highway to Pematang Siantar by a 48 km road. Dody Administratively it is part of Simalungun Regency.

Pematang Siantar

With 280.000 inhabitants, Pematang Siantar is the second biggest city in north Sumatra. The center of the town has two main roads where you can find almost everything you need. The food market is located between these streets. There is one "shopping mall" including a very small cinema. The habitats of Siantar are mostly Bataks. Also many Chinese and Javanese live here. In contrast to the rest of Indonesia the majority are Christians and not Muslims. So there is no problem to drink a beer on the street or find some pork at the meat market which is worth visiting.