Must-see attractions in North Sumatra

  • Sibayak volcano at sunrise, northern Sumatra, Indonesia; Shutterstock ID 283076438; your: Bridget Brown; gl: 65050; netsuite: Online Editorial; full: POI Image Update

    Gunung Sibayak

    North Sumatra

    Famous for its steamy sulphurous fumaroles, Gunung Sibayak (2094m) is one of Indonesia’s most accessible volcanoes. Getting to the summit for sunrise is a…

  • Museum of North Sumatra

    Medan

    Housed in a striking traditional building, this museum has a well-presented collection ranging from early North Sumatran civilisations and the Hindu,…

  • Indonesia, Sumatra, Medan, View of Maimoon Palace

    Istana Maimoon

    Medan

    The grand, 30-room Maimoon Palace was built by the Sultan of Deli in 1888 and features Malay, Mughal and Italian influences. Only the main room, which…

  • King Sidabutar's Grave

    Danau Toba

    Located 5km southeast of Tuk Tuk, near the Tomok ferry terminal, is a complex of royal Batak tombs and houses. At the entrance you'll pass sarcophagi of…

  • Rumah Bolon

    North Sumatra

    Located between Berastagi and Danau Toba, this impressive, well-tended palace complex sits on the edge of the village of Pematang Purba. It was the home…

  • Gunung Sinabung

    North Sumatra

    While today it's one of the most active volcanoes on the planet, remarkably Gunung Sinabung lay dormant for over 400 years until its dramatic eruption in…

  • Lingga

    North Sumatra

    The most visited of the villages around Berastagi, Lingga, a few kilometres northwest of Kabanjahe, has just a couple of traditional houses with…

  • Batak Graves

    Danau Toba

    Amid the fertile rice fields between Simanindo and Pangururan are these large multistorey graves decorated with the distinctive miniature Batak-style…

  • Museum Huta Bolon Simanindo

    Danau Toba

    At Samosir’s northern tip, in the village of Simanindo, 15km north of Tuk Tuk, there’s a beautifully restored traditional house that now functions as a…

  • St Francis of Assisi Catholic Church

    North Sumatra

    Definitely not your everyday church, St Francis of Assisi is built in a monumental Karo Batak style, with a traditional multitiered pointed-roof design…

  • Stone Chairs

    Danau Toba

    In the village of Ambarita, 5km north of Tuk Tuk, is a group of 300-year-old stone chairs, where important matters were discussed among village elders…

  • Air Terjun Sipiso-Piso

    North Sumatra

    These narrow but impressive falls cascade 120m down to the northern end of Danau Toba, 24km from Kabanjahe and about 300m from the main road. It's worth a…

  • Dokan

    North Sumatra

    The charming village of Dokan is around 16km south of Kabanjahe. Some half a dozen traditional houses can be found here and they're all occupied, which…

  • Tjong A Fie Mansion

    Medan

    The home of a famous Chinese merchant who died in 1921 – formerly the wealthiest resident of Medan – this mansion mixes opulent Victorian and Chinese…

  • Museum Karolingga

    North Sumatra

    On the road leading into the village of Lingga is this interesting little museum inside a traditional building with displays on Karo culture and artefacts…

  • Gundaling Hill

    North Sumatra

    Around 4km north of the Tugu Perjuangan war monument, tree-shaded Gundaling Hill provides a unique vantage point from which you can see both Gunung…

  • Museum Pusaka Karo

    North Sumatra

    Set up inside the old Catholic church (c 1956), this centrally located museum has beautifully presented displays on Karo culture and crafts, including…

  • Graha Maria Annai Velangkanni

    Medan

    One for advocates of religious diversity and quirky architecture, this surreal Catholic church combines Hindu and Islamic architecture styles with a…

  • Sri Mariamman Temple

    Medan

    Dating to 1884, Medan's oldest Hindu temple has a classic Dravidian style typical of South India, with a storied tower adorned with ornamental deity…

  • Mesjid Raya

    Medan

    The impressive Grand Mosque was commissioned by the Sultan of Deli in 1906. The Moroccan-style building has a grand entrance, towering ceilings, ornate…

  • Taman Alam Lumbini

    North Sumatra

    Located 6km east of Berastagi, this gleaming golden Buddhist temple is a replica of the famous Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon, Myanmar. You'll need to arrange…

  • Giant Cabbage

    North Sumatra

    Berastagi’s most prominent landmark is this homage to the humble cabbage, erected in 1972 as a 'thank you' for the riches it brought to the local economy.

  • Town Hall

    Medan

    One of several fine examples of ornate Dutch colonial buildings in downtown Medan is the stately town hall, constructed in 1908.

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