Kualanamu to Medan: skip the jam, insist on a meter
- Medan, Indonesia
- Posted on
- 1 photo
Photo: Brm12 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
About this trap
Kualanamu airport is far outside the city, and a road transfer can take over an hour in traffic. The airport train reaches Medan station in roughly 30 to 45 minutes and avoids the jam. If you take a taxi, choose Bluebird, insist on the meter and decline any driver who refuses it, then order a ride-hail car instead. Check the last train time before a late arrival.
Where
Kualanamu to Medan: skip the jam, insist on a meterKualanamu International Airport and Medan railway station
Open in Google Maps(opens in a new tab)More Tips & Traps in Medan
12 posts from Local Friends and travelers who know the city.
TipSleepStay at Grand Inna Medan, the old Hotel De Boer
Medan, IndonesiaGrand Inna Medan on Jalan Balai Kota began as Hotel De Boer in 1898, and its older wing keeps a Dutch colonial character with hanging chandeliers and a mix of Dutch and Malay interior design. It sits a short walk from Lapangan Merdeka and the railway station, so early trains and the Kesawan streets are easy on foot…
TipEventsImlek and Cap Go Meh at Vihara Gunung Timur
Medan, IndonesiaVihara Gunung Timur on Jalan Hang Tuah is a major Chinese temple in Medan, and it fills with worshippers at Imlek, Cap Go Meh and the Chit Gwee Pua ghost festival. Imlek falls in January or February, and Cap Go Meh closes the season on the 15th day after it. Lion dance processions often mark the main days. Visit in…
PF TipEventsPekan Raya Sumatera Utara, Medan's month-long fair
Medan, IndonesiaPekan Raya Sumatera Utara is the province's big fair, held on the PRSU grounds on Jalan Gatot Subroto in Medan and running for about a month in the middle of the year. Expect regional pavilions, local art and music stages, food stalls and Jakarta artists in the evening shows. The 49th edition was in 2023 and the 50th…
TP TipShopTake Bolu Meranti home in small pieces
Medan, IndonesiaBolu Meranti is the soft, moist Medan sponge cake that many visitors carry home, and shops get busy during big events and holiday weeks. Ask for small pieces if you want to try several flavours before buying a larger set. Go on a weekday morning to avoid queues, and buy it last so it stays fresh for the trip.
MC TipArt & CultureMaha Vihara Maitreya, Medan's giant Buddhist complex
Medan, IndonesiaMaha Vihara Maitreya in the Cemara Asri estate, northeast of the centre, is a large Mahayana Buddhist complex inaugurated in 2008, with three main halls and dragon reliefs and statues around the grounds. It is a working place of worship, so dress modestly, keep your voice low and ask before photographing anyone…
TrapArt & CultureDo not plan the state museum for a Monday in Medan
Medan, IndonesiaThe Museum Negeri Sumatera Utara on Jalan HM Joni shows prehistoric tools and artefacts from across the province, and it makes a good rainy-day stop. Plan it for Tuesday to Sunday, because Monday is its day off and the gate stays shut. Published closing times vary a little between sources, so arrive by early afternoon…
TrapGetting AroundAgree the becak fare before you sit down in Medan
Medan, IndonesiaMotorised becak in Medan have no meter, and some drivers quote a low price and then ask for far more at the end of the ride. Say the destination and the full fare out loud before you climb in, and ask a hotel or shop staff member what is fair for the distance. If you would rather skip the haggling, a Grab or Gojek…
UH TipMiscellaneousUse Medan's electric buses from the Lapangan Merdeka hub
Medan, IndonesiaMedan's electric BRT buses run fixed corridors, and the Lapangan Merdeka hub beside Medan railway station is where most lines meet, which makes it an easy place to change buses. Lines reach Amplas, Pinang Baris, Belawan, Tuntungan and Tembung. Pay on board with a prepaid e-money card or a QRIS wallet app, so have one…
Know Medan well?
Share a tip, or warn travelers about a trap. It only takes a few minutes.