Sightseeing in Medan - what to see. Complete travel guide

The history of Medan started from a small village called Kampung Medan. Under the guidance of Guru Patimpus Sembiring Pelawi, a small settlement turned into a town in the 90s of the 16th century. The Batak people, a Proto-Malay group of the indigenous people of Sumatra, were the first settlers here. However, the town was developing slowly until the 60s of the 19th century. Twelve years later, colonists from the Netherlands entered the territory of this Indonesian settlement and defeated Deli sultans. The Dutch captured the land and started clearing it for a tobacco plantation.
Are you interested in the main attractions of Medan? The Great Mosque of Medan or Masjid Raya Al Mashun is one of the major attractions of this Indonesian city. A fabulous example of Dutch architecture, this mosque is, without a doubt, one of the main architectural and historical attractions in Medan. For decades, this building has been in an ideal condition. The mosque was built at the beginning of the 20th century by the project of a Dutch architect who chose the Moroccan style for the shrine. The Great Mosque of Medan is the most important sacred place for residents of the city and its neighborhoods.

How about turning into a sultan who walks in his gorgeous property? In Medan, tourists are welcome to visit the gorgeous Maimoon Palace that is also known as Istana Maimun. Just like the mosque, the palace is incredibly popular with tourists and is one of the symbols of Medan. The construction of the gorgeous palace in Rococo style started in 1888. The sultan’s palace is a prominent attraction in Medan and one of the city’s most luxurious estates of the colonial period. To keep the major landmark in good condition, the city’s authorities frequently restore the palace.

The construction of the palace for Sultan Ma'mun Al Rashid Perkasa Alam Shah ended in 1891. The building is famous not only for its honorable age but also for the interesting interior design that combines elements of several styles: Malay and Arabian. Some elements of décor are typical for the Spanish, Italian, and Indian architectures. Visitors can see the throne hall with a giant crystal chandelier, antique furniture, and royal portraits on the walls.

This guide to iconic landmarks and sights of Medan is protected by the copyright law. You can re-publish this content with mandatory attribution: direct and active hyperlink to www.orangesmile.com.
City tours, excursions and tickets in Medan and surroundings
Reference information
National and city parks around Medan
♥ Nature Recreation Park 'Pulau Lapang' , 0.9 km from the center. On the map
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♥ Nature Recreation Park 'Pulau Batang' , 3 km from the center. On the map
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♥ Nature Recreation Park 'Muna' , 23.1 km from the center. On the map
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♥ Nature Recreation Park 'Sibolangit' , 37.2 km from the center. On the map
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♥ Nature Recreation Park 'Holiday Resort' , 46.7 km from the center. On the map
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♥ Nature Recreation Park 'Pulau Lapang' , 0.9 km from the center. On the map


♥ Nature Recreation Park 'Pulau Batang' , 3 km from the center. On the map


♥ Nature Recreation Park 'Muna' , 23.1 km from the center. On the map


♥ Nature Recreation Park 'Sibolangit' , 37.2 km from the center. On the map


♥ Nature Recreation Park 'Holiday Resort' , 46.7 km from the center. On the map


Sights around Medan from our guide 'Extreme places on Earth'
Volcano Toba
From the series “Sleeping Super-Volcanoes Capable of Destroying Whole Regions”
Check on the map:
Distance from Medan center - 91.4 km.
The last researching data were quite dispositive, they say that in the nearest future Toba volcano will awake. The temperature of the soil is going higher and volcano gases extrude aggressively. It is quite hard to imagine the level of catastrophe that may happen in case of the largest supervolcano eruption. The fact that the volcano is surrounded by a number of large reservoirs, gives us the information that after the eruption everything will die. …
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Search touristic sites on the map of Medan

