The largest city on the Indonesian island of Sumatra, Medan is a bustling metropolis where more than two million people live and work in harmony. The city is a cultural melting pot that displays a rich and diverse history; originally settled by the Batak Karo community, Medan was subsequently part of the Deli Sultanate, ruled by the Dutch, and has strong Chinese and Malay influences. The Maimun Palace and Great Mosque dominate the downtown area while classical shophouses line the streets.
Medan’s Kualanamu International Airport, which opened in 2013, is the gateway to North Sumatra. Direct flights are available to destinations all across Indonesia, including Jakarta, Surabaya and Yogyakarta, along with international connections to cities such as Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, Singapore and Bangkok.
Medan is home to many compelling cultural sites, while North Sumatra houses a breath-taking array of natural attractions including tropical rainforests, dramatic highlands and Lake Toba, the world’s largest volcanic crater lake.