Discover Padang: 10 Awesome Things to See and Do

8 Best Things to Do in Padang

1. Explore Padang's Old Town ♥️ Must Visit

Padang City has a pretty interesting history that dates all the way back to the 16th Century. The city began in what we now call Padang's Old Town and it has some of the most beautiful architecture in Sumatra, with many Dutch colonial buildings still standing to this day.

Padang has historically been a trading center since the pre-colonial era, trading pepper and gold with India. However, around the 17th Century, the Dutch came to the island and took control of the city.

In turn, they built several structures around the port area to accommodate their extraction of resources. Nowadays, many of these colonial buildings have been repurposed and renovated for tourists to see.

Right from the get-go, you will find the newly renovated colonial building that was used as an office for an insurance and trading firm, Geo Wehry & Co, that still exists to this day in the Netherlands.

Another cool structure that has been newly renovated is Padangsche Spaarbank, an old colonial building that was built in the early 20th century and used as a headquarters for a Dutch Bank. Nowadays, it has been converted into a restaurant and a boutique hotel you can visit.

There are several other colonial buildings around the area as well, so be sure to keep an eye out for them. There is also much cool street art along Kejayaan Road so do not forget to drop by there.

Where to Stay in Padang?

Budget

Kokos Hostel Padang City

$ | Dorm

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👍 Top Pick

Mid-Range

Sentosa Lodge

$$ | Double Room

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High-End

Hotel Santika Premiere Padang

$$$ | Double Room

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2. Check Out Padang's China Town

Right next to Padang's Old Town, you will also find the city's Chinatown, the old Chinese quarter with beautiful Chinese buildings, temples, and more, waiting for you to explore.

One of the best attractions here is Kelenteng See Hin Kiong, a Taoist temple built by the Chinese traders who settled around this part of Padang in the 19th Century. The temple was built in 1861 and has some really impressive sculptures and decorations inside. You don't usually see many Chinese temples in West Sumatra, so it was definitely a welcomed change of scenery.

While you explore Padang's Chinatown, be sure to walk a little further and check out Masjid Muhammadan, the oldest mosque in the city that still retains its traditional look and feel. Its location being near a Chinese temple goes to show just how harmoniously each religion lives in Padang ever since it became the melting pot of culture and trade of West Sumatra.

3. Check Out the View from Siti Nurbaya Bridge

As you explore the Old Town, do not forget to check out the view from Siti Nurbaya Bridge, especially in the evening when the bridge and the canal are beautifully lit up for you to see. It is a bit of a walk to get up to the bridge, but it is well worth it.

From the bridge, you will be able to see the old town and the canal, with lines of wooden boats parked along the side as they are all lit up by streetlights. It really is quite a sight to behold.

4. Visit the Grand Mosque of West Sumatra

One of the most beautiful mosques you will see in Indonesia is located right here in Padang, and you are going to want to see it! The Grand Mosque of West Sumatra is the largest mosque in the region, and it probably has the most unique design ever.

The mosque was constructed in 2007 and designed with a distinctive roof form that combines the traditional Minangkabau roof style and the beautiful geometric patterns of Islam.

The main building consists of three floors, with the main prayer hall located on the second floor. You can access the mosque for free from there, but make sure that you enter the right section. Men and women have different entrances, so please keep that in mind.

If you think the outside is already impressive, wait until you see the inside. It felt like I was in a spaceship or something. It was pretty cool to see. The mosque is said to be able to accommodate 20,000 people, which is very impressive.

The Grand Mosque is located quite far from the rest of the attractions in Padang, so I would recommend you hail a motor-taxi or a taxi via Grab to take you there. A motor-taxi should cost 12,000 IDR for the ride from the old town to here.

5. Learn More about the Minangkabau People at Museum Adityawarman 🏛️ Best Museum

If you want to learn more about the Minangkabau People, the tribe that lives in this part of Sumatra, you are going to love Museum Adityawarman, an incredible museum that explores the rich history and culture of Minangkabau from the beginning to modern day.

The museum is housed inside a traditional spire-roof building that resembles boat tails, for which the Minangkabau are known. Inside, you will find ethnographic collections of items related to the culture of the province, particularly the culture of the Minangkabau as well as the Mentawai, a group of islands just off the coast of Padang.

Inside, you will find rooms and sections, each highlighting a different aspect of the culture from traditional attire and preferred weapons of each tribe in West Sumatra. There is also a food section that you might be interested in as we will be exploring the famous Minangkabau cuisine later on.

It should take you about an hour to walk and read through the exhibition, so be sure to spare some time for it. The museum is open from 8:30 AM to 4 PM every day except on Mondays and the entrance fee is 5,000 IDR per person.

6. Try the Minangkabau Cuisine in Padang 🥘 Place to Eat

West Sumatra has one of the best cuisines in the world. Did you know that Rendang, a rich meat-based dish seasoned with herb and spice mixture that is popular among Southeast Asian countries, originated right here? I wasn't either!

Thanks to Padang's strategic location as a trade centre, the city has developed its own unique take on Indonesian cuisine and it would be a shame to visit West Sumatra without exploring the Minangkabau food scene.

There are several restaurants you can check out, but my favorite is Padang Old Town Resto Gallery, located right in the old town. It has a wide selection of local dishes you can try as well as a ton of seafood dishes you can enjoy.

They lean more on the expensive side of things, but you are really getting your money's worth here. If you want a more local experience, you can also check out Pagi Sore Restaurant, a really local place that serves delicious local dishes like Rendang, Ayam Goreng, and more.

For local breakfast, you can also check out Warkop Nipah. They open very early in the morning and I often frequent here when I crave Kopi Susu. Another great cafe is Kopi Janji Jiwa, located right in the old town. It is a great place to take a break while you explore the area.

7. Watch the Sunset at Padang Beach

Sunset in Padang is really something else, and if the sky is clear and you are not sure what to do in the evening, I highly recommend you go for a stroll along Padang Beach and enjoy the sunset.

The beach itself is nothing particularly special, but when the evening approaches, the whole strip turns into a night market with many street food carts popping up out of nowhere.

It is very lively along the beach in the evening with people coming out in droves, hanging out by the beach, and socializing. It is pretty awesome to see, so if you are looking for a place to stroll around, be sure to check out Padang Beach.

8. Hike Up Gunung Padang

Last but not least, if you are looking for a bit of an adventure, you can also go hike Gunung Padang, a viewpoint located atop Siti Nurbaya Hills on the other side of the river. You can cross the river from Siti Nurbaya Bridge, which is another attraction I recommend in this guide, so you are hitting 2 birds with one stone here.

You can start hiking from the trailhead and it should take about 15-20 minutes to get to the top. The stairs can get quite steep at times, so be sure to take it slow. I recommend you do the hike around 5 PM so it is not too hot, and you should be up there before sunset.

The entrance fee to Gunung Padang is 10,000 IDR per person, and it is open from 6:30 AM to 6:30 PM every day.

Where to Eat and Drink in Padang

Breakfast at Warkop Nipah

If you are looking for a place for an early breakfast, I highly recommend Warkop Nipah, a lovely restaurant located near the Mentawai fast ferry port. They are open very early and a great place to catch a quick breakfast before you catch the morning ferry.

I always look forward to their Iced Kopi Susu and roti with Kaya every morning. If you are looking for a local breakfast place, this is the place to be. The restaurant is open from 6:15 AM to 1 PM every day.

Lunch or Dinner at Padang Old Town Resto Gallery

If you are looking for a nice place for lunch or dinner that is near the Old Town, Padang Old Town Resto Gallery is an excellent choice with its variety of menu items to choose from, from basic Indonesian dishes like Mie Goreng to seafood and more.

The restaurant is a bit more expensive than others, but you really get your money's worth here. The restaurant is open from 11 AM to 10 PM every day.

Take a Coffee Break at Kopi Janji Jiwa

If you are looking for a nice cafe to relax in as you explore the old town, I highly recommend you check out Kopi Janji Jiwa. They have some of the best Kopi Susu I tried in Padang.

They also have many seating areas, both inside with AC, and outside for you to choose from. The cafe works a little differently here, as you have to order at a small kiosk at the entrance, and then you can go and find seats. They will serve you when it's ready.

They also have many toastie flavors you can eat with your coffee, so don't forget to try them out. The cafe is open from 8:30 AM to 10 PM every day.

How to Get to Padang?

Padang has an international airport located about 40 minutes away from the city center, but only a few international flights fly into it. If you are coming from abroad, the best way is to fly into Malaysia and then catch an AirAsia flight to Padang.

If you are already in North Sumatra and want to get to Padang, you can either fly from Medan to Padang via Super Air Jet, a local low-cost airline, or you can take an overnight bus from Medan/Lake Toba.

It should cost between 300,000 - 400,000 IDR per person and take 26 hours. Personally, that is just too long for a bus ride, and I ended up flying straight to Padang instead. If you insist on doing it, you can book the bus ticket here.

How to Get Around Padang?

If you stay in the accommodation I recommended, you should be able to walk to most places mentioned in this guide. If not, you can easily get around town by using Grab, an app where you can order a motor-taxi, taxi, and even food.

The trip price is calculated by the app, and you can pay with a credit card, which is extremely convenient. I highly recommend that you download the app, register, and use the motor-taxi/taxi to get around Padang.