Padang Travel Guide

Located roughly in the center of the west coast of Sumatra, Padang in West Sumatra is the provincial capital and gateway to the province. It is a pleasant city although most visitors come here for access to nearby islands and national parks.

Worth It?: Yes, for access to West Sumatra and the Batu and Mentawai islands.
What to Do: laze on Padang Beach, visit Bungus Bay.
Best Time to Go: April through to October in the Sumatra dry season.
How Long?: A couple of days in Padang is enough.
Trivia: Teluk Bayur harbor in Padang is the largest harbor in western Sumatra.

There are plenty of places to stay in Padang if the city is your destination although the nightlife is dull with a distinct lack of bars. It has a nice beach - Padang Beach (Tapi Lauik) - which is backed by a thriving promenade. Horse-drawn carriages ply the beach and you can also surf here.

Other Padang attractions include Sweet Water Beach (Pantai Air Manis), good for surfing, and Adityawarman Museum, on Jalan Diponegoro. Taman Budaya Cultural Park is also close by, as is good shopping. Padang also comes with a slew of restaurants, many of which can be found in Chinatown.

Nearby is Bungus Bay to the south of Padang, the gorgeous surf-happy Mentawai Islands (100kms to the southwest), and Kerinci Seblat National Park to the southeast, featuring Mount Kerinci for hiking.

Travel to Padang - Getting There

Padang hosts Minangkabau International Airport to the north of town with flights from all over Sumatra as well as from Jakarta (1 hour, 30 minutes). Padang is also linked by air to Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. Buses run from the airport to the city, taking in major hotels.

Padang Things to Do

Padang Attractions

Padang Beach (Tapi Lauik)

a pleasant beach in Padang which has horse-drawn carriages and a promenade with shops and cafés.

Side trips from Padang

Batu and Mentawai islands: lying a few hours west and southwest of Padang by boat, these laid-back islands are popular surf destinations.