Things to do in Pekanbaru
And where to stay, the best time to visit, what a day costs, and the traps to skip.
Best time to visit Pekanbaru
• a note or something on ✦ an occasion worth the trip
Relatively drier and clearest, the best general window for a first visit.
Haze risk season from peat and plantation fires, worst in September and October in dry years.
Wettest months, with heavy afternoon storms and localised flooding in low districts.
Bono season on the Kampar River, strongest around new and full moons after rain.
What's on
- Pekanbaru City Anniversary 23 June
Founding day civic events and cultural performances, the best week to find Bandar Serai busy.
- Pacu Jalur Festival Usually late August
Traditional longboat racing at Teluk Kuantan, four to five hours away, so plan it as an overnight trip.
Best things to do in Pekanbaru
Museum Sang Nila Utama
The provincial museum in a Malay house style building is the fastest way to understand Riau Malay culture.
Masjid Raya An-Nur
The great mosque is the city landmark, with domes, lawns and ponds that are best near sunset.
Perpustakaan Soeman HS
A six storey public library shaped like an open book, and the most striking modern building in the city.
Rumah Singgah Tuan Kadi
The 1895 timber stopover house of the Siak Sultan anchors the only historic walk in the old town.
Pasar Bawah
The old port market is the best place in the city for songket, batik and edible Riau souvenirs.
Asia Heritage Pekanbaru
A big replica streetscape park with a Dino Park and costume photos that Indonesian families love.
Istana Siak Sri Indrapura
The Siak Sultanate palace is the finest heritage sight in Riau, worth the full day trip from the city.
Candi Muara Takus
Quiet brick Buddhist stupas linked to the Srivijaya world, with almost nothing there but the ruins.
Where to stay in Pekanbaru
City centre and Jalan Jenderal Sudirman
first trip, all-round base
The business spine with the mosque, library and museum a short drive away and the widest hotel choice.
SKA and Jalan Soekarno-Hatta, Payung Sekaki
families and mall-based comfort
Newer hotels and the widest chain dining in the west, at the cost of a longer drive to the old town.
Labersa, Siak Hulu
golf and resort stays
Greenery, the golf course and the waterpark by the hotel, with every city sight a drive away.
Senapelan old town
heritage visits, not a hotel base
The market, the sultan stopover house and the riverfront are here, but good hotels are not, so visit by day.
Think twice about
- Rumbai and Payung Sekaki riverbank fringes
Low streets here flooded in the December 2023 wet season event, so avoid ground floor bases from November to January.
- Panam and far Tampan
A traffic choked university sprawl far from every sight, and dead for a visitor at night.
- Simpang Tiga airport sprawl
Roadside hotels with nothing walkable around them, useful only for an early flight.
Best restaurants in Pekanbaru
Pondok Patin H.M. Yunus
The essential Malay meal here, asam pedas patin and giant river prawns served for sharing.
Pondok Masakan Khas Melayu
Full Riau Malay repertoire including patin tempoyak, in a spacious room built for group feasts.
Rumah Makan Pak Abbas
Locals name this rumah makan for gulai asam pedas baung, a spicy tangy catfish curry at lunch.
Kedai Kopi Kimteng
The 1950 kopitiam original for strong coffee, kaya toast and noodles, a morning ritual in the old town.
Sate Bundo Kanduang
Sate Padang with a thick spiced sauce and ketupat, the Minangkabau half of the city palate done well.
Mie Tarempa Pekanbaru
Chewy Anambas style noodles in a savoury spiced broth, a quick cheap lunch loved by locals.
Koki Sunda
Sundanese grills, sayur asem and sambals in a big comfortable room that pleases whole groups.
Local Pantry Restaurant & Cocktail Bar
The most polished dining room in the city, with modern Indonesian plates and a rare cocktail bar.
Outdoor things to do in Pekanbaru
Labersa Golf & Country Club
Twenty seven holes across three nines at a lakeside resort, the bookable flagship round in the city.
Taman Rekreasi Alam Mayang
A shady park of lakes and fishing ponds where you can rent a pedal boat and picnic under the trees.
Labersa Water Park & Theme Park
Slides, a lazy river and go karts beside the golf resort, the main way to cool a family down here.
Desa Wisata Okura
A community run riverbank village with horse riding and agro plots, the quietest green hour in the city.
Siak River
A wooden boat ride from Senapelan shows the working river port that made Pekanbaru, best at golden hour.
Bono Tidal Bore
A surfable tidal bore running far up the Kampar River, a specialist guided expedition at spring tides.
Best hotels in Pekanbaru
Aryaduta Pekanbaru
The long established grand hotel with gardens and a big pool, the closest the city gets to luxury.
Labersa Grand Hotel & Convention Center
A spacious resort hotel by the golf course and waterpark, trading centrality for greenery and quiet.
The Premiere Hotel Pekanbaru
The central all rounder with a pool and a strong breakfast, consistently the safest mid range choice.
Novotel Pekanbaru
The Accor four star in the west, predictable rooms and service for travellers who value consistency.
Grand Jatra Hotel Pekanbaru
Attached to Mal Pekanbaru, so families can reach shops and food without stepping into the heat.
Whiz Prime Hotel Sudirman Pekanbaru
A clean limited service hotel on the main corridor, a reliable budget floor.
Is Pekanbaru expensive? What a day costs
| Budget | IDR 450,000 a person |
|---|---|
| Classic | IDR 950,000 a person |
| Splurge | IDR 2,200,000 a person |
A day of food, drink, sights and getting around, before the room
What to book ahead
- Istana Siak Sri Indrapura: a few days ahead
- Labersa Golf & Country Club: a few days ahead
- Bono Tidal Bore: weeks ahead
- Pondok Patin H.M. Yunus: a few days ahead
- Book a Bono operator weeks ahead for a spring tide window in the rainy season.
- Book Labersa weekend tee times and a weekend car with driver a day or two ahead.
- Reserve the air conditioned private room at Pondok Patin H.M. Yunus for group dinners.
Is Pekanbaru safe?
- Check air quality in the July to October haze risk season and keep a good mask in your bag.
- Schedule outdoor sights before 10am and after 3.30pm because midday UV and heat are extreme.
- Use repellent at dawn and dusk at parks and the river because dengue is present year round.
Pekanbaru travel tips: tourist traps to skip
- Kasang Kulim Zoo has poor animal welfare reviews and is not recommended as a zoo visit.
- Base tickets at Asia Heritage cost more in the end than the all access ticket once rides are added.
- Packaged city tours add little in town, where sights are close and nearly free.
Getting around Pekanbaru: public transport and more
- Use Grab or Gojek cars for almost everything, and drop a pin instead of describing an address.
- Hire a car with driver for the Siak Palace, Muara Takus and Bono trips, agreeing the full price first.
- The airport is about 15 to 20 minutes from the centre, and the only walkable cluster is Senapelan before 10am.
Who Pekanbaru suits
| Solo travellers | OK |
|---|---|
| Groups of friends | Good |
| Couples | OK |
| Bachelor parties | Not ideal |
| Families | Good |
| Bachelorette parties | Not ideal |
Make Pekanbaru your trip
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