Pekanbaru - Sumatra
Highlights * Grand Mosque * Tesso Nilo National Park *
* Accommodation/hotels * Getting to Pekanbaru
Cities and towns in Sumatra
Bukit Lawang Travel Tours now available here!
Pekanbaru is the capital city of the Riau province of Sumatra. The economy was originally built on coffee and coal but now relies on oil. The Riau Province produces half of the crude oil for all of Indonesia, 650,000 barrels per year. Pekanbaru is a large, busy, modern city. The Siak river runs past Pekanbaru.
The Grand Mosque dates back to the 18th century holding the graves of the fourth and fifth Sultans of Siak. This is one of the finest mosques in all of Indonesia.
On the main road of Pekanbaru, Jl. Sudirman there is the Museum Negeri Riau with an interesting collection of cultural artifacts from the Riau province.
Traffic on Jl. Jend. Sudirman, Pekanbaru
Internet Access
There are many internet cafes charging 4000Rp per hour. If you have your own notebook computer they will allow you to plug this in to connect to their network and internet. There are regular power outages in Pekanbaru so make sure you save your work if you are typing a lengthy email.
There is free WiFi wireless Hotspot Internet access at Le Gossip Cafe on the ground floor of the Mal Pekanbaru shopping plaza and they serve Bintang and Heineken beer there as well.
Shopping
There are lots of large, modern shopping centres throughout Pekanbaru including Citra Plaza on Jl. Tambusai, Ciputra Mall on Jl. Riau, Pekanbaru Mall on Jl. Sudirman and SKA Mall on Jl. Soekarno Hatta.
Money changers
There are plenty of ATM machines to withdrawer money. Even though there seems to be a different bank every 20 meters down the main road of Pekanbaru none of them do foreign exchange. There is a small money changer a few doors down from Bank Mandiri on Jl. Sudriman close to the overhead walkway crossing the street.
The Siak River passing by Pekanbaru
There is some very interesting architecture throughout Pekabaru including some of the official government buildings.
Golf in Pekanbaru
There are several golf courses close to Pekanbaru:
Labersa Golf Course is not far from the centre of Pekanbaru. Day packages can be arranged at the Aryaduta Hotel from 1,034,000Rp per person. See link for hotel below.
Rumbai Golf Course Ph: (061) 519 769 located in Rumbai, a sub-province of Pekanbaru.
The Simpang Tiga Golf Course is about 70Km from the centre of Pekanbaru.
Food in Pekanbaru
Check out Vanhollano Bakery on Jl. Sudirman 153. Start of with one of their small chicken or beef burgers for 9500Rp and finish off with one of their cakes, pastries or some ice-cream.
Health Spa's in Pekanbaru
Taman Sari Royal Heritage Spa - www.tamansarispa.com
The Tesso Nilo National Park is not far from Pekanbaru with around 200 wild elephants and a small group of Sumatra Tigers. To prevent the wild elephants from leaving the National Park the Tesso Nilo Elephant Flying Squad has been formed which is comprised of 4 trained elephants and their trainers who patrol the border to force the wild elephants back into the park. For more information on the Tesso Nilo National Park click here.
Unfortunately the locals do not seem to even know this National Park exists. I asked a number of people as well as the reception staff at my hotel - Dyan Graha Hotel, 3 star hotel and no-one there had a clue even after showing them an article in Bahasa Indonesia with pictures of the Tesso Nilo Elephant Flying Squad.
Pekanbaru has an airport - Sultan Syarif Kasim II. A taxi from the airport to the centre of Pekanbaru will cost 60,000Rp. 10,000Rp is to be paid to the taxi office at the airport and then 50,000Rp to the driver when you arrive at your destination.
The following airlines have flights to and from Pekanbaru:
Mandala Air has direct flights from Pekanbaru to Balikpapan, Batam, Denpasar, Jakarta, Jogjakarta, Kupang, Medan, Padang, Pontianak, Semarang, Surabaya and Tarakan. www.mandalaair.com.
Sriwijaya Air has direct flights between Pekanbaru - Medan and Jakarta. www.sriwijayaair-online.com
Batavia Air has direct flights from Pekanbaru to Batam, Jakarta and Pontianak. www.batavia-air.co.id
Lion Air has direct flights to Jakarta and Surabaya with connecting flights to over 30 destinations in Indonesia. www.lionair.co.id
Air Asia flies direct to Pekanbaru from Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and Jakarta. www.airasia.com.
Riau Airlines have direct flights between Pekanbaru and Batam, Dumai, Jakarta, Tnajung Pinang on Bintan and to Malacca in Malaysia. www.riau-airlines.com
Pelita Air have charter flights between Pekanbaru and Dumai. There are also charter flights to Jakarta. Pelita Air also helicopters for charter. www.pelita-air.com
Firefly is a new Malaysian budget airline flying between Malaysia and Sumatra. Firefly have direct flights between Pekanbaru and Subang airport in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia. www.fireflyz.com.my
Garuda, Merpati and Wings Air also have flights from Pekanbaru.
You can also arrange transportation via car to Dumai with connecting ferries to Batam or Pangkal Pinang on Bangka Island. Prices to Batam are 295,000Rp and leave at 7am everyday.
Buses
There are regular buses to Bukittinngi, 6 hours at a cost of 45,000Rp.
Buses to Dumai take 6 hours.
There are also buses to Medan, 13 hours at a cost of 150,000Rp.
Hotel Anom (1 review) a budget hotel in the centre of Pekanbaru. Prices from 90,000Rp. For picture, prices and contact details click here.
Hotel Afri is a budget hotel located on the main street of Pekanbaru. Room prices are all 100,000Rp. Ph: (0761) 33190
Hotel Mahkota is a budget hotel close to the centre of Pekanbaru. Prices start from 119,000Rp. For picture prices and contact details click here.
Hotel Bidadari is a budget hotel in the centre of Pekanbaru. Prices start from 170,000Rp per night. For picture, prices and contact details click here.
Oase Hotel (1 review) is a boutique hotel located in the centre of Pekanbaru offering free WiFi wireless internet connection. Published room rates start from 250,000Rp though they often have special prices starting from 175,000Rp. For picture, prices and contact details click here.
Sri Indrayani Hotel (1 review) is a 3 star hotel close to the centre of Pekanbaru. Special prices start from 205,000Rp per night. For picture, prices and contact details click here.
Pelangi Hotel (2 reviews) is a boutique hotel located in the centre of Pekanbaru with free WiFi wireless internet access. Prices start from 270,000Rp per night. For picture, prices and contact details click here.
Hotel Dyan Graha (3 reviews) a quality 3 star hotel in the centre of Pekanbaru. With swimming pool, 24 hour room service, bar and business centre. Published prices from 585,000Rp though often have special prices from 275,000Rp. Prices are always negotiable. For pictures, prices and contact details click here.
Rauda Hotel Prices from 236,555Rp. www.hotelrauda.com
Aston Pekanbaru City Hotel Special prices start from 348,000Rp per night www.aston-international.com
Resty Menara Hotel Published rates from 436,000Rp per night www.menararesty.com
Hotel Pangeran Published rates from 498,000Rp per night. Jl. Jend. Suriman No 371 - 373 Pekanbaru. Telp: +62 761 853636 Fax: +62 761 853 232.
Grand Jatra Hotel Published rates from 976,000Rp per night. www.jatrahotelpekanbaru.com
Aryaduta Hotel Published rates from 1,100,000Rp per night. Weekend specials from 450,000Rp per room per night www.aryaduta.com
Hotel Ibis is centrally located in the business district, just 10 minutes from airport
Mutiara Merdeka Hotel
http://www.mutiaramerdeka.com
Last updated - 17th June 2009