Padang, A Historic Town Off the Coast of West Indonesia
With over 900,000 residents, Padang, Indonesia ranks as the 10th populated urban centers in Indonesia and the fourth in Sumatra. The city serves as the capital of the West Sumatra province and once served as a trading center for gold and pepper. Now, it is a bustling city of tourism, where its beaches and cuisine are known world-wide. The city is served by the Minangkabau International Airport where 3.7 million passengers fly to every year. Numerous hotels and accommodations are situated around the hotel for the tourists' convenience.
Best Time to Visit
August is particularly the slowest tourism season for the year, but this also coincides with the city's annual celebration of Torch and Telong-Telong Festival. The event features colorful lanterns as hundreds of lights float around in the coast of Padang Beach to celebrate the establishment of the town. From December to February, most of Padang, Indonesia hotels are packed with tourists.
What to Do & Area Attractions
For history buffs visiting the area, you shouldn't miss the chance to come by the Adityawarman Museum which houses many artifacts of the local Minangkabau ethnic group. The building itself is of a Rumah Gadang style, which is known as the traditional home of the tribe. Two other interesting sites in the town are the Sitti Nurbaya Bridge and Air Terjun Lembah Anai, both of which capture the natural beauty of the city entirely. Afterward, enjoy the cozy atmosphere of the Mercure Padang, Hotel Pangeran Beach, and Ibis Padang, all of which boast of their luxurious spas and pools.