Discover Indonesia: The 10 Best Things To Do In Padang

1. Lake Maninjau

This is a magical place to visit. Lake Maninjau is 16 km (9.9 miles) long and 7 km (4.3 miles) wide and just over three hours from Padang. People come here for the fishing, the stunning sunsets, or just for the romantic atmosphere. The lake is like a mirror and you won’t get bored of the view. Make sure you to have a meal at one of the local restaurants. It is something not to be missed when you visit Bukittinggi.

Lake Maninjau

Address: Kabupaten Agam - Bukittinggi, 25124, Indonesia

Website: Lake Maninjau

2. Anai Valley Waterfall

Stop and dip your feet in the Anai Valley Waterfall and feel the refreshing atmosphere. Located at the side of the road on the way to Bukittinggi, coming from Padang, this is a perfect place to relax and get away from your busy life. There’s a small fee at the entrance but we can assure you that it’s worth it.

Anai Valley Waterfall

Address: Padang 27282, Indonesia

3. Pulau Pagang

This is a beautiful beach far removed from human civilization. The landscape is awesome, the sea is clean and blue. If you’re looking for a good place to chill and relax, this is perfect for you. Don’t forget to bring your own lunch, as there are no restaurants or convenience stores here. The white sand and beautiful waves will enchant you.

4. Pasumpahan Island

Pasumpahan Island is a beautiful island with amazing views. Taking a boat and visiting this island in a day is a must do if you’re traveling in the area. You can swim in the clear water and then climb up the hill to get a breathtaking view of the nature in the surrounding area.

The clear water has different gradients of color, as the depth changes. The hills and the tiny boats zipping across this beautiful canvas create a peaceful feeling.

5. Chinatown

The Chinese temple located near Pondok is the landmark of Padang’s Chinatown. It’s well-preserved, confirming the presence of Chinese community in this part of the town. Around the Chinatown area, there are a lot of places to eat and opportunities to try new food. You can discover it best on foot or by motorbike. The place is not so big, but it’s clean and organized.

6. Air Manis Beach

This is one of the most famous beaches in West Sumatra, with beautiful, calm waves. The thing that makes this beach so famous is its history, in which legend has it that a son, rebelling against his mother, was cursed by God and turned into a stone here. Regardless of the story, this place is magical and the sunsets are just stunning.

This is a great place to relax and enjoy yourself and a good stop if you are looking for some “vitamin sea”.

Air Manis Beach

Address: South of Padang, Padang 25124, Indonesia

Website: Air Manis Beach

7. Museum Adityawarman

This museum is a great way to spend your time learning about the history of the Minang culture. The main attraction of the museum is the “Rumah Gadang”, the traditional community house for the Minangkabau clan. The Rumah Gadang is actually the museum itself and it has displays of Minangkabau artifacts, traditional clothing, and accessories.

The building closes at 5 pm, although you can enter the grounds until 6 pm. Entrance fee is 3,000 IDR (.20 USD) per person.

Museum Adityawarman

Address: Jl Diponegoro no 10, Padang 25124, Indonesia

Website: Museum Adityawarman

8. Pamutusan Island

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

This is one of the magical hidden places of Padang. This island, located in front of Padang Island, is small, with white sandy beaches and beautiful views and if you climb to the top of the hill, you’ll see the view of the ocean and the islands around.

The island is special because it is actually comprised of two small islands, connected by white sand. If you want, you can go hiking and camping on the small hill or just go to check out the view. There are also many activities to do here, such as swimming, snorkeling, and riding on a banana boat.

Pamutusan Island

Address: Padang 25654, Indonesia

Facebook: Pamutusan Island

9. Bung Hatta Nature Reserve

Taman Hutan Raya Bung Hatta is a nature reserve area in West Sumatra, dedicated to the protection of natural resources, education, and research. This beautiful place is a part of the Kerinci National Park and it is a tropical paradise, with stunning landscape.

There’s a wide variety of tropical plants and lots of species of animals here. You’ll be able to see the native wildlife of Indonesia and there are 352 species of flora and 170 species of protected fauna, found in the park.

Bung Hatta Nature Reserve

Address: Koto Renah, Pesisir Bukit, Sungai Penuh City, Jambi 37152, Indonesia

Website: Bung Hatta Nature Reserve

10. Pagaruyung Palace

This palace is a huge building with three levels and it has beautiful and unique architecture. Here, you’ll see antique traditional costumes and you can learn about their culture. The building is made completely of wood, with beautiful decorations. Entrance fee is about 12,000 IDR (0.90 USD)

Pagaruyung Palace

Address: Pagaruyung, Tanjung Emas, Bukittinggi 27281, Indonesia

Get ready for a tropical adventure!

White sandy beaches, clear water, new culture and beautiful nature are the words that can describe this place. Get ready to be overwhelmed and let’s go on this adventure!