Medan

Medan is the largest city on the island of Sumatra and a key regional hub in Indonesia. As the capital of North Sumatra, it functions as a financial centre and gateway to the western Indonesian archipelago, benefiting from its strategic location near the Strait of Malacca and Kualanamu International Airport. With a population exceeding 2.4 million, Medan is a bustling, multicultural metropolis driven by trade, agriculture (particularly palm oil), and processing industries.

Historically a trading post and plantation centre – earning the nickname “the land of money” during the Dutch colonial era – Medan offers a unique blend of cultures and a dynamic urban environment. It’s recognized as one of Indonesia’s four main central cities, alongside Jakarta, Surabaya, and Makassar, and provides a distinctly Sumatran experience compared to Java’s more heavily-touristed destinations.