Padang
Port city on Sumatra's west coast, home of Minangkabau cooking and the main departure point for Mentawai surf boats.
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Padang is the capital of West Sumatra province and a port on Sumatra's west coast. Visitors come for Minangkabau cooking. At a Padang restaurant, dishes sit out in the display case and you pay only for what you eat. Rendang is one of the best-known dishes. Boats to the Mentawai Islands, known for their surf breaks, also leave from here.
Many trips treat Padang as a base or a stop on the way elsewhere. The highland town of Bukittinggi is a few hours inland by road, and Lake Maninjau lies within reach of it. A stay here suits food lovers and surfers. Mentawai trips are usually planned for the drier months, roughly May to September. Padang sits in an earthquake zone, so check current local advice before you book. Allow a few days for the city and a day trip inland.
Padang in five
- Eat a Padang meal the Minang wayIn traditional Padang restaurants, plates of rendang, curries and vegetables arrive without ordering, and you pay for what you eat. Wash with the bowl of water, and use your right hand if you eat by hand.
- Treat Padang as a gatewayBukittinggi's highlands and lake country are 2–3 hours inland, and boats to the Mentawai Islands leave from the Padang area. Most travelers sleep a night here, then move on.Mentawai Islands
- Know the tsunami drillPadang sits on a seismically active coast, and hotels post evacuation routes and signs. Read yours on arrival, and keep your passport and phone where you can grab them.
- Check Mentawai crossings earlyOvernight ferries and faster boats leave from the Padang area, and surf charters are separate. Book ahead, check schedules, and leave a spare day for rough seas.Travel insurance guides
- Dress modestly in towns and mosquesWest Sumatra is strongly Muslim, so cover shoulders and knees in towns and mosques. Ramadan can change restaurant hours, so check before you plan a day around lunch.
Need to know
- Airport
- Minangkabau International (PDG), about 25 km north of the city
- Getting there
- Flight from Jakarta or another hub; airport rail link and taxis
- Getting around
- Taxis and ride apps in town; hire a driver for the highlands
- Best base
- Central Padang for a night; Bukittinggi for the highlands
- Time needed
- 1–2 days in Padang; 4–7 with Bukittinggi and Mentawai
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- JanuaryRain24 rainy daysHigh28°Low22°Wet, humidJanuaryRain
Good
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 22°
- Precipitation
- 435 mm
- Rainy days
- 24
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet, humid
- FebruaryRain21 rainy daysHigh29°Low23°ShowersFebruaryRain
Good
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 309 mm
- Rainy days
- 21
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Showers
- MarchRain26 rainy daysHigh29°Low23°ShowersMarchRain
Mixed
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 465 mm
- Rainy days
- 26
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Showers
- AprilRain25 rainy daysHigh29°Low23°WetAprilRain
Mixed
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 390 mm
- Rainy days
- 25
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet
- MayRain25 rainy daysHigh29°Low23°ShowersMayRain
Mixed
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 430 mm
- Rainy days
- 25
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Showers
- JuneRain20 rainy daysHigh29°Low23°Drier, trekkingJuneRain
Best
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 282 mm
- Rainy days
- 20
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Drier, trekking
- JulyRain21 rainy daysHigh29°Low22°DriestJulyRain
Best
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 22°
- Precipitation
- 262 mm
- Rainy days
- 21
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Driest
- AugustRain25 rainy daysHigh28°Low22°DrierAugustRain
Good
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 22°
- Precipitation
- 384 mm
- Rainy days
- 25
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Drier
- SeptemberRain25 rainy daysHigh28°Low22°WetterSeptemberRain
Good
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 22°
- Precipitation
- 389 mm
- Rainy days
- 25
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wetter
- OctoberRain24 rainy daysHigh28°Low22°WetOctoberRain
Good
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 22°
- Precipitation
- 384 mm
- Rainy days
- 24
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet
- NovemberRain27 rainy daysHigh27°Low22°WettestNovemberRain
Good
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 22°
- Precipitation
- 480 mm
- Rainy days
- 27
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wettest
- DecemberRain25 rainy daysHigh28°Low22°WetDecemberRain
Good
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 22°
- Precipitation
- 473 mm
- Rainy days
- 25
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet
Average daily high and low in Padang, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Padang
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
27
- Feels like
- 30°
- Humidity
- 79%
- Wind
- 6 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 100%
Padang
03:40 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today27°22°100%Tuesday: Thunderstorms. High 27°, Low 22°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Wed28°23°100%Wednesday: Rain. High 28°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Thu28°22°100%Thursday: Rain. High 28°, Low 22°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Fri28°22°100%Friday: Thunderstorms. High 28°, Low 22°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Sat28°22°100%Saturday: Thunderstorms. High 28°, Low 22°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Sun28°21°100%Sunday: Thunderstorms. High 28°, Low 21°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Mon27°22°100%Monday: Rain. High 27°, Low 22°. Chance of rain 100%.
Updated 11:50 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 18,144 IDR
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Bukittinggiabout 2–3 hours by roadHighland town with a clock tower, markets and views over a canyon; better with a night.
- Mentawai Islandsovernight ferry or faster boatSurf breaks and jungle villages; this is a separate trip, not a day out.Read the guide
- Lake Maninjauabout 3 hours by roadA crater lake reached by a famous run of hairpin bends.
Before you go to Padang
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Rules for Padang, checked
- Entry: visa on arrival or visa-free entry depends on your passport. Check the Directorate General of Immigration site (imigrasi.go.id) before you fly.Source
- Mosques: remove shoes at the door and cover shoulders and knees. Women may be asked to cover their hair.
- Indonesia enforces its drug laws strictly. Do not carry drugs, and carry prescription medicines with the prescription.
- Padang follows Minangkabau customs. Keep public displays of affection low-key and dress modestly outside the beach areas.
Plan around Padang
Entry, regions and the rest of the country
Read the guideSumatraThe whole island, from Aceh to the south
Read the guideMentawai IslandsSurf boats and jungle culture off the coast
Read the guideMedanThe north's gateway city and food hub
Read the guideDanau TobaSumatra's volcanic lake, in the north
Read the guideTravel insuranceTrip delay and quake-region cover
Read the guidePadang FAQ
Is Padang worth visiting?
For the food, yes, and as a gateway to Bukittinggi, Lake Maninjau and the Mentawai Islands. It is a working port city rather than a resort, so most visitors stay one or two nights.
What is Padang food?
Minangkabau cooking: rendang, spiced curries, chili sambals and rice, served as many small dishes at once. Padang restaurants across Indonesia use the same table-service style.
How many days do you need in Padang?
One or two days for the city and food. Add three to five if you head up to Bukittinggi and the lakes, or to the Mentawai Islands for surf.
Is Padang safe from earthquakes and tsunamis?
The coast is seismically active, and the city has evacuation signs and drills. Know your hotel's route and follow local alerts, and keep a bag ready in case you need to move quickly.
How do you get to the Mentawai Islands from Padang?
By overnight ferry from the Padang area, or by faster boats and surf charters arranged in advance. Schedules shift with weather, so check recent timings before you commit.