Pekanbaru is the capital of Riau province, Sumatra and is the centre of oil production in the province.
Pekanbaru has the reputation of being one of the cleanest big cities in Indonesia and is the third largest city in Sumatra after Medan and Palembang. The city is developing rapidly, but still has much unique architecture with a taste of Malay culture.
Garuda Indonesia, Sriwijaya Air, Batavia Air, Lion Air and Wings Air serves flight to/and from Sultan Syarif Qasim II International Airport, Pekanbaru.
Garuda Indonesia flies 6 times a day to/from Jakarta-Pekanbaru.
Sriwijaya Air serves the route to/from Medan and Jakarta.
Batavia Air flies 2 times a day to/from Jakarta-Pekanbaru.
Lion Air flies 6 times a day to/from Jakarta-Pekanbaru and also serves the route from/to Batam and Medan.
Air Asia website: http://www.airasia.com (Call centre 0804-1-333333 in Indonesia; 1-300-88-9933 in Malaysia) flies daily from/to Kuala Lumpur-Pekanbaru. Morning flights (10am)on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.Afternoon flights (4pm) on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.
Firefly website: http://www.fireflyz.com.my Call centre: +603-7845 4543 in Malaysia) flies daily from Subang airport (Kuala Lumpur) to Pekanbaru.
To Riau Islands: Several companies operate ferries to Sekupang, Batam. Most ferries make a stop at Tanjung Balai on Karimun Island as well as Tanjung Buton and Selat Panjang in Riau.
UPDATE: To/From Batam. The way to travel between the Riau Islands and Pekanbaru now involves a 3hr minivan ride and a 3-6 hour ferry. Tickets can be purcahased at the Sungai Duku port in Pekanbaru for the mini-van and ferry combination ticket. The minivan picks you up at your hotel, picks up the rest of the pasengers, and then drives to the ferry dock in Tanjung Buton, about 3.5 hours away. Then you wait a bit until the ferry comes. The ferry comes, you pay a 1000Rp terminal fee, and then board the ferry. Pekanbaru-Tanjung Balai ticket cost 265000 on March 26,2011.
Tunas Rupat Follow Me Express (Pekanbaru agent: Jl. Tanjung Datuk No 153, Pekanbaru. Tel: +62-761-858777. Malacca ticketing booth at Jln PM10 Melaka Raya. Tel: +60-6-2816766, office Tel: +60-6-2832506, +60-6-2832516) has ferries from Malacca to Pekanbaru on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 0930. From Pekanbaru to Malacca, they depart on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 0900. Journey time about six and a half hours. Tickets cost RM120/210 one-way/return from Malacca to Pekanbaru. There are unconfirmed reports that this ferry no longer operates. An alternative is to take the ferry to Dumai from Malacca. Leaving daily at 11 am. Takes around 2 hours. One way 250'000 IDR, return 460'000 IDR.
NNH Ferry Services (Malacca ticketing booth G-15, Jln PM10, Plaza Mahkota Melaka Raya. Tel: +60-6-2881334) runs the Pelita Jaya ferry from Malacca to Pekanbaru on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 9am.
You can find kind of transportations mode in Pekanbaru.
There are are Mikrolet (Share taxi), Bus, Ojek (Motorcycle taxi), and Taxi.
The new mode is Trans Metro Pekanbaru. It is like Trans Jakarta Busway in Jakarta. We have to buy the ticket first at their bus stop, one way fare is IDR 3.000. It's still on going project by Pemko Pekanbaru.
Bus terminal AKAP is located 5km from town. From bus station to town there are many public buses that stop at pre-determined stops. Tickets cost IDR 3000 and can be purchased inside the bus stop from a ticket agent.
Despite of being one of the most cosmopolitan cities in Indonesia, Pekanbaru is not a main tourist destination. But if you were in the city for some reasons, there are some interesting places in Pekanbaru:
Sang Nila Utama Museum, Jl. Jend. Sudirman No. (The one and only museum in Pekanbaru. Displays some cultural and historical collection of Riau.). edit
Idrus Tintin Arts Hall, Jl. Jend. Sudirman (One of the city's landmark. A great building with Malay and modern architecture. Some great events held here from Musabaqah Tilawatil Qur'an (MTQ) to Indonesian Film Festival). edit
The Great Mosque of An-Nur, Jl. Syekh Burhanuddin (One of the city's landmark. The largest mosque in Riau. This mosque is located just opposite to The Great HKBP Cathedral.). edit
The Great Mosque of Pekanbaru, Jl. Masjid Raya (Pasar Bawah) (The oldest mosque in Pekanbaru. Built by the Siak Sultanate.). edit
Soeman H.S. Regional Library, Jl. Jend. Sudirman (One of the city's landmark. A great building with Malay and modern arcitecture. The largest library in Sumatra.). edit
Chinese-Malay Quarter, Jl. Dr. Leimena / Jalan Karet (The city's little chinatown. Chinese New Year festival held here.). edit
Labersa Water Park, Jl. Labersa Parit Indah (Water park, golf course, 5-star hotel and convention centre.). edit
Lembah Sari Reservoir Park, Rumbai (A recreational park. Popular just to people from other regencies and towns in Riau province.). edit
Alam Mayang Park, Jl. Harapan Raya (A recreational, fishing, and outbond park. Popular just to people from other regencies and towns in Riau province.). edit
Play golf, Pekanbaru Golf Course Country Club at Kubang, Simpang Tiga Golf Course at Simpang Tiga, Labersa Golf Course at Labersa and Rumbai Golf Course at Rumbai Chevron Camp. edit
There are three major malls in Pekanbaru. The two best are Mall SKA and Mall Ciputra Seraya. The older Mall Pekanbaru is not as well appointed as the other two but is still a good mall and offer a decent selection of restaurants. The location of the three malls are locally well known so getting there shouldn't be a problem. There are several other less interesting malls in Pekanbaru, some are closer to an indoor market then a mall and are great places for bargains.
Mall Pekanbaru, Jl. Jend. Sudirman. Mega Dept. Store, Lucky Mart,Gramedia Book Store, Handphone Centre, Solaria, Bakso Lapangan Tembak, Ikan Bakar Cianjur, KFC, Bread Boutique, MP Night Club.edit
Plaza Sukaramai, Jl. Jend. Sudirman. Ramayana Dept. Store, Trade Centre, Market.edit
Pasar Bawah (Pasar Wisata/Tourist Market). You can find souvenirs, traditional foods and snacks, traditional products, and import products.edit
Mall SKA, Jl. Soekarno Hatta. You can find Matahari Dept. Store, Hypermart, Pizza Hut, A&W, Popeyes, J.CO Donuts and Cofee, BreadTalk, Excelsior, RotiBoy, Solaria, Rice Bowl, KFC, Disc Tarra, Electronic Centre, Billiard Centre.edit
Mall Ciputra Seraya, Jl. Riau. You can find Matahari Dept. Store, Food Mart, KFC, Texas Chicken, A&W, Pizza Hut, Solaria, Rice Bowl, J.CO Donuts and Coffee, New Zealand Natural Ice Cream, Bakso Lapangan Tembak, Disc Tarra, Time Zone. Riau21 (a branch of 21 bioskop) is located here.edit
Plaza Citra, Jl. Pepaya. Matahari Dept. Store, Mister Bakso, Timezone.edit
Metropolitan City (MTC), Jl. HR Subrantas km 12. You can find Giants Hypermarket.Kentucky fried chicken and solaria restaurant.edit
Fiji Tours and Travel, JL. Prof. Moh. Yamin No. 88, ☎ 0761 860022, 0761 8306496, [1]. you can find cheapest domestic and international air ticket, local car rental and inbound touredit
Kedai Kopi Seleraku, Jl. Teuku Umar No.90 C. Famous for Nyonya food, lots of choices.One of the oldest Kedai Kopi in PekanBaruedit
Restoran Taman Anggrek, Jl. Tuanku Tambusai No. (Komp. Taman Anggrek), ☎ 571398 or 571425. If your taxi driver can find it, good Chinese and Indonesian food. The chili garlic crab is excellent and if the matriarch is there the service is excellent. There's also Anom Restaurant at Anom Hotel on Jl. Gatot Subroto, they have the same owner. Whatever food you find on Restoran Anom Taman Anggrek, you also can find at Anom Restaurant.edit
Koki Sunda, Jl. Jend. Sudirman No.247, ☎ +62761849998. Sundanese restaurant. edit
Minang Soto, Jl. Pattimura, Rumbai. Famous for the Soto Padang. There are two restaurants with a same name in the street. Recommended is the one in a shophouse.edit
Pondok Samba Lado Hijau, Jl. Soekarno Hatta No. 88 F, ☎ +6276136456. The speciality here is Fish, infused with Minangkabau/Malay style.edit
RM Kota Buana, Jl. HOS Cokroaminoto no. 16, ☎ +6276122874. Minangkabau restaurant. Famous for their Rendang and Cincang Kambing.edit
Apollo Seafood Restaurant, Jl. Jend. A. Yani, ☎ +62-761-858912. is one of a number of Chinese restaurants in Pekanbaru, and also has branch on Jl. Jend. Gatot Subroto no. 30-32 Phone +62-761-35234edit
Pondok Gurih, Jl. Jend. Sudirman No. 202, ☎ +6276127069. When you enter this restaurant, the staff will hit the Gong at the entrance.edit
Ayam Goreng Suharti, Jl. Riau. Famous for its Javanese fried chicken and Yogyakarta food such as gudeg and sambal krecek.edit
Kedai Kopi Kim Teng, Jl. Senapelan. A Chinese kopitiam (coffee shop). '.edit
Bakmi Gila, Jl Gatot Subroto. A new place in town for people who like noodles & spicy food, bakmi gila means crazy noodle.edit
Kedai Kopi Gundaling, Jl. Juanda. You can taste the most authentic localized Chinese food in this Chinese kopitiam, especially an original menu from Bagan Siapi-api that cannot be found anywhere else. A specialty named Karipeng contains pork and is non-halal.edit
PT. CITRA TRAVEL PEKANBARU, Jl. Dr. Sutomo No. 115 Pekanbaru, ☎ +62761854621. Your Travel Partner, always give The Best Service with a low price -- Airplane Ticket, booking hotels, tour around Indonesiaedit
Online booking for hotels in Pekanbaru is not available, except for high end hotels as listed below.
Grand Elite Hotel, ☎ 0761 - 860 988, [2]. Grand Elite Hotel Pekanbaru is the first Business Hotel in Pekanbaru. Located in the heart of Pekanbaru's China Town in Komplek Riau Business Center at Jalan Riau in the Tampan District, a well-known entertainment area.edit
Premiere Hotel, Jl Jend Sudirman No 389, ☎ 62-761-7891818. New and chic hotel in town, 4 star, spacious rooms.edit
Aston Pekanbaru City Hotel, ☎ 62-761 886888, [3]. 3-star Boutique business hotel with an ultramodern theme. One of the few Pekanbaru hotels that offer online booking.edit
Hotel Aryaduta, Jl. Diponegoro No. 34, ☎ 62-761-44200. 5-star. Reasonable rates with special discounts during the weekend. Superior room starts from IDR550,000 per night (inclusive of a buffet breakfast). The hotel has a nice swimming pool and soccer field.edit
Jatra Hotel, Jl Tengku Zainal Abidin No.1, ☎ 62-761-850888, [4]. 4-star hotel. Inside the biggest mall (Mall Pekanbaru), has special services such as Traditional Massage, Sauna and Health club. This Hotel is connected directly to first class entertainment in Pekanbaru, such as Hugo's Cafe, Karaoke club, and KTV. Satisfaction guaranteed.edit
Hotel Grand Zuri Pekanbaru, Jl. Teuku Umar No.7, ☎ 62-761-857888, [5]. 4-star hotel directly opposite by walking distance to 2 big Malls, MP and Senapelan Plaza, in the heart of Pekanbaru. 24 hour coffee shop, LoungeBar, Taurus Health Club and outdoor pool.edit
Labersa Grand Hotel & Convention Center, Jl. Labersa, Parit Indah, [6]. 5-Star. Possibly the most luxurious hotel in Pekanbaru. 10 minutes from the airport. This hotel is one compound with Labersa Golf Course and Labersa Water Park.edit
Hotel Pangeran Pekanbaru, Jl.Jend. Sudirman No. 371-373, ☎ +62761853636, [7]. checkin: 12.00; checkout: 12.00. 4-star. Located near Pizza Hut, opposite Martin Boutique and Durian stalls.edit
Furaya Hotel, Jl. Jend. Sudirman No. 72, ☎ 6276126688, [9]. One of the more well known hotels in Pekanbaru for Chinese Wedding Receptions. Located near the Pasar Buah Pekanbaru (Pekanbaru Fruit Market).edit
Hotel Ibis Pekanbaru, Jl. Soekarno Hatta Kav. 148, ☎ +62761571600, [10]. 3-star. The only Accord hotel in Pekanbaru.edit
Anom Hotel, Jl. Jend. Gatot Subroto No. 1-3, ☎ +6276136083. The original famous Anom Restaurant is located in this hotel, they have now opened a branch on Taman Anggrek.edit
Aziza Hotel, Jl. Tuanku Tambusai. 3-star. A modern Islamic hotel in Pekanbaru.edit
Sabrina Hotel, Jl. Tuanku Tambusai, ☎ (0761) 789-3292. checkin: 6am; checkout: 12pm. Modern budget hotel for travellers. Includes free WiFi, air con, tv and waterStandard 167,000. (0.5016439,101.4228435)edit
Pelangi Hotel, Jl. Jend. Gatot Subroto 39 B, ☎ +62761854899. Modern budget hotel managed by Grand Zuri.edit
Wisma 81, Jl Jend Sudirman No 420, ☎ (0761)858429, [12]. Downsides: Appears to be run by young hooligans. Rooms have insects -flying and crawling. No hot water. Had to argue to get AC remote. Asked for quiet room, was placed in a room near the front desk. Requested to move due to the noise of the staff. Had to argue to get moved. The room smells like an old smokers club. The internet connects but does not work. On the plus side, western style toilets and a small complimentary bar of soap.135,000 IDR/night. edit
