Pekanbaru Getting there & around

Getting there & away

Land

Bus

Pekanbaru’s Terminal Nangka, 5km west of the town centre, is modern and uncharacteristically organised for Sumatra. There are posted prices and even staffed ticket booths within the terminal. If you don’t want to be ripped off, buy tickets directly from the booths rather than the freelancers roaming the terminal. Destinations include Bengkulu (air-con 115, 000Rp), Bukittinggi (economy 35, 000Rp, five hours), Dumai (economy 7000Rp, five hours), Jambi (economy/air-con75, 000/150, 000, 12 hours), Medan (economy 120, 000Rp, 12 hours), and Padang (economy 51, 000Rp, six hours).

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Boat

Pekanbaru’s Sungai Duku port is at the end of Jl Sultan Syarif Qasyim. Before flights became so affordable, many travellers bounced between Pekanbaru and Batam’s Sekupang port (economy/cabin 132, 000/235, 000Rp, six hours, 8am departure) en route to Singa­pore. When all the fares are tallied up, it is a long, expensive haul compared to the flying birds.

From Pekanbaru, boats also go to Melaka, Malaysia, three times a week (economy/cabin 215, 000/365, 000Rp; eight hours; 9am), Tanjung Pinang on Bintan (142, 000Rp), Tanjung Balai on Karimun (200, 000Rp) and Tanjung Samak on Pulau Rangsang (185, 000Rp). It’s also possible to go down Sungai Siak to Tanjung Buton (60, 000Rp) and Selat Panjang (100, 000Rp).

Ticket agents are located at the pier.

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Air

Pekanbaru’s Simpang Tiga has five direct flights to Jakarta each day with Batavia Air, Lion Air, Adam Air, Mandala and Garuda. Flights to Medan are handled by Sriwijaya and Merpati. Garuda, Merpati and Lion Air also have flights to Batam through which you can connect to Singapore flights.

Travel agents are located along Jl Sudirman. You can also find the following airline offices:

Garuda (Garuda Indonesia; 45063; Hotel Pangeran, Jl Sudirman 371-373)

Lion Air (40670; Mutiara Merdeka Hotel, Jl Yos Sudarso 12A)

Mandala (856777; Jl Sudirman 115)

Merpati (Merpati Nusantara Airlines; 21575; Jl Sudirman 371)

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