City in North Sumatra, Indonesia
Getting around Medan
How to get around Medan
Use Grab, Gojek or Maxim around town. The airport rail link from Kualanamu is the easiest arrival; buses and vans leave for Toba and Bukit Lawang.
Ways to get around Medan
| Option | Fare | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Grab / Gojek car or bike | About 15,000–45,000 IDR in town | Cheapest and most reliable way around |
| Bentor (motorbike with sidecar) | About 10,000–30,000 IDR | Short local hops; agree the price first |
| Angkot (shared minivans) | About 4,000–8,000 IDR | Colour-coded routes; slow and crowded |
| Trans Metro Deli buses | About 4,000–8,000 IDR | Limited routes; not tourist-friendly |
Ride-hailing apps in Medan
A 5 km ride costs about Rp15,000–40,000 ($0.8–2.2).
| App | Notes |
|---|---|
| Grab | Reliable cars; airport pickup in the arrivals zone |
| Gojek | Most bikes; useful in traffic jams |
| Maxim | Often cheaper; local drivers |
| inDrive | Offer your own fare |
- Apps beat airport taxis for price and clarity. Becak, bentor and angkot need prices agreed first; metered taxis are uncommon.
Arriving in Medan
Kualanamu (KNO)
Airport rail link to Medan station about 100,000 IDR, 45 min; taxi or Grab about 250,000–400,000 IDR, 45–75 min.
Driving and onward travel
- Scooters: Rentals about 80,000–120,000 IDR a day, but traffic is aggressive and not recommended for newcomers.
- Driving: on the left. Bring an IDP plus your home licence with the motorcycle category; Bali police fine unlicensed scooter riders at checkpoints.
- Onward travel in Indonesia: Fly between islands (Garuda, Lion Air, Citilink, AirAsia); trains run the length of Java; ferries and fast boats link Bali, Lombok and the Gilis. Allow for delays.
Quick answers
Is there Uber in Medan?
No. Use Grab, Gojek, Maxim, inDrive instead.
What's the best way to get around Medan?
Use Grab, Gojek or Maxim around town. The airport rail link from Kualanamu is the easiest arrival; buses and vans leave for Toba and Bukit Lawang.
How do I get from the airport to Medan?
Airport rail link to Medan station about 100,000 IDR, 45 min; taxi or Grab about 250,000–400,000 IDR, 45–75 min.
Is Medan walkable?
You'll need transport.
More about Medan
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Sources
Fares are typical 2026 prices; check the operator for today's fares. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.