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    Berastagi
    Town

    Berastagi

    Berastagi in the Karo Highlands is a market town at around 1,300 meters, surrounded by vegetable and fruit fields. The volcanoes Sibayak and Sinabung dominate the landscape, and traditional Karo-Batak longhouses stand in the surroundings.

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    9. Berastagi
    Berastagi in the Karo Highlands is a market town at around 1,300 meters, surrounded by vegetable and fruit fields. The volcanoes Sibayak and Sinabung dominate the landscape, and traditional Karo-Batak longhouses stand in the surroundings.
    Berastagi is located at around 1,300 m elevation in the Karo Highlands, about two hours southwest of Medan. The small town is a market center for fruit, vegetables, and flowers. For travelers, it's a starting point for the Sibayak volcano, which you can climb on a half-day tour. To the west rises Sinabung, which has been erupting repeatedly since 2010. A restricted zone is in place around it; check the current situation before excursions. Traditional Karo villages and hot springs are located in the surroundings.

    Sights in Berastagi

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Gunung Sibayak
    Attraction

    Gunung Sibayak

    Volcano north of the city with steaming fumaroles at the crater rim. The climb takes roughly two to three hours; many set off at sunrise and then bathe in hot springs.
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    Lingga
    Attraction

    Lingga

    Karo Village, around 15 km southwest, with some traditional longhouses of wood and bamboo.
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    Attraction

    Bukit Gundaling

    Hills on the outskirts with views of Sibayak and Sinabung, popular with families from Medan on weekends.
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    Sights in Berastagi

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Gunung Sibayak
    Attraction

    1Gunung Sibayak

    Volcano north of the city with steaming fumaroles at the crater rim. The climb takes roughly two to three hours; many set off at sunrise and then bathe in hot springs.
    Open in Google Maps
    Lingga
    Attraction

    2Lingga

    Karo Village, around 15 km southwest, with some traditional longhouses of wood and bamboo.
    Open in Google Maps
    Attraction

    3Bukit Gundaling

    Hills on the outskirts with views of Sibayak and Sinabung, popular with families from Medan on weekends.
    Open in Google Maps

    Restaurants in Berastagi

    1

    Warung Wajik Peceren H. Ngadimin

    Warung on Jl. Jamin Ginting with Indonesian dishes and Wajik, a sweet sticky rice cake.
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    2

    PE 88 Tavern

    Restaurant with pizza and Western food in the center of Berastagi.
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    Dining and Drinks

    Obstmarkt

    At the market in the center, there are passion fruit (markisa), mandarins and avocados from the highlands.

    Babi Panggang Karo

    Grilled pork with blood sauce and Sambal, typical of Karo cuisine.

    Jagung Bakar

    Grilled corn, evenings at stalls in the city.

    Culture

    The highlands are home to the Batak Karo. Their traditional longhouses with multi-tiered roofs housed several families; some still stand in Lingga village. The majority are Christian, alongside Muslims and followers of the ancient Pemena religion.

    Arrival and On the Go

    Getting ThereFrom Medan: Buses from Simpang Selayang take about 1.5 hours, longer in traffic.To Lake Toba: Via Kabanjahe and Pematang Siantar or by shuttles.Getting AroundAngkot minibuses operate in town; for Sibayak, take an Ojek or walk from the town's edge. A guide is recommended for the climb.

    Day trips

    Sipiso-piso

    About 120m high waterfall on Lake Toba's northern edge, just over an hour away.

    Lake Toba

    Indonesia's largest lake with Samosir Island, about three to four hours south.

    Accommodations in Berastagi

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    Nearby

    North Sumatra

    North Sumatra

    North Sumatra combines the vast crater lake Toba, Batak culture, active volcanoes, and Gunung Leuser National Park's orangutan-filled rainforest. Most trips begin in the metropolis Medan.
    Medan
    Mimihitam / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0

    Medan

    Medan is Sumatra's largest city and the transportation hub of the north. The Sultan of Deli's Maimun Palace, the Great Mosque, colonial buildings from the tobacco era, and diverse street food make for a worthwhile stopover.
    Bukit Lawang
    VanuitVoorburg / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0

    Bukit Lawang

    Bukit Lawang on the Bohorok River is the best-known gateway to Gunung Leuser National Park. Guided jungle treks lead to semi-wild and wild Sumatra orangutans, and the return journey is often by tubing on the river.
    Lake Toba and Samosir
    Chapsorini / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0

    Lake Toba and Samosir

    Lake Toba fills the caldera of a supervolcano whose eruption approximately 74,000 years ago is among the largest in Earth's history. It is the largest lake in Southeast Asia, and at its center lies Samosir Island, home to villages, tombs, and royal houses of the Toba Batak.
    Penang Hill (Bukit Bendera)
    Hzh / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0

    Penang Hill (Bukit Bendera)

    George Town's Mount rises to about 830 metres and was a retreat from the heat even in colonial times. A funicular takes you to the top in just a few minutes, where it's noticeably cooler. From the viewpoints, gaze over the city to the Penang Bridge and mainland; the Habitat nature trail leads through ancient rainforest.