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City guide

Pekanbaru, Riau (Sumatra), Indonesia

Pekanbaru is the capital city of the Indonesian province of Riau, and a major economic centre on the eastern side of Sumatra Island with its name derived from the Malay (Indonesian) word for 'new market' . 72 sq mi), with a population of 897,767 at the 2010 Census, and 983,356 at the 2020 Census; the official estimate as of mid 2025 was 1,192,990, and was projected to be 1,228,298 as at mid 2026.

Type CityPopulation 897,767

Why go

  • Capital and largest city of Riau, Indonesia.
  • Served by Sultan Syarif Kasim II International Airport / Roesmin Nurjadin AFB (PKU).

History

Pekanbaru is the capital city of the Indonesian province of Riau, and a major economic centre on the eastern side of Sumatra Island with its name derived from the Malay (Indonesian) word for 'new market' . It has an area of 639.00 km2 (246.72 sq mi), with a population of 897,767 at the 2010 Census, and 983,356 at the 2020 Census; the official estimate as of mid 2025 was 1,192,990, and was projected to be 1,228,298 as at mid 2026. It is located on the banks of the Siak River, which flows into the Strait of Malacca, Pekanbaru has direct access to the busy strait and has long been known as a trading port.

Restaurants & places to go

Dlief Coffee
Chinese, Asian, Cafe · Opening hours: Mo-Su 11:00-22:00 Features: outdoor seating · Jalan Beringin, Pekanbaru · instagram.com
Indoor
kopi paus
Coffee Shop, Cafe · Opening hours: Mo-Su 11:00-23:00 · Jalan Paus, Pekanbaru, 28282 · instagram.com
Indoor
PINDANG PATIN & AYAM PELANGI YURIKA
Asian, Chicken, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 10:00-22:00 Features: halal · 67 Jalan Dokter Sutomo, Pekanbaru, 28292 · instagram.com
Indoor
Coffe Toffe Pekanbaru
Cafe · Opening hours: Mo-Su 10:00-02:00 · Jalan Sisingamangaraja, Pekanbaru, 28156 · coffetoffee.co.id
Indoor

296 more places in the Ultimate edition. See the Ultimate edition →

Airports

Sultan Syarif Haroen Setia Negara Airport 61 km to the centre
Pangkalan Kerinci, RI, ID
Outdoor

Where things are

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Photographs

Pekanbaru, Riau (Sumatra), Indonesia
Pekanbaru, Riau (Sumatra), Indonesia
credit: Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons · See source page

When to go

Tourist season
May – September

The warmer, longer-day half of the year is the safest bet for a first visit.

Shoulder season
April, October

Cooler and quieter, with fewer visitors and better value.

Worth avoiding
Deep winter

Short days and the coldest weather — check local conditions before travelling.

Getting there & around

Getting there. The nearest airport on record is Sultan Syarif Kasim II International Airport / Roesmin Nurjadin AFB (PKU); 1 other airport serves the wider area. Check rail and road links from the tourism sources below. By air: PKU has direct flights to 7 destinations on 12 airlines (incl. Jakarta, Singapore, Bandung, Batam, Kuala Lumpur…).

Getting around. Use the map above to orient yourself; nearby hotels, attractions and places to eat are listed from the live Ultimate data for Pekanbaru, Riau (Sumatra), Indonesia. Local transit details will be added as the guide is expanded.