How to get to Berastagi?
From Medan, Sumatra’s capital, there are two ways to get to Berastagi. The best way is to get the bus. It is called the Almasar bus, it leaves from the train station at Kualanamu airport and it costs around 50,000 IDR (3 Euro). The trip should take around 2.5 hours.
Alternatively you can get a taxi/grab or private car. Some accommodation in Berastagi arrange pickup or offer pickup services, so be sure to check this. We just took a grab because it worked out to be cheaper than the bus as we were with 4 people.
Is Berastagi worth visiting?
We think that Berastagi is certainly worth visiting when in Sumatra. It’s unique and authentic scenery, charming guesthouses, and impressive nature make it a great place to check out. Besides that, Berastagi’s location offers a perfect short layover when travelling from Medan to the famous Lake Toba.
How to get around Berastagi
Berastagi is a small town so getting around on foot is easy. When venturing out of the town there are a few options, namely renting your own scooter, ordering a taxi or organising tour busses.
We believe getting around Berastagi is easiest on a scooter as you can go wherever you like. There are limited cheap rentals in the area, however we were able to get one from Raymond cafe & restaurant along the main street for around 150,000 IDR per day.
How long to stay
Since Berastagi is a small town, you won’t need too much time to see all its highlights. We would recommend staying around 2-3 days. This will be enough to see our top picks, and even make a half day trip out to one of the best waterfalls in Sumatra.
Best things to do
Berastagi is well-known amongst local and foreign tourists for its colourful fruit and vegetable market. It is also uniquely surrounded by two active volcanos which offer several adventurous outings. Based on our time in Berastagi, here are our 6 top things to see and do!
1. Hike Mt Sibayak
Mt Sibayak is an active volcano next to Berastagi that is safe to hike. From the top you have panoramic views of the surrounding area, berastagi and neighbouring volcano (and far more active and dangerous) Mt Sinabung.
The hike takes around 4 hours round trip and is best to do at sunrise. You can do this as part of a tour, which is offered at most accommodations, or you can go yourself if you have your own transport.
We rented a scooter and were able to ride to the base of the volcano. To do this, go to this location (which is where the tour vans will park) then keep riding past the little hut for a few kilometers. It gets very rough and steep but eventually opens up to a little parking lot for scooters. Here you will pay around 2,000 IDR for parking and then the start of the hike is right next to it.
2. Relax in the hot springs
The hot springs are located at the base of Mt Sibayak so it’s the perfect activity to pair with the sunrise hike. There are a number of different hot springs that are naturally heated by the underground volcanic activity. The most popular options are the Pariban and Sidebuk Debuk hot springs.
Note: most hot springs have an entrance fee of 5,000 IDR
3. Visit sipiso piso waterfall
This waterfall is quite unique, it comes out of the cliff face from an underground spring. It is around 120m tall which makes it one of the highest in Indonesia. There is an entrance fee of 5,000 IDR per person and 5,000 IDR for parking if you have your own scooter.
It is about 1.5 hours south of Berastagi and is actually located at the northern tip of Lake Toba. But it is still easier to visit while in Berastagi. This can be organised through tours or go on your own.
4. Check out the ghost towns
Due to the recent volcanic activity of Mt Sinabung, everything within a 5km radius of the mountain has been evacuated. The villages are now considered ghost towns and there are tours you can do to see these. DO NOT attempt to do this on your own, this is something you have to do as part of a tour.
It is quite scary and sad to see them deserted, but at the same time also really cool to get up close to such an active volcano.
5. Explore the fruit & vegetable market
Berastagi is most well-known for its colourful fruit and vegetable market. In the centre of the city, you’ll find the Pasar Buah (fruit market) where locals sell the most exotic looking fresh fruits for very cheap. We highly recommend not only checking this out, but also trying some of these fruits. Two must tries are mangosteen (mangis in Indonesian) and snake skin fruit (salak).
6. Walk up Gundaling hill
From the centre of Berastagi, it is only a 30-45 minute walk up to the top of this hill. On a clear day, you can see amazing views of the impressive Mount Sibayak and Mount Sinabung on your way up. The walk up isn’t very difficult or steep and offers nice views over the city as well. It is a great place to visit during sunset.
After enjoying the views and taking some photos, you can check out some of the souvenir shops along the way or get a snack/drink from one of the many small cafes and restaurants located on the top.
Our favourite restaurant
Besides all the local warungs you’ll find in Berastagi with delicious local meals, there was one more modern restaurant that we really enjoyed. Jabu is a cafe and restaurant open from 1-11pm with a great atmosphere, kind staff, beautiful wooden layout, and excellent food.
Where to stay in Berastagi
There are limited accommodation options in Berastagi, but we’d definitely recommend Kaesa homestay. When we went they were very busy and were hosting lots of other backpackers. The owner, Kaesa, is extremely kind and provides you with a lot of information. The rooms are large and comfortable and the freshly cooked breakfast is delcious too. You can find Kaesa Homestay on booking.com here.
Wanting to book?
Follow the links below for all your accommodation, transport, & activity needs!
Good to know before going
People in Sumatra generally don’t see many western tourists. A lot of the tourist that visit the town of Berastagi are Indonesian. Therefore, it is good to know that you’ll probably be stared at, approached, and asked to take photos more than you might expect.
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