Bukittinggi & Minangkabau Highlands

A Minangkabau highland city of horn-roofed houses, Sianok Canyon and Lake Maninjau, and the birthplace of Padang cuisine.

Bukittinggi sits in the highlands of Indonesia's West Sumatra Province at about 930 m above sea level, between the volcanoes Marapi and Singgalang. It is the cultural heart of the Minangkabau people and was known as Fort de Kock in Dutch colonial times; the climate is cool year-round (around 20–25°C during the day). The Minangkabau are a matrilineal society, and their longhouses with sweeping buffalo-horn roofs and Padang cuisine are famous throughout Indonesia.

Key areas: first, the town center, where Jam Gadang clock tower, Pasar Atas market, the Nasi Kapau food street, Fort de Kock, the zoo and folk museum, and Bung Hatta's birthplace are all within walking distance; second, west of town, Sianok Canyon, the Japanese Tunnel, the 'Great Wall' stone stairway and the silver-working village of Koto Gadang; third, about 1 hour's drive west, Lake Maninjau, the Kelok 44 hairpin road and Puncak Lawang; fourth, to the southeast, Pagaruyung Palace, the old village of Pariangan, Lake Singkarak and the songket-weaving village of Pandai Sikek; fifth, to the northeast, Harau Valley, the Kelok Sembilan viaduct and Ngalau Indah cave.

The best time is the drier Jun–Sep period, though afternoon showers are common year-round. Getting there: it's about 2–3 hours by road from Minangkabau International Airport in Padang, passing the Lembah Anai waterfall; in town, walk or take angkot minibuses, and hire a car for outlying areas. Plan on 3–4 days. Tips: this is a devout Muslim region, so dress conservatively, and few restaurants open during the day in Ramadan; Padang food is charged by the dishes you take, so ask about prices first.

Top sights

Where to eat

Itineraries