Your stay — Hanlis Hotel
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The Property — Hanlis Hotel
The Hanlis Hotel is a no-nonsense, low-rise property in central Medan that prioritises function over frills. The lobby is compact and businesslike, with dark marble floors and a small front desk that processes guests efficiently. It suits budget-conscious travellers who need a clean, quiet base near the city’s commercial core and aren’t bothered by dated décor or limited amenities.
Chronicles of Medan
Medan grew rapidly from the late 19th century as Dutch tobacco plantations expanded around Deli, drawing Chinese, Indian and Javanese workers. The colonial centre retains wide avenues and Art Deco buildings like the Tjong A Fie Mansion and the grand Maimun Palace, a 1888 sultan’s residence blending Mughal and Malay styles. After independence, Medan became Sumatra’s economic hub, dominated by trade, palm oil and rubber. Today it is a chaotic, sprawling city of 2.5 million, where old shophouses sit alongside malls and the local Batak, Malay and Chinese communities give it a distinct, food-obsessed character.
Best Time to Visit
Full Medan guide →Best months
December–February: less rain than the rest of the year, temperatures in the high 20s, and the city feels less sticky. Crowds are moderate, and flights from Singapore and Penang are frequent.
Peak / festival surge
June–July is peak domestic travel season (school holidays) plus the Ramadhan period (variable) which shuts many eateries by day. Hotel prices can rise 20–30%, and Medan’s main sights get busy with Indonesian tourists. No single festival dominates; it’s more a general holiday rush.
Budget shoulder season
March and October: lower room rates, fewer tourists, and still tolerable weather—not as wet as November, not as hot as May. Good for bargaining on walk-in rates at this hotel.
Weather & packing
Medan sits in a tropical rainforest climate with year-round humidity above 80%, so expect a short, heavy downpour most afternoons even in the ‘dry’ season. Pack a quick-dry daypack and always carry a compact umbrella or light poncho.
Live City Briefing — Medan
- Medan’s Belawan bus terminal renovation is still ongoing, so long-distance buses now depart from a temporary site near Amplas—allow extra 30 minutes transfer time.
- The new Maimun Palace museum wing opened early 2025, with better displays on the Deli Sultanate’s history; entry remains 5,000 IDR (roughly £0.25).
- A major road-widening project on Jl. Jenderal Sudirman, near Hanlis Hotel, is causing evening congestion through mid-2027; use Jl. Gatot Subroto as a detour.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Hanlis Hotel, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on floors 3 to 5 facing the rear courtyard (away from Jalan Sei Kapuas). These floors are high enough to escape street-level noise but low enough for quick stair access if the lift is busy.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms on floor 2 facing the street — they catch direct traffic noise from Jalan Sei Kapuas, a busy two-lane road in central Medan. Also skip rooms near the lift shaft on any floor; the lift motor hums audibly.
Best views
Street-facing rooms on floors 4–5 give a decent view of Jalan Sei Kapuas and Medan’s low-rise skyline. Courtyard rooms offer a greenish roof-and-backstreet view — less interesting but quieter.
Quietest floors
Floors 3–5 are the quietest here. Above floor 5, you might get roof-level machinery noise; below floor 3, street and lobby sounds creep in.
🔊 Noise notes
Jalan Sei Kapuas is a main road with motorbikes and becaks from early morning until late evening. The hotel’s lift is a single old-style cage — it clunks when passing floors, especially near floors 1 and 6.
Insider tips
1) If arriving by car, park on the side street (Jalan Sei Pasir) behind the hotel — it’s safer and avoids the main road queue. 2) Request a room on floor 4, rear side, for the best compromise of silence and stair accessibility — the lift is slow during check-in/out times.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Hanlis Hotel
Free WiFi available throughout; speed suitable for email and browsing, not for streaming; login via room number and surname.
A single lift serves all 4 floors; no stairs-only sections.
No complimentary newspapers or digital newsstand; lobby TV shows local news.
Check-in from 14:00; early bag drop available after 11:00; late check-out until 13:00 charged IDR 150,000.
Complimentary secure storage at front desk on day of arrival and departure.
Step-free entrance via ramp at side door; lift fits a wheelchair but turning space in standard rooms is tight.
On-site parking for 10 cars, free for guests; no EV charging. Nearest public car park at Jalan Masjid Raya (opposite Great Mosque), IDR 5,000/hour.
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None
Deposit & card hold: Full prepayment required at booking; a refundable IDR 200,000 hold placed on card at check-in for incidentals.
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: Gereja GBKP Sei Batang (760 m · ~10 min walk)
- Mosque: Masjid Assyidda (774 m · ~10 min walk)
- Mosque: Masjid Al Jihad (785 m · ~10 min walk)
- Mosque: Masjid As-Sholihin (956 m · ~12 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Ramayana — 944 m · ~12 min walk
Gajah Mada Park — 873 m · ~11 min walk
Museum Perjuangan Pers Sumatera Utara — 841 m · ~11 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 492 m · ~6 min walk
Kimia Farma — 1.7 km · ~22 min walk
Indomaret — 186 m · ~2 min walk
Carrefour Damri Bus Station — 2.1 km · ~26 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Indonesian Rupiah, IDR
Money changers in Medan's city centre (e.g., around Jalan Pemuda) give fair rates; avoid airport counters and tourist-area bureaux — their rates are poor.
Cards accepted in malls, chain restaurants, and hotels; street markets and small warungs are cash-only. Contactless is rare outside big stores.
Not expected but appreciated — round up taxi fares, leave a few thousand rupiah at warungs, and tip hotel staff IDR 10,000–20,000 for service.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →A kopi tubruk (local ground coffee) from a roadside stall — about IDR 5,000–8,000.
Nasi Padang (rice with pre-cooked dishes) at a local warung — IDR 15,000–25,000 for a plate with one protein.
A bowl of bakso (meatball soup) or mie ayam (chicken noodles) at a food stall — around IDR 20,000–30,000 for a main.
Along Jalan Semarang and around Lapangan Merdeka, night hawker stalls sell satay, martabak, and soto.
Hypermart or Superindo are common budget supermarkets in this area.
Thamrin Plaza or Pasar Petisah market for affordable clothes; haggling is expected at markets.
Angkot (share minibus) at IDR 4,000–5,000 per ride for local trips. From airport, take the Damri bus to Terminal Amplas (IDR 30,000) then angkot.
Eat at warteg (cheap food stalls) instead of restaurants; use ride-hailing apps (Gojek, Grab) for dirt-cheap scooter taxis; buy bottled water from street kiosks (IDR 3,000) not at hotels.
Good to know — Medan
Type C/F · 230V
not safe — drink bottled
$1 ≈ IDR 18090.75 · IDR
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Medan, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Hanlis Hotel
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 492 m · ~6 min walk — pharmacy · Kimia Farma — 1.7 km · ~22 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Kualanamu International Airport (KNO) → Medan Station (Stasiun Medan)
💡 This is the fastest option from the airport. From Medan Station, the Grand Sakura Hotel is a 5-minute taxi ride (about 30,000 IDR). Don’t take the slow local economy bus from the station—spring for a metered taxi.
Grand Sakura Hotel, Medan → Local destinations (e.g. Merdeka Square, Kesawan)
💡 Use motorcycle taxis (ojek) for short hops between 2–5 km—they’ll slip through traffic. For longer evening trips or if it’s raining, book a car. Always type the hotel name exactly: 'Grand Sakura Medan'.
Kualanamu International Airport (KNO) → Grand Sakura Hotel, Medan
💡 Buy a fixed-price coupon from the official taxi counter inside the arrivals hall. Avoid unmarked drivers offering rides right outside the terminal—they can charge double.
Kualanamu International Airport (KNO) → Grand Sakura Hotel, Medan (alight at Jalan Sisingamangaraja bus stop, then 10-min walk or ojek)
💡 Get off at the Sisingamangaraja stop—it’s the closest to the hotel. You’ll need to walk or grab a scooter taxi (ojek) for the last 800 metres. Keep small bills ready for the fare.
About Medan
Wikipedia ↗
Medan ( meh-DAHN, Indonesian: [ˈmɛdan] , Batak: ᯔᯩᯑᯉ᯳) is the capital and largest city of the Indonesian province of North Sumatra. The nearby Strait of Malacca, Port of Belawan, and Kualanamu International Airport make Medan a regional hub and multicultural metropolis, acting as a financial centre ...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Hanlis Hotel?
Request a room on floors 3 to 5 facing the rear courtyard (away from Jalan Sei Kapuas). These floors are high enough to escape street-level noise but low enough for quick stair access if the lift is busy.
Which rooms should I avoid at Hanlis Hotel?
Avoid rooms on floor 2 facing the street — they catch direct traffic noise from Jalan Sei Kapuas, a busy two-lane road in central Medan. Also skip rooms near the lift shaft on any floor; the lift motor hums audibly.
Is Hanlis Hotel noisy?
Jalan Sei Kapuas is a main road with motorbikes and becaks from early morning until late evening. The hotel’s lift is a single old-style cage — it clunks when passing floors, especially near floors 1 and 6.
Which rooms have the best views at Hanlis Hotel?
Street-facing rooms on floors 4–5 give a decent view of Jalan Sei Kapuas and Medan’s low-rise skyline. Courtyard rooms offer a greenish roof-and-backstreet view — less interesting but quieter.
What are insider tips for staying at Hanlis Hotel?
1) If arriving by car, park on the side street (Jalan Sei Pasir) behind the hotel — it’s safer and avoids the main road queue. 2) Request a room on floor 4, rear side, for the best compromise of silence and stair accessibility — the lift is slow during check-in/out times.
What time is check-in at Hanlis Hotel?
Check-in at Hanlis Hotel is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Hanlis Hotel have Wi-Fi?
Free WiFi available throughout; speed suitable for email and browsing, not for streaming; login via room number and surname.
Is there a city or tourist tax at Hanlis Hotel?
None
Where can I eat cheaply near Hanlis Hotel?
Nasi Padang (rice with pre-cooked dishes) at a local warung — IDR 15,000–25,000 for a plate with one protein.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Hanlis Hotel?
Angkot (share minibus) at IDR 4,000–5,000 per ride for local trips. From airport, take the Damri bus to Terminal Amplas (IDR 30,000) then angkot.
When is the best time to visit Medan?
December–February: less rain than the rest of the year, temperatures in the high 20s, and the city feels less sticky. Crowds are moderate, and flights from Singapore and Penang are frequent.
Top Attractions in Medan
💡 Best at dusk when the food stalls open. Try the local martabak (stuffed pancake) from a stall near the fountain – about 15,000 IDR.
💡 Non-Muslim visitors welcome outside prayer times. Remove shoes and cover shoulders; robes are provided. Combine with Maimun Palace as they are 10 minutes apart on foot.
💡 Free to enter the grounds and main hall, but donations accepted. Wear long trousers or a sarong; they lend them at the entrance.
💡 Entry is 35,000 IDR (about £2). Go early to avoid crowds and check the upstairs balcony for quiet views.
💡 Entry 5,000 IDR (about 30p). The keris (ceremonial dagger) collection on the upper floor is the highlight. Allow 1 hour.