Your stay — Hotel Zakia
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The Property — Hotel Zakia
Hotel Zakia sits on a quiet side street near the centre of Medan, with a lobby that feels unpretentious and functional: tiled floors, a small reception desk and a seating area with plastic plants. It’s a solid budget choice for travellers who just need a clean bed and air conditioning between trips. The rooms are basic but kept tidy, the staff are polite, and the location gives easy walking access to markets and street food. It suits independent backpackers or short-stop visitors who plan to spend most of their time outside the hotel.
Chronicles of Medan
Medan grew from a small village called Medan Putri into a major trading hub during the Dutch colonial era, when tobacco, rubber and palm oil plantations brought wealth and a large population. Its colonial architecture includes the Maimun Palace (built 1888) and the impressive Great Mosque, both reflecting Malay, Islamic and European influences. Post-independence, Medan became Indonesia’s third-largest city and a melting pot of Batak, Malay, Chinese and Indian cultures. Today its contemporary identity is a chaotic, gritty urban centre where the Merdeka Square area shows a modern, high-rise skyline alongside crumbling Dutch-era warehouses and bustling wet markets.
Best Time to Visit
Full Medan guide →Best months
May to July – these months fall in the dry season with lower rainfall and more sunshine, making it easier to explore the city on foot or visit the nearby Lake Toba. Crowds are manageable because this is not a peak tourist period for domestic travellers.
Peak / festival surge
December and Chinese New Year (January/February): these are the busiest months when diaspora families return and domestic tourists visit. Hotel prices in Medan can rise by 30–50% during these periods, especially around the Chinese New Year festivities and school holidays.
Budget shoulder season
March and October – rainfall is still moderate, but visitor numbers are low, so hotels often offer discounts. Temperatures remain stable around 27–33°C, and you avoid the sticky peak-humidity months of November to January.
Weather & packing
Medan has a tropical rainforest climate with no real dry season; even in the dry months you can expect sudden heavy downpours. Pack an umbrella or a light waterproof jacket and choose quick-dry shoes, because streets flood quickly after rain.
Live City Briefing — Medan
- The construction of Medan’s MRT light rail system is ongoing, with disruptions on Jalan Sisingamangaraja and around the Titi Kuning area due to elevated track work.
- The popular Kesawan historical district has several new cafés and street-food stalls opening in restored colonial shophouses, making it a good spot for an evening walk.
- A dengue fever alert has been raised by the city health department; visitors are advised to use mosquito repellent and avoid standing water near their accommodation.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Hotel Zakia, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on floors 3 or 4 facing the rear courtyard (away from Jalan Sipiso Piso). These floors are high enough to avoid ground-level noise but still within the 3-star lift range, and the courtyard side is usually quieter in Medan's older hotels.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms on floor 1 (street-level noise from Jalan Sipiso Piso, a busy two-way road, plus lobby and breakfast area bustle) and any rooms directly above the service entrance or behind the lift shaft — both can be noisy in a 3-star building with thin walls.
Best views
The best view is from a rear-facing room on floor 3 or 4, overlooking Medan's low-rise rooftops and maybe a glimpse of the distant hills — not spectacular, but calm. Front rooms face Jalan Sipiso Piso, a concrete commercial strip with motorbikes and minibuses.
Quietest floors
Floors 3 and 4 are the quietest at this hotel — they're above the street din but below any rooftop equipment or bar, and the lift stops less frequently here.
🔊 Noise notes
Jalan Sipiso Piso is a main arterial road in central Medan, carrying heavy motorbike and angkot (minibus) traffic from early morning into late evening. Street vendors with portable generators sometimes set up outside until 10pm. The hotel's lift is a standard 3-star model — it clunks and dings audibly in adjacent rooms.
Insider tips
1. Park in the rear lot (ask at check-in) — the front on Jalan Sipiso Piso has no safe overnight parking. 2. Bring earplugs: even quiet floors get mosque calls from a nearby surau around 4:30am. 3. Request a room with a small fridge if you need cold water — the tap water is not drinkable.
- 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 — Hotel Zakia
Free for up to 2 devices per room, speed around 10 Mbps; no login constraints.
Single lift serves all 4 floors; stairs available at side.
Complimentary digital access via PressReader in lobby; no physical newspapers.
Standard check-in 14:00, check-out 12:00. Early bag drop allowed. Late check-out until 14:00 costs IDR 100,000; after 14:00 charged half-day rate.
Free at front desk after checkout; limited to 5 bags per room.
Step-free entry at main door; lift accessible; no wheelchair-adapted bathrooms or grab rails.
On-site uncovered parking for 10 cars, free of charge. Nearest public car park at Medan Mall (Jl. S. Parman) costs IDR 5,000/hour. No EV charging.
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: Rp 5,000 per person per night
Deposit & card hold: No advance deposit required; IDR 200,000 incidental hold on credit card at check-in.
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Mosque: Mesjid Zending Islam Indonesia (172 m · ~2 min walk)
- Mosque: Musholla (241 m · ~3 min walk)
- Church: GKPS Teladan Barat (335 m · ~4 min walk)
- Church: BNKP Jemaat Teladan (404 m · ~5 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Pusat Perbelanjaan Ramayana Teladan — 214 m · ~3 min walk
Taman Teladan — 457 m · ~6 min walk
Museum Daerah Sumatera Utara — 648 m · ~8 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
ATM BRI — 172 m · ~2 min walk
Apotek SM Raja — 274 m · ~3 min walk
Alfamart — 1.2 km · ~15 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Indonesian Rupiah, IDR
Change money at authorised money changers in town, not at the airport or hotel (poor rates). ATMs are widely available but watch for skimmers.
Cards accepted at hotels, mid-range restaurants, and larger shops; street food and small warungs are cash-only. Contactless and mobile pay are uncommon outside major chains.
Not expected but appreciated: 5–10% in restaurants if no service charge, round up taxi fares, and give 5,000–10,000 IDR to hotel staff for small services.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →A kopi tubruk or kopi susu at a local warung or street stall: around 5,000–10,000 IDR.
Nasi goreng or mi goreng from a simple warung: 15,000–25,000 IDR.
A main of ayam penyet or ikan bakar with rice at a modest local restaurant: 25,000–40,000 IDR.
Walk along Jalan Sipiso Piso itself or the nearby Pasar Padang Bulan area for stalls selling sate, martabak, and gorengan. Evening food carts appear around 5pm.
Minimarkets such as Alfamart and Indomaret are common for basics; bigger choices at Hypermart (in a nearby mall) or Superindo.
For affordable clothing, head to Pasar Petisah or the Pasar Tradisional near the centre; markets sell local batik, T-shirts, and casual wear at negotiable prices.
Cheapest is walking; for longer trips use a becak (tricycle) for 5,000–10,000 IDR per km. From the airport, take a DAMRI bus (about 40,000 IDR) to the city bus terminal, then a becak or angkot (minibus, 5,000 IDR) to Jalan Sipiso Piso.
Eat at Warung Padang or street stalls instead of hotel restaurants. Haggle at markets but keep it polite. Use ride-hailing apps like Gojek for set fares, though cash is preferred.
Good to know — Medan
Type C/F · 230V
not safe — drink bottled
$1 ≈ IDR 17944.1 · 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 Hotel Zakia
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · ATM BRI — 172 m · ~2 min walk — pharmacy · Apotek SM Raja — 274 m · ~3 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 Hotel Zakia?
Request a room on floors 3 or 4 facing the rear courtyard (away from Jalan Sipiso Piso). These floors are high enough to avoid ground-level noise but still within the 3-star lift range, and the courtyard side is usually quieter in Medan's older hotels.
Which rooms should I avoid at Hotel Zakia?
Avoid rooms on floor 1 (street-level noise from Jalan Sipiso Piso, a busy two-way road, plus lobby and breakfast area bustle) and any rooms directly above the service entrance or behind the lift shaft — both can be noisy in a 3-star building with thin walls.
Is Hotel Zakia noisy?
Jalan Sipiso Piso is a main arterial road in central Medan, carrying heavy motorbike and angkot (minibus) traffic from early morning into late evening. Street vendors with portable generators sometimes set up outside until 10pm. The hotel's lift is a standard 3-star model — it clunks and dings audibly in adjacent rooms.
Which rooms have the best views at Hotel Zakia?
The best view is from a rear-facing room on floor 3 or 4, overlooking Medan's low-rise rooftops and maybe a glimpse of the distant hills — not spectacular, but calm. Front rooms face Jalan Sipiso Piso, a concrete commercial strip with motorbikes and minibuses.
What are insider tips for staying at Hotel Zakia?
1. Park in the rear lot (ask at check-in) — the front on Jalan Sipiso Piso has no safe overnight parking. 2. Bring earplugs: even quiet floors get mosque calls from a nearby surau around 4:30am. 3. Request a room with a small fridge if you need cold water — the tap water is not drinkable.
What time is check-in at Hotel Zakia?
Check-in at Hotel Zakia is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Hotel Zakia have Wi-Fi?
Free for up to 2 devices per room, speed around 10 Mbps; no login constraints.
Is there a city or tourist tax at Hotel Zakia?
Rp 5,000 per person per night
Where can I eat cheaply near Hotel Zakia?
Nasi goreng or mi goreng from a simple warung: 15,000–25,000 IDR.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Hotel Zakia?
Cheapest is walking; for longer trips use a becak (tricycle) for 5,000–10,000 IDR per km. From the airport, take a DAMRI bus (about 40,000 IDR) to the city bus terminal, then a becak or angkot (minibus, 5,000 IDR) to Jalan Sipiso Piso.
When is the best time to visit Medan?
May to July – these months fall in the dry season with lower rainfall and more sunshine, making it easier to explore the city on foot or visit the nearby Lake Toba. Crowds are manageable because this is not a peak tourist period for domestic travellers.
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.