Stand on General Sudirman Street and you are in the middle of Binjai's commercial heart, with the mayoral office at Town Hall at number 6 and the open ground of Lapangan Merdeka directly in front of it. Binjai sits between the Mencirim, Bangkatan and Bingai rivers, and the city grew from a village on the edge of the Bingai River, where a large binjai tree once stood.
This guide suits travellers passing through North Sumatra who want a day or two in a working Indonesian city rather than a resort, and anyone using Binjai as a transit point for Bukit Lawang and the Gunung Leuser National Park. It covers the sights named in the sources, the river, the markets and shopping streets, and how to string them together.
Top things to do in Binjai
1. Tugu Perjuangan 1945
The Struggle of 1945 Statue is the icon of the city and welcomes visitors arriving from outside Binjai. It is the natural first stop if you are coming in by road.
Combine it with a walk along General Sudirman Street, the main shopping avenue, since you will already be moving through the centre.
2. Binjai Great Mosque
Binjai Great Mosque, also known as Masjid Agung Binjai, is the city's principal place of worship and the largest mosque, located on Kapten Machmud Ismail Street. The city's Muslim majority is mainly of Javanese and Malay origin, and the mosque is central to its religious life.
Dress modestly and avoid prayer times if you want to look around rather than join a service.
3. Bingai River
The Bingai River is where the city began, and it remains a place to do rather than only to look at: rafting is the activity listed for it. The river flows into the Wampu River, which is navigable for a large portion of its length.
Go with a local operator and treat this as a half-day rather than a quick stop.
4. Setia Buddha Vihara
Setia Buddha Vihara is a Buddhist temple in a city whose Buddhist population is largely of Chinese origin. It is one of the small number of explicitly listed sights in Binjai.
Pair it with a walk through the commercial centre, which is in the heart of the city.
5. Lapangan Merdeka and Pendopo Umar Baki
Lapangan Merdeka, or Freedom Square, is the civic open space directly in front of the Town Hall on General Sudirman Road. The Pendopo Umar Baki, a building used for official and unofficial functions, stands there too.
Come in the cooler part of the day, and note that the square is a working civic space rather than a formal attraction.
6. The traditional markets
Binjai has four traditional markets: Tavip, Kebun Lada, Brahrang and Rambung. They serve buyers and sellers from both the city and Langkat Regency, so they show you the everyday trade of the area.
Go in the morning, when markets are at their liveliest, and bring small notes.
7. The shopping streets and centres
General Sudirman Street and Ahmad Yani Street are the main shopping avenues. Modern shopping centres include Suzuya, Mini Market Tahiti, Toserba Ramayana, the Ramayana Mall, Asia King and Binjai Supermall.
Use these as a rainy-afternoon option, since Binjai has a tropical rainforest climate with heavy rainfall year-round.
8. Bangkatan food court
Bangkatan is the biggest food court in Binjai, with Chinese and Indonesian food as its specialties. It is the easiest single place to eat a range of local dishes in one sitting.
Combine it with an evening on General Sudirman Street or Ahmad Yani Street, both of which are nearby in the commercial centre.
9. The houses of worship of the other communities
Binjai is a multi-ethnic city of Javanese, Batak, Chinese, Indian and Malay residents, and that mix shows in its buildings. Gereja Methodist Indonesia Getsemani Binjai, HKBP Binjai and Maria Bunda Penolong Abadi are churches, while Mesjid Al Amin and Musolah Al Wahab are places of worship for the Muslim community. There is also one Hindu temple, on Ahmad Yani Street.
These are active places of worship, so visit respectfully and outside service times.
10. The military cemetery
Binjai is the site of a nationally important military cemetery. It is a quiet stop rather than a spectacle.
Allow a short, unhurried visit and keep your conduct appropriate to a cemetery.
11. Bukit Lawang, as a day trip from Binjai
Binjai is an important transit point for visitors to Bukit Lawang, in the Gunung Leuser National Park, an important site for the conservation of the red orangutan. Bukit Lawang lies west of the city.
Treat this as a full day or an overnight, not an add-on to a city afternoon.
If you only have one day
Morning: Start at Tugu Perjuangan 1945 as you arrive, then walk the commercial centre and General Sudirman Street, taking in Lapangan Merdeka and the Pendopo Umar Baki in front of the Town Hall. Move on to Binjai Great Mosque on Kapten Machmud Ismail Street, then Setia Buddha Vihara.
Afternoon: Spend the afternoon on the Bingai River, rafting, since this is the one activity in the city that takes real time. If you would rather stay dry, use the hours for the traditional markets at Tavip, Kebun Lada, Brahrang or Rambung, or for the shopping centres if it is raining.
Evening: Eat at Bangkatan, the city's largest food court, where Chinese and Indonesian food are the specialties, then finish with a walk along Ahmad Yani Street.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get to Binjai?
Binjai is connected to Medan by the Sumatra highway, which continues to Banda Aceh. There is also a commuter train, Sri Lelawangsa, connecting Binjai with Medan and on to Kuala Bingai in Langkat Regency, plus a bus line called Trans Binjai within the city. The nearest airport is Medan's Kuala Namu International Airport.
What is the best way to get around the city?
The major forms of public transport within Binjai are the becak, a three-wheeled motorised vehicle, and small minibuses called angkot. Trans Binjai connects the whole city.
When should I visit?
Binjai has a tropical rainforest climate with heavy rainfall year-round, so plan indoor stops such as the shopping centres and the food court as backup rather than expecting a dry season.
Can I visit Bukit Lawang from Binjai?
Yes. Binjai is an important transit point for visitors to Bukit Lawang in the Gunung Leuser National Park, which is west of the city and is an important site for the conservation of the red orangutan.
Use this as your starting list, check the current situation for each place before you travel, and begin planning your days in Binjai around the river, the markets and the food.