Stand on Jalan Jend. Sudirman and you are within a short walk of most of what Pekanbaru puts on show: the Sang Nila Utama Museum, the Idrus Tintin building and the Soeman H.S. County Library all line the same road. The city grew up as a market on the Siak River, and its name still means "new market", so it makes sense that its landmarks sit close together rather than spread across a resort strip.
Pekanbaru suits travellers passing through Sumatra who want a day of Malay architecture, a museum and a walk through a Chinese-Indonesian quarter, rather than a dedicated sightseeing holiday. The Wikivoyage guide is blunt that this is not a tourist destination for Indonesians or foreigners, which is useful to know before you plan.
This guide covers the buildings and places the sources name, plus the parks and golf courses listed under things to do.
Top things to do in Pekanbaru
1. Sang Nila Utama Museum
On Jl. Jend. Sudirman, this is the museum about culture and heritage in Riau, and the only museum in the city. If you want context for the Malay, Minangkabau and other communities you will meet in Pekanbaru, this is where to start.
Because it sits on Jl. Jend. Sudirman, you can pair it with the Soeman H.S. County Library and the Idrus Tintin building on the same road in a single outing.
2. Idrus Tintin (MTQ) Building
Also known as Anjung Seni Idrus Tintin, this is a landmark building on Jl. Jend. Sudirman that mixes Malay and modern architecture. It hosts events ranging from Musabaqah Tilawatil Qur'an (MTQ) to the Indonesian Film Festival.
Check whether anything is scheduled during your stay, since the building is at its most interesting when an event is on. It is on the same road as the museum and the library, so combine the three.
3. Great Mosque of An-Nur
On Jl. Syekh Burhanuddin, this is the largest mosque in Pekanbaru and one of the city's landmarks. The Great HKBP Church stands just opposite, which makes the pair a neat illustration of the city's religious mix.
Visit the two buildings together, since they face each other across the same street.
4. Great Mosque of Pekanbaru
On Jl. Masjid Raya near Pasar Bawah, this is the oldest mosque in the city, built in the 18th century during the time of the Siak Sultanate. It was revitalized in 2009, and not much of the original building remains apart from some pillars.
Go with an interest in the surviving pillars and the site's history rather than expecting an intact historic structure, and combine the visit with Pasar Bawah next door.
5. Soeman H.S. County Library
On Jl. Jend. Sudirman, this is the largest library in Sumatra, housed in a building of Malay-modern architecture. Even if you are not borrowing anything, the building itself is the reason to stop.
It sits on the same road as the Sang Nila Utama Museum and the Idrus Tintin building, so it fits naturally into a walk along Jl. Jend. Sudirman.
6. Kampung Tionghoa Melayu (Chinatown)
On Jl. Dr. Leimena / Jalan Karet, this is the city's Chinatown, and the Chinese New Year festival is held here. It is a district to wander rather than a single sight.
Time your visit to Chinese New Year if you can, when the festival fills the streets. Otherwise treat it as a slow walk through the quarter.
7. Labersa Water Park
On Jl. Labersa Parit Indah, this complex includes a water park, a golf course, a five-star hotel and a convention centre. It is the option for a hot afternoon when you would rather be in the water than on your feet.
Because the golf course is on the same site, golfers can play at Labersa Golf Course and non-golfers can use the water park without splitting up.
8. Limbungan Reservoir Park
In Rumbai, this park is popular with people from other regencies and towns in Riau province. It is a local favourite rather than a headline attraction.
Go if you want a green break away from the Jl. Jend. Sudirman cluster, and keep in mind that its appeal is mainly to visitors from elsewhere in the province.
9. Alam Mayang Park
On Jl. Harapan Raya, this is the other park the guide lists as popular with people from other regencies and towns in Riau province.
Like Limbungan Reservoir Park, it is a low-key stop. Choose one of the two parks rather than trying to fit both into a short trip.
10. Simpang Tiga Golf Course
In Simpang Tiga, this is one of the city's golf courses. Pekanbaru's golf is a genuine local activity rather than a tourist add-on.
If you are playing more than one round, note that the other courses are at Labersa and Rumbai, so you can plan rounds by area.
11. Rumbai Golf Course
In Rumbai, at the Pertamina Hulu Rokan Rumbai Chevron Camp, this is the third of the city's golf courses. It shares its Rumbai location with Limbungan Reservoir Park.
Pair a round here with a stop at the park in the same area.
If you only have one day
Morning: Start on Jl. Jend. Sudirman with the Sang Nila Utama Museum, then look in at the Soeman H.S. County Library and the Idrus Tintin (MTQ) Building on the same road. All three sit together, so the morning needs no transport between them.
Afternoon: Move to the Great Mosque of An-Nur on Jl. Syekh Burhanuddin, with the Great HKBP Church just opposite. Then continue to the Great Mosque of Pekanbaru on Jl. Masjid Raya near Pasar Bawah, where the surviving pillars are the main trace of the 18th-century building.
Evening: Finish in Kampung Tionghoa Melayu on Jl. Dr. Leimena / Jalan Karet, walking the streets of the Chinatown quarter as the day cools.
Frequently asked questions
Is Pekanbaru worth visiting as a tourist destination?
The Wikivoyage guide states plainly that Pekanbaru is not a tourist destination for either Indonesians or foreigners, but that it does have some interesting buildings and places to visit, including distinctive buildings constructed by the local government. Plan it as a stop with a focused set of sights rather than a holiday in itself.
How many museums are there in Pekanbaru?
One. The Sang Nila Utama Museum is described as the one and only museum in Pekanbaru.
Which Pekanbaru mosque should I visit?
They are different propositions. The Great Mosque of An-Nur on Jl. Syekh Burhanuddin is the largest mosque in the city and one of its landmarks, while the Great Mosque of Pekanbaru on Jl. Masjid Raya near Pasar Bawah is the oldest, built in the 18th century during the Siak Sultanate and revitalized in 2009, with only some pillars remaining from the original building.
Can I play golf in Pekanbaru?
Yes. The guide lists three courses: Simpang Tiga Golf Course in Simpang Tiga, Labersa Golf Course at Labersa, and Rumbai Golf Course in Rumbai at the Pertamina Hulu Rokan Rumbai Chevron Camp.
Decide which of the Jl. Jend. Sudirman buildings you want most time in, then build the rest of your day around the mosques and Chinatown.