Pempek
Fish and sago cakes, fried or boiled, eaten with sour, sweet, and spicy cuko sauce.
Sumatera Selatan
Palembang & Sungai Musi
The Old Srivijaya City on the Musi
Destination story
Palembang grew on the banks of the Musi River and is often called one of the oldest cities in Indonesia, associated with the glory of the Srivijaya Kingdom. The Ampera Bridge, completed in 1965, is the city's icon; at night its lights reflect on the wide river.
Around the river are Kuto Besak Fortress, the Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II Museum, and neighbourhoods of stilt houses. A boat ride along the Musi in the afternoon lets you see local life from the water.
Palembang is also the food capital of South Sumatra: pempek with cuko sauce, tekwan, model, and mie celor. Trying different kinds of pempek at local warungs is an essential part of a trip to this city.
Why visitA river city with Srivijaya history, a grand bridge icon, and pempek cuisine that is reason enough to visit.
Highlights & attractions
Things to do
Culture
Water
Must-Try Local Dishes
In Palembang & Sungai Musi, try Pempek, Mi Celor and Tekwan. Food from other regions
Mi Celor
Thick white noodles in a shrimp-flavoured coconut milk broth, topped with bean sprouts and boiled egg. Mildly savoury and fragrant.
Tekwan
Small fish balls in a fresh, clear shrimp broth with mushrooms and jicama.
Travel tips
- Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II Airport is linked to the city centre by LRT.
- Try pempek straight from local vendors' kitchens; the cuko sauce tastes different from warung to warung.
- Take a boat on the Musi in the afternoon for a shadier atmosphere.
- Bring light clothing because Palembang is hot and humid.
Open trip packages to Palembang & Sungai Musi
1 package available, from IDR 920,000.
