What's on in Medan (Sumatra), Indonesia through the year

Peak crowds — Chinese New Year, Christmas and New Year

• Hazard

  Sinabung ash and alerts

  1 Jan – 31 DecVolcanic activityClosures

  The volcano above Berastagi, two hours up the road, has spent years at raised alert with an exclusion zone around it. Ash falls close the Karo highland roads and occasionally the flight paths. Source ↗

• Holiday

  Chinese New Year

  20 Jan – 25 Feb · usuallyLunar New YearClosures

  Medan has one of Indonesia's largest Chinese communities and the temples on Jalan Zainul Arifin run day and night for it. Much of the city's food trade closes for two or three days. Source ↗

Still on: Christmas and New Year (18 Dec – 5 Jan)

Busy — Chinese New Year, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in February.

Still on: Sinabung ash and alerts (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Chinese New Year (20 Jan – 25 Feb (usually))

Peak crowds — Ramadan and Lebaran, Lebaran (Idul Fitri) break in Indonesia

• Holiday

  Ramadan and Lebaran

  5 Mar – 15 Apr · usuallyRamadan & EidCrowdedClosuresBook early

  The mudik exodus puts North Sumatra on the road for a week, and the Berastagi and Lake Toba routes out of the city stop moving on the days either side of it. Source ↗

Still on: Sinabung ash and alerts (1 Jan – 31 Dec)

Busy — Ramadan and Lebaran, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in April.

Still on: Sinabung ash and alerts (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Ramadan and Lebaran (5 Mar – 15 Apr (usually))

Quiet — school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it, one of its worst months for weather

Nothing new starts in May.

Still on: Sinabung ash and alerts (1 Jan – 31 Dec)

Busy — Mid-year break in Indonesia, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

• Hazard

  Haze season

  15 Jun – 15 Oct · usuallySmoke season

  Peat and plantation fires across Riau and Sumatra put smoke over the city in the drier weeks. In a bad year the airport diverts and the schools send children home. Source ↗

Still on: Sinabung ash and alerts (1 Jan – 31 Dec)

Busy — Mid-year break in Indonesia, school holidays in 5 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in July.

Still on: Sinabung ash and alerts (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Haze season (15 Jun – 15 Oct (usually))

Shoulder season — school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in August.

Still on: Sinabung ash and alerts (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Haze season (15 Jun – 15 Oct (usually))

Shoulder season — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in September.

Still on: Sinabung ash and alerts (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Haze season (15 Jun – 15 Oct (usually))

Quiet — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, one of its worst months for weather

Nothing new starts in October.

Still on: Sinabung ash and alerts (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Haze season (15 Jun – 15 Oct (usually))

Quiet — one of its worst months for weather

Nothing new starts in November.

Still on: Sinabung ash and alerts (1 Jan – 31 Dec)

Peak crowds — Christmas and New Year, Year-end break in Indonesia

• Holiday

  Christmas and New Year

  18 Dec – 5 JanChristmas & New YearCrowdedBook early

  North Sumatra's Batak population makes Christmas a bigger holiday here than in most of Indonesia; the churches are full and the road to Toba is booked out. Source ↗

Still on: Sinabung ash and alerts (1 Jan – 31 Dec)