A list of must-visit tourist spots in Pontianak, Indonesia.
Here are the popular things to do when visiting Pontianak.
1. Visit the Equatorial Monument
A visit to Pontianak will not be complete if you don’t see the Equatorial Monument up close. It is the city’s landmark and is situated about 3 kilometers from the downtown area. The monument was built to mark the exact position of the equator line. The first and authentic monument is stored inside the museum. and the one you’ll see towering high outside was constructed again as a landmark. There are no public transport so you will need to take a taxi or rent a car to get there.
One of the most popular places to eat in Pontianak is Pondok Seafood “Abang Kepiting”. You’ll get to choose a variety of fresh seafood and have it cooked in several ways as you like. I definitely enjoyed my dinner in this restaurant. Highly recommended.
Another interesting thing to do in Pontianak is river cruising in Kapuas River. It’s actually a boat cafe where you can enjoy a meal while cruising the river. The Kapuas River system is the largest in Borneo flowing over 700miles (1,100km) through Western Kalimantan. Unfortunately, I arrived at noon so there was no scheduled cruise so I missed it.
Kadriah Palace (Istana Kadriah) is a 300-year-old wooden palace built by the first Sultan of Pontianak, Syarif Abdurrahman Alkadrie. The architecture of the palace is a combination of Malay, Dutch and Middle Eastern.
Radakng House (Betang Radakng) is a replica of the traditional house of Dayak in West Kalimantan which was constructed by the city government in Jalan Sultan Syahrir, Kota Baru, Pontianak. The length of this house reaches 138 meters with a width of 5 meters and a height of 7 meters. It is one of the major tourist attractions of the city of Pontianak.
Cathedral of St. Joseph (Katedral Santo Yosef) was originally built in 1908 and was reconstructed in 2011 because the old cathedral was already dilapidated and it was too small to meet the needs of the parishioners. It is huge that you will immediately notice its presence when you roam around the city center.
Masjid Raya Mujahidin was built in 1974 during the reign of West Borneo governor H. Jodaoesno and inaugurated by President of Indonesia, Soekarno at 23 October 1978. It has an interesting facade and a vibrant interior.
Where to stay in Pontianak, Indonesia? Recommended hotels to stay in the city of Pontianak. Please click the name of the hotel below to check the rates and availability.
How to Go to Pontianak?
There are a lot of ways to go to Pontianak, Indonesia. You can take a plane from Kuching (which I did) to Pontianak. You can also take a bus from Kuching, Sarawak and Brunei. You can buy your ticket in advance here. Make sure you have Indonesian Rupiah ready because taxis only accept local currency and there is no foreign currency exchange center in the airport. There is an ATM though so you may withdraw local currency from your card. You may also take a bus from Kuching. There are also flights from other Indonesian Cities. Book online now. [Read: Bus Schedule from Kuching to Pontianak and vice-versa]
Getting Around in Pontianak?
Pontianak, Indonesia is not that popular for tourists so getting around is a bit difficult. I suggest you hire a car or taxi to go around the city just like what I did. It is pretty much affordable. I forgot how much I paid since I traveled to Pontianak in July of 2016.