In the print dialog pick “Save as PDF” to keep it on your phone. A5 makes a pocket booklet; A4 suits a desk printer.
Voykit pocket guide · Indonesia
Pontianak
Kota Pontianak
Give Pontianak 2 nights: one for the equator monument and river, one for food. It is a stopover city, not a destination week.
Pontianak is the capital of West Kalimantan, built where the Kapuas and Landak rivers meet and sitting almost exactly on the Equator. It is a trading city of Malay, Dayak and Chinese communities, and it earns its place on a Borneo route through food, river life and the equator monument rather than through big sights. Two nights covers it; most travellers pass through on the way to Singkawang or across the border to Kuching.
- Country
- Indonesia
- Local name
- Kota Pontianak
- Best months
- May–Sep (drier)
- Avoid
- Rainfall varies through the year; check the forecast before you book
- Stay
- 2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- IDR
- Money
- Rupiah (Rp) in small notes for warungs, parking, offerings and drivers; large cards are common in tourist restaurants but not everywhere.
- Daily spend
- Budget Rp250,000–450,000 excl. bed · Mid Rp450,000–900,000 excl. bed · High Rp900,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Telkomsel, XL and Indosat sell tourist SIMs at airports; foreign phones must be IMEI-registered if staying over 90 days — check.
- Emergency
- General emergency 112 · Police 110 · Fire 113
- Plugs
- Types C, F · 230 V · 50 Hz · European round pins.
- Tipping
- Warung: Nothing.; Restaurants: Often 10% service + tax on the bill; nothing more needed.; Drivers and guides: Rp50,000–100,000 a day.; Spa: Rp20,000–50,000.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap; refill stations common in Bali.
- Toilets
- Western in hotels and cafés; squat toilets with a water scoop elsewhere; paper in the bin.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Street-hawker meal (noodles, rice, satay) | Rp5,000–25,000 |
| Coffee, local warung to modern café | Rp10,000–50,000 |
| Es lidah buaya (aloe vera drink) | Rp10,000–20,000 |
| City bus ride | About Rp2,000 |
| River crossing by boat | About Rp1,000 |
| Equator monument entry | Rp10,000 local / Rp20,000 foreign visitor |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | Rp100,000–200,000 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- PNK · Supadio International Airport
- About 15–20 km from the centre; DAMRI bus to town, or a fixed-price taxi couponAbout 9.3–12 mi from the centre; DAMRI bus to town, or a fixed-price taxi coupon
Typical fares
- Supadio Airport → city centre, DAMRI bus
- about Rp35,000, hourly
- Supadio Airport → city centre, taxi coupon
- about Rp70,000 fixed
- River crossing by boat
- about Rp1,000
Get around
Taxis are the easy option; agree the fare first. Ride-hailing apps (Grab, Gojek) are widely used in Indonesian cities but availability in Pontianak is not confirmed — check in the app on arrival. City buses cost a couple of thousand rupiah but are poorly marked and drivers rarely speak English. Small boats cross the Kapuas for about Rp1,000 and are the cheapest way to the far bank. Note that ride-hailing apps are not allowed at the ALBN long-distance bus station, about 15 km east of the centre.Taxis are the easy option; agree the fare first. Ride-hailing apps (Grab, Gojek) are widely used in Indonesian cities but availability in Pontianak is not confirmed — check in the app on arrival. City buses cost a couple of thousand rupiah but are poorly marked and drivers rarely speak English. Small boats cross the Kapuas for about Rp1,000 and are the cheapest way to the far bank. Note that ride-hailing apps are not allowed at the ALBN long-distance bus station, about 9.3 mi east of the centre.
See and do
Known for
- Equator monument (Tugu Khatulistiwa)
- Kapuas River and its waterfront
- Kadriyah Palace and Masjid Jami'
- Chinese-Indonesian street food
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Singkawang | Bus or shared car west, about 2–3 h | 2.5–3.5 h |
| Equator Monument (Tugu Khatulistiwa) | Public bus or taxi north of the centre, about 11 kmPublic bus or taxi north of the centre, about 6.8 mi | About 45 min each way |
| Kuching, Malaysia | Bus via the Entikong border crossing, at least 8 h | 8–10 h |
Sleep
- Jalan Gajahmada and the CBD
- Chinese-Indonesian food street, cafés and most mid-range hotels; walkable in the evening.
- Around Jalan Ahmad Yani
- Bigger chain hotels and the museum; a short ride from the river.
- Pontianak Timur, east bank of the Kapuas
- The Kadriyah Palace and Masjid Jami' sit here; cross by boat or bridge from the centre. Fewer places to sleep.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me | Permisiper-mee-see |
| Thank you | Terima kasihter-ee-ma ka-see |
| How much is it? | Berapa harganya?be-ra-pa har-ga-nya |
| I don't want it spicy | Jangan pedasjan-gan pe-das |
| Where is the toilet? | Di mana toilet?dee ma-na toy-let |
| Please take me to this address | Tolong antar ke alamat inito-long an-tar ke a-la-mat ee-nee |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Light handshake then hand to chest; smile; avoid: Firm grips
- Left hand: Give and receive with the right; avoid: Passing anything with the left
- Temples: Sarong and sash; step around offerings; avoid: Standing higher than priests
- Keeping calm: Patience; indirect requests; avoid: Anger in public
- Pointing: Thumb; avoid: Index finger
Scams and watch-outs
- Pickpockets and motorcycle theft are common, including in mall car parks; keep helmets and bags locked or with you.
- Long-distance buses from Kuching drop at ALBN station, where Grab and Gojek are not allowed — use the official taxi desk or walk to the main road.
- Budget rooms can be basic; check the room before you pay and bring repellent.
Pontianak is a working city, not a resort: petty theft is the main risk, so keep phones and bags close and never leave a helmet on a parked bike. Roads are busy and side streets flood in the wet season.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Pontianak yet. Suggested stay: 2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Equator monument (Tugu Khatulistiwa)
- Kapuas River and its waterfront
- Kadriyah Palace and Masjid Jami'
- Chinese-Indonesian street food
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Pontianak, revision 5258441 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5258441
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
PontianakKota Pontianak
Tolong antar ke alamat ini
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
Indonesia has no US, UK or Australian embassy in Pontianak; those are in Jakarta. Some countries keep honorary consulates in the region — check before you travel.
Pontianak is a stopover city: two nights is enough. Book the airport bus or taxi coupon before arrival, and carry small rupiah notes for street food and boats.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/pontianak). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.