The Arista Hotel Palembang

Palembang is the capital city of the Indonesian province of South Sumatra. The city proper covers 348.34 square kilometres on both banks of the Musi River in the eastern lowlands of southern Sumatra. It had a population of 1,668,848 at the 2020 Census; the official estimate as at mid 2025 was 1,829,745. Palembang is the second most populous city in Sumatra, after Medan, and the twelfth most populous city in Indonesia.

As you step into Palembang, you will be greeted with warm hospitality from the locals who are proud of their city and eager to share their stories with you. The city is situated on the banks of the Musi River, which has been a vital transportation route for centuries. Palembang was once the capital of the Srivijaya Empire, a powerful maritime kingdom that dominated the Southeast Asian region in the 7th to 13th centuries.

One of the iconic landmarks in Palembang is the Ampera Bridge, a bridge that spans across the Musi River and connects the two sides of the city. The bridge is a symbol of Palembang's resilience, having survived the devastating floods in the 1960s and the catastrophic earthquake in 2009. You can walk or cycle across the bridge to enjoy the stunning view of the river and the cityscape.