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How to get from Medan Airport to Lake Toba

Lake Toba, the world’s largest crater lake, is a popular destination in North Sumatra, Indonesia. It’s approximately 163 km southwest of Kualanamu International Airport, which is also known as Medan Airport. Surrounded by lush vegetation and breathtaking scenery, Lake Toba is a haven for nature lovers.

You can travel from Medan Airport to Lake Toba by taxi or by bus. The quickest and most convenient option is to take a taxi or book a private airport taxi. On average, the journey takes around 3 hours and 30 minutes, though this will depend on your specific destination and the traffic conditions. This usually costs about €48 (IDR 822,500) for up to 4 passengers. 

Getting the bus is a cheaper option for solo travellers and small groups, costing around €9.10 (IDR 157,000) per person and taking approximately 5 hours and 35 minutes in total.

Welcome Pickups offers meet and greet services and a friendly introduction to Medan at the same price as a regular taxi. Click here to see the cost.

Comparison of the options

PRICE FOR 2PASSENGERS
OPTION PRICE DURATION AVAILABILITY
Welcome Pickups €225 210min 24/7 Book
Book
Taxi €48 210min 24/7
Train + Taxi + Bus €18.20 335min 06:00–18:00

How to get from Medan Airport to Lake Toba by taxi

Taking a taxi from Medan Airport to Lake Toba is convenient and straightforward. Though the traffic conditions can determine how long the journey will take, you can expect to arrive within approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes.

Taxi fare from Medan Airport to Lake Toba

In most cases, taxis in Medan are equipped with taximeters and operate using regulated fares. A taxi from Medan Airport to Lake Toba will cost about €48 (IDR 822,500), though the exact fare will be based on additional factors like your precise destination, traffic conditions, the number of passengers, and the type of vehicle.

You can avoid uncertainty and arrange a private airport taxi with Welcome Pickups. In addition to our low-cost fares and flexible cancellation policies, we offer 24/7 customer service and comfortable, sanitised cars.

Cost

€48

Trip Duration

210 Min.

*Taxi prices vary unless you book your ride in advance.

Convenience
Safety
Value for Money

Taxis are available from Medan Airport 24/7.

Where do I get a taxi from?

As you exit the Arrivals Hall at Medan Airport, you’ll find a rank outside with taxis that can take you to Lake Toba at any time of day. For your safety, ensure you only travel with licenced taxi drivers.

Convenience

Getting a taxi from Medan Airport to Lake Toba is quick and efficient. You’ll travel directly to your accommodation or drop-off location from the Arrivals Hall within around 3 hours and 30 minutes, depending on the traffic conditions. For ultimate convenience, you can book a taxi online which will unlock a variety of travel extras. 

Editor’s Note

Taxis in Medan primarily accept cash, so make sure you get money in the local currency of Indonesia rupiah before departing from Medan Airport unless you book online in advance.

Useful Tips

As it's a long journey, rounding up your final fare or adding a small tip is recommended, though not mandatory.
The roads from Medan Airport to Lake Toba can get congested depending on the time of day, so it's best to allow some room in your schedule for delays.
If you're travelling as part of a group of more than four people, you may need to wait a little longer to secure a minivan or larger vehicle.

How to get from Medan Airport to Lake Toba by public transport

Another option is to take the bus from Medan Airport to Lake Toba, which takes roughly 5 hours and 35 minutes. First, you’ll need to take the train from Medan Airport to Medan Main Station. From here, you’ll need to take a taxi to Amplas Bus Station, where you’ll then get a Sejahtera bus to Parapat along the edge of Lake Toba.

Trains from Medan Airport to Medan Main Station depart around 12 times daily and take around 45 minutes, and a taxi from here to Amplas Bus Station should take about 20 minutes, depending on traffic. The Sejahtera bus departs every hour between 06:00 and 18:00 and usually takes around 4 hours and 30 minutes to reach Parapat.

How much is the bus from Medan Airport to Lake Toba?

Taking public transport from Medan Airport to Lake Toba will cost you around €9.10 (IDR 157,000) per person. The train from Medan Airport to Medan Main Station costs about €2.30 (IDR 40,000), your taxi from here to Amplas Bus Station will cost €3.30 (IDR 57,000), and tickets for the bus to Parapat are around €3.50 (IDR 60,000).

Cost

€9.10

Trip Duration

335 Min.

Buses depart every hour to Lake Toba.

Convenience
Safety
Value for Money

The bus to Lake Toba operates between 06:00 and 18:00.

Where do I get the bus from?

As you exit the terminal building at Medan Airport, you’ll see signposts for the Airport Railway Station. Once here, you can purchase your tickets at one of the vending machines, which must be paid for by debit or credit card. When you arrive at Medan Main Station, go to the nearest exit. From here, you can hail a taxi to take you to Amplas Station. After you reach Amplas Station, look for the Sejahtera bus and buy your tickets from the driver. In most cases, the taxi and bus must be paid for in cash.

Convenience

Although it’s the most economical option, taking a bus from Medan Airport to Lake Toba is quite inconvenient. This is because it requires three forms of transport to reach Lake Toba from Medan Airport, which can be stressful if you’re not comfortable navigating public transport. Moreover, depending on when you land, you might need to factor in waiting times between each mode of transport.

Editor’s Note

Most of the buses to Lake Toba are equipped with air-conditioning. However, it depends on the vehicle.

Useful Tips

Sejahtera's bus fleet is mostly made up of coaches, so there will be a place to store your luggage.
Have some change to pay for your tickets, as they may not accept card payment.

Welcome Pickups transfer

Welcome Pickups

Book a trained, English-speaking taxi driver to pick you up at the same price as a regular cab from the line

If you feel more relaxed knowing that somebody is waiting for you, you may as well book a Welcome Pickups transfer. As soon as you arrive at the airport you will be greeted by your driver. He will be waiting for you at the terminal of your arrival with a sign that has your name on it. Your driver will help you out with your luggage and together you will make your way to the vehicle. While he is driving you to your accommodation, the driver can give you some tips and recommendations on what to do during your holidays in Medan. Our drivers are hand-picked and speak fluent English. No need to worry about miscommunication issues that you may face with the local taxi drivers regarding your destination. Relax and enjoy your ride.

Best drivers

Hand-picked english-speaking drivers

Flight monitoring

Drivers are always on time

Quality support

24/7 email & phone support

Cancel up to 24 hours before the pickup and get an 80% refund

Edit or cancel transfers

Read more

Prices

DAYTIME
€225.0
NIGHTTIME
€270.0
Same price as a regular taxi from the line

PRICES FOR

Sedan Car

4 pax, 4 pieces of luggage

Book Welcome Pickups transfer

Welcome Pickups has a Net Safety Score of 99 of 100

We’ve introduced a metric indicating how safe travellers feel when using our services during the COVID-19 pandemic. After every ride, we ask each traveller to leave a review.

  • 20 minute gap between transfers

  • Regular Car Sanitisation

  • Contactless ride

  • Sanitiser in every car

Read More

Frequently asked questions

How can I get from Medan Airport to Lake Toba?

You can take a taxi or bus from Medan Airport to Lake Toba. The taxi journey is the fastest and most convenient option. It takes around 3 hours and 30 minutes and costs about €48 (IDR 822,500). The exact fare will depend on your final destination, the number of passengers, the vehicle type, and traffic conditions. A cheaper option is to take the bus. This will require a train and a taxi to reach the bus station, taking 5 hours and 35 minutes on average and costing approximately €9.10 (IDR 157,000) in total for the journey.

Start your trip hassle-free by booking a private transfer from Medan Airport to Lake Toba with Welcome Pickups. You’ll receive door-to-door service from Medan Airport to your accommodation at Lake Toba for a competitive, fixed fare and enjoy extras like flight monitoring, free waiting time, and a complimentary mini tour of the city. 

What is the distance from Medan Airport to Lake Toba?

Lake Toba is roughly 163 from Medan Airport. If you travel by taxi or private transfer, the drive will take approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes.

What's the cost of a taxi from Medan Airport to Lake Toba?

When getting a taxi from Medan Airport to Lake Toba, you can expect to pay around €48 (IDR 822,500). This figure may be higher or lower based on your exact destination, traffic conditions, the type of vehicle, and the number of passengers.

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