Weather in Palembang

About Palembang

Palembang's Sriwijaya kingdom heritage dominates this Musi River city, which produced refined artistic traditions before Java's rise to dominance. The Ampera Bridge and riverside architecture preserve an earlier Southeast Asian power center.

Country

Indonesia

Best months to visit

Year-round

Currency

IDR

Language

Indonesian, English

Things to do in Palembang

River boat tours on Musi exploring waterfront Museum visits for Sriwijaya artifact collections Traditional pempek cuisine cooking and tasting Local market exploration and craft shopping Bridge viewpoint sunset photography Nearby lake and swamp explorations

Weather by month

Click any month for detailed weather information and travel tips.

January

30C

Hot and humid, with frequent heavy rain.

February

30C

Hot and humid, with frequent heavy rain.

March

30C

Hot and humid, with frequent heavy rain.

April

30C

Hot and humid, with frequent heavy rain.

May

31C

Hot and humid, with frequent heavy rain.

June

30C

Hot and humid, with frequent heavy rain.

July

30C

Hot and humid, with regular rainfall.

August

31C

Hot and humid, with regular rainfall.

September

32C

Hot and humid, with some rainy days.

October

32C

Hot and humid, with regular rainfall.

November

31C

Hot and humid, with frequent heavy rain.

December

30C

Hot and humid, with frequent heavy rain.

Palembang, sprawling along the banks of the mighty Musi River, was the seat of Srivijaya, the great maritime empire that controlled Southeast Asian trade for over 600 years — though little physical evidence of that golden age survives above ground. Today it's better known for the soaring Ampera Bridge lit up at night, river cruises past stilt houses and floating markets, and pempek, the beloved fishcake dish that originated here and is eaten across Indonesia.

Best areas to stay in Palembang

Ampera Bridge & Riverside

The iconic bridge across the Musi River and the lively riverside area beneath it, especially atmospheric at night when the bridge is lit up.

Kampung Kapitan

A historic riverside neighbourhood of old Chinese merchant houses on stilts, reachable by river boat and offering a glimpse of Palembang's trading past.

Great Mosque (Masjid Agung)

Palembang's grand mosque combining Indonesian, Chinese, and European architectural influences, near the city's commercial centre.

Kemaro Island

A small island in the middle of the Musi River with a Chinese pagoda and temple, linked to a local legend of star-crossed lovers, popular during Chinese New Year.

Getting to Palembang

✈

Flights

Fly into Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II Airport (PLM) via Jakarta or Singapore — there are no direct flights from the UK.

⏱

From London

~17-19 hours total journey time from London via Jakarta

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Getting around

The city has a light rail line connecting the airport to the centre; river boats (ketek) are the best way to see the Musi River sights, and taxis or ride-hailing apps cover the rest.

Frequently asked questions

When is the best time to visit Palembang?

May to September is driest, good for river cruises and exploring without heavy rain. The city is hot and humid year-round as a low-lying river city.

How do I get to Palembang?

Fly direct to Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II Airport (PLM) from Jakarta and other major Indonesian cities, with onward connections from the UK via Jakarta or Singapore.

What is there to do in Palembang?

Take a boat trip on the Musi River past Kampung Kapitan's old Chinese merchant houses and floating settlements, visit the Ampera Bridge at night when it's illuminated, explore the Great Mosque, and try pempek at its source.

What food is Palembang known for?

Pempek — fish and tapioca cakes served with a tangy sweet-sour vinegar sauce (cuko) — is the city's signature dish, alongside tekwan fish ball soup and pindang fish curry.

Is English widely spoken in Palembang?

Limited outside major hotels — Palembang sees relatively few foreign tourists, so basic Indonesian is useful for markets and river boat trips.

Traveler reviews

★★★★☆

The river boat tour past Kampung Kapitan was the highlight — old wooden houses on stilts and a real sense of how the city has lived with the Musi for centuries. Ampera Bridge at night was beautiful too.

Hendra W. · April 2024

★★★★☆

Came specifically for pempek and it did not disappoint — so many varieties and the cuko sauce is addictive. The light rail from the airport made getting around easy too.

Claire B. · May 2024

★★★☆☆

Not a city with major sights, but the river life and history of Srivijaya gave it more depth than I expected. Worth a day or two if passing through South Sumatra.

Agus T. · July 2023