Padang

Padang cuisine — the fiery, coconut-rich cooking of the Minangkabau people — takes its name from this large city on the west coast of Sumatra, the capital of West Sumatra province and a long-established trading port since the pre-colonial era. The city sits between the Indian Ocean and hills rising sharply inland, with sunset beaches along the waterfront and a walkable centre with cafés and restaurants. It also serves as a gateway for travellers heading to the Mentawai Islands surf breaks, Bukittinggi, and Kerinci Seblat National Park.

• Population909,040
• Nearest water from center0.3 km
• Nearest mountain from center2.7 km
• UNESCO within 50 km4