Muslim Solo Travel Guide to Pontianak, Indonesia

Muslim Solo Travel Guide to Pontianak, Indonesia

The Capital of Indonesia’s West Kalimantan has many Halal local cuisines to offer, particularly for the foodie Muslimah Solo Travelers.

In this guide, you’ll find all you need to know on the places to visit, what to expect when traveling in Pontianak as a Muslimah Solo Traveler, Halal Food, safety tips, and more!

Feel free to skip around to specific sections or read the entire Muslim Solo Travel Guide to Pontianak.


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About Pontianak, Indonesia

Muslim Solo Travel Guide to Pontianak, Indonesia

Some things that you should know about Pontianak, Indonesia:

  • Pontianak has been the seat of the Pontianak Kadriyah Sultanate for centuries.
  • Located on the delta of Kapuas River in Borneo Island, Pontianak was initially a small Malay fishing village before it became the capital of West Kalimantan province in Indonesia.
  • Pontianak is also known as the Equatorial City (meaning it is situated right at the Equator!)

Traveling Alone as a Muslim Woman in Pontianak, Indonesia (& Safety TIPS!)

Planning to visit Pontianak, Indonesia, solo as a Muslim woman and wondering if it is safe? Hear out what Muslimah Solo Traveler Farihah has to say:

Traveling solo as a Muslim Woman in Pontianak, Indonesia

My experience traveling alone as a Muslim woman in Pontianak, Indonesia was very much safe. Some shops also had an army (Militer in Indonesian) guarding the valet parking outside, so that helped me feel at ease.

Safety tips for solo traveling in Pontianak, Indonesia

However, certain situations happened to me that you should keep in mind:

1) Some Indonesian words I don’t understand — Translator App sometimes doesn’t work. Just ask a local nearby, and they’re happy to help.
2) As I was walking alone by the roadside (in broad daylight and at night time), some men catcalled me “pergi mana kak” (where are you going?). But that’s it. As long as you ignore, in sha Allah you’ll be fine.

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MST’s Take: We feel that Pontianak, Indonesia is easier for BEGINNERS Muslimah Solo Travelers with a basic understanding of the Indonesian language and culture. This means it would be easier for Muslim ladies from neighboring Southeast Asian countries like Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei to explore Pontianak, on their own for the first time.

If you’re a BEGINNER Muslimah Solo Traveler who’s not from (or understands the culture of) Southeast Asia, it may be a bit difficult for you to explore Pontianak on your own. Regardless, the locals would be more than happy if you need any help!

Places to visit in Pontianak, Indonesia as a Muslim Solo Traveler

Places to visit in Pontianak, Indonesia as a Muslim Solo Traveler
Gajahmada St, Pontianak at night

There are few places to visit in Pontianak as a Muslimah Solo Traveler.

Some must-visit attractions include Equatorial Monument, Kapuas River, and Keraton Kadriah.

For modern and authentic coffee experiences in Pontianak, you can head to Gajahmada Street, where many coffee shops are located.

Places to visit in Pontianak, Indonesia as a Muslim Solo Traveler

If you’re in the mood for some local shopping and souvenirs, be it Batik Indonesia Modest Fashion garments, or lace textiles, Nusa Indah and Pasar Sudirman are the places for great bargains.

Related: ?? Pontianak Souvenirs to Bring Home! ?

Pasar Sudirman, Pontianak

For some quick nature escapes in Pontianak, head to Digulis Park, where you can see the Bamboo Monument.

Related: What To Do in Pontianak ?? as a Muslimah Solo Traveler.

Finding Halal Food in Pontianak, Indonesia

Being a Gastronomy Destination in Indonesia’s Kalimantan, finding Halal Food in Pontianak is super easy.

Finding Halal Food in Pontianak, Indonesia
Mie Sagu

There’s plenty of Halal-certified restaurants in the city. Some stalls (warung) usually have a non-official Halal logo plastered on their banner.

However, cleanliness can be a concern as Indonesia is a developing country. Do exercise your common sense when buying from the warung situated at the roadside.

Finding Halal Food in Pontianak, Indonesia
Indonesia’s official Halal Logo

Some popular local Pontianak food that you should try are Bubur Paddas (spicy congee), Sotong Pangkong (meshed, flat squid dipped in sauce), Mie Sagu (Noodles made of Sago).

Besides that, famous Indonesian cuisines like Nasi Ayam Geprek are also available everywhere in Pontianak.

Related: ? 17+ Best Halal Food in Pontianak, Indonesia (Desserts, Noodles, & More!)

Some words that you should know when it comes to Indonesian Food:

  • Rebus: Steamed
  • Goreng: Fried
Halal certificate in West Kalimantan, Indonesia

While Halal Food is everywhere, Indonesia is also a multi-religious, multi-cultural country. So, non-Halal food are also available

⚠️ Watch out for the word ‘Babi’ (pork in Indonesian) language on warung especially.

Prayer spaces in Pontianak, Indonesia

There are plenty of prayer spaces in Pontianak, Indonesia.

You’ll find masjids and musolla pretty much everywhere, even in the shopping malls and by Kapuas River.

But the two major masjid that should be on your #muslimsolotravel bucket list are:

Masjid in Pontianak, Indonesia
Masjid Raya Mujahidin

Best Areas to stay in Pontianak, Indonesia as a Muslimah Solo Traveler.

Where to stay in Pontianak, as a Muslim Solo Traveler

There’s only one best place to stay for the Muslimah Solo Traveler in Pontianak.

And that is Gajahmada Street.

This street is lined up with hotels, local restaurants, and roadside push-cart stalls and is near Kapuas Waterfront.

Hotels ⭐️ you should consider in Pontianak are

Where to stay in Pontianak, as a Muslim Solo Traveler

Getting To and Around Pontianak, Indonesia

You can get to and around Pontianak as a Muslimah Solo Traveler in several ways.

Getting To Pontianak:

  • Via bus or car from Kuching, Malaysia and neighboring Indonesian Kalimantan provinces.
  • Via flight from Indonesian cities towards Supadio Pontianak (PNK) airport

Getting Around Pontianak via:

  • Car Rental
  • Grab (Car or Bike)
I rode the Grab (SEAsia’s Uber) for most of the time in Pontianak and some were kind to give tips on where to go. Some, even waited to send me back to the city center, at places where, according to them “is hard to catch another Grab driver”.

Best Time To Visit Pontianak, Indonesia

The best time to visit Pontianak is when the shadowless sunlight occurs.

This happens bi-annually in a year:

  • The Vernal Equinox (March 21st-23rd),
  • The Autumnal Equinox (September 21st-23rd)

During this time, the sun stands directly at the equator. This lets you enjoy a five-minute shadowless moment at the Equator Monument!

Days leading to Eid (Idul Fitr in local Indonesian) is also a busy time in Pontianak.

AVOID visiting Pontianak during the Monsoon season (December especially) as the rain pours heavily during this time and can cause flash floods from the Kapuas River’s overflow.

The Best Time to Visit Pontianak, Indonesia
Watch Muslim Solo Travel’s IG Highlights on Pontianak, Indonesia

Other than that, you can pretty much visit Pontianak all year round.

Recommended Itinerary for Muslimah Solo Traveler in Pontianak, Indonesia

Two to three days for the Muslimah Solo Traveler wishing to explore Pontianak would be enough. Beyond that, you can feel bored.

Watch Pontianak Travelog

Extensions from Pontianak, Indonesia.

You can either continue your journey from Pontianak to:

  • Singkawang, a beach destination in West Kalimantan, Indonesia
  • Kuching, capital of Sarawak State in East Malaysia
  • Major cities in Kalimantan Provinces such as Samarinda and Banjarmasin
  • Cities in Indonesia such as Surabaya, Medan, Jakarta, etc

Visiting Pontianak, Indonesia as a Muslim Solo Traveler – Practical Tips To Know

Jaywalking

  • There are fewer traffic lights in Pontianak, as Indonesia is a developing country. So when you cross the road, you’ll need to be brave and jaywalk.

Language & Translations

  • Useful local phrases are “terima kasih” (thank you), “permisi” (excuse me), “selamat pagi” (good morning), “selamat sore” (good evening).
  • The Indonesian Language is the main language. 
  • As a less-visited International tourism destination, getting around Pontianak requires understanding the basic Indonesian language for an easier solo traveling experience.

Safety in Pontianak

  • Pontianak, in general, is very much safe for Muslimah Solo Traveler. Like any other destinations, it is wise to practice common sense and be smart when traveling alone as a Muslim woman. More about safety is in this article above.

Local Maps & Directions

Getting around in Pontianak, Indonesia
Gang means alley in Indonesian language
  • Some places (especially alleys) are not exactly on Maps so ask locals for the exact directions.

Currency

  • IDR (Indonesia Rupiah)

Charger Ports

  • Most of the Indonesian charging ports are type C and F. Which are the standard European chargers.
Indonesian Charger Ports

Travel Restrictions & Security

  • If you are traveling to/from Kuching, East Malaysia, securities are mostly when passing through Entikong Border checkpoint (Indonesian side) and Tebedu Immigration Checkpoint (Malaysian side)
  • Check your Visa status here
Entikong Border Post, Pontianak

Staying Connected

  • It is best to have an on-ground local number, as parts of West Kalimantan can lose connection to the local network.

Takeaway — Muslim Solo Travel Guide to Pontianak, Indonesia

We hope this Muslim Solo Travel Guide to Pontianak has helped plan your trip to Pontianak, Indonesia.

Once you’re done with your trip, do share your solo experiences in Indonesia with the rest Muslimah Solo Travelers in our Community Group!

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