Palu is the main city of Central Sulawesi, set where the Palu River meets a long, narrow bay. It is not a polished resort town, and the 2018 earthquake and tsunami are still part of the city's recent memory. But it has a stronger sense of place than a simple transit stop.
The landscape is the first surprise. Palu is one of Indonesia's driest cities, with brown hills around the bay and a waterfront that feels very different from the wet, green Sulawesi many travellers expect. Datokarama Park and Talise Beach are the easiest places to take in that setting.
For culture, the Central Sulawesi State Museum is the useful first stop, especially for the Kaili culture and the megalithic landscapes deeper in the province. Sou Raja gives a small but concrete link to Palu's local rulers, while the Nosarara Nosabatutu Monument looks back over the bay and the city.
Palu is still best used as a base for Central Sulawesi rather than as an end in itself. But if you are already nearby, a spare day here is better spent on the museum, bayfront, and viewpoints than waiting indoors for the next bus or flight.