Baiturrahman Grand Mosque is the defining landmark of Banda Aceh: white domes, black roofs, slender minarets, and a broad marble courtyard in the middle of the city. The Dutch burned the earlier mosque during the Aceh War in the 1870s and later rebuilt it, so the building carries both religious and political memory.
For travellers, this is the essential stop in Banda Aceh. Visit outside prayer times, dress conservatively, and be prepared to remove your shoes. The mosque is especially striking in the late afternoon, when the courtyard cools and families begin to gather.