Medan's historic centre rewards a morning's walking tour. The colonial-era streets around Jalan Ahmad Yani contain the Maimun Palace, the Grand Mosque, and the Tjong A Fie Mansion in close proximity. The city's multi-ethnic character — Indonesian, Chinese, Indian, and Batak — is best experienced through its street food, its temples, and its markets rather than any single attraction. Most travellers are passing through on their way to Lake Toba, but Medan deserves a full day.