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Metro is a city in the Indonesian province of Lampung. It is away from Bandar Lampung City (the provincial capital), and is the second-largest city in Lampung province, with 183,746 inhabitants as at mid 2025. This city is also the city that has the lowest congestion rate in Lampung Province. Metro is included in the List of 10 cities in Indonesia with the 9th lowest cost of living in Indonesia and second on Sumatra Island based on the Indonesia Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) Survey in 2017. Metro is also a blueprint target of the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing of Indonesia as a strategic area and a metropolitan development target after Bandar Lampung.

Mayoritas penduduk kota Metro berasal dari etnis Jawa. Etnis berikutnya yang cukup mudah ditemui di Kota Metro yaitu Suku Lampung, Suku Sunda, Suku Ogan, Suku Semendo, Suku Batak, Suku Minang, Suku Palembang, Etnis Melayu dan Etnis Tionghoa. Etnis Jawa di Kota Metro tersebar di hampir semua kawasan kota dan umumnya telah membaur dengan etnis lain sejak masa kolonialisme.

Masyarakat Metro yang plural menggunakan berbagai bahasa seperti bahasa setempat yang disebut Bahasa Lampung dan beberapa bahasa daerah lainnya seperti Bahasa Jawa, Bahasa Minang, Bahasa Sunda namun umumnya masyarakat menggunakan Bahasa Indonesia. Program kolonisasi yang dilakukan Belanda terhadap transmigran dari jawa serta pembukaan lahan yang dilakukan oleh kolonis yang dibawa oleh Belanda tersebut, membuat di Kota Metro banyak dijumpai Bahasa Indonesia dan Bahasa Jawa sebagai bahasa sehari-hari.

The first version of the name Metro comes from the word "Meterm" in Dutch which means "center" which means in the middle between Central Lampung and East Lampung, even in the middle (center) of Lampung Province. The second version of the name Metro comes from the word "Mitro" (Javanese) which means friends, partners, associations, this was motivated by colonization coming from various regions outside Sumatra that entered Lampung. But the most relevant was Metro was from Dutch, it was strongly supported with its history and the establishment of a landmark in the form of a tower called the Meterm Tower in the Merdeka Park, Metro City Square.

Settlers arrive in Metro, c. 1939 Prior to 1936, Trimurjo was part of Gunungsugih onder district; it was isolated, without much influence from the indigenous Lampungese people. However, beginning in 1936 the Dutch colonial government sent Javanese migrants to colonise the area, which served to relieve overpopulation on Java, and mitigate the influence of Indonesian independence activists. The first group arrived on 4 April 1936.

On 9 June 1937, the name of the area was changed from Trimurjo to Metro and that same year it was established as a separate onder district, with Raden Mas Sudarto as the first assistant district chief. During this same period the Dutch colonial government built more roads, as well as a clinic, police office, and administrative offices. By 1941 a mosque, post office, large market, and inn had been built, and electricity and telephone lines had been installed.

Development soon outpaced the natural irrigation capabilities of the area. To ensure proper healthy crops, the Dutch hired Ir. Swam to design an irrigation system. His design called for a levee as well as a and irrigation canal from Way Sekampung River to Metro. Labour was provided by the migrants, who were conscripted and worked in shifts. Construction began in 1937 and was finished in 1941.

After the Japanese invasion of Indonesia in 1942, all Dutch personnel were evacuated or captured. The migration program was continued under the name imin kakari, and seventy Javanese migrants were used as forced labour in the construction of the nearby Natar and Astra Ksetra airstrips as well as numerous bunkers and other strategic assets; those who resisted were shot.

The remaining citizens were malnourished, with their harvests being taken by the Japanese occupying forces. Diseases spread rampantly throughout the populace, carried by ticks. Deaths were common, as were women, including wives of the forced labourers, being taken as comfort women.

During the Indonesian war of independence, the Dutch attempted to retake Metro. When they first arrived, they were unable to enter as the bridge to the city in Tempuran had been destroyed by a 26-man troop of the Indonesian army, under the command of Second Lieutenant Bursyah; the Dutch convoy was forced to retreat. However, the following day the Dutch returned in greater numbers and attacked from Tegineneng, eventually entering the city and killing three Indonesian soldiers.

Upon entering the city, the Dutch forces were besieged by sabotage by 41 soldiers under the command of Second Lieutenant Raden Sudarto. After chasing Sudarto's forces throughout the area, the Dutch continued to Palembang. Despite an extended guerrilla campaign by the Indonesian military, the Dutch eventually retook Metro in 1949, surrendering it that same year.

After the war, Metro continued to develop. In 1956, its government was stylized as a negeri based on Governor's Decree Number 1531956. This led to adat lands being owned by the local government.

In 1976 Metro became the capital of the newly formed Central Lampung Regency, which at the time included parts of present-day East Lampung Regency.

This fountain is one of the additions to the town square and has now been replaced by the Magnificent Meterm Tower. Beginning in 1985, the local government began working to stimulate the economy. Retail chains began entering the city, a movie theatre and stadium was built, the town square was redesigned as a park, and Cendrawasih market was renovated.

On 14 August 1986, Metro was designated an administrative city, in accordance with Government Decree Number 34 of 1986, with the formal ceremony taking place on 6 September 1987.

Metro was established as an autonomous city (kota) with the passing of Law Number 12 of 1999 on 27 April 1999, with Gunung Sugih becoming the capital of Central Lampung. The first mayor after Metro's establishment as an autonomous city was Mozes Herman, with Lukman Hakim as vice-mayor.

Metro is spread over an area of, with the built up area consisting of 24.57% of the city, or. As of 2010, it had a population of 145,346, with a density of 2,116.2 people per km2 (5,480.9/sq mi); the 2020 census resulted in a population of 168,676, giving a density of 2,453.8 people per km2 (6,355.5/sq mi). The official estimate of population as at mid 2025 was 183,746 (comprising 92,415 males and 91,331 females).

The city is built around the Dutch land use planning system. Its economic and political hub is in the center, in the area around the city park. All five provincial and national roads that transect Metro meet in this area. Northern Metro is a residential area, while western Metro is used for commercial space, southern Metro for agriculture, and parts of southern and eastern Metro for educational and other public facilities.

The land in Metro is relatively flat, with an elevation of between. When it was first settled, the area was heavily forested; there are still pockets of forest within the city limits.

The climate in Metro is humid and tropical. The average air temperature is between, with an average humidity of 80 to 88% and an average yearly precipitation of. The dry season usually lasts from September until May.