Makassar Travel Guide, Indonesia

Compare Hotel Room Rates from different Booking Sites

Losari Beach, Makassar, South Sulawesi, Indonesia
Author: dxcorp (Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic)

Makassar is the capital of South Sulawesi Province as well as the biggest city on Sulawesi Island. Makassar is a port city with a population of 1.25 million people. It was known between 1971 and 1999 as Ujung Pandang, a name in reference to an old fort located in the city.

Guide to Makassar Hotels

It's never easy finding the hotel that's just right for your stay. Still, by taking a little time to do your research, you increase your chance of getting a good hotel at the best price. Go through the list of hotels in Makassar which we've put together, with full description, star rating, address, location map and evaluation. Pick the hotel of your choice and view the rates offered by different booking sites. Yes, we show you prices from different websites, so you don't have to visit them one by one.

Makassar
Author: Lofor (Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported)

More on Makassar

The city of Makassar was established at least by the 16th century, when it was an important trading port in eastern Indonesia. The laissez-faire policies of its rulers repelled advances by the Dutch to control it. Freedom of worship also allowed Christianity and other religions to flourish alongside Islam, the main faith of the area.

Budget Travel to Makassar

The main gateway to Makassar is the Hasanuddin International Airport, also called Bandar Udara Internasional Hasanuddin (UPG). Located 17 km from downtown, the airport has a beautiful new terminal which opened on 20 August, 2008, with six aerobridges. Budget travellers can fly AirAsia from Kuala Lumpur to Makassar.

From the airport, a taxi ride to downtown will cost you around Rp 70,000 if you approach the taxi directly. If you go to the taxi counter for a pre-paid ride, the official fare is Rp. 100,000. If you are on a shoestring budget, you can ride a free shuttle bus from the bottom level of the airport to the main road outside. There, you can take a minivan - they call it a pete-pete or bemo here - to Makassar for just Rp. 3000.

Masjid Raya, Makassar
Author: Lofor (Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported)

Budget Travel within Makassar

In addition to the ubiquitous becak (trishaw), the other popular form of transportation is the minvans, called pete-pete and bemo. The cost per ride is around Rp. 3000. On the other hand, human-power becak will cost more, between Rp. 3000 to Rp. 10,000 depending on distance.

Hasanuddin International Airport new terminal, Hasanuddin International Airport new terminal, Makassar
Author: Lofor (Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported)

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Places of Interest in Makassar

Batu Tomonurung
Coronation stone - the boulder on which the kings of Gowa were wonce crowned.
C.L. Bundt's Residence
Fome of a Dutchman with private collection of rare orchids and seashells.
Fort Rotterdam
Old Dutch fort in Makassar.
Losari Beach
Beach in Makassar with nice view especially during sunset.
Malino
A highland retreat on the slopes of Gunung Bawakaraeng, located some 760 meters (2,500 ft) above sea level.
Museum Ballompoa
Museum housed in the former palace of the Sultan of Tallo with displays of weapons and royal attires.
Museum Provincial Ujung Pandang
Provincial museum showing artifacts from ceramics to coins to musical instruments from around the Makassar area.
Samalona
Island off Makassar where you can go snorkelling.
Sungguminasa
Former capital of the Sultanate of Tallo, located south of Makassar.
Tomb of Diponegoro
Tomb of a Yogyakarta prince who was imprisoned for 27 years for defying the Dutch and his own family by leading a series of popular uprisings in Central Java.
Trans Studio Makassar
The biggest indoor theme park in Southeast Asia and the third biggest in the world. It also has the biggest parking area in Southeast Asia.