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Major city · Indonesia

Makassar

Give Makassar 2 nights as a gateway to Sulawesi: Fort Rotterdam, Losari sunsets and Coto Makassar, then move on to Toraja or the islands.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
IDR
Best months
May–Oct (drier)
avoid Dec–Mar (heavy rain)
Airport
UPG
Nights
2
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 6Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore…
  • Southeast Asia ↗Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Brunei and Myanmar; never carry a bag or parcel for anyone.
  • Southeast Asia ↗Carry a passport valid for at least six months from entry with two blank pages; airlines refuse boarding on less.
  • Indonesia ↗Buy the visa on arrival or e-visa only on the official Immigration portal; lookalike sites charge extra.
  • Indonesia ↗Complete the All Indonesia digital arrival and customs form before landing; it is free.
  • Indonesia ↗Foreign visitors to Bali pay a one-off tourist levy; keep the payment proof on your phone.
  • Indonesia ↗Riding a motorbike needs a valid licence that covers motorbikes (an international permit alongside your own) and a helmet; check your insurance covers it.

Makassar is the biggest city on Sulawesi and the transport gateway to eastern Indonesia, sitting on the southwest coast facing the Makassar Strait. It is a working port city, not a resort: the draw is Dutch-era Fort Rotterdam, the Losari Beach waterfront at sunset, offshore islands and one of Indonesia's best regional cuisines. Most travellers pass through in two nights on the way to Tana Toraja or the Togean and Banda islands.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Makassar, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a weekRp100,000–200,000 (≈ US$7–13)
  • Museum or sight ticketMuseum La Galigo entry (foreign visitor)Rp10,000 (≈ under US$1)
  • Budget bedHostel or guesthouse bed, a night, per personRp120,000 (≈ US$8)
  • Mid-range bedMid-range double room, a night, per roomRp600,000 (≈ US$40)
  • High-end bedMid-range double room, a night, per roomRp1,200,000 (≈ US$75)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget Rp400,000 (≈ US$25) · Mid Rp800,000 (≈ US$50) · High Rp1,800,000 (≈ US$110)

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Fort RotterdamLosari Beach sunsetsCoto Makassar and Sop KonroGateway to Tana Toraja and eastern Indonesia
Airports
UPG Sultan Hasanuddin International (About 30 km northeast of the centre; taxi or ride-hailing to town, airport bus runs 07:00–19:00.)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Makassar: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

31°C

25°C

20 rd

Feb

31°C

25°C

17 rd

Mar

32°C

25°C

14 rd

Apr

32°C

25°C

10 rd

May

32°C

25°C

7 rd

Jun

32°C

25°C

5 rd

Jul

32°C

24°C

3 rd

Aug

32°C

24°C

2 rd

Sep

33°C

24°C

3 rd

Oct

33°C

25°C

5 rd

Nov

33°C

25°C

11 rd

Dec

31°C

25°C

19 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

Petepete minivans (about Rp5,000 a trip) and becak trishaws cover short hops; taxis meter and Grab or Go-Jek ride-hailing is cheap and stated up front. Trans Mamminasata buses link the centre with the airport corridor and beyond. Traffic is heavy at rush hour.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Pulau Samalona

go

Door to door: About 1–1.5 h

Boat from the Makassar waterfront, 30–45 min

White-sand island with snorkelling; a whole boat costs about Rp600,000–800,000 for 2–8 people.

Pulau Khayangan

go

Door to door: About 45 min

Boat from central Makassar, about 20 min

Closest island escape; go early and fix the return time with the boatman.

Tana Toraja

overnight

Door to door: 8–10 h (check)

Bus from the Bintang Prima or Litha company terminal, not Terminal Daya

Not a day trip; sleep in Rantepao for at least two nights. Buy the ticket and board at the company terminal — Daya has a poor local reputation.

Paotere port

caution

Door to door: About 30 min

Taxi or ride-hailing from the centre

Working port with traditional phinisi boats; entry about Rp10,000. Expect attention, not facilities.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Losari Beach and the old centre

Walk to Fort Rotterdam, the 99 Domes Mosque and the waterfront food stalls; best for a first short stay.

Jalan Ratulangi and Mamajang

Malls, cafés and mid-range hotels; 10–15 min by car to the waterfront.

Panakkukang

Business and mall district on the airport side of the centre; quieter, more chain hotels.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
Rp350,000–600,000 (≈ US$25–40) excl. bed
Mid
Rp600,000–1,200,000 (≈ US$40–75) excl. bed
High
Rp1,200,000 (≈ US$75)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Mid-range double room1 × 2 nights × Rp600,000Rp1,200,000
Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × Rp800,000Rp3,200,000
Airport taxi to the centre, one way1 × Rp150,000Rp150,000
Airport bus to the centre, one way2 × Rp27,000Rp54,000
eSIM, about a week of data2 × Rp150,000Rp300,000
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeRp490,000
Trip total≈ Rp1,349,000 per person per day, bed includedRp5,394,000≈ US$350

2026 estimate in rupiah; flights and long-distance buses excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coto Makassar or Sop Konro bowlRp25,000–60,000 (≈ US$2–4)
Pisang epe at Losari BeachRp10,000–25,000 (≈ US$1–2)
Petepete minivan rideRp5,000 (≈ under US$1)
Becak short hopRp8,000–15,000 (≈ under US$1)
Taxi airport to centreRp100,000–150,000 (≈ US$7–10)
Museum La Galigo entry (foreign visitor)Rp10,000 (≈ under US$1)
eSIM or data SIM, about a weekRp100,000–200,000 (≈ US$7–13)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Makassar is generally safe for travellers by day and in the main districts. The main risks are traffic and wet-season road conditions; use metered taxis or app rides, and agree boat fares before boarding (petty theft and unlicensed boats: check).
  • Wet-season downpours Dec–Mar can make central roads slow; build slack into airport runs (seasonal road conditions: check).
  • The Daya bus terminal has a poor local reputation — buy Toraja tickets and board at the company terminal (Bintang Prima or Litha) instead.
  • Losari is a waterfront promenade, not a swimming beach; use the offshore islands for that.
  • Agree becak and boat fares before you set off.

Emergency numbers

General emergency
112
Police
110
Ambulance
118
Fire
113

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

MakassarMakassar

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

Ke alamat ini, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • General emergency112
  • Police110
  • Ambulance118
  • Fire113

Embassy

Most embassies are in Jakarta; Australia has a consulate-general in Makassar (check the address and hours before you go).

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Airport → city centre, taxi: Rp100,000–150,000 (≈ US$7–10), about 30–45 min
  • Airport bus → city centre: about Rp27,000 (≈ US$2), about 1 h, 07:00–19:00
  • Boat to Pulau Samalona: about Rp600,000–800,000 (≈ US$40–50) per boat, 30–45 min

Say or show

  • Permisi — Excuse me (per-mee-see)
  • Terima kasih — Thank you (te-ree-ma ka-see)
  • Berapa harganya? — How much is it? (be-ra-pa har-ga-nya)
  • Ini, please — This one, please (ee-nee)
  • Bisa bayar pakai kartu? — Can I pay by card? (bee-sa ba-yar pa-kai kar-too)
  • Di mana toilet? — Where is the toilet? (dee ma-na toy-let)

Local Makassar Malay drops some Indonesian prefixes and suffixes; standard Indonesian is understood everywhere.

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Makassar. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: May–Oct (drier) · avoid Dec–Mar (heavy rain) · month by month →
  2. 1 airport and 3 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 4 day-trips, door to door
  6. 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for UPG: taxi and ride-hailing bands, airport bus hours, late-arrival fallback.
  2. Walking clusters with rescue anchors: Fort Rotterdam and the old town, Losari waterfront, Chinatown eating streets, Panakkukang.
  3. Place pages with verified hours (Fort Rotterdam, Museum La Galigo, 99 Domes Mosque) and eat pages with last orders for coto and sop konro.
  4. Wet-season and ferry-disruption fixtures so gates A–D can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to Indonesia

Sources