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Voykit pocket guide · Indonesia
Tarakan
Spend 1–2 days in Tarakan: enough for a quick border‑cross visit to Tawau or a day trip to Derawan, then fly out.
Tarakan is a small island city in North Kalimantan, mainly a transport hub and visa‑free border crossing to Malaysia. Its attractions are limited, so a short stay (1‑2 days) covers the main sights and a day‑trip to nearby islands.
- Country
- Indonesia
- Best months
- May–Oct (drier season)
- Avoid
- Nov–Apr (rainier)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- IDR
- Money
- Rupiah (Rp) in small notes for warungs, parking, offerings and drivers; large cards are common in tourist restaurants but not everywhere.
- Daily spend
- Budget Rp70,000–120,000 excl. bed · Mid Rp120,000–200,000 excl. bed · High Rp200,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Telkomsel, XL and Indosat sell tourist SIMs at airports; foreign phones must be IMEI-registered if staying over 90 days — check.
- Emergency
- Police 110 · Fire 113 · Ambulance 118
- Plugs
- Types C, F · 230 V · 50 Hz · European round pins.
- Tipping
- Warung: Nothing.; Restaurants: Often 10% service + tax on the bill; nothing more needed.; Drivers and guides: Rp50,000–100,000 a day.; Spa: Rp20,000–50,000.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap; refill stations common in Bali.
- Toilets
- Western in hotels and cafés; squat toilets with a water scoop elsewhere; paper in the bin.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Local coffee | Rp5,000–8,000 |
| Nasi Sop Buntut (airport restaurant) | Rp30,000–45,000 |
| Motorbike taxi (short ride) | Rp5,000–10,000 |
| Ferry ticket (Tarakan‑Nunukan) | RM40 (~Rp600,000) |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- TRK · Juwata International Airport
- —
Typical fares
- Juwata Airport → city centre (taxi)
- ≈ Rp20,000–30,000
- Ferry Tarakan → Nunukan
- RM40 (~Rp600,000) one way
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Language, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Motorbike taxis are common; short distances walkable. Airport shuttle minibuses cost around Rp20,000. Ferries to Nunukan/Tawau run a few times daily.
See and do
Known for
- Juwata International Airport
- Visa‑free border crossing to Tawau
- Oil‑industry history
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Derawan Islands | Ferry from Tarakan port to Nunukan (≈1 h), then speedboat to Derawan (≈2 h) | ≈4 h total each way |
| Tawau (Sabah, Malaysia) | Daily ferry from Tarakan to Tawau (≈4 h, RM130–140) | ≈5 h total |
Sleep
- Swiss‑Belhotel Tarakan
- Rp330,000–450,000 per night; central, business‑oriented
- Tarakan Plaza Hotel
- from Rp280,000 per night; renovated, older style
- Samkho Hotel
- ≈ Rp270,000 per night; basic but cheap
Language
Indonesian is easy to start: Latin script, no tones, simple grammar. Nearly everyone speaks it alongside a regional language (Javanese, Sundanese, Balinese and hundreds more). English is common in Bali tourism.
- 'Terima kasih' (thank you), 'berapa?' (how much?), 'tidak pedas' (not spicy).
- WhatsApp for every business.
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Light handshake then hand to chest; smile; avoid: Firm grips
- Left hand: Give and receive with the right; avoid: Passing anything with the left
- Temples: Sarong and sash; step around offerings; avoid: Standing higher than priests
- Keeping calm: Patience; indirect requests; avoid: Anger in public
- Pointing: Thumb; avoid: Index finger
Scams and watch-outs
- Ferry departures often wait for full load, causing delays; check schedule in advance.
- Border crossing paperwork can be lengthy during peak travel days.
- Limited nightlife; plan meals before late hours.
Tarakan is generally safe for tourists; petty theft is occasional, so keep valuables secure and avoid isolated streets after dark.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Tarakan yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Juwata International Airport
- Visa‑free border crossing to Tawau
- Oil‑industry history
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikidata – Tarakan: www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12345
- Wikivoyage: Tarakan, revision 5257709 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5257709
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/tarakan). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.