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    Tomohon
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    Tomohon

    Tomohon is located in the Minahasa Highlands between the Lokon and Mahawu volcanoes. This small town is cooler than Manado, famous for its floriculture and a base for crater hikes and Lake Linow.

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    9. Tomohon
    Tomohon is located in the Minahasa Highlands between the Lokon and Mahawu volcanoes. This small town is cooler than Manado, famous for its floriculture and a base for crater hikes and Lake Linow.
    Tomohon is located at an altitude of approximately 700 m and has a population of just under 100,000. The city calls itself “Kota Bunga,” the Flower City, as many nurseries cultivate flowers here for all of North Sulawesi. The climate is pleasantly cool, and many travelers use Tomohon as a base for exploring the Minahasa Highlands. From the city outskirts, you can quickly reach the crater of Mahawu, Lake Linow, and Lake Tondano. The active volcano Lokon is closed depending on the alert level. Pasar Beriman Market is known for its wild meat sales, a disturbing sight for many visitors.

    Sights in Tomohon

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Crater of Lokon
    Heidi Soosalu / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
    Attraction

    Crater of Lokon

    Active crater (Tompaluan) between Lokon and Empung west of the city. Hikes only with a guide and if authorities permit access.
    Open in Google Maps
    Vihara Buddhayana
    Attraction

    Vihara Buddhayana

    Buddhist temple with a multi-story pagoda on the slope above the city.
    Open in Google Maps
    Bukit Doa Mahawu
    Place of Worship

    Bukit Doa Mahawu

    Prayer hill on the slope of Mahawu with chapel, Way of the Cross, and gardens, overlooking Tomohon and Lokon.
    Open in Google Maps
    Waterfall Tumimperas
    Attraction

    Waterfall Tumimperas

    Waterfall in the forest southwest of Tomohon, accessible via a short path.
    Open in Google Maps

    Sights in Tomohon

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Crater of Lokon
    Heidi Soosalu / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
    Attraction

    1Crater of Lokon

    Active crater (Tompaluan) between Lokon and Empung west of the city. Hikes only with a guide and if authorities permit access.
    Open in Google Maps
    Vihara Buddhayana
    Attraction

    2Vihara Buddhayana

    Buddhist temple with a multi-story pagoda on the slope above the city.
    Open in Google Maps
    Bukit Doa Mahawu
    Place of Worship

    3Bukit Doa Mahawu

    Prayer hill on the slope of Mahawu with chapel, Way of the Cross, and gardens, overlooking Tomohon and Lokon.
    Open in Google Maps
    Waterfall Tumimperas
    Attraction

    4Waterfall Tumimperas

    Waterfall in the forest southwest of Tomohon, accessible via a short path.
    Open in Google Maps

    Restaurants in Tomohon

    1

    RM Karunia

    Simple eatery on Jl. Wariki in the south of Tomohon.
    Show on Google Maps
    2

    Baked by Artisans

    Bakery offering cafe services on Jl. Kalutay.
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    Food and Beverages

    Minahasa Cuisine

    Spicy dishes with Rica, Wöku and lake fish, often in eateries overlooking volcanoes.

    Cap Tikus

    Strong liquor made from palm sap, traditionally distilled in Minahasa.

    Tinutuan

    Rice porridge with pumpkin and vegetables, typical regional breakfast.

    Culture

    Tomohon is a center of the Protestant Minahasa; on its hills stand many churches and the prayer hill Bukit Doa. Besides, there is a Buddhist pagoda. In some years, the International Flower Festival with parades of decorated floats takes place.

    Getting There and Around

    Getting ThereTomohon is about 30 km south of Manado. By Mikrolet minibus, Grab, or car, the journey takes 30 to 60 minutes.Getting AroundTo the craters and lakes in the area, take an Ojek or rent a car with a driver. For Lokon, you'll need a guide and official permission.

    Journeys

    Lake Tondano

    North Sulawesi's largest lake, with lakeside fish farms and restaurants.

    Danau Linow

    Sulfur lake, shifting colors, about 15 minutes south.

    Bukit Kasih

    Hills with worship sites of five religions near Kanonang.

    Accommodations in Tomohon

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    Nearby

    North Sulawesi

    North Sulawesi

    North Sulawesi is primarily a diver's paradise: Bunaken's sheer walls and the macrofauna-rich Lembeh Strait are among Southeast Asia's best-known dive sites. Inland, volcanoes and the Tangkoko Rainforest lure with tarsiers and crested macaques.
    Manado
    Sakurai Midori / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 3.0

    Manado

    Manado is the capital of North Sulawesi and a gateway to Bunaken, Lembeh, and the Minahasa Highlands. The predominantly Christian city is known for its spicy cuisine and views of Manado Tua volcano.
    Bunaken
    Niek van Son / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0

    Bunaken

    Bunaken is a small island off Manado and the core of the Bunaken Marine National Park. The coral walls drop steeply into the deep offshore; turtles and reef fish are already seen while snorkeling.
    Lembeh Strait
    Sakurai Midori / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.5

    Lembeh Strait

    The Lembeh Strait, between the port city of Bitung and Lembeh Island, is considered one of the world's best sites for macro diving. On dark volcanic sand live octopus species, frogfish, and nudibranchs that are rarely seen elsewhere.
    Wayag-Inseln

    Wayag-Inseln

    The Wayag Islands in the northwest of Raja Ampat are a labyrinth of forested karst cones in turquoise lagoons. The view from the summit of one of the rocks is the iconic view of Raja Ampat.