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    Makassar
    City

    Makassar

    Makassar is the largest city of Sulawesi and the gateway to Eastern Indonesia. The port city, with Fort Rotterdam, Pinisi shipyards, and a renowned fish cuisine, is the starting point for the journey to Tana Toraja.

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    7. Sulawesi (Tana Toraja)
    9. Makassar
    Makassar is the largest city of Sulawesi and the gateway to Eastern Indonesia. The port city, with Fort Rotterdam, Pinisi shipyards, and a renowned fish cuisine, is the starting point for the journey to Tana Toraja.
    Makassar, with around 1.5 million inhabitants, is the capital of South Sulawesi. The city has thrived on maritime trade for centuries, and to this day, wooden Pinisi schooners moor at the old Paotere port. Fort Rotterdam stands in the city's center, and in the evenings, locals gather at the Losari promenade. Many travelers only stay a single night before continuing their journey to Tana Toraja, but the local cuisine and excursions into the Maros karst landscape are well worth an additional day. Within the city, you can use Grab, Gojek, or Pete-Pete minibuses to get around.
    The center is located between Fort Rotterdam, Losari Promenade, and Karebosi Square. Paotere is in the north.

    Sights in Makassar

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Fort Rotterdam
    Sanko. / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
    Museum

    1Fort Rotterdam

    Gowa Sultanate Fortress, expanded by the Dutch after 1667. Colonial buildings housing the La Galigo Museum stand within its walls.
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    Pantai Losari
    Attraction

    2Pantai Losari

    Promenade with Makassar Strait views, an evening spot for food stalls and sunset. No swimming beach.
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    Pelabuhan Paotere
    Attraction

    3Pelabuhan Paotere

    Traditional port where wooden Pinisi freighters are loaded and unloaded. Early mornings are busiest at the fish market.
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    Rammang-Rammang
    Attraction

    4Rammang-Rammang

    Karst area near Maros. From the jetty, you travel a river through limestone cliffs to Berua village with rice fields.
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    Benteng Somba Opu
    Attraction

    5Benteng Somba Opu

    Remains of the main fortress of the Gowa Sultanate on the city's southern outskirts, conquered by the Dutch East India Company in 1669. The site features reconstructions of traditional houses from the regions of South Sulawesi.
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    Tombs of Kings of Tallo
    Attraction

    6Tombs of Kings of Tallo

    Cemetery of the Rulers of the Tallo Kingdom in the north of the city, featuring 17th-century tomb structures. The blend of Islamic and pre-Islamic forms demonstrates how the region converted to Islam.
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    Restaurants in Makassar

    1

    Coto Nusantara

    Traditional eatery for Coto Makassar near the port.
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    2

    Rumah Makan Lae Lae

    Simple fish restaurant near Losari Promenade. You pick your fish, it's grilled and served with Sambal.
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    3

    Konro Karebosi

    Well-known spot for Konro, served as soup or grilled beef ribs.
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    4

    Pallubasa Serigala

    Eatery for Pallubasa, a beef soup with roasted coconut and raw egg yolk.
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    Eating and Drinking

    Makassar is considered one of the best food cities in Eastern Indonesia.

    Coto Makassar

    Spicy soup with beef and offal, served with rice cakes (ketupat).

    Sop Konro

    Beef ribs in dark broth with Kluwak nuts, also grilled as Konro Bakar.

    Pisang Epe

    Pressed, grilled banana with palm sugar syrup, evenings at stalls on Losari Promenade.

    Ikan Bakar

    Grilled fish with Sambal, in many waterside restaurants.

    Spirit

    South Sulawesi is primarily home to the Bugis and Makassarese, both famous as seafarers and traders. The Sultanate of Gowa dominated a large part of maritime trade in the 17th century, until the Dutch defeated it in 1667. The construction of Pinisi sailing ships has been on the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage since 2017. The population is predominantly Muslim.

    Getting There & About

    Getting ThereSultan Hasanuddin Airport is located about 20 km north and is a hub for Eastern Indonesia, with connections to Jakarta, Bali, Manado, Ambon, and Papua.ConnectionsTana Toraja: Overnight buses to Rantepao depart around 8 to 9 PM and take 9 to 11 hours, including with Litha, Bintang Prima, and Primadona.Boat: Pelni ships connect Makassar with many islands (pelni.co.id).Getting AroundGrab, Gojek, or Pete-Pete minibuses.

    Getaways

    Rammang-Rammang

    Maros karst landscape, accessible by boat via a river between limestone towers.

    Bantimurung

    National Park with a waterfall and many butterflies, approx. 45 km north.

    Samalona

    Small island off the city for swimming and snorkeling, a 30-minute boat ride.

    Accommodations in Makassar

    Find perfect stay in Makassar

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      • 1Fort Rotterdam3 days
      • 2Pantai Losari4 days
      • 3Pelabuhan Paotere5 days
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    Nearby

    Makale

    Makale

    Makale is the district capital of Tana Toraja and is about 17 km south of Rantepao. The small town is centered around a lake, with a large Christ statue standing on a hill above it.
    Sulawesi (Tana Toraja)

    Sulawesi (Tana Toraja)

    Tana Toraja is located in the highlands of South Sulawesi. The region is known for its boat-shaped roof houses (tongkonan), rock-cut tombs with wooden effigies, and elaborate funeral ceremonies, to which visitors can be invited.
    Kete Kesu

    Kete Kesu

    Kete Kesu is a Toraja village about 4 km south of Rantepao. Here, a row of Tongkonan houses faces their rice granaries, and behind them, ancient rock graves contain coffins and wooden figures.
    Rantepao

    Rantepao

    Rantepao is the center of North Toraja and the primary gateway for tours to burial sites, Tongkonan villages, and funeral ceremonies. The small town has guesthouses, guides, coffee roasteries, and a large buffalo market.
    Flores and Komodo National Park

    Flores and Komodo National Park

    Flores lies between Sumbawa and Timor and is around 350 km long. In the west, Komodo National Park, with its monitor lizards, starts at Labuan Bajo harbor; inland, volcanoes, rice terraces, and traditional villages extend to Kelimutu's crater lakes.