Hotels in Makassar

Makassar is the capital of the province of South Sulawesi and the fifth largest urban centre in Indonesia. Known as the ‘gateway’ of Eastern Indonesia, the city has a lot of influences and traditions that balance the cultures from both the east and the west. Historically, Makassar was a very important trading post, and for that reason, there is a lot of Dutch history that still remains to this day. Visitors can expect an interesting mix of Dutch Colonial and authentic Indonesia along with modern entertainments in this rapidly growing city.

Tourists hoping to travel to Makassar can do so on a range of budgets, thanks to the wide and varied hotel accommodations in the city. There are rooms to suit every kind of preference from cheap and cheerful to luxury business, no matter how you are travelling and who you are travelling with.

Neighbourhoods of Makassar

Makassar is divided into fourteen different districts made up of 153 urban villages. Some of the most interesting areas for visitors are:

• Paotere Harbour: A great place to view pinisi – a traditional style of large sailing boat still in use in Indonesia.
• Pantai Losari: Popular with locals by night who visit for the street food, this is a kilometre long promenade running along the sandless, reclaimed oceanfront.
• The Beaches: Escape the hustle and bustle of the city to one of the nearby beaches. Popular Losari Beach is sandless but has great activities, street food, and wonderful sunsets. An easy boat ride from Makassar, the tiny island of Pulau Samalona has beautiful white sand beaches. Akkarena Beach has black sand, jet skiing and sunsets. Pulau Kayangan is another small island ideal for a day trip.

What to See and Do in Makassar

The city is home to some of the most prominent landmarks in Indonesia and there are attractions aplenty. These include:

• Fort Rotterdam: An extremely well-preserved 17th century Dutch for.
• The Floating Mosque: An incredible building with 99 domes located on the water off Losari Beach.
• Museum Negeri La Galigo:A small but interesting ethnographical museum.
• Trans Studio Makassar: The third largest indoor theme park in the world.
• Karebosi Link: The first underground shopping centre in Eastern Indonesia
• Bulusaraung National Park: Known for its karst landscape and an amazing collection of butterflies.

What to Eat in Makassar

The favourite dishes of Makassar reflect traditional Indonesian cuisine. Some of the most popular meals include:

• Soto: A special kind of stew with offal, nuts and spices. The local variation is known as Coto Makassar.
• Konro: A dish featuring beef or pork ribs.
• Ketupat: A glutinous type of rice cake.
• Ayam Goreng: Chicken marinated in a spice mix then deep-fried.
• Pisang Epe: This dessert is made from bananas, pandan leaves and coconut.

Typical events and festivals in Makassar

Different festivals and events are held over the course of a calendar year, with some of the most popular and most attended occasions being:

• Makassar Art Market: A vibrant annual showcase of local art and works from artists all over the country held in March.
• Makassar International Writers Festival:A celebration of the world of literature.
• Maritime and Cultural Festival: Held in March on Losari Beach, it always attracts a wide range of interests from the world of fishing, traditional dance, and art.
• Assuro Maca: Feasting and celebrations to mark the start of Ramadan.
• Bosowa Half Marathon: This atmospheric run draws huge crowds and great support every year.

How to Move Around in Makassar

The public transportation system in Makassar is called the ‘pete-pete’. This is a fleet of angkot (minibuses) that have been modified to carry passengers. Other options include the monorail which boasts a 35 km track around the most significant areas of the city and pedicabs which are a type of small taxi vehicle that is actually a tricycle. Once in the area of the city that you want to explore, a lot can actually be reached on foot.

The climate in Makassar

Makassar has a tropical monsoon climate. The weather is warm all year round, with an average temperature of 27.5 degrees. In the coldest parts of the year, the temperature can dip down to 22.5 degrees, with highs at the other end of the spectrum reaching 32.5 degrees. Rainfall occurs, on average, on about 187 days of the year. The driest month is August, which is also the hottest time for Makassar, with January being the wettest and the mildest.