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Makassar
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Makassar blends South Sulawesi history, Fort Rotterdam, harbour culture, local cuisine and island escapes on Indonesia’s eastern gateway.

Harbour City and Cultural Crossroads

Makassar stretches along the southwestern coast of Sulawesi, facing the Makassar Strait and serving for centuries as one of eastern Indonesia’s most important ports. Its broad waterfront, lively markets and busy roads create an urban rhythm shaped by maritime trade, migration and connections across the archipelago. The city is the capital of South Sulawesi and a practical starting point for exploring the region, although Makassar itself rewards time beyond a simple transit stop.
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History in the Waterfront

The city’s strongest historical presence is Fort Rotterdam, a substantial stone complex overlooking the sea. Once associated with the Gowa-Tallo sultanate and later reshaped under Dutch rule, it now houses museums and cultural spaces. Nearby, Losari Beach is the city’s social promenade, particularly atmospheric as the light fades and food stalls begin serving local specialities. At Paotere Harbour, traditional phinisi schooners still reflect South Sulawesi’s seafaring heritage.

Flavours and Island Horizons

Makassar’s food culture is central to its identity, from peppery coto and richly spiced konro to grilled fish and warm pisang epe sold along the waterfront. Short boat excursions can reach islands such as Samalona, while day trips into the wider region lead towards coastal scenery and highland landscapes. The result is a city where port life, Bugis-Makassar traditions, colonial history and contemporary Indonesian culture meet in a distinctly maritime setting.

When is the best time to visit Makassar?

Best: June–August · 30°C
Average daytime high and rainfall by month
MonthHigh (°C)Rainfall (mm)
January30270
February30270
March30250
April30200
May30125
June (best)3075
July (best)3075
August (best)3075
September3075
October30125
November30200
December30270

Getting to and around Makassar

How to get there

Most international and domestic visitors arrive through Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport, located in the Maros Regency area north-east of Makassar rather than within the city centre. It has regular connections with Jakarta, Surabaya, Bali and other Indonesian cities, with international services varying over time. The airport is linked to Makassar by road, and taxis and app-based car services are commonly used for the journey. Makassar is also a major maritime gateway, with passenger ships and ferries connecting South Sulawesi with other Indonesian ports; schedules and routes change, so they should be checked locally. Long-distance buses and private coaches connect the city with destinations across Sulawesi, although journeys can be lengthy.

Transportation

Central Makassar can be explored in sections on foot, particularly around Fort Rotterdam, the waterfront and parts of the Losari area, but heat, humidity and heavy traffic make short vehicle journeys useful. App-based car and motorbike services are widely used, alongside conventional taxis and locally operating minibuses known as pete-pete. Traffic can be congested on major commercial roads, and pedestrians should take care when crossing. Makassar does not have a metro or tram network. Private cars are convenient for journeys beyond the centre, though parking and road conditions require patience. Boats are used for excursions to nearby islands rather than as a regular urban transport system.

Best attractions in Makassar

Makassar’s principal sightseeing places reveal its maritime history and South Sulawesi identity. Fort Rotterdam is the essential starting point, with imposing walls, courtyards and museums occupying the former Gowa stronghold reshaped during Dutch rule. Along the coast, Losari Beach is a broad public promenade for sunsets, city views and local snacks rather than a conventional swimming beach. Paotere Harbour offers a glimpse of traditional pinisi schooners and the working life of one of the city’s oldest maritime districts. The lively Somba Opu area is associated with regional crafts and souvenirs, while Makassar’s museums and cultural venues add context to Bugis-Makassar traditions. Short boat journeys can reach nearby islands such as Samalona, where visitors find a more open coastal setting, though conditions and facilities are simpler than in the city. The combination of fortifications, waterfront life, food stalls and boat culture gives Makassar a more locally grounded sightseeing experience than a checklist of monumental attractions.

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Best landmarks in Makassar

Fort Rotterdam is Makassar’s defining historical landmark, its thick walls and orderly bastions preserving the strategic importance of the old harbour. Within the compound, colonial-era buildings stand alongside museums and spaces associated with the history of Gowa and the region. The Paotere waterfront is a living maritime landmark rather than a formal monument, where traditional pinisi vessels embody South Sulawesi’s long-distance sailing culture. Losari Beach’s broad promenade and public installations represent modern Makassar’s relationship with the sea and function as one of its most recognisable civic spaces. The Great Mosque of Makassar, completed in the mid-twentieth century, is an important religious and architectural presence near the city centre. Around the historic core, surviving colonial structures and port-side streets suggest the city’s transformation from a sultanate-era trading centre into a Dutch-controlled harbour and finally a major Indonesian capital of the east.

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Best restaurants in Makassar

Makassar’s cuisine is one of its clearest expressions of place, combining South Sulawesi ingredients with culinary influences carried through the port. Coto Makassar is a slow-cooked beef and offal soup traditionally served with ketupat, while konro is known for richly seasoned beef ribs and can also appear as a darker soup. Pallubasa offers another hearty, spiced beef speciality, and grilled fish is widely associated with the city’s coastal setting. Along Losari Beach, pisang epe—pressed, grilled banana served with a sweet topping—is a familiar evening snack. Warungs, family-run eateries, market stalls and modern restaurants coexist across the city, with substantial meals often available in informal surroundings. Seafood, rice dishes and sambal feature strongly, while Chinese-Indonesian influences are also visible in Makassar’s food culture. Asking about spice levels and ingredients is useful, especially for visitors with allergies or dietary restrictions.

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Best bars in Makassar

Makassar’s evenings are centred less on a single club district than on waterfront walks, cafés, hotel lounges, restaurants and informal food areas. Losari Beach becomes a social meeting place after sunset, with families, young people and visitors gathering around the promenade and nearby stalls. In the central commercial areas, cafés and contemporary bars provide quieter spaces for conversation, while larger hotels may offer lounges and occasional live entertainment. Nightclubs exist, but the city’s after-dark character is generally more social and food-oriented than defined by a dense club scene. Alcohol availability varies by venue, and visitors should respect local and religious sensibilities, particularly in neighbourhoods away from the main commercial areas. Evening cultural performances and live music may appear as part of events or hotel programming, but schedules are changeable. Heat, traffic and limited pedestrian continuity make short vehicle journeys practical between separate evening venues.

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Best nightclubs in Makassar

Makassar’s evenings are centred less on a single club district than on waterfront walks, cafés, hotel lounges, restaurants and informal food areas. Losari Beach becomes a social meeting place after sunset, with families, young people and visitors gathering around the promenade and nearby stalls. In the central commercial areas, cafés and contemporary bars provide quieter spaces for conversation, while larger hotels may offer lounges and occasional live entertainment. Nightclubs exist, but the city’s after-dark character is generally more social and food-oriented than defined by a dense club scene. Alcohol availability varies by venue, and visitors should respect local and religious sensibilities, particularly in neighbourhoods away from the main commercial areas. Evening cultural performances and live music may appear as part of events or hotel programming, but schedules are changeable. Heat, traffic and limited pedestrian continuity make short vehicle journeys practical between separate evening venues.

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Best shops in Makassar

Makassar’s shopping ranges from everyday markets and craft outlets to modern malls serving the city’s expanding urban population. Somba Opu Street is associated with regional souvenirs, including textiles, carved objects, jewellery and food products from South Sulawesi, although quality and authenticity vary between sellers. Markets and small food shops are useful places to find packaged spices, coffee, dried seafood and local snacks, while larger shopping centres provide air-conditioned retail and familiar national brands. Visitors interested in maritime culture may encounter miniature pinisi boats and other locally themed crafts, but these should be considered alongside the region’s broader Bugis-Makassar traditions rather than treated as generic souvenirs. Bargaining is possible in informal markets when no price is marked, and a friendly, measured approach is customary. For fragile crafts or food items, check transport and customs rules before buying, particularly when continuing to another country.

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Makassar essentials

Currency and Payment
Indonesia uses the Indonesian rupiah, written as IDR or commonly abbreviated locally as Rp. Cards and contactless payments are accepted at many established hotels, shopping centres, restaurants and larger businesses, while QR-based payments are widespread among Indonesian customers. Smaller warungs, market stalls, harbour vendors and transport providers may accept cash only, so keep modest rupiah notes available. ATMs are found in commercial areas and shopping centres, but overseas cards can occasionally be rejected or subject to bank restrictions. Notify your bank before travelling, use reputable cash machines and check transaction screens carefully. Prices may be displayed without the full number of zeroes, so confirm the amount when necessary.
Safety
Makassar requires the ordinary precautions appropriate to a large, busy Indonesian city. Keep phones, wallets and bags secure in crowded markets, on public transport and around transport terminals, and use established transport services after dark. Traffic is a more immediate practical concern than sightseeing distances: take care when crossing roads and when using motorbikes, and wear a properly fastened helmet if travelling as a passenger. Heat and strong sun can cause dehydration, while sudden rain may affect plans. At beaches and island destinations, follow local advice about currents, boat conditions and swimming. Demonstrations or local disruptions can occur, so monitor current information and avoid gathering points if tensions rise.
Emergency Situations
Indonesia’s police emergency number is 110, while fire services can be contacted on 113 and ambulance assistance on 118 or 119, although response arrangements can vary by location. The single emergency number 112 is available in some Indonesian areas but should not be assumed to work everywhere. Ask hotel staff, hosts or a trusted local contact for help communicating with services if necessary, and keep your accommodation address written in Indonesian or saved offline. For urgent medical problems, use an established hospital or clinic and contact travel insurance assistance as soon as practical. Carry identification, relevant medication details and emergency contacts, particularly when taking boats to nearby islands.
Do's and Don'ts
Dress modestly when visiting mosques, religious buildings and residential communities, covering shoulders and knees where appropriate, and remove shoes when asked. Use the right hand when giving or receiving food and objects, and ask permission before photographing people, religious ceremonies, boats or workers at the harbour. Bargaining can be customary in markets, but it should remain polite and is not expected in fixed-price shops or restaurants. Respect food customs and clarify whether a dish contains meat, seafood or other ingredients if needed. Avoid touching someone’s head, pointing with a foot or behaving noisily at sacred sites. Local practice is generally welcoming, but courtesy and patience are valued.
Local Tips
Group central sightseeing around Fort Rotterdam, the old waterfront and Losari Beach rather than attempting to cross the city repeatedly in the heat. Paotere Harbour offers a more working, maritime atmosphere than the promenade, so an early visit is often more comfortable and respectful of daily activity. The best way to understand Makassar’s food culture is to combine a specialist local dish such as coto or konro with snacks from an evening street-food area. Keep a flexible schedule for island trips because sea and weather conditions can affect boats. Makassar’s traditional communities and languages are diverse, so asking local hosts about neighbourhood names and customs often adds useful context.
Eve, your Evendo local guide

From Eve

Local phrases worth knowing

You don't need to get them perfect. A few words go a long way, and locals appreciate the effort.

6 phrase groups · English, local and pronunciation

Basics
EnglishLocalSay it
HelloSalama[sa-la-ma]
GoodbyePamali[pa-ma-li]
YesIya[i-ya]
NoTidak[ti-dak]
Please/You're welcomeTolong[to-long]
Thank youMaturangang[ma-tu-ran-gang]
Excuse me/SorryMaaf[ma-af]
How are you?Kabar baik?[ka-bar ba-ik]
Fine. And you?Baik. Kamu?[ba-ik. ka-mu]
Do you speak English?Kamu bisa berbahasa Inggris?[ka-mu bi-sa ber-ba-ha-sa ing-gris]
I don't understandSaya tidak mengerti[sa-ya ti-dak men-ger-ti]
Eating & Drinking
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to see the menu, pleaseBoleh lihat menu, tolong[bo-le li-hat me-nu, to-long]
I don't eat meatSaya tidak makan daging[sa-ya ti-dak ma-kan da-ging]
Cheers!Selong[se-long]
I would like to pay, pleaseSaya mau bayar, tolong[sa-ya mau ba-yar, to-long]
Emergencies
EnglishLocalSay it
Help!Tolong![to-long]
Go away!Pergi![per-gi]
Call the Police!Panggil polisi![pang-gil po-li-si]
Call a doctor!Panggil dokter![pang-gil dok-ter]
I'm lostSaya tersesat[sa-ya ter-se-sat]
I'm illSaya sakit[sa-ya sa-kit]
Shopping
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to buy...Saya ingin membeli...[sa-ya in-gin mem-be-li]
I'm just lookingSaya hanya melihat-lihat[sa-ya han-ya me-li-hat-li-hat]
How much is it?Berapa harganya?[be-ra-pa har-ga-nya]
That's too expensiveItu terlalu mahal[i-tu ter-la-lu ma-hal]
Can you lower the price?Bisa diturunkan harganya?[bi-sa di-tu-run-kan har-ga-nya]
Time & Numbers
EnglishLocalSay it
What time is it?Jam berapa sekarang?[jam be-ra-pa se-ka-rang]
It's one o'clockSekarang pukul satu[se-ka-rang pu-kul sa-tu]
Half past (10)Setengah (sepuluh)[se-ten-gah (se-pu-luh)]
MorningPagi[pa-gi]
AfternoonSore[so-re]
EveningMalam[ma-lam]
YesterdayKemarin[ke-ma-rin]
TodayHari ini[ha-ri i-ni]
TomorrowBesok[be-sok]
1Satu[sa-tu]
2Dua[du-a]
3Tiga[ti-ga]
4Empat[em-pat]
5Lima[li-ma]
6Enam[e-nam]
7Tujuh[tu-juh]
8Delapan[de-la-pan]
9Sembilan[sem-bi-lan]
10Sepuluh[se-pu-luh]
Transport & Directions
EnglishLocalSay it
Where's a/the...?Dimana ada/...?[di-ma-na a-da/...?]
What's the address?Alamatnya apa?[a-lam-at-nya a-pa]
Can you show me (on the map)?Bisa tunjukkan (di peta)?[bi-sa tun-juk-kan (di pe-ta)]
When's the next (bus)?Kapan yang berikutnya (bis)?[ka-pan yang be-ru-tu-nya (bis)]
A ticket (to ....)Tiket (ke ....)[ti-ket (ke ....)]

History of Makassar

Gowa and Tallo Take Shape

Makassar grew from the intertwined political centres of Gowa and Tallo, two south-western Sulawesi kingdoms whose influence expanded through agriculture, diplomacy and maritime commerce. By the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, the port had become a major meeting point for merchants from across the Indonesian archipelago as well as traders from Asia and Europe. Islam spread among the ruling elite and wider population during the early seventeenth century, becoming a defining element of South Sulawesi’s cultural history. The political strength of Gowa-Tallo was closely connected to control of trade routes and coastal access, while the seafaring traditions of Makassar and Bugis communities carried people, goods and ideas across the region.

A Port in Wider Asian Trade

Before Dutch dominance, Makassar occupied an important position in a commercial world linked to the Spice Islands, Java, the Malay Peninsula and ports farther west. Its relative openness attracted merchants and communities from different backgrounds, and the city became known as a place where people, languages and commercial practices converged. The port’s prosperity brought it into conflict with the Dutch East India Company, which sought greater control over eastern Indonesian trade. The struggle was not merely a European conquest of a local town: it involved rival South Sulawesi powers, shifting alliances and competing visions of how regional commerce should be organised.

The Bungaya Settlement and Dutch Rule

The defeat of Sultan Hasanuddin of Gowa in the 1660s led to the Bungaya Treaty of 1667, a turning point in Makassar’s political history. The agreement strengthened Dutch influence and restricted Gowa’s commercial and diplomatic power, although resistance and negotiation continued. The Dutch took possession of Ujung Pandang, the settlement that had developed around the former Gowa stronghold of Ujung Pandang, and expanded the existing fortification. Fort Rotterdam, named after the birthplace of Dutch commander Cornelis Speelman, became the most visible surviving symbol of this transformation. Its walls, gateways and buildings reflect the conversion of a South Sulawesi centre into a strategic colonial port.

From Ujung Pandang to Makassar

During the colonial period, the port developed as an administrative and commercial centre, with shipping, warehousing and connections to the wider Netherlands East Indies shaping urban life. The name Ujung Pandang was widely used in official contexts, while Makassar remained deeply embedded in local and historical identity. The city’s location made it a significant point for movement between western and eastern parts of the archipelago. Colonial institutions existed alongside established Bugis-Makassar communities and migrant populations, producing a layered urban culture rather than a wholly European settlement.

War, Independence and Urban Change

The Second World War brought Japanese occupation and disruption to colonial administration. After Indonesia proclaimed independence in 1945, Makassar became part of the political and military struggles surrounding the formation of the new republic. In the post-independence decades, the city expanded as South Sulawesi’s administrative capital and as a major eastern Indonesian transport and trading centre. The official use of Makassar was restored in the late twentieth century, replacing Ujung Pandang. Road building, port activity, population growth and new commercial districts gradually extended the city beyond its historic waterfront.

A Contemporary Eastern Gateway

Modern Makassar combines the inherited roles of port, administrative capital and regional marketplace. Its streets and neighbourhoods carry the influence of Bugis, Makassar, Chinese-Indonesian and other communities, while air connections and maritime routes link the city to destinations throughout Indonesia. Traditional pinisi boatbuilding and long-distance sailing remain important symbols of South Sulawesi’s maritime identity, even as container shipping, universities, shopping complexes and expanding suburbs reshape the urban landscape. Fort Rotterdam, Paotere Harbour and the waterfront preserve visible links with earlier eras, while the city’s food culture and commercial life continue to express its position between Sulawesi and the wider archipelago.

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Evendo - Your Ultimate Travel Guide to Makassar

Discover the best attractions, landmarks, restaurants, and more with Evendo, your 100% free app-based travel guide to Makassar. Plan and book your trip effortlessly.

  • Detailed information on attractions, landmarks, shops, bars, nightclubs, restaurants, hotels, tours, experiences, and activities
  • Rich set of information including images, descriptions, local tips, maps, and contact details
  • Easy booking for hotels, tours, tickets, and experiences directly through the app
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More about the Evendo app

Explore Makassar like never before with Evendo, your free app-based travel guide. Find detailed information on top attractions, landmarks, shops, bars, restaurants, and much more. Download now and make the most of your Makassar adventure.

  • History of Makassar and travel essentials
  • Curated local tips to experience Makassar like a local
  • Easy navigation and 'Near me' feature to find nearby attractions
  • 100% free with no in-app purchases or hidden costs

Welcome to Makassar, Indonesia, a city rich in culture, history, and breathtaking landscapes. Whether you're a first-time visitor or a seasoned traveler, Evendo is your perfect companion for exploring this vibrant city. Our app provides detailed information on all the best attractions, landmarks, shops, bars, nightclubs, restaurants, hotels, tours, experiences, and activities in Makassar.

Discover iconic landmarks like Losari Beach and Fort Rotterdam, or dive into the local culture at the Makassar Culinary Night. With Evendo, you can easily plan your visit to famous attractions such as the Trans Studio Makassar, a massive indoor theme park, or the stunning Bantimurung Waterfall.

Foodies will love our curated list of top restaurants, from the traditional flavors at Rumah Makan Seafood Apong to the modern culinary delights at Kampoeng Popsa. And when the sun sets, explore Makassar's vibrant nightlife with recommendations for the best bars and nightclubs.

Evendo offers more than just recommendations. Our app allows you to book hotels, tours, tickets, and experiences directly, saving you time and effort. With local tips, maps, contact details, and rich images, you'll have all the information you need to make your trip unforgettable.

Download Evendo today and start your journey. With features like 'Near me' to find attractions around you, easy navigation, and curated local tips, you'll experience Makassar like a local. And the best part? It's 100% free, with no in-app purchases or hidden costs.

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