Cheap flights to Makassar
Set your departure airport and maximum budget: SniperAir tracks prices to Makassar and alerts you the moment a deal matching your criteria appears.
Quick summary
Country
Indonesia
Continent
Asia
Airport
UPG
Currency
Indonesian rupiah
Time zone
UTC+8
Deals already spotted to Makassar
Real flight examples detected by SniperAir, with their reference price.
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Port of Sulawesi
Cheap flights to Makassar, the maritime crossroads of eastern Indonesia
Makassar is the capital of South Sulawesi and the largest city in Eastern Indonesia, with about 1.5 million people in the city proper. It sits on the south-west coast of Sulawesi, once known as Celebes, and was called Ujung Pandang from 1971 to 1999. Long a trading centre, it was the seat of the Gowa Sultanate and hosted a Portuguese naval base before the Dutch East India Company took control in the 17th century.
The city is the home of the Bugis and Makassarese, two closely related peoples famed as seafarers. Their pinisi sailing ships belong to a craft that UNESCO inscribed on its intangible heritage list in 2017 as The Art of Boatbuilding in South Sulawesi, although the builders themselves are the Konjo communities of Bira and Ara further down the coast. You do not come here for a beach but for history, the waterfront and food.
The fortress
Fort Rotterdam, from Gowa to the Dutch
A fort that changed hands
The northern fort of Ujung Pandang fell to the Dutch East India Company in 1667. The company rebuilt it and renamed it Fort Rotterdam, and it became its administrative and military centre for South Sulawesi. It stands in the heart of the city and is one of the best-preserved Dutch colonial sites in Indonesia.
La Galigo Museum
A museum inside the fort presents the history and culture of the region.
Seafront
Losari, the sunset promenade
Losari is a seafront promenade rather than a sandy beach, and it is the city's favourite evening gathering place. People come for the sunset, and food stalls set up every night along the front.
Islands for a swim
For a proper beach, take a boat. Pulau Khayangan is about 20 minutes from the centre, and Pulau Samalona, a white-sand island with good diving, is 30 to 45 minutes away.
Food capital
Coto makassar and pisang epe
| Speciality | What it is |
|---|---|
| Coto makassar | A stew of beef, nuts, spices and offal, served with burasa or ketupat, the dish that defines the city |
| Pisang epe | A pressed grilled banana covered in palm sugar sauce, sold from carts on the Losari front |
Eating is simple and very inexpensive, from warungs and mobile carts to seafood restaurants by the sea.
Beyond the city
Tana Toraja, the great cultural excursion
Makassar is the main air and sea gateway to the rest of Sulawesi. The great excursion leads to Tana Toraja, roughly 300 km north, a highland region known for its traditional tongkonan houses and its elaborate funeral ceremonies. By road it takes 8 to 10 hours, so it is a trip in its own right rather than a day out.
Why track Makassar with SniperAir
The right fare to Sulawesi, without comparing every day
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Getting there
Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport
Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport
The main gateway to eastern Indonesia, in Maros Regency about 20 km from the centre, roughly 15 to 20 minutes by tollway. In town you can use pete-pete minibuses, becak trishaws and ride-hailing apps.
When to go
When to visit Makassar?
May to August
The drier months and the best time to visit.
September to November
The main rainy season.
All year
Hot and humid, with daytime highs of about 31 to 33 degrees C and nights rarely below 24 degrees.
In pictures
Makassar in pictures
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FAQ
Frequently asked questions about flights to Makassar
Which airport serves Makassar?
Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport (UPG), in Maros Regency about 20 km from the centre, the main gateway to eastern Indonesia.
What is there to see in Makassar?
Fort Rotterdam and its La Galigo Museum, and the Losari seafront promenade at sunset.
Can you swim in Makassar?
Not really in town: Losari is a promenade rather than a sandy beach. Boats reach Pulau Khayangan in about 20 minutes and Pulau Samalona in 30 to 45 minutes.
Can you visit Tana Toraja from Makassar?
Yes, but it is about 300 km north and takes 8 to 10 hours by road, so plan more than a day.
How much does a flight to Makassar usually cost?
The price depends mainly on your departure city, the period and how far ahead you book. The "opportunities" section above shows real examples of prices already detected by SniperAir for this destination.
How do I get alerted when a flight to Makassar drops below my budget?
Create an alert profile with your departure airport, Makassar as your destination and your maximum budget. You're notified automatically as soon as a matching price is detected.
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