Makassar is a major port city on the southwestern coast of Sulawesi, in the province of South Sulawesi, Indonesia. It serves as a gateway to eastern Indonesia, and the city is also known by its former name, Ujung Pandang.
What the city offers
Visitors come to Makassar for its seafood, which is a central part of local food culture, and for its historic Fort Rotterdam, a landmark that gives the city a sense of its layered past. The city also keeps a strong connection to traditional Bugis culture, visible in the everyday life of its streets and in the people who make up its population.
Why it suits a visit
- Fort Rotterdam, a historic site to explore on foot.
- Seafood, a natural focus for any meal in the city.
- Traditional Bugis culture, woven into local life.
- A base for travel, since Makassar is an important starting point for exploring Sulawesi and nearby islands.
Because of its role as a port, Makassar is often the first stop for travellers heading further east in Indonesia. Many people use it as a place to arrange onward journeys, or to spend a few days before moving on to the wider island.
If you are planning a trip through Sulawesi, Makassar makes a practical and rewarding starting point, with enough to see and eat to fill a stay of its own.
