Makassar is the capital of South Sulawesi and the largest city in eastern Indonesia, a historic port where seafaring Bugis and Makassarese traders once sailed their wooden phinisi ships across the archipelago. The city is known for its seafront sunsets, grilled seafood and hearty soups, and it is the main hub for travel around Sulawesi. From here visitors head to the karst towers of Maros, the islands of the Spermonde archipelago and the highlands of Tana Toraja. If you are searching for flights to Makassar, you are looking at the natural starting point for any Sulawesi adventure.

About Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport, Makassar (UPG)

Location

Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport lies in Maros regency, north-east of Makassar city. It is one of the busiest airports in eastern Indonesia and a key transfer point for flights onward to Maluku, Papua and other parts of Sulawesi.

Terminals

The airport has a modern passenger terminal that handles both domestic and international flights, with separate zones for each. You will find food courts, prayer rooms, ATMs and souvenir shops selling local snacks and Bugis silk. Confirm your check-in area on your e-ticket, especially on busy holiday days.

Getting to and from the airport

Airport buses run between the terminal and several points in central Makassar, and official taxis wait at a marked rank outside arrivals. Ride-hailing services are widely used in the city and pick up from designated zones. Traffic into Makassar can build up at peak hours, so allow extra time when heading back for your flight.

Direct and connecting flights to Makassar

Nonstop routes between Singapore and Makassar are offered from time to time, but availability varies, so start with the direct-flight filter on Traveloka to check your dates. If nothing nonstop is on sale, one-stop itineraries via Jakarta or Bali are the most common way to fly from Singapore to Makassar, with plenty of domestic connections each day.

Flights from Cebu or Clark to Makassar almost always involve a change of plane, often in Manila, Singapore or Jakarta. Compare total journey time and baggage rules on each leg, and remember that international passengers clear immigration at their first Indonesian airport. Booking the whole trip on one ticket keeps your bags checked through to UPG.

When to fly to Makassar

Makassar has a tropical monsoon climate with a pronounced wet season, usually from around November to March, when heavy afternoon rain is common. The drier months from roughly June to September bring sunnier days that are ideal for island hopping and trips to Maros. Temperatures stay warm all year, so light clothing and sun protection are essential.

Flights fill up around Indonesian holidays such as Lebaran, when many people return to their home towns in Sulawesi, and during the year-end break. From Singapore, the June and December school holidays are busy times to travel. Check the charts on this page to see which months and days of the week have tended to be better value before you lock in your dates.

Popular places in Makassar and South Sulawesi

Losari Beach

Makassar's seafront promenade is the place to be at sunset, when families gather, street vendors set up and the sky turns orange over the Makassar Strait. Giant letters spelling out the names of local ethnic groups make it a favourite photo spot.

Fort Rotterdam

Originally built by the Gowa sultanate and later rebuilt by the Dutch, this well-preserved fort has thick stone walls and colonial buildings that now house a museum about South Sulawesi's history and cultures.

Paotere Harbour

At this old harbour, traditional wooden phinisi and other cargo boats line the quays. Visit early to see the fish market and watch goods being loaded by hand, a scene that has changed little over the centuries.

Rammang-Rammang

In Maros, north of the city, you can take a small boat along a river winding between towering limestone karst hills to a quiet village surrounded by rice fields. It is one of the most scenic day trips from Makassar.

Samalona Island

A short boat ride from the city, this tiny island has white sand and clear water for snorkelling. It makes an easy escape if you only have a day to spare.

Where to stay in Makassar

The Losari Beach waterfront is the most popular area for visitors, with sea views, easy evening walks and many seafood restaurants within reach. The older city centre around Fort Rotterdam and Jalan Somba Opu is good for souvenir shopping and heritage sights. Panakkukang, to the east, is a modern district with malls and cafés, and the Tanjung Bunga area in the south-west offers a quieter coastal setting. If you have an early departure, staying in the north of the city shortens the trip to the airport.

Food to try in Makassar

Coto Makassar

This rich beef and offal soup is simmered with ground peanuts and spices, then eaten with ketupat rice cakes. It is the city's signature dish, served in small specialist shops from breakfast onwards.

Sop konro

Beef ribs are cooked in a dark, aromatic broth coloured with keluak nuts. Some places also serve konro bakar, where the ribs are grilled and topped with peanut sauce.

Pallubasa

Similar to coto but thicker, pallubasa is flavoured with toasted grated coconut and often finished with a raw egg yolk stirred into the hot broth.

Pisang epe

Grilled bananas are flattened and drizzled with palm sugar syrup, sometimes with durian or chocolate. Stalls along Losari Beach sell them every evening.

Es pisang ijo

Bananas wrapped in green pandan dough are served with rice flour porridge, shaved ice, coconut milk and red syrup, a refreshing dessert in the tropical heat.

Sulawesi starts in Makassar. Compare flights to Makassar on Traveloka, save your dates with a Price Alert, and you will have your e-ticket in the app long before you touch down at Hasanuddin.