When you are traveling to and from West Papua, many flights will require a layover in Makassar (UPG). So what can you do to pass the time?
UPG the main airport in Sulawesi
Sultan Hasanudin Airport
GO INTO TOWN
The airport is about an hour’s drive from town so make sure you have enough time to get back and catch your onward flight. If you have less than 6 hours, don’t bother, traffic is pretty congested and you don’t want to risk being late. If you have a full day as we did, there are a few things you can do in town. It’s pretty hot and humid so be prepared for the weather. Taxis will cost around $10-12 and a bus will cost around $2. The bus drops you at a bus stop in the centre of town and this is where you catch it to get back to the airport so make sure you remember where it is, even take a photo of it on your phone so you can communicate with taxi drivers.
Airport Bus Station
Once you are in town, the main “sight” is Fort Rotterdam which is a short walk from the bus stop. There is a nominal entry fee around $2 and you have to pay extra to enter the exhibits. They wouldn’t allow photos inside.
Outside Fort Rotterdam
Entry and ticket office
Fort Rotterdam buildings
Fort Rotterdam buildings
Fort Rotterdam buildings
Statue outside the fort
By the time we finished seeing the fort, it was pretty hot and near lunch time so we went to an underground shopping mall called MTC. There is a large supermarket here, a food court and lots of small shops that are interesting to look at for local fashions.
MTC Mall Makassar
MTC Mall Makassar
Even though our flight wasn’t until 2am-ish, we were sleep deprived after a busy day in Kuta the previous day changing money and ordering tailored clothes so we headed back to the airport to relax. Other places to visit in Makassar include Losari Beach and a butterfly sanctuary called Bantimarung which we probably would have visited if we hadn’t been so tired. Other suggestions can be found on Trip Advisor.
WHAT TO DO IN THE AIRPORT
Makassar’s Ujung Padang Airport is a large, modern airport with plenty of shopping.
Shop in UPG airport
They also have a short stay place that also offers massage called Home In & Spa opposite Gate 6. If you need some shut-eye, 6 hours day use will cost 350,000 rupiah ($35) single and 425,000 rupiah ($43) double. The Indonesian Massage (with great smelling oil) cost 225,000 for 1 hour ($23) and you can get longer massages if you want. Reflexology is $125,000 ($13) not sure how long you get. The showers are nice and hot with excellent water pressure! This was money well spent as it allowed us to freshen up and be well rested for being picked up in Biak at 6am the next day for birding.
There are several restaurants in the airport with both Indonesian and Western cuisine at very reasonable prices. I couldn’t resist getting a root beer float at A&W (we can’t get them in Australia)! If you are in business class, see my post on the Executive Lounge, good food and free internet!