Makassar Airport (UPG) Guide: Getting to the City, Taxi Fares and Terminals

Featured image: Rulwarih, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Makassar Airport at a Glance

Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport uses the IATA code UPG and the ICAO code WAAA. Flight trackers also label it Makassar / Ujung Pandang. Its published address is Jalan Raya Airport No. 1 Makassar, Sulawesi 90552, and the office phone is +62 411 550123 during office hours. Check the airport operator's website for current contact details before you rely on them. Live boards show heavy traffic to Jakarta (CGK), Surabaya (SUB) and Bali (DPS). Smaller turboprops also fly to Sulawesi towns such as Kendari, Baubau and Morowali.

Getting From Makassar Airport to the City

Four options cover most arrivals. The city bus is the cheapest at Rp 30.000 and runs 08.00–20.00 WITA daily. Fixed-zone taxis cost Rp 133.000 for Zone 1, Rp 175.000 for Zone 2 and Rp 205.000 for Zone 3. The official page does not say which neighborhoods sit in which zone. Ask at the taxi counter which zone your hotel falls in, and agree the fare before you get in. No distance or drive time to central Makassar or Losari is supplied here, so check a maps app at the time of travel. Pick your base first, using our guide to 5 Best Areas for Where to Stay in Makassar by Traveler Type, and then pick the ride.

• Bus fare, hours and the Transarbagita label come from the official public transport page.
• Ride-hailing and hotel transfer prices are not in the sources, so check them live.

Terminals: Domestic vs International

The official site publishes separate map pages for the Domestic Terminal and the International Terminal, each with Basement, Level 1 and Level 2 plans. Your airline ticket or boarding pass should name the terminal, so check it before leaving your hotel. The International Terminal map marks halal food, vegetarian options, 24-hour outlets and a beauty outlet on Level 1. Level 2 adds a lounge, a 7 Eleven and Lotte Duty Free. Locations appear only as block codes, so ask staff or follow signs to reach them. Walking links and any shuttle between terminals are not confirmed, so ask airport staff if you must change terminals.

Arrival Tips

Makassar runs on WITA. Flights from Java use WIB, which is one hour behind. Flight boards list Jakarta departures in WIB and Makassar arrivals in WITA, so a 3-hour flight can look like a 2-hour gap on the clock. Check your own ticket for the local times. The bus stops at 20.00 WITA, so a later landing leaves taxi, ride-hailing or a pre-booked hotel transfer. Landing before 08.00 has the same problem. Pay for a taxi only after you have confirmed the zone fare. For weather on landing day, see Indonesia's weather agency BMKG. Seasonal planning is covered in our guide to the Best Time to Visit Makassar: Month-by-Month Guide. Save a first meal for the city itself, with ideas in our Makassar food guide.

Departing From Makassar Airport

Confirm your terminal and check-in cutoff with your airline, because no official arrive-early time is supplied here. Allow extra margin on international departures. Before the 20.00 WITA bus cutoff, the bus is the cheapest ride out. Evening and early-morning departures depend on a taxi or pre-booked transfer. Remember that departure and arrival times follow local clocks, so a Java-bound flight lands on WIB. Airside, the terminal maps show a 7 Eleven and Lotte Duty Free on Level 2. Live departure boards exist on flight trackers, but treat them as a rough guide and rely on your airline for gate and time changes.

Layovers and Short Stopovers

A 4–6 hour layover is a tight window for leaving the airport. Count immigration if you arrived internationally, then traffic in both directions and any bag storage you need. No drive time is sourced here, so ask your driver or check a maps app on the day. A sensible rule: stay airside if your buffer after check-in cutoff is under about 4 hours, because the return trip eats most of the margin. With a longer gap, head into town for a meal. Our guide to whether Makassar is worth visiting helps you judge a short stop. For a full stay, start with 7 Best Things to Do in Makassar: Sights, Islands & Day Trips.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Most airport problems here come from timing and fares, not from the airport itself.

• Assuming the bus runs late: it stops at 20.00 WITA.
• Not confirming the taxi zone before paying Rp 133.000, Rp 175.000 or Rp 205.000.
• Mixing up WIB and WITA times on connecting flights.
• Relying on one transport option for a late arrival.
• Skipping a hotel pickup request when landing after dark.