East Kalimantan · Indonesia
Balikpapan travel guide
Balikpapan is a city in East Kalimantan, Indonesia, home to about 598,000 people.
- Nearest airport
- BPN5 km · Sultan Aji Muhammad Sulaiman Sepinggan International Airport
- Currency
- IDRrupiah
- Time zone
- Asia/Makassar
- Language
- Indonesian
About
About Balikpapan
Balikpapan is a seaport city in East Kalimantan, Indonesia. Located on the east coast of the island of Borneo, the city is the financial center of Kalimantan.
The city is the financial centre of Kalimantan and one of three gateways to the new capital of Indonesia that is being built. Balikpapan began as a fishing village built by Buginese people in the 19th century. The first oil drilling began in Balikpapan in 1897. Many multi-national companies came to Balikpapan to invest in the oil industry. This resulted in the economic boom of Balikpapan and attracted many migrants and expatriates.
Wikipedia and Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Things to do
What to see and do in Balikpapan
See
- Bukit Bangkirai
- Monpera Beach
- Kelama beach
- Melawai Beach
- Sepinggan Beach
- Balikpapan Botanical Garden
- Hutan Lindung Sungai Wain
- (BOS) Orangutan Sanctuary and Eco Samboja Lodge
- KWPLH Balikpapan
- Teritip Crocodile Farm
- Penangkaran buaya balikpapan
- Taman Bekapai
Do
- Kalimantan Tour Guide
- Borneo Eco Adventure
- Caribnean Island Water Park
- Mangrove Margo Mulyo
- Balikpapan Super Bowling
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Which part of Balikpapan to stay in
There are a number of star-rated hotels poised on the hills and at the beach that are perfectly adequate.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
When to go
The best time to visit Balikpapan
Balikpapan has no month that is both mild and dry by the measure used here. September is the warmest month, with average highs of 32 °C; February is the wettest, with about 279 mm of rain.
Comfortable means average daytime high between 18 °C and 29 °C and under 80 mm of rain in the month. Averages for 1991–2020 over the surrounding area, a grid square about 50 km across, so a coast or a nearby mountain can make the town itself warmer or cooler. Data: CRU TS v4.10, Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia (Open Database License).
Getting there
Getting to Balikpapan: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Sultan Aji Muhammad Sulaiman Sepinggan International Airport (BPN), about 5.4 km from the city centre in a straight line; Aji Pangeran Tumenggung Pranoto International Airport (AAP, 106 km) is also within reach.
Getting around
Traffic does not yet inhibit travel within the city but is increasing by the day as relatively high living standards help to support a sea of small motorcycles. Some taxi companies operates in Balikpapan. It is advisable to call for their call centre, tell your location and wait the call centre arrange their unit to pick you up. It is uncommon to wait for empty taxis on the street because they usually stop and wait for orders from their call centre.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
BPN · Sultan Aji Muhammad Sulaiman Sepinggan International Airport
AAP · Aji Pangeran Tumenggung Pranoto International Airport
Local knowledge
Eating, drinking and staying safe in Balikpapan
Eat
A local delicacy is Amplang/Kuku Macan, a kind of chips made from fish. Pacifica Food Court in Balikpapan Plaza Mall has good food and a lot of choice. Also, a crab dish is very common in Balikpapan and you must try it.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Questions
Balikpapan: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Balikpapan?
Balikpapan has no month that is both mild and dry by the measure used here. September is the warmest month, with average highs of 32 °C; February is the wettest, with about 279 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Balikpapan?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Sultan Aji Muhammad Sulaiman Sepinggan International Airport (BPN), about 5.4 km from the city centre in a straight line; Aji Pangeran Tumenggung Pranoto International Airport (AAP, 106 km) is also within reach.
What currency is used in Balikpapan?
rupiah (IDR).
Nearby
Destinations near Balikpapan
Sources: city facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia; airports from OurAirports; climate from CRU TS v4.10 (University of East Anglia Climatic Research Unit), 1991–2020 monthly means, 0.5° grid; places to stay, guest scores and amenities from each operator's own public pages. How this guide is made.