Makassar Airport Transfer Guide: Getting from UPG to the City

Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport (UPG) sits in Maros Regency, approximately 25 km northeast of central Makassar. Unlike Surabaya or Medan, Makassar has no airport railway — road is the only option, and the Trans-Sulawesi Highway and city access roads carry most of the traffic. The journey into the city varies considerably: 30 minutes at midnight, close to 90 minutes during morning rush on the Jalan Ir. Sutami and Jalan Urip Sumoharjo corridor.

This guide covers every transfer option with fare estimates and practical tips for arriving at UPG.

Terminal Layout

Sultan Hasanuddin has a single main passenger terminal with dedicated domestic and international wings:

• Domestic wing — the larger section, handling flights from Jakarta, Surabaya, Bali, Manado, and other domestic routes
• International wing — adjacent to the domestic section, serving flights from Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, and Riyadh

Both wings share the same landside forecourt. Taxi counters, Grab pickup zones, and the DAMRI bus stop are all accessible from the main arrivals exit. The terminal is compact compared to Jakarta or Surabaya, so orientation is straightforward.

SIM cards: Telkomsel and XL Axiata booths are in the domestic arrivals hall. A tourist SIM with 20–30 GB costs approximately IDR 100,000–150,000 (USD 6–9) as of 2026. Install and activate it before heading to the Grab zone.

Official Taxi Counter

Blue Bird Group runs the official taxi counter at UPG. You select your destination, receive a fixed-rate voucher, and pay on arrival. Metered Blue Bird taxis are also available at the rank outside arrivals.

Approximate flat-rate estimates from UPG as of 2026 (confirm at the counter):

Destination	Approximate flat rate	USD equivalent
Pantai Losari / City Centre	IDR 150,000–180,000	USD 9–11
Karebosi / Somba Opu	IDR 145,000–175,000	USD 9–11
Gowa (Sungguminasa)	IDR 160,000–200,000	USD 10–12
Pelabuhan Makassar (Ferry Port)	IDR 155,000–185,000	USD 10–11
Tanjung Bunga / CPI Waterfront	IDR 160,000–195,000	USD 10–12
Daya Bus Terminal	IDR 80,000–110,000	USD 5–7

Fares typically include toll costs where applicable. Journey time to the city centre runs 35–50 minutes off-peak. Avoid the Jalan Urip Sumoharjo and Jalan Sultan Alauddin corridors between 07:00–09:00 and 16:30–19:00 on weekdays — add 20–30 minutes to the above estimates during those windows.

Do not accept solicitations from drivers without a taxi counter voucher inside the terminal.

Grab and Gojek

Grab and Gojek are widely used in Makassar and both serve UPG. The pickup zone is in the outer lane of the arrivals forecourt — follow “Online Taxi” or “Taksi Online” signs from the exit doors. Walk approximately 2–4 minutes with luggage.

Book the ride before stepping outside, as drivers need a confirmed booking to enter the zone.

Grab estimates from UPG as of 2026 (GrabCar, standard sedan):

Destination	Grab estimate	USD equivalent
Pantai Losari / City Centre	IDR 90,000–120,000	USD 5.50–7
Karebosi / Somba Opu	IDR 85,000–115,000	USD 5–7
Gowa (Sungguminasa)	IDR 100,000–135,000	USD 6–8
Pelabuhan Makassar (Ferry Port)	IDR 95,000–125,000	USD 6–8
Tanjung Bunga / CPI Waterfront	IDR 100,000–135,000	USD 6–8

Grab fares run approximately 30–40% below the official taxi counter. Peak-hour surge can narrow the gap. Grab Maxi (MPV) is available and costs around 30% more than GrabCar — recommended for groups of four or more with luggage.

Gojek offers the same pickup zone and similar pricing — the two apps frequently differ by IDR 10,000–20,000 on any given route. Worth checking both before confirming.

DAMRI Shuttle Bus

DAMRI runs an airport bus connecting Sultan Hasanuddin with Daya Bus Terminal (Terminal Regional Daya) in north Makassar and with the Makassar city centre route.

Route	Journey time	Approximate fare
Airport → Terminal Daya	25–40 min	IDR 30,000 (USD 1.85)
Airport → Karebosi / City Centre	50–80 min	IDR 40,000 (USD 2.45)

Buses depart on a rough schedule (every 60–90 minutes) rather than demand. Confirm the next departure time at the DAMRI counter inside arrivals. This option suits budget travellers with light luggage heading to central stops — it is slow and not ideal with heavy bags or under time pressure.

From Terminal Daya, angkot (city minibuses) serve most of Makassar’s northern suburbs, and Grab/Gojek from there to most hotels in the city are typically IDR 20,000–35,000 extra.

Pre-Booked Transfers

For groups, late arrivals, or travellers heading directly to specific destinations (Gowa Palace, Bantimurung waterfalls, or ferry ports), a pre-booked private transfer is worth considering. Kiwitaxi provides fixed-rate pickups from UPG with flight monitoring — the driver adjusts automatically if your flight delays. Rates for a standard 3-passenger sedan run approximately IDR 220,000–320,000 (USD 13–20) to central Makassar as of 2026. GetTransfer is useful if you want to compare bids from several operators serving this route.

Hotels in the Pantai Losari, Somba Opu, and Tanjung Bunga areas frequently offer airport pickups — typically IDR 200,000–350,000 per vehicle. Confirm when booking.

Comparison Table

Option	Cost (IDR)	Cost (USD)	Journey time	Convenience
DAMRI shuttle bus	IDR 30,000–40,000	USD 1.85–2.45	50–80 min	Low (fixed schedule)
Grab / Gojek (off-peak)	IDR 85,000–135,000	USD 5–8	35–60 min	Medium (short walk)
Blue Bird taxi counter	IDR 145,000–200,000	USD 9–12	35–60 min	High (no walk)
Pre-booked transfer	IDR 220,000–350,000	USD 13–21	35–60 min	Very high

Night Arrivals

Makassar receives late-night flights from Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta. The Blue Bird counter is staffed 24 hours. Grab availability is thinner after midnight — budget 15–25 minutes for a driver to accept at the airport zone, particularly on weeknights.

DAMRI buses run until approximately 22:00 — not an option for flights arriving after that time.

Night arrival tips for UPG:

• Pre-installing Grab and Gojek and having IDR ready speeds up the process
• The drive into central Makassar at 00:00–04:00 is free of congestion — 30–35 minutes to Pantai Losari
• The ferry terminal at Pelabuhan Makassar (for vessels to Balikpapan, Surabaya, Labuan Bajo) is only 8–12 km from the city centre — confirm sailing times before booking a night arrival if you need an onward ferry connection

Makassar Traffic Patterns

Makassar is South Sulawesi’s economic and transit hub. The city’s traffic has grown significantly with infrastructure investment since 2018:

• Worst corridors: Jalan Urip Sumoharjo (airport approach), Jalan A. P. Pettarani (main ring road), and Jalan Sultan Alauddin toward Gowa during morning and evening rush
• Best times: Mid-morning (09:30–11:30) and Saturday morning; Friday afternoons can be slow as workers leave for Jumuah prayer and the post-prayer rush
• Idul Fitri: Makassar experiences a noticeable exodus and return during Lebaran, with peak road congestion on departure and return days

If your hotel is in the Tanjung Bunga reclaimed waterfront area, note that the access road is a single arterial and can back up during rush — budget an extra 10–20 minutes versus central Makassar estimates.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a fixed taxi rate from Sultan Hasanuddin Airport to Makassar city? Yes. The Blue Bird counter in arrivals sets a flat-rate voucher per destination zone. Rates as of 2026 run approximately IDR 145,000–185,000 to most central Makassar destinations. Always confirm the rate covers toll charges before accepting.

How long does it take from UPG to central Makassar? Off-peak (mid-morning or mid-afternoon), expect 35–50 minutes to Pantai Losari or Karebosi. During weekday rush hours (07:00–09:00 or 16:30–19:00) on Jalan Urip Sumoharjo, the same route can take 70–90 minutes.

Can I use Grab at Sultan Hasanuddin Airport? Yes. Both Grab and Gojek have designated pickup zones outside the arrivals exit, approximately 2–4 minutes’ walk. Book before exiting the terminal. Grab fares to central Makassar run approximately IDR 85,000–120,000 — roughly 35% less than the official taxi counter.

Is there public transport from UPG to Makassar? DAMRI buses connect the airport to Daya Bus Terminal and the city centre at IDR 30,000–40,000. Buses are infrequent (every 60–90 minutes) and journey times are 50–80 minutes. DAMRI runs until approximately 22:00.

How do I get from Makassar airport to Bantimurung or Toraja? Bantimurung waterfalls are approximately 30 km from the airport (30–40 minutes). Tana Toraja is 330 km north and takes 8–9 hours by road or around 1 hour by small aircraft from UPG. A pre-booked private transfer (Kiwitaxi) is the most practical option for both routes.

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Book a flight to Makassar — direct routes operate from Jakarta, Surabaya, Bali, and Manado, with frequent connections via Garuda Indonesia, Lion Air, and Batik Air. Kiwitaxi offers fixed-rate airport transfers from Sultan Hasanuddin Airport with no surge pricing and flight monitoring. For Makassar activities, browse tours from Makassar including Fort Rotterdam, Bantimurung waterfall day trips, and Tana Toraja cultural tours.

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