Balikpapan

Balikpapan is a city in East Kalimantan. It serves as headquarters for international oil companies, mining companies and related support industries operating in (and out of) eastern Kalimantan. It is a relatively clean small city, with clear blue skies, but not much by way of nightlife. The population is a mix, with lots of Javanese due to transmigration, lots of people from Sulawesi, and of course, the locals. The people are quiet and polite, and the pace is slow and relaxed.

Get in

Most people arrive by air.

By plane

• 🌍 Sultan Aji Muhammad Sulaiman International Airport (BPN  ^IATA formally Sepinggan Airport). It has frequent flights from Jakarta, and commercial services from Surabaya, Banjarmasin, Tarakan, Palu, Makassar, Yogyakarta, Semarang, Denpasar, and numerous smaller airports in Kalimantan. There are also international flights from Singapore operated by SilkAir 6 times a week and from Kuala Lumpur operated by Air Asia 3 times a week. The airport is on the coast just outside of the city, around 8 km away from the city center. Airport taxis operate from the terminal; there is a fixed fare depending on the destination (starting from Rp 70,000, as of March 2016). You may be offered an unofficial fare outside the main exit if you walk to the left past the official taxi ranks; while some of these drivers may offer a slightly cheaper fare, many will quote an inflated price when they see a foreigner, so make sure you've asked the official fare to your destination in the taxi booth if you intend to bargain with them.  
• Susi Air, ☎ [phone]. Service from local destinations across Kalimantan. 

Despite the numerous signs which you'll see after leaving the baggage claim area, as of March 2016 there's no airport bus service to Balikpapan; the buses mentioned on these signs are going to Samarinda.

By car

Balikpapan can be reached from Samarinda, Bontang and Banjarmasin by land through 2 bus terminals. From Samarinda and Bontang by Terminal Batu Ampar, and from Banjarmasin at the other terminal in the Batu Ampar District.

By ferry

Semayang's seaport that serves cruises from Makassar, Pare Pare, Tarakan, Surabaya, and other eastern parts of Indonesia. This port is one of the busiest in Indonesia and the main gateway to Borneo, serving cargo ships not only from Indonesia but from the rest of South East Asia and beyond.

Get 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.

By taxi

Some taxi companies operates in Balikpapan. It is advisable to call for their call center, tell your location and wait the call center 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 center.

List of taxi companies and their call center number:

• CIty Taxi ([phone] or [phone])
• Mawar ([phone])
• Kalung Mas ([phone])
• Globalindo Taxi ([phone])
• Neotax

Public transport

Public transportation in Balikpapan consists of small minibus named angkutan kota or angkot for short. Locals often call angkot as taxi and metered taxi as taxi argo. There's no public bus inside the city. Minibuses serves public transport between points. Although there are dedicated routes, they often deroute due to passenger's request. They also sometimes don't serve the whole route.

The color of the minibuses determines their routes. Common routes are as follows:

• White top/Orange bottom (Route 1): between Kampung Baru Ujung and Terminal Batu Ampar
• White top/Light Green bottom (Route 2A): between Terminal Damai and Terminal Batu Ampar through Ring Road (possible deroute to Balikpapan Baru housing and or Damai III area)
• White top/Gray bottom (Route 2B): between Balikpapan Baru and Jalan A Yani through Jalan AMD
• White top/Light Blue bottom (Route 3): between Terminal Batu Ampar and Pelabuhan Semayang through Klandasan
• White top/Yellow bottom (Route 5): between Kampung Baru Ujung and Terminal Damai through A. Yani
• White top/Dark Blue bottom (Route 6): between Kampung Baru Ujung and Terminal Damai through Pelabuhan Semayang
• White top/Green bottom (Route 7): between Terminal Damai and Gunung Tembak
• White top/Light Yellow bottom (Route 9): between Terminal Batu Ampar and KM 24 to Samarinda

See

• (BOS) Orangutan Sancuary and Eco lodge. See rescued orangutans and sun bears in their natural habitat. Just roaming around for the day or stay at the eco lodge for a few nights and experience the wildlife in the jungle. You can also do a 2-week or 4-week volunteering course, where you can help out with the animals. It is about a 1-hour journey by car from the city centre and if you stay the night or volunteer you will need outdoor equipment such as walking boots, spare clothes, insect repellent, etc. 
• Crocodile Farm (30 km from Balikpapan near Manggar Beach). 
• Pantai Menpora. 
• Bukit Bangkirai (58 km north-west of Balikpapan), ☎ [phone]. The main attraction is the Canopy Bridge, which is famous in East Borneo. It was built for biological study of the ecosystem in the canopy of the tropical rainforest. It is now popular for the public to view the beauty of the rainforest from 30 m (90 ft) above the ground. It's also a very nice place to enjoy nature or to camp and watch the stars. 

Do

• On Merdeka (Independence) Square you can play soccer and other sports.
• Local tour operators arrange river safaris on the Mahakam River and orangutan tours.
• There are beautiful beaches, such as Manggar and Lamaru located just outside the city, and Kemala Beach further off Klandasan with nice views of the sunset.

Buy

Visit one of the nice local markets.

• Plaza Balikpapan. This is the most popular shopping mall. Located at the centre of the city and it is a must visit for visitors. 
• Kebun Sayur Traditional Market Center. Stones, gems, jewelry and diamonds of various types and price. Borneo is acknowledged as a rich island, not just with oil and coal, but with beautiful gems. 

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.

• Segeri
• Tip-Top
• Beach House Restaurant - Batakan/Manggar
• Batakan Beach Cafe
• Lia's Bar and restaurant - Batakan Kecil
• Yuli's Cafe (bar and restaurant) - Batakan Kecil
• Palm Court Restaurant - Batakan
• Dapeen Cafe - kelandasan
• Ocean's Seafood Restaurant - Klandasan
• Bondy Restaurant. A big restaurant on the main drag with a very nice selection of seafood. 
• Kepiting Kenari, Jalan Iswahyudi (10 minutes from Sepinggan Airport). A very giant fresh crab cooked with some option of sauce (black pepper, sweet and sour, oyster sauce, boiled, etc.) 
• Dandito, Jln Jend. Sudirman (above airport). Crab specialist restaurant. 
• Kepiting Tambora, Jalan Jendral Sudirman. Crab specialist restaurant. 
• Pondok Nelayan Seafood Rest. (Balikpapan Branch), Jend. Sudirman Street No. 561 (Stal Kuda), ☎ [phone]. Su–F 10AM-10PM, Sa 10AM-11PM. Originates from Pontianak's (West Kalimantan) well-known seafood restaurant. 

Drink

• Color Beat Pub (Blue Sky Hotel)
• Borneo Bar(Le Grandeur Hotel)
• Borneo Sports Fishing Club (prev. Sid's Bar) at Jl Sudirman 24, Gunung Bahagia. Bar with sea views.
• Rende Vu (Novotel Hotel)
• Red Square (Sagita Hotel)
• Lamaru Pub (Hotel Grand Senyiur)
• SQ (Adhika Bahtera Hotel)
• Nakhoda (Adikha Bahtera Hotel)
• Suzannas Liquor Store- you can buy alcohol by the case to drink at home.

Sleep

There are a number of star-rated hotels poised on the hills and at the beach that are perfectly adequate.

• Bahana Surya / Blue Sky Hotel. One of the better places in town. With a nice swimming pool (external entry Rp 30,000 per person).
• Hotel Bahtera. From Rp 400,000.
• Hotel Benakutai
• City hotel
• Dusit Hotel/ Le Grandeur
• Gran Senyiur Hotel. The first 5-star hotel in town, owned by local people. phone : [phone]
• Hotel Haai, Sepinggan by pass, ☎ [phone]. The only "back to nature" hotel in Balikpapan, cottage/bungalow style rooms with private garages, room rate from Rp 280,000, 3 min from airport (10 min to city). 
• Hotel Murni. A cheap option.
• Novotel
• Hotel Nuansa Indah
• Town House Bukit Damai Indah, 0542-8879 650
• Aiqo Hotel, Jl. Apt Pranoto No.9, ☎ [phone], [phone], [phone]. Within 5 minutes walk of Balikpapan Plaza, 15 minutes drive from the Sepinggan airport. Clean and comfy. From Rp 228,000. 
• Sentosa76 Guest House, Jalan Ataka Raya no 60, Pasir Ridke, ☎ [phone]. 100.000rp single. (updated Apr 2016)

Splurge

• 🌍 Le Grandeur Balikpapan, Jalan Jenderal Sudirman, ☎ [phone]. 185 rooms and suites, the hotel sits in its own extensive gardens, adjoining a beautiful sandy beach, and overlooking the Makassar Straits. It is Kalimantan's only beachfront hotel. Rooms start at Rp 500,000. (updated Jun 2018)
• 🌍 Novotel Balikpapan, JL Brigjen Ery Suparjan No 2, ☎ [phone]. (updated Jun 2018)

Cope

Consulates

• France Consular Agency, c/o Total Final Elf E&P, Jl. Gunung Bugis, ☎ [phone]. 
• Philippines Honorary Consulate, Jl. Projakal 157, Klandasan Ulu, ☎ [phone]. 

Go next

• Samarinda