Makassar, the capital of South Sulawesi, is the largest city in Eastern Indonesia and its historic gateway. Once the seat of the Gowa–Tallo sultanate and a busy international port, it is today a lively coastal city where tradition and modern life meet — and a warm home for students from around the world.
Our values: how Makassar welcomes you
The Bugis–Makassar people hold the principle of Sipakatau (humanising one another), Sipakalebbi (respecting one another) and Sipakainga (reminding one another). Together with Siri’ na Pacce — dignity and deep solidarity — these values shape the way the UMI community treats every guest as family.
Taste of Makassar
- Coto Makassar — a rich, spiced beef soup eaten with ketupat (rice cakes).
- Konro — grilled or soup-style beef ribs with a deep, aromatic broth.
- Pallubasa — a hearty beef soup, often served with a raw egg yolk.
- Pisang Epe — pressed grilled bananas with palm-sugar syrup, a favourite snack at Losari Beach.
- Es Pisang Ijo — banana wrapped in green dough, served with coconut-milk sauce and shaved ice.
Places to explore
- Losari Beach — the city’s waterfront, famous for its sunsets.
- Fort Rotterdam — a 17th-century fort and museum in the heart of the city.
- 99 Domes Mosque (Masjid 99 Kubah) — a striking landmark on the Losari waterfront.
- Rammang-Rammang (Maros) — karst towers and river villages about an hour from the city.
- Samalona and the Spermonde islands — white-sand islands for snorkelling, reachable by boat.
- Paotere Harbour — where traditional wooden boats, cousins of the phinisi, still anchor.
Practical information
- Time zone: WITA (Central Indonesia Time, UTC+8).
- Climate: tropical, around 24–32 °C; the rainy season generally falls between November and April.
- Currency: Indonesian Rupiah (IDR). ATMs and QRIS payments are widely available.
- Getting around: ride-hailing apps (car and motorbike), taxis and pete-pete minibuses.
- Airport: Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport (UPG), about 30–40 minutes from campus.
- Emergency number: 112.
- Faith: as an Islamic university, UMI has mosques on campus; Makassar is a diverse city with places of worship for many faiths.
Questions about arriving in Makassar? Ask the KUI team — we are happy to help.