Best Hotels in Makassar

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Makassar is usually a one- or two-night stop on the way to Tana Toraja. Most visitors want a comfortable, well-located base near Losari Beach or the city center rather than a destination hotel. Here is where to stay across budgets. For the bigger picture on visiting South Sulawesi, see our Sulawesi travel guide.

Quick Answer: Best Hotels in Makassar

• Luxury: The Rinra Makassar (4.9/5, $48–92) — sea views and an infinity pool near Losari Beach
• Mid-range: Aston Makassar Hotel & Convention Center (4.4/5, $35–81) — rooftop pool, central location
• Budget: Ibis Styles Makassar Sam Ratulangi (4.5/5, $23–29) — modern, affordable, well-reviewed

Luxury (from around USD 45–95/night)

The Rinra Makassar, rated 4.9/5 from 3,636 Tripadvisor reviews and running $48–92 a night, sits near Losari Beach with spacious sea-view rooms, an infinity pool, and direct access to Phinisi Point Mall — the top pick if you want a proper resort feel for your one or two nights in the city.

Hyatt Place Makassar, rated 4.9/5 from 419 reviews and running $50–70 a night, is centrally located with modern rooms, a strong breakfast spread, and a rooftop pool, geared toward business and leisure travelers who want reliability over character.

Melia Makassar, rated 4.8/5 from 1,753 reviews and running $41–76 a night, pairs stylish interiors with wellness facilities. It has a rooftop bar that catches the sunset over the city, making it a good choice for a special one-night stay before or after Tana Toraja.

Mid-Range (from around USD 35–80/night)

Swiss-Belhotel Waterfront Makassar, rated 4.8/5 from 2,206 reviews and running $33–72 a night, is beachfront with sea-facing dining, comfortable rooms, and solid amenities for the price.

Aston Makassar Hotel & Convention Center, rated 4.4/5 from 1,301 reviews and running $35–81 a night, offers a rooftop pool and easy access to the city’s food scene, making it a dependable mid-range base near the main attractions.

Mercure Makassar Nexa Pettarani, rated 4.9/5 from 1,517 reviews and running $36–68 a night, is business-focused, in the Pettarani district a bit further from Losari, with clean contemporary rooms and good dining options on-site — worth it if the Pettarani area suits your onward travel plans.

Budget (from around USD 10–30/night)

MaxOneHotels at Resort Makassar, rated 4.8/5 from 1,420 reviews and running $22–58 a night, brings a colorful, youthful design with a relaxing rooftop area at budget-friendly rates.

Ibis Styles Makassar Sam Ratulangi, rated 4.5/5 from 140 reviews and running $23–29 a night, stands out for its creative interior and modern facilities without a big price tag — a reliable pick for travelers who want a clean, predictable chain hotel.

Favor Hotel Makassar City Center by LIFE runs $10–19 a night, the cheapest option on this list. Tripadvisor shows a more modest 3.7/5 from 79 reviews, though Traveloka’s much larger sample (4,783 reviews) rates it 8.2/10 — a solid, no-frills central option for travelers prioritizing location and price over extras, an easy walk from restaurants and transport links.

Where to Base Yourself

Stick to the Losari Beach / city-center area if you’re only in Makassar for a night before heading to Tana Toraja — it puts Fort Rotterdam, the waterfront, and good food all within walking or a short Grab ride, and keeps you close to the overnight bus terminals and Sultan Hasanuddin Airport transfer points. If you’re arriving late or leaving early for a flight, some travelers prefer staying nearer the airport instead, though the trade-off is losing easy access to the waterfront and city sights.

Booking Tips

Rooms fill up during Toraja’s peak funeral-ceremony season (July–August) as travelers pass through Makassar in both directions, so book at least a few weeks ahead if your trip falls in that window. Outside peak season, same-week booking is usually fine even for the nicer mid-range and luxury options listed here.

Serviced Apartments and Longer Stays

If you’re passing through Makassar more than once on a longer Sulawesi trip, or working remotely for a stretch, serviced apartments around the Panakkukang and CBD districts offer better value per night than hotels for stays of a week or more, typically with a small kitchen and laundry included — worth checking on Traveloka or Airbnb if a single hotel booking doesn’t suit your itinerary.

See our Sulawesi Travel Guide for more on this destination.

Related guides: Things to Do Near Makassar

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do most travelers only spend one or two nights in Makassar?

Makassar mainly functions as the air gateway to Tana Toraja and the rest of South Sulawesi, so most visitors pass through on their way in or out rather than treating it as a destination in itself — hence the focus on convenient, well-located bases near Losari Beach rather than resort-style hotels.

Which hotel is right next to a shopping mall?

The Rinra Makassar has direct access to Phinisi Point Mall alongside its sea-view rooms and infinity pool near Losari Beach — useful if you want dinner and a bit of air-conditioned browsing within steps of your room.

When should I book ahead instead of showing up last-minute?

During Tana Toraja’s funeral-ceremony season (roughly July-August), Makassar hotels fill up with travelers passing through in both directions — book a few weeks out if your trip falls in that window. Outside peak season, same-week booking is usually fine even for the nicer mid-range and luxury picks.

Why does Favor Hotel show such different ratings on different sites?

Tripadvisor shows a modest 3.7/5 from just 79 reviews, while Traveloka’s much larger sample of 4,783 reviews rates it 8.2/10 — a reminder that review scores can vary a lot depending on which platform’s guests are doing the rating, and it’s worth checking more than one source before ruling out a cheap, central option.

Is a serviced apartment worth it over a hotel in Makassar?

Only if you’re passing through more than once on a longer Sulawesi trip, or working remotely for a stretch — apartments around Panakkukang and the CBD offer better per-night value than hotels for stays of a week or more, typically with a small kitchen and laundry included.