The 11 best museums in Makassar

My First Time at Fort Rotterdam My first visit to Fort Rotterdam was really cool. As soon as I got there, I was impressed by how unique the place looked. The old Dutch-style buildings with their red roofs and thick walls really gave off a historical vibe. It felt like stepping back in time. I walked around the fort, checked out the buildings, and just enjoyed the peaceful atmosphere. The palm trees and the green grass made the place feel calm and relaxing. It was interesting to imagine what life was like here in the past. Overall, I had a great time. Fort Rotterdam is a nice spot to chill, take photos, and learn a bit of history. I’d definitely recommend it if you're ever in Makassar!

(05/2025) A small, well-kept fort with very friendly staff. Entry to the fort is free; the museum costs 10,000. We happened to visit during a cultural event and met lots of lovely people (shout-out to the best security team — Flobamora Bodyguard!).

Fort Rotterdam is one of Makassar’s most iconic historical landmarks—a well-preserved 17th-century Dutch fort that also bears the legacy of the once-mighty Gowa Sultanate. Rich in cultural significance, the site offers a fascinating glimpse into colonial-era architecture, Indonesian resistance history, and the unique blend of Dutch and Makassar heritage.

If you are visiting Makassar, the “Gateway to East Indonesia”, you need to appreciate the cities history. Come visit this old Dutch fort, admire its architecture, take in the significance of its place in Dutch Colonial history. The fort itself is well preserved and the grounds are beautiful. A must visit!

Fort Rotterdam is a 17th century fort in Makassar, it is a Dutch fort that was built on top of an existing fort of the Gowa Kingdom The ticket is free and there's a local guide here and I was offered for 150.000 IDR (I didn't take it) There's a museum inside the fort, the fee is cheap only 5.000 IDR for adult, you can see and learn the journey of Gowa Kingdom and its collection You also can explore the other side of the fort

Nice historical place to see and imagine how it looks like in it's glorious past. Unfortunately that's it, you have to leave everything to imagination because the place is run down and lacking in maintenance. You may walk around the compound free but you buy a ticket 10kRP for entry to their 'museum' which is sadly non-AC and sad looking. There are 3rd party guides available for hire at the entrance and that might help understand more about it's history. I paid for the museum because I'm hoping they'll use the funds for the much needed upkeep.

This place is undoubtedly beautiful, it has potential. It needs better management. Most of the buildings can't be entered. Museum exhibits are poorly presented (Most of them have no proper lighting or no lighting at all). It needs more English signs and map. Some exhibits have English. Lots of areas are used for other purposes (I think there are people living there as i see clothing lines). Lot's of building materials scattered in the Premysis. I even found old sofas stacked on the second floor of a building C. I hope the government will fix it, so i will be able to change the rating. Maybe try to learn from Vredeburg Museum in Yogyakarta

There are museums inside which tell you about Makassar’s culture, everything showcased are maintained well, and the toilets are very clean. The ticket is also very cheap

You can appreciate the houses they used because the floors are made from wood and they are at least from the year of 1883. For local tourist...pay IDR 5,000 for 2 houses. Foreign tourist IDR 10,000. The museum itself...not really appealing because it's not really well maintained. The good thing is...they have AC inside. But you can learn a bit on the history of South Sulawesi. 30 minutes are enough to explore both museums.

Local museum inside fort Rotterdam. Very cheap entry point, collection is limited but maintained well. Downside is from the many aircons there, only couple of them are working, so it's super hot inside.

The museum/gallery is a bit dark. There is some effort with the exhibition but more improvement is needed. But the landscape and the building is great for taking photos

This museum is inside fort rotterdam, very poor lightning inside museum and the staff seem very unenthusiastic, I know they have boring job, but atleast a smile too the visitor would be nice..

La Galigo is a myth of Bugis people. It is known of its complex and long story. Unfortunately, the museum only has a few inventory to tell. Lack of narration and showcase makes the museum less interesting.

Well maintained but not much of collection

It's a beautiful traditional house that used to be a palace. There were lots of invaluable historical items that were displayed with lack of effort to make it a tourist worthy museum, no proper lighting and no English. It needs professional help to run this museum properly and so safe the items so that future generations can still see it. Hopefully government will do something to help the palace fix the museum. It's still worth a visit if you are in Makasar

This museum is housed in a wonderful wooden structure that is representative of the traditional architecture of Old Gowa, the Palace of Tamalate. The museum should enlighten you on the history of the people of Gowa. The royal family and the nobles. The conflicts. There are collections of old coins, weapons, clothing, paintings, and literature. Should you want to dress up as a Gowa noble, you could rent clothes at the museum for a fabulous photo opportunity. In summary, this museum should be on your list of attractions to visit when in Makassar.

There are plenty of students visiting during weekdays for school activities. They range from Junior High School to College students. This museum provides A clean environment and beautiful structures, it is recommended to come during the morning, 8 AM above. It won't open before 8 AM. They provide an extensive amount of information about the cultural items put for display. Weapons, Fashion, literature, currency, Cultural relics and crafts.

You can see the Crown of King of Gowa in this place. The Crown have a good design like a lotus flower. But, i think that design also similar with cobra. Many things about Gowa Empire you can see in Balla Lompoa. And of course you can take a non commercial photo for free.

One of the national heritage sites. They also provide traditional costume rental for photography purpose. Please bring your personal umbrella, sunglasses and other sun protection kit.

Museum Balla Lompoa merupakan salah satu bangunan bersejarah yang ada di wilayah Kerajaan Goa. Balla Lompoa adalah salah satu Istana untuk Kerajaan Goa. Kata Balla Lompoa berasal dari bahasa makassar yang berarti Rumah yang Besar. Mengapa dikatakan Rumah yang Besar? Padahal ada bangunan yang lebih besar disampingnya? Balla Lompoa sebenarnya memiliki pemaknaan tersendiri sehingga dikatakan seperti itu. Disebut Balla Lompoa karena didalamnya terdapat "Kallompoang" yang artinya Kebesaran. Kebesaran seorang raja. Itulah alasan mengapa disebut sebagai Balla Lompoa. Setelah Raja Goa ke 36, Sultan Abdul Kadir Aididdin Andi Idjo Karaengta Lalolang (Bupati Pertama di Kabupaten Gowa) wafat, Istana Balla Lompoa kemudia dijadikan Museum Balla Lompoa. Kawasan Museum Balla Lompoa juga mempunyai Istana Tamalate yang sering digunakan sebagai gedung serba guna. Balla Lompoa Museum is one of the historic buildings in the territory of the Kingdom of Goa. Balla Lompoa is one of the Palace for the Kingdom of Goa. The word Balla Lompoa comes from the makassar language which means the Great House. Why is a the Great House? Though there is a larger building beside it? Balla Lompoa actually has its own meaning so it is said that. Called Balla Lompoa because inside there is "Kallompoang" which means Greatness. The greatness of a king. That is the reason why it is called Balla Lompoa. After King Goa to 36, Sultan Abdul Kadir Aididdin Andi Idjo Karaengta Lalolang (First Regent in Gowa District) died, the Palace of Balla Lompoa then made Museum Balla Lompoa. Balla Lompoa Museum area also has Tamalate Palace which is often used as a multipurpose building.

The front gate is always closed, So u need to head to the rear gate to get in. It's a little bit dirty because of littering trashes around. There're couple houses on stilts (rumah panggung); one for the King family's quarter, one is for the museum. The ticket fee for the museum costs IDR 5.000. Inside the museum, you can see the traditional clothing, traditional music instrument, the King's family tree, King’s throne, and many portraits of the previous Kings. This place adorned with red and yellow curtains, giving it amazing touches. You won't get bored looking at it. The wind breezing through the big windows makes this place even more relaxing.

The historic structure sits in a large area dotted with replicas of traditional houses from regions in Sulawesi. The short distance from the city centre of Makassar makes it accessible to many. The structure itself is a testament to the efforts by the 16th century kingdom of Gowa in protecting its people. However, the Dutch East India Company managed to overcome the Fort in the 17th century.

It sad that no appreciation were given to this place by local government and people living in the surrounding. There are traditional houses being built with proper sign. But the house were closed on my visit on January 6,2025. There were people living in the house, not sure if they lived there legally but there was clothes changing on the rope to dry. I walked into 1 house that was left unlock, nothing in the house but toilet and a napping cat. The fort itself was crumbling with moss growing on the stone that makes it slippery to climb so i decided not to go up. It was not worthy risking my safety. Roof tiles of the canopy on top of the fort were gone and clearly fell down. It's just a matter of time before the whole canopy crumbling down. I don't understand why tourist appreciate it more than the locals that we are all sad to see this place. I could be better. It could be a nice touristy cultural village. They must learn from Balinese how to run a culture village

This place is the remains of a civilization long before Dutch colonial era, from here, you can learn the era of Gowa civilization that served as a trade city and fortress. Some of the buildings are still preserved, some other are buried. Many of the historical items contained traces of Gowa civilization are displayed here in the museum, some of them were recently excavated. The museum are pretty interesting, the entry is free, but sadly the surrounding area aren't well maintained. Hopefully someday it can be better

Actually was a good spot, many traditional houses from tribe at Sulawesi. Dutch heritage fort, museum, camping ground, but many broken facilities, and the traditional house is not well maintained.

Historical site in makassar surrounded by traditional houses! It's a nice quick visit. Hopefully the roads will be fixed in the near future!

Nice place for run, picnic and enjoy the beach👍😃

A large area where the different types of houses belonging to the various ethnic groups in Sulawesi are on view. Obviously built as a tourist attraction but sadly suffer from poor upkeep.

(05/2025) Uniquely designed mosque, with upper floors open to visitors offering nice views. Tourists are welcome.

One of makassar icon. Located in Losari Beach, this mosque is a must visit if you're a moslem. Note : in Ramadhan, they attend 2 tharawih. The first one is 11 raka'at then after that 23 raka'at. It's nice you can choose how much raka'at

People call the mosque as a floating mosque. The design is unique. The mosque is clean. It is located on Pantai Losari an icon of Makassar. You can enjoy the sun set from the mosque.

Floating mosque in losari beach makassar. Spent time for magrib in this mosque, will experiencing good view, orange sky, and many people with smile.

This mosque located on nearby Losari beach. A peaceful place with artificial design, have a lot of jamaah especially at maghrib to isya'. Additional information, the local citizen usually called floating mosque

Best place to find sunset, one of the city icon..floating Mosque located at Losari Beach Makassar

Has 3 stairs and between 2nd and 3rd floor we can get beautiful view of 99 domes Mosque. This masjid is also best to photograph at sunset time from pedestrian path.

The new icon of Makassar city. It sighted from a unique building form with a lot of domes above but there are no structures to support it. You don't be puzzled to park your vehicle because there is a spacious parking lot. Beside the place to say a prayer, you will find stalls if you feel hungry and thirsty; game station for your children or you can just seagaze at twilight.

The mosque stands as a stunning blend of beauty and surrealism, its exterior glistening in the daylight. Unlike traditional structures made of brick, this remarkable building is crafted from a sleek, reflective sheet material combined with concrete, giving it an otherworldly appearance. Yet, beyond its striking facade lies a place of worship that is rooted in the community—a functioning mosque that serves as a gathering space for prayers and events. Its eye-catching design, while undeniably attention-grabbing, embodies a purpose and a spirit, making it well worth a visit for those seeking to experience its unique charm and cultural significance.

Nice walk (less than 25min and along the seaside) from city centre to the peninsula, were the mosque is situated. It is new and still under construction, but you can enter the mosque...

It was a great view. Public transportation kinda hard to reach on weekend or holiday from/to this place. There was photography service near the gate

(05/2025) An unusual and beautiful mosque, welcoming to tourists. Spectacular at sunset.

The 99 Domes Mosque (Arabic: مسجد القبة ٩٩) or more commonly known as the Asmaulhusna Mosque (Arabic: مسجد اسماء الحسنى) is a historic mosque located in the city of Makassar, South Sulawesi Province, Indonesia. The mosque was built in 2017 and officially opened in 2023. It has become the latest icon of South Sulawesi Province, situated in the Center Point of Indonesia (CPI) Tanjung Bunga area. The name “99 Domes” is derived from the number of domes in the mosque's design, symbolizing the 99 Beautiful Names of Allah SWT in Islam. This carries deep spiritual meaning, where the physical architecture of the mosque is not merely a building but also a visual symbol of remembrance of God's attributes. Each dome has a different size, forming an astonishing and harmonious tiered visual pattern. The mosque was designed by renowned Indonesian architect Ridwan Kamil, who is also the Governor of West Java and an architecture graduate from the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB). Its architectural style blends Islamic geometric elements, Nusantara colors, and tropical architectural principles. The vibrant orange, red, and yellow hues of the domes reflect the spirit and joy characteristic of Bugis-Makassar culture. The construction process was divided into several stages with considerable challenges due to its location on reclaimed coastal land. The construction required complex techniques to ensure stability and resistance to the marine environment. Although still under development, the main parts of the mosque, such as the prayer hall and several supporting facilities, are already available for public use. In terms of specifications, the mosque can accommodate around 10,000 worshippers. The building consists of various zones, including the main prayer area, ablution area, minarets, multipurpose rooms, and public open spaces around it. The architectural beauty of the mosque is not only evident in its unique number of domes but also in its design sensitivity to the qibla direction, natural lighting, and ventilation tailored to the tropical coastal climate. Philosophically, the architecture of the 99-Dome Mosque conveys a message about the grandeur of God and the diversity of Indonesia. Its design encourages Muslims to reflect on the attributes of Allah every time they see or enter the mosque. Additionally, its location by the sea symbolizes Makassar's openness as a port city that embraces diverse cultures and ideas. That's amazing.

Amazing place ..must see…looks great during the day but at night it looks amazing …

Very disappointing. Lots of display case were empty. Not many original historical pieces. Lack of attention and effort made to provide information of displayed items, for examples: 1 display case contained several bricks with different motive but there's only 1 sign saying chicken foot print on brick while it's obvious they're various animal print other than chicken on other bricks. Chinese tribes was describe with European looking mannequins wearing Chinese clothing. As I was there, there's a group of students visiting this museum. It's sad to see such inaccurate information used to teach students. The only valuable piece of historic artifacts were the bricks from the Fort van Gowa (Somba Ompu), old currencies, and the building itself which is a beautiful building

For me, as a first time visitor to Makassar, I found this museum very interesting particularly as it tried to portray a wide range of Makassar history through a lens of what it's contemporary population sees as important. As a tourist, I think the place is a must-visit. It won't take you very long to see everything and it isn't hard to get to. It's very much a work-in progress however as signage is not available in all of the exhibition rooms, and English language information even less so.

Small museum about the history of Makassar which is housed the former town hall. The building alone makes it worth a visit. Staff are also very friendly and helpful. Not that hours on Google maps are wrong. See photos for correct opening hours.

Small museum, not so many historical object are displayed, most of them only display the historical text of Makassar City. Could be improved..

I came on Sunday at 14.00, when I opened the entrance door, I found a group of ppl were eating lunch saying that that the museum open only from 09.00 - 13.00 on Saturday & Sunday. But, they allowed me to wander around the first floor which shows the history of Makassar, their traditional clothes & the first major of Makassar 1942-1945 (found to be Japannese during the Japan invasion in Indonesia) till the recent one. The museum itself was free of charge and located near the Tiger Park. I hope that they manage to open the museum till afternoon especially on weekends.

Nice palce for hangout to study history and to introduce the history of our beloved country for the kids. Lovely place

A place to learn the history of Makassar and its development prior the Kingdom of Gowa-Tallo up to post-revolution era. The antique collection was quite a few. Staffs are friendly and welcoming.

We came here coz someone told us that this shop is good. It is good, indeed. They sell batik fabrics on the first floor and batik hand-made clothes on the second floor. Their batik pattern is quite unique, representing lontara characters/alphabets from Makassar. Hopefully, they will get a bigger space

Sip

nice job

Nice cut

Ok

Bgs

Good service

"Khayangan" mean Nirvana or heaven. This island totally not reflecting as Nirvana. It is dirty. The most dissapointing is there is additional ticket to come in this island. I feel like to be robbered in my own country. Why we must pay to visit this island? The goverment must take notice about this

Once in a while... it's good to taste sun, sand, n salt water🤣 Hv a lot of rooms... so i rent one to hv a good shower after hv fun at the beach... have one little shop so u can buy a cold drink n hv some coffee and pop mie when u're hungry😄 Hv a mushollah.. so don't worry about prayer😇

At the end of the day it's a beautiful place to watch the sunset with friends. The buildings on the island are run down but most times I've been there it was quite clean. The water is warm & very nice to sit in after a hot Makassar day.

enjoy your holiday in this island

MY PHONE DROWNED HERE AND DIED

Good

Small island 🌴

Nice

(Translated by Google) The museum is located in a strategic place in the middle of the city. This museum is a regional museum managed by the Maros Regency Regional Government. It should be appreciated because not every district has a museum. The museum displays archaeological, historical and ethnographic collections. There is no need to pay to enter the museum, it is free. It is necessary to think about parking space for visitors as well as possible merchandise for visitors who want to buy souvenirs and memories from Maros. If you stop by Maros, don't forget to visit this small but useful museum. (Original) Museum yang terletak ditempat strategis ditengah kota. Museum ini adalah museum daerah yang dikelola oleh Pemda Kabupaten Maros. Patut diapresiasi karena tdk setiap Kabupaten memiliki Museum. Museum ini menampilkan koleksi arkeologi, sejarah dan etnografi. Tidak perlu membayar untuk masuk museum alias gratis. Perlu dipikirkan lahan parkir untuk pengunjung serta kemungkinan marchendise untuk pengunjung yg ingin membeli oleh2 dan kenangan dari Maros. Jika mampir ke Maros jangan lupa berkunjung ke museum kecil tapi bermanfaat ini.

(Translated by Google) Regional museum in Maros which contains heritage artifacts.... the size of the museum is small but there are several interesting artifacts.. such as ancient human castings and the oldest pendant in the world (Original) Musem daerah di maros yang berisi artefak-artefak peninggalan.... ukuran museum kecil namun ada beberapa artefak-artefak yang menarik.. seperti casting manusia purba dan liontin tertua di dunia

(Translated by Google) Educational place for school children. (Original) Tempat edukatif bagi anak sekolah.

(Translated by Google) Several historical relics can be seen directly at the Maros museum. (Original) Beberapa benda peninggalan bersejarah dapat disaksikan langsung di museum Maros.

(Translated by Google) Previously, this building was a maternity home for Maros district. (Original) Dahulu gedung ini merupakan rumah bersalin kabupaten Maros.

(Translated by Google) Regional museum is okay (Original) Musem daerah oke

(Translated by Google) Good service and the guide explained clearly about the history (Original) Pelayanan bagus dan pemandu menjelaskan dengan jelas tentang sejarahnya

(Translated by Google) Come (Original) Sowan

(Translated by Google) One of the places to commemorate the late Sultan Hasanuddin Makassar (Original) Salah satu tempat mengenang alm sultan Hasanuddin Makassar

(Translated by Google) Gowa-Tallo royal tomb complex (Original) Kompleks makam kerajaan Gowa-Tallo

(Translated by Google) Thank you my hero Barokalloh (Original) Terimakasih Pahlawanku Barokalloh

(Translated by Google) The Real "Rooster from the East" Rewako Gowa..!!! (Original) The Real "Ayam Jantan Dari Timur" Rewako Gowa..!!!

(Translated by Google) The grave of our hero Sultan Hasanuddin. A true hero (Original) Makam pahlawan kita sultan hasanuddin . Pahlawan sejati