Sultan Aji Muhammad Sulaiman Sepinggan Airport: where to stay, areas…

Sepinggan International Airport is just 5-6 km from downtown Balikpapan, one of the shortest transfers among Indonesia's mid-sized airports: a taxi takes only about 15 minutes. The Balikpapan Superblock, the complex of malls and towers next to the terminal, is within walking distance of some hotels and is the most convenient choice for those arriving late or departing early; those who prefer the historic district of Klandasan, with its seafront on the Makassar Strait, add only a few minutes by car.

Airport and Balikpapan Superblock

Airport area · 1.4 km from the terminal (about 5 minutes by car) for the Four Points; the Grand Jatra is inside the Balikpapan Superblock complex, a 5-minute walk from the E-Walk mall.

Best for: Dawn flights, one-night stopovers, or anyone who wants to stay within walking distance of a mall without getting into downtown traffic.

Pros

The shortest possible transfer from the terminal, useful for dawn flights or one-night stopovers
The Superblock complex puts restaurants, malls and E-Walk within walking distance, with no need for a taxi in the evening

Cons

Area built for hotels and malls: the historic Klandasan seafront is still a few minutes away by car
Outside the two chain hotels, options near the airport are mostly budget (OYO, RedDoorz)

Recommended hotels in this area

Four Points by Sheraton Balikpapan: 138 rooms on Jl. Pelita, 1.4 km and about 5 minutes from the terminal; outdoor pool, gym open 24 hours a day and The Eatery restaurant.
Grand Jatra Hotel Balikpapan: 215 rooms on Jl. Jenderal Sudirman, inside the Balikpapan Superblock complex and a 5-minute walk from the E-Walk mall; full spa and two in-house restaurants.

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Klandasan, the historic centre

City centre · 15-20 minutes by car or taxi for the roughly 6-10 km separating Klandasan from the terminal, depending on the exact location of the hotel.

Best for: Those who want the seafront on the Makassar Strait and the real city centre, with a 15-20 minute drive from the airport.

Pros

Seafront and parks (Bekapai, Markoni) within walking distance of the area's hotels
More independent restaurants than the airport area, in addition to the malls

Cons

A few extra minutes of transfer compared to the airport/Superblock area
Traffic on Jl. Jenderal Sudirman can lengthen the trip during rush hour

Recommended hotels in this area

Swiss-Belhotel Balikpapan: 235 rooms in the Balikpapan Ocean Square complex on Jl. Jenderal Sudirman, with an outdoor pool overlooking the sea; about 15 minutes from the airport.
Novotel Balikpapan: 198 rooms on Jl. Brigjen Ery Suparjan, a 3-minute walk from Bekapai Park and 8 from Plaza Balikpapan; 16 minutes by car from the airport.

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