Sungai Siring International Airport: where to stay, areas and…

APT Pranoto International Airport in Samarinda is among the most awkward of Indonesia's provincial capitals to reach: it sits about 17 km from downtown, but the drive can take up to 45 minutes by car, and there is no hotel anywhere near the terminal. A public bus (route 2) covers the distance in around 90 minutes, running hourly between 6 and 17; outside those hours a taxi is the only option. All of the city's hotels are therefore along the Mahakam River, in central Samarinda, and still have to be reached by car.

City centre on the Mahakam river

City centre · 17 km from the airport, 30-45 minutes by car or taxi depending on traffic; alternatively, line 2 bus takes about 90 minutes, running hourly from 6 to 17.

Best for: The only realistic base for sleeping in Samarinda, since no hotel is located near the airport.

Pros

International chain hotels (Aston, Harris, Mercure) clustered along the Mahakam river, with river views from many rooms
Close to Samarinda Central Plaza and the city centre for dinner and services

Cons

No hotel near the airport: every transfer takes 30-45 minutes by car or an hour and a half by bus
The line bus doesn't run in the evening or at night: anyone arriving outside those hours always has to rely on a taxi

Recommended hotels in this area

HARRIS Hotel Samarinda: On the bank of the Mahakam river, next to the Mahakam Bridge that connects Samarinda to Balikpapan, on Jl. Untung Suropati.
Aston Samarinda Hotel & Convention Center: 165 rooms on Jl. Pangeran Hidayatullah in the heart of the city, with views of the Mahakam river; indoor pool, sauna and whirlpool, opened in 2012.
Mercure Samarinda: 139 rooms on Jl. Mulawarman, the city's first Accor hotel with views of the Mahakam river; a few steps from Samarinda Central Plaza.

See more hotels in this area →