- The Mahakam River is the lifeblood of the city—take a boat tour to see the coal barges and life on water.
- Kampung Tenun is the weaving village where you can see the famous Sarung Samarinda being made by hand.
- The Islamic Center Mosque is huge and beautiful, overlooking the river with towering minarets.
- Pampang Cultural Park is where you can see traditional Dayak dances (usually Sunday mornings).
- It's a jumping-off point for multi-day river cruises into the jungle to see orangutans.
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When to go: Dry Season
June to September is drier, but it's the tropics, so rain is always possible.
The Erau Festival (in nearby Tenggarong) is a cultural highlight.
- Best: Jun-Sep.
- Climate: Tropical.
- Rain: Frequent.
Getting there: APT Pranoto
APT Pranoto Airport (AAP) is the new airport. It's 45-60 mins from the city.
Flights connect to Jakarta and Surabaya.
- Airport: AAP.
- Taxi: Grab/Gojek.
- Bus: DAMRI.
Where to stay: City Center
Stay near the river or the mall (Big Mall/Samarinda Central Plaza).
Aston and Swiss-Belhotel are reliable options.
- River: Views.
- Mall: Convenient.
- Budget: Guesthouses.
What to see: Weaving and Mosque
Visit Kampung Tenun to buy sarongs. See the Islamic Center.
Go to Pampang on Sunday for Dayak culture.
- Weaving: Sarung.
- Mosque: Grand.
- Pampang: Dayak.
- Mahakam: River.
Food: Nasi Kuning
Nasi Kuning (yellow rice) is the breakfast of champions here (try the Ikan Haruan fish).
Amplang is a fish cracker snack. Durian is popular (and smelly).
- Nasi Kuning: Breakfast.
- Amplang: Snack.
- Seafood: River fish.
- Durian: King of fruit.
Getting around: Grab
Public transport (Angkot) is confusing. Use Grab or Gojek apps.
Traffic can be heavy.
- App: Grab/Gojek.
- Angkot: Minivan.
- Traffic: Jammed.
Budget: Cheap
Very affordable. Food is cheap.
River cruises to the interior are expensive.
- Food: Cheap.
- Hotels: Value.
- Tours: Pricey.
1 Day in Samarinda
Morning: Pampang Cultural Park (if Sunday). Islamic Center Mosque.
Lunch: Nasi Kuning or river fish.
Afternoon: Kampung Tenun to see weaving. Boat ride on Mahakam River.
Evening: Dinner at a riverside warung.
- Morning: Culture.
- Lunch: Local.
- Afternoon: River.
- Evening: Sunset.
FAQ
Is it the capital?
It's the capital of East Kalimantan. The new capital of Indonesia (Nusantara) is being built nearby.
Are there orangutans?
Not in the city. You need to take a boat upriver or go to a sanctuary (Samboja Lestari).
Is it safe?
Yes, generally safe.