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Balikpapan Sepinggan
BPN

Balikpapan Sepinggan

Balikpapan, Indonesia
Overview
Balikpapan-Sepinggan Airport Terminal

About The Airport

Sultan Aji Muhammad Sulaiman Airport (SAMS), as it is now known, serves the city of Balikpapan in East Kalimantan on the island of Borneo. Balikpapan is a popular tourist destination throughout the year, and has a seaport stop for cruise ships; a number of large mining and energy corporations also use it as their regional base. A newly designed airport terminal was opened in 2014, and manages domestic and international traffic, including regular flights from Singapore, Malaysia and Saudi Arabia. Designed to make the most of the nation's abundant sunlight, it's an attractive airport featuring solar energy and lots of lush greenery.

Free Wi-Fi is available in both terminals.

Sultan Aji Muhammad Sulaiman Airport is 5km from the centre of Balikpapan.

Taxi - can be booked in the Arrivals area; expect a fixed fare, depending on your destination. Taxis do not operate a 24-hour service from this airport.

Bus - shared minibuses operate 2 routes from the airport servicing Balikpapan and beyond; they have a different colored stripe along the side depending on the route they cover. Generally used only by locals, their Indonesian nickname is angkots; confusingly, locals sometimes refer to them as taxis.

Hotel shuttle - as the airport is so close to the center, most hotels can be found within a 20-minute drive. One or two international chains have a presence here, including a Swiss-Belhotel and Ibis near the airport, and a Novotel 30 minutes away. Shuttles or car pick-ups can be organised by your hotel and need to be arranged in advance, usually for a fee.

Short and long-term parking is available in the 2,300-space, multistory parking lot directly outside the terminal.

The single terminal has domestic and international halls that are easily navigated.

There are no in-airport or transit hotels. If you are in need of a room close to the airport, the Sepinggan Hotel is just a few minutes' walk away.

Airport Expert

All signs in this airport are in both Indonesian and English.

Balikpapan Airport is sometimes confused with Bali's international airport. In fact, that's Denpasar - code DPS.

Kalimantan roughly translates as 'burning weather island'.

It's hot here but also wet and humid and the weather is almost impossible to predict. You're likely to need sunscreen and waterproofs in this rainforest climate whatever the time of year.

Healthy Travel Tip

Jamu is the name for traditional Indonesian herbal drinks, which have been used locally for many hundreds of years. Turmeric, tamarind, galangal, ginger, cinnamon and lemongrass are some of the many natural ingredients used to treat varying common complaints including nausea, coughs and arthritis.

We do our best to keep these guides as up-to-date as possible, but cannot guarantee that they fully reflect the current state of every airport, where changes can happen frequently and without notice. Please contact us with any feedback.

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