Why go
- Capital and largest city of Central Sulawesi, Indonesia.
- Served by Mutiara - SIS Al-Jufrie Airport (PLW).
History
Palu, officially known as the City of Palu, is the capital and largest city of Central Sulawesi Province in Indonesia. Palu is located on the northwestern coast of Sulawesi at the mouth of the long Palu River, whose extensive valley stretches far to the south. It borders Donggala Regency to the north and west, Parigi Moutong Regency to the east, and Sigi Regency to the south. The city boundaries encompass a land area of 395.06 km2 (152.53 sq mi). According to the 2020 Indonesian census, Palu had a population of 373,218, making it the third-most populous city on the island after Makassar and Manado; the official estimate as at mid 2025 was 400,055. Palu is the center of finance, government, and education in Central Sulawesi, as well as one of several major cities on the island. The city hosts the province's main port, its biggest airport, and most of its public universities.
Restaurants & places to go
41 more places in the Ultimate edition. See the Ultimate edition →
Airports
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 3 airlines, 4 direct destinations
- Lion Mentari Airlines JT (737-800, 737-900) · 4 routes: Balikpapan, Jakarta, Surabaya, Ujung Pandang
- Garuda Indonesia GA (737-800) · 2 routes: Jakarta, Ujung Pandang
- Sriwijaya Air SJ (735) · 2 routes: Balikpapan, Ujung Pandang
Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.
Getting there by ferry
Where things are
Photographs
credit: Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons · See source page
When to go
The warmer, longer-day half of the southern-hemisphere year.
Milder and quieter, with better value.
The southern winter — check local conditions before travelling.
Getting there & around
Getting there. The nearest airport on record is Mutiara - SIS Al-Jufrie Airport (PLW); 1 other airport serves the wider area. Check rail and road links from the tourism sources below. By air: PLW has direct flights to 4 destinations on 3 airlines (incl. Ujung Pandang, Balikpapan, Jakarta, Surabaya). By water: 1 ferry terminal within 20 km (nearest: Taipa ferry port, 17 km); routes include Taipa - Kariangau, Ferry Taipa → Kariangau (Balikpapan), Ferry Kariangau (Balikpapan) → Taipa.
Getting around. Use the map above to orient yourself; nearby hotels, attractions and places to eat are listed from the live Ultimate data for Palu (Sulawesi). Local transit details will be added as the guide is expanded.