Bitung

Bitung is a city and the main deep-water port of Northern Sulawesi. Located on the eastern side of the province, Bitung also provides easy access to volcanoes, parks, and diving.

Get in

By aircraft

The nearest airport is Sam Ratulangi International Airport (MDC ^IATA), about 35 kilometres (22 miles) to the west, north-east of Manado. Take a taxi or rent a car from the airport to get in here.

By boat

The passenger terminal of the Port of Bitung

• 1 Port of Bitung (Pelabuhan Bitung). Bitung is the major port of North Sulawesi, and you can get on board a Pelni ship to sail towards other areas of Indonesia. Some of the larger cruise ships that travel from Australia towards Thailand or other Asian countries may also stop at Bitung. (updated May 2020)

Ship route

1. KM. DOBONSOLO

MAKASSAR (South Sulawesi) - BAUBAU (South-East Sulawesi) - BITUNG (North Sulawesi) - SORONG (Irian Jaya) - MANOKWARI (Papua) - JAYAPURA (Papua)

2. KM. LAMBELU

MAKASSAR (South Sulawesi) - BAUBAU (Buton Island, S.E Sulawesi) - AMBON (Maluku) - NAMLEA (Maluku) - TERNATE N.Maluku) - BITUNG (North Sulawesi)

3. KM. DOROLONDA

BALIKPAPAN (East Kalimantan) - PANTOLAN (Central Sulawesi) - BITUNG (North Sulawesi) - TERNATE (North Maluku) - SORONG (Irian Jaya) - MONOKOWARI (West Papua) - NABIRE (West Papua) - SERUI (West Papua) - JAYAPURA (West Papua)

4. KM. TILONGKABILA

BENOA (Bali) - LEMBAR (Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara) - BIMA (West Nusa Tenggara) - LABUAN BAJO (Flores, East Nusa Tenggara - MAKASSAR (South Sulawesi) - BAUBAU (Buton Island, S.E Sulawesi) - RAHA (Muna Island, S.E Sulawesi) - BITUNG (North Sulawesi)

Get around

By bus

Public buses to Manado operate very often, at a cheap price, but they are far from convenient. Buses are not air conditioned, with many and long stops to wait for passengers. Furthermore, many local passengers smoke onboard buses, despite being illegal throughout Indonesia.

By taxi

Taxis are also easy to find in Bitung. There are usually taxis from Manado, waiting for passengers from Bitung going to Manado. A few of them will use meters for fares, but most of them will charge on negotiation basis. Depending on your negotiation or haggling skill level, the fare could vary between Rp 200,000 to Rp 500,000 for one trip to Manado. Just like bus travel, smoking is illegal in taxis, though the driver may still smoke - however, you as the passenger are free to ask the driver to stop smoking for your journey.

By car

The most convenient way is to hire (self-drive) a rental car from Bitung to Manado from your hotel. The rate is between Rp 450,000 to Rp 500,000 per day, depending on the hotel tariff.

• Bitung Rental Car (cooperated with Manado Rental Car) cost around Rp 500,000 per day, already included driver and fuel, or self-drive approximately Rp 300,000 per day. For information, tel +62 852 4022 0620 or +62 431 892 979.

See

• If travel to Tangkoko Nature Reserve is impossible due to time, there's a mini zoo in Bitung, only 10 minutes from Bitung's centre. This mini zoo has collection of tarsiers, birds, anoa, wild boar, crocodile, etc. They will ask for a donation to feed the animals. Usually it is around Rp 20,000 to Rp 50,000, depending on the numbers of the visitors in your group.
• Lembeh Strait: 30 minutes from Bitung. It is a diving heaven for divers, but it's quite expensive, because the resort is managed by westerners.

Eat

• Pork is common in the Christian-majority city of Bitung. You can find many many small restaurants. If you are a Muslim, you need to ask if the restaurant is halal or not.
• Bats, dogs, rodents, and reptiles are common meat sold in this city for human consumption. Go to some traditional markets in this city, and you can find them easily. If you are not amenable to this kind of food, you should ask first.

A highly recommended Chinese seafood restaurant is in a small side street, directly across the road from Texas Chicken and next to Bitung's main fuel depot. It is a small family-run place, with ordinary decor, but don't be deterred, the food is terrific (and cheap, by western standards).

Drink

• Beer is easy to find in all restaurants and even small shops.
• Saguer is the traditional alcoholic beverage made of palm.

Sleep

Budget

• Nalendra Hotel: Address: S. Languyu Street 5A, Bitung. Phone: +62 438 31992
• Other small hotels are easy to find but you must be very selective due to the activities of prostitutes.

Mid-range

• Wisma Pelaut International, pakadonan, Bitung. Phone: +62 438 36078. A dormitory mainly for seafarers, but is open to public.

Splurge

• Lembeh Resort
• Bastianos Lembeh Diving Resort
• Tangkoko Lodge Batu Putih

Stay healthy

Medical care

• Bitung Daerah Regional General Hospital (Rumah Sakit Umum Daerah Bitung), Jl. S.H. Sarundajang, Manembonembo, Bitung 95545, North Sulawesi, ☏ +62 438 31881, rsud.bitung@yahoo.com. A&E operates 24/7. General hospital.  
• RS. Budi Mulia Hospital Bitung (Rumah Sakit Budi Mulia Bitung), Jl. Sam Ratulangi X/9A, Bitung Tengah, Bitung 95513, North Sulawesi, ☏ +62 438 21442, fax: +62 438 21922, rsbudimuliabitung@gmail.com. A&E operates 24/7. General hospital. 
• Naval Hospital Bitung (Rumah Sakit Angkatan Laut Bitung), Jl. Yos Sudarso No. 26, Bitung Tengah, Bitung 95521, North Sulawesi, ☏ +62 438 21264, rsaldrwahyuslamet@yahoo.com. 24/7. Military hospital. No A&E. 

Go next

• 1 Tangkoko Nature Reserve (via Tondano or Manado), ☏ +62 897 163 6659. From 08:00. Tangkoko Nature Reserve is around 2 hours from Bitung city. You can use cheap public transportation, but it will be very difficult, as you have to change cars several times. The most efficient and easiest way is to rent a car, which cost around Rp 450,000 to Rp 500,000 per day. Here you must stay one night, as there are many resorts and small hotels in this place. At night you can hire a guide to take you to the forest to see the smallest primate in the world called as Tarsius. €35 to 40 per day (max 8 hours).