Location: North Sulawesi
Top Things to do in North Sulawesi
Top Restaurants in North Sulawesi
What to do and see in North Sulawesi, Indonesia: The Best Places and Tips
North Sulawesi (Indonesian: Sulawesi Utara) is a province of Indonesia. It is located on the northern peninsula of the island of Sulawesi, on the Minahasa Peninsula, lies south of Philippines and southeast of Malaysia. It borders Philippines to the north, the Maluku Sea to the east, Gorontalo to the west and the Gulf of Tomini to the south. The province's capital and largest city is Manado, and its population was 4,135,526 according to the 2010 census; the latest official estimate (for January 2014) is 4,353,540. Manado is also the main gateway and the economic center of the province. Other major towns includes Tomohon and Bitung. As of the 2016 census of Indonesia, North Sulawesi's total population is 2.771.159. There are 41 mountains with an altitude ranging from 1,112 - 1,995 asl. Most geologic conditions are the young volcanic region, a large number of eruptions and the active cone shape of the active volcanoes that adorn the central Minahasa, Bolaang Mongondow and Sangihe Islands.
Restaurants in North Sulawesi
1. Lembeh Strait
Overall Ratings
5 based on 205 reviews
Reviewed By allisonde7890 - Paris, France
I stayed at the Kungkungan bay resort and had some excellent guides. You need a good guide in order to actually find a lot of the critters. It is easy to miss something like a frog fish, which blends right in with the seaweed or muck. It is super fun to look around and try to identify things. I even saw some tiny seahorses that were the same color and pattern as this coral they were living on! I definitely recommend it.
2. Bunaken National Marine Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 660 reviews
Reviewed By DrScotto - Melbourne
Dived here for the first time and impressed by the variety of dives available. Lots of wall dives, some slopes, drift diving depending on currents/tides as well as muck diving off the Sulawesi Mainland. Large number and varieties of fish, lots of turtles and smaller criters for those who like to seach these out (nudibrachs, crustaceans). It can get busy at times with lots of snorklers from Mainland hotels and there has been some damage to parts of the reef as a result. Despite this it remains an excellent place to dive.
3. Lake Linau
Overall Ratings
4 based on 228 reviews
Reviewed By NiaHans - Jakarta, Indonesia
This pretty lake located in Tomohon, North Sulawesi, about 45 minutes to 1 hour from Manado depend to the traffic.
The place is quite cool due to it's location in Tomohon Highland.
When I went there, it was not too crowded, because it was weekday.
I was amazed that the toilet was so clean.
I ordered some snacks and had it with a cup of coffee which is free from our entrance ticket, while looking at the beautiful scenery.
4. Tangkoko National Reserve
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 59 reviews
Reviewed By guidejotjelala - Tomohon, Indonesia
Tangkoko nature reserve is lovely and eazy wildforest where you can see the smalles carnivor mongkey called tarcius spectrum or local people called tangkasi .
beside this famous star of this forest you can also see black macaques nigra or black tailes mongkey ,cucus,dwarf hornbill,and green back kingfisher,lilac king fisher and dwarf king fisher and alots of other birds in forest i was acouple from swiss mrs claudy and mr stefen could eazy see black macaques ,tarcius ,kingfisher bird in this lovely forest assisted with experien ranger lokal guide of tangkoko .ebsen guided luckly to see of wildlife in this forest and the flora you can also see ebony wood called kayu hitam in this forest and trip we back to hotel in Tomohon.
thank you very much and this my information for you.
regard from guide jotje lala
whatsapp and call +6281340310671
5. Bukit Doa Kelong
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 71 reviews
Reviewed By JeffryHaryanto9
Located on a highland at Tomohon, this place has a breathtaking view and peaceful ambience. Known for the "Bukit Doa" (Praying Hill), they have a church and Stations of the Cross / Via Dolorosa. I really suggest this place as you can feel the peacefulness inside you.
6. Soekarno Bridge
Overall Ratings
4 based on 100 reviews
Reviewed By stevesudjatmiko - Washington dc
Manado is not small but not too big either. Everytime you drive around, especially to visit or leave the center of the city, you are bound to pass this bridge. And it looks very cool. Definitely could use the picture as instagram.
7. Lake Tondano
Overall Ratings
4 based on 76 reviews
Reviewed By Boleslav - Colorado
We were quite hesitant to visit this large lake and expected to see a large body of water.
It turned out to be quite interesting and photogenic place, as there are many fishermen’s houses and fisheries on the shore of the lake with many green water plants.
Probably the best view over the lake is from the newly erected bamboo view platforms above the lake- tree houses. Here are at least 6 platforms so one can choose the best one, and the fee is voluntary. From the tree houses the view overlooks not only the lake, but also the Mountains on the far side of the lake.
8. Christ Blessing
Overall Ratings
4 based on 79 reviews
Reviewed By debshal - Sheffield, United Kingdom
you can see it from far away - worth a drive past but not really worth stopping i dont think . opposit it however is te entgrance to cintraland where there is a small wwater =park - much more popular with my son !
9. Vihara Ekayana
Overall Ratings
4 based on 24 reviews
Reviewed By Globerwalker - Seoul, South Korea
Just off the main street from town, nestled between lush green farmland and the surrounding hills, lies this buddhist temple. The pretty pagoda tower can be seen from the town, poking up through the trees. It is a pleasant place to walk around and observe locals worshipping, or just looking around and taking photos. Of course as a foreigner, many locals were more interested in taking photos of me than anything else! There is an interesting turtle pond with a giant turtle statue and many other statues and temple buildings. A pleasant diversion on a walk around the nearby plant nurseries and rice fields.
10. Waruga Burial Complexes
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 25 reviews
Reviewed By Raymond W - Chengdu, China
North Sulawesi is a beautiful part of the world, but it mostly attracts people interested in Pulau Bunaken, famed for its diving. However, it has a rich natural heritage on land, too, and is a very scenic part of the country. There is also something on offer for history buffs, in the form of 'warugas', a kind of megalithic stone tomb unique to this part of the archipelago.
You can find random examples of these tombs all around the hills behind Manado, but the very best of them are found in the area of the village of Airmadidi. These tombs of aristocratic warriors and chiefs were elaborately carved with unusual motifs and designs and are a small window on Indonesian religion and culture in the era before Islam and Christianity changed everything. You will probably need to hire some kind of motorbike or van to find the two main sites, both of which repay careful attention.
