Airports near Balikpapan
BPN・AAP・GHS
What airports are closest to Balikpapan?
The primary gateway for all travelers visiting the region is Sultan Aji Muhammad Sulaiman Sepinggan International Airport (BPN), which is the nearest option at just 6.5 km from the city center, reachable by an official airport taxi in about 20 minutes. Those flying into the neighboring city of Samarinda may arrive at APT Tumenggung Pranoto Airport (AAP), which lies 110.4 km away and requires a significantly longer journey of roughly 3 to 4 hours by intercity bus or private taxi. For travelers in the remote western region, West Kutai Melalan Airport (GHS) is available but is located 168.1 km from Balikpapan, necessitating a challenging and lengthy road journey of over 7 hours to reach the city center. While the latter two airports serve their specific local communities, BPN remains the most convenient hub for accessing Balikpapan. Search for flights to Balikpapan and book hotels in Balikpapan, or scroll down for more details.
This content is AI-generated. Please refer to actual conditions.
Airports near Balikpapan: BPN, AAP and GHS.
Airports Near Balikpapan: Key Information
Number of airports in Balikpapan
1
Closest airport to the city center
Sultan Aji Muhammad Sulaiman Sepinggan International Airport (BPN)
Distance
6.5 km
Fastest arrival time
20 minutes - 35 minutes
Airport with the cheapest transport
Sultan Aji Muhammad Sulaiman Sepinggan International Airport (BPN)
Compare domestic and international airports near Balikpapan.
Sultan Aji Muhammad Sulaiman Sepinggan International Airport
Distance: 6.5 km
Transport option
Est. duration
Est. fare
Features/best for
Official Airport Taxi
Fastest
20 minutes - 35 minutes
IDR 75000-150000
Comfort
DAMRI Shuttle Bus
Cheapest
45 minutes - 1 hour
IDR 40000
Budget
Local Ride-Hailing
25 minutes - 45 minutes
IDR 60000-120000
Balanced
Private Hotel Transfer
20 minutes - 30 minutes
IDR 150000-300000
Comfort
APT Tumenggung Pranoto Airport
Distance: 110.4 km
Transport option
Est. duration
Est. fare
Features/best for
Intercity Coach
Cheapest
3 hours 30 minutes - 4 hours
IDR 100000-225000
Budget
Private Intercity Taxi
Fastest
1 hour 55 minutes - 3 hours
IDR 800000-1000000
Comfort
Shared Travel Shuttle
3 hours - 4 hours
IDR 200000-300000
Balanced
West Kutai Melalan Airport
Distance: 168.1 km
Transport option
Est. duration
Est. fare
Features/best for
Regional Private Taxi
Fastest
7 hours - 9 hours
IDR 1500000-2500000
Comfort
Regional Long-Haul Bus
Cheapest
8 hours - 10 hours
IDR 250000-350000
Budget
Compare 3 airports near Balikpapan
Airport Guide
Compare 3 airports near Balikpapan
For the vast majority of travelers, Sultan Aji Muhammad Sulaiman Sepinggan International Airport (BPN) is the only practical gateway to the city, as it is the only airport physically located within Balikpapan. It serves as the primary hub for both domestic and international connections, offering the most convenient access with diverse transport options ranging from budget-friendly buses to efficient door-to-door taxis. The other listed airports serve entirely different regions and are not part of Balikpapan's local infrastructure. APT Tumenggung Pranoto Airport (AAP) serves the neighboring city of Samarinda and requires a significant 3 to 4-hour road transfer to reach Balikpapan; this should only be considered if you have business in Samarinda or find no suitable flights into the main hub. Similarly, West Kutai Melalan Airport (GHS) is a remote regional facility located deep in West Kutai, making it an extremely impractical choice for accessing Balikpapan due to the massive travel distance and time required. We strongly recommend sticking to BPN to minimize transit stress and costs.
Hotels near Balikpapan airport
Breakfast
Very Good101 Reviews
Balikpapan|1.12km from city center
My staycation with my partner at Swissbell was very enjoyable. I booked the lowest room category, but the service from the receptionist was still top-notch. Upon arrival, there were fruits and other light snacks in the room. Additionally, our special requests were also handled well; I asked to switch breakfast to the suhoor menu, and it was delivered by the room service staff. Thank you, Swissbell! Sorry for not including photos in this review; I was too busy enjoying the staycation.FromUS$35
Very Good150 Reviews
Balikpapan|1.87km from city center
Had a pleasant stay at Swiss-Belinn Balikpapan. The room was clean, comfortable, and well maintained. The staff were friendly, professional, and always ready to help. Breakfast had a good variety of food, and the location was convenient, with easy access to nearby restaurantFromUS$17
Great159 Reviews
Balikpapan|0.92km from city center
check in and check out were super easy and quick, excellent service. The rooms are big size for this price, a bit noisy from evening music background from corridors but livable. The breakfast spread is fantastic with local cuisines which are new to us, very yummy and the the breakfast teams are very nice and friendly
Lication is abit far out from any nearby local restaurants or tuckshops, no proper pavements for walking but it is nice to see the local mosque and local houses nearby
Wifi is excellant as wellFromUS$24
Good69 Reviews
Balikpapan|0.66km from city center
I recently stayed at this hotel for one night, and overall, my experience was quite pleasant. The check-in process was quick, and the staff were very friendly and helpful.
The room I stayed in was clean, tidy, and comfortable enough. Amenities like the air conditioning, TV, and hot water worked well. The hotel's location is also strategic, close to dining options and public transport.
For breakfast, the menu selection was quite varied and tasted good, though it would be even better if there were more options.
However, one minor drawback was the poor soundproofing in the room, as noise from outside could still be heard.
Overall, this hotel is suitable for both leisure and business travelers. I would consider staying here again on my next visit.FromUS$39
Great42 Reviews
Balikpapan|2.46km from city center
The check-in process was quick, and the cleanliness was excellent. I just wish there was more variety in the food options.FromUS$28
Family friendly
Very Good102 Reviews
Balikpapan|2.59km from city center
Hotel was tired and staff are inexperienced in the hospitality industry.
Room: stayed on 8th floor. Pillows had strong sweat smell and looked like they havent been changed in a while.
Room decor was pretty basic with basic laminate flooring.
In the bathroom there was complimentary shower gel and shampoo but when the bottles were pressed, it was very watery and seemed like the staff had simply topped it up with regular water.
Room internet was also extremely poor and I gave up after half an hour of trying.
Breakfast was a big spread but not of high quality. The bubur was lumpy. Fried chicken was tasteless (possibly indicating being frozen for some time) and the chefs cooking the indomie simply threw the noodle cake into a half filled water bath and did not stir or monitor the cooking resulting in half cooked indomie.
Breakfast section also smelled like a massive cigarette factory as there were smoking sections.
Upside: Great location as part of a mall development.
There is a comfortable lounge in the lobby conducive to meetings and afternoon catchups.
Staff at the lobby lounge were very pleasant and efficient and went out of their way to clear our cups quickly and take new orders. Always smiling.
This hotel is a very stark contrast to the mercure semarang where we spent the previous night.FromUS$60
Amazing45 Reviews
Balikpapan|0.51km from city center
Facilities: The room is really big, very comfortable, and has a large floor-to-ceiling window. There is a desk for working, the bed is very comfortable, and the air conditioner is not too noisy. The socket can be adapted to domestic plugs, but it is recommended to prepare a converter as a backup.
Hygiene: The bed is very clean, and the waiter will clean it every day if you stay here. However, the bathtub in the one I live in has some flaws. It should be due to its age and some water stains that cannot be wiped off.
Environment: In the urban area of Balikpapan, it is very friendly to friends who are on business trips. There are many convenience stores around, and if you are not used to Indonesian food, KFC McDonald's is not far away. There is basically no noise, but this is Indonesia after all. You can always hear the sound of MSL praying. This is inevitable and not a problem.
Service: Both the lobby and cleaning staff are very polite. I asked the housekeeper to refill my mineral water, and he gave me four bottles (normally two bottles per room).
Summary: The pictures are room pictures and part of the lobby. Old Mercedes-Benz and Beetles are on display in the lobby. The entire hotel uses wooden design extensively. I personally like this style very much. It has a retro and elegant feel.FromUS$30
Very Good68 Reviews
Balikpapan|6.46km from city center
The hotel is very close to the airport and offers a free shuttle service for flights before 10 AM. The room is standard size with a complete set of bathroom amenities. The breakfast was a bit disappointing; the variety was minimal, and the taste definitely needs significant improvement.FromUS$27
Great101 Reviews
Balikpapan|7.25km from city center
Rooms were clean. Very convenient location to airport with free shuttle pick up and drop off. Breakfast had a good selection. Very nice staff too.FromUS$39
Very Good53 Reviews
Balikpapan|2.36km from city center
Great location for business trips, very strategic and easy to access. The room was clean and comfortable, perfect for resting after meetings. The staff were friendly and helpful throughout my stay. Amenities were sufficient and everything worked well. Overall, a pleasant and convenient stay for business travelers. Would definitely consider staying here again.FromUS$46
5 star
22 Reviews
Balikpapan|1.27km from city center
Facilities: Although the facilities are relatively old, they are well maintained.
Hygiene: There is a dedicated person to clean every day, very responsible.
Environment: Sea view room, sea view swimming pool, pleasant scenery. Very satisfied.FromUS$33
Outstanding4 Reviews
Balikpapan|0.56km from city center
This is an old 4 star hotel but still maintaining well. The lobby, rooms, restaurant and sitting area are great and spacious. Location wise is not far from airport and town center. The breakfast is delicious with plenty of choices. Will come back to stay in this hotel on my next visit to Balikpapan.FromUS$22
45 Reviews
Balikpapan|1.22km from city center
The apartment fits the middle budget, the location is far from malls and places to eat, the cleanliness is quite good because the apartment is quite old and still needs more maintenance, including facilities that need to be improved and services that are still not optimal.FromUS$22
Very Good99 Reviews
Balikpapan|2.28km from city center
Book the location because of the location, next to mall and use the gym.
Facilities provided are all there, nothing to pick on. Especially love the gym location.
the breakfast is great, love the coffee and tea brew in the 'sock'. Good selections.
Staffs in front desk to fnb, etc are polite and kind.
Room is of decent size, basic for the price paid. It is clean in general. The toilet needs serious renovation. Taps, showers are OLD, accumulated rust, layers of molds at back of sink. The shower walls are all dirty between grout lines. It is clearly years of accumulated dirt and moisture that cannot be removed anymore. It needs serious revamp. I should have taken pictures of the shower, afraid I didn't think of it.FromUS$53
Amazing25 Reviews
Balikpapan|7.41km from city center
They provide free pick up from the airport, shuttle bus to airport is timed every 1 hour. its only 3mins drive to the airport. Overall pleasant stayFromUS$52
FAQs
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Which airport is the closest to Balikpapan?
The nearest airport to Balikpapan is Sultan Aji Muhammad Sulaiman Sepinggan International Airport (BPN), about 6.5 km away.APT Tumenggung Pranoto Airport (AAP) (110.4 km) and West Kutai Melalan Airport (GHS) (168.1 km).
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How long does it take to get from Balikpapan to the airport?
Getting from Balikpapan to Sultan Aji Muhammad Sulaiman Sepinggan International Airport (BPN) takes about 20 minutes - 35 minutes.
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How do I get to Balikpapan?
We recommend flying into Sultan Aji Muhammad Sulaiman Sepinggan International Airport (BPN), which is approximately 6.5 km away. The fastest mode of transportation is Official Airport Taxi, reaching downtown in about 20 minutes - 35 minutes.
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How many airports does Balikpapan have?
Balikpapan has 3 airports: Sultan Aji Muhammad Sulaiman Sepinggan International Airport (BPN), APT Tumenggung Pranoto Airport (AAP) and West Kutai Melalan Airport (GHS).