Kendari

SOUTHEAST SULAWESI

Kendari

BAY CITY AND GATEWAY TO WAKATOBI

Kendari

Kendari is the capital of Southeast Sulawesi, at the foot of green hills. Most international travellers stop here on the way to Wakatobi. Its airport has flights to Wangi-Wangi, the entry island of Wakatobi.

At dawn, boats land tuna, mackerel, snapper and grouper at the harbour fish market. In the late afternoon, families and food stalls fill the promenade on Kendari Bay. Masjid Al-Alam, a modern mosque, stands on an island in the bay, reached by a 1.4 km causeway.

Try sinonggi, the sago porridge of the Tolaki people, with grilled fish and a clear broth. The central market, Pasar Sentral Mandonga, sells spices, fruit and ikat cloth from Buton.

One night breaks the journey to Wakatobi. Stay a second night for the fish market and the bay. August to October is the driest time. Seas are roughest from June to August. Fast boats cross to Raha, on Muna island, in about 2.5 hours. Muna holds the oldest dated cave art in the world.

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Kendari, the capital of Southeast Sulawesi, lies around a long bay. It is known for silver filigree and is the gateway to Wakatobi, Labengki and Sombori.

When to go and how to get there

Rain in Kendari, month by month, and the journey in from the nearest airport.

Driest months

Aug – Oct

September is the driest month, with 77 mm of rain on average. May is the wettest, with 310 mm.

  • Driest months
  • In between
  • Wettest months

January: 214 mm, February: 244 mm, March: 292 mm, April: 259 mm, May: 310 mm, June: 256 mm, July: 146 mm, August: 88 mm, September: 77 mm, October: 94 mm, November: 109 mm, December: 245 mm

Rain: CHIRPS v2.0, Climate Hazards Center, UC Santa Barbara, average of 1991-2020. See the weather in Sulawesi by month

Getting there

  1. 01 · Fly

    To Kendari (KDI)

    Daily flights from Makassar take about 75 min. Jakarta and Surabaya also have daily flights.

  2. 02 · Drive

    Airport → city

    Haluoleo Airport is 26 km west of the city. Ride-hailing apps work in Kendari.

  3. 03 · Fly (optional)

    Kendari → Wangi-Wangi (WNI)

    On to Wakatobi on Tuesdays and Fridays, about 50 min (October 2026). The plane is small: book it with your flight to Kendari.

Kendari weather by month

The average rain, temperatures and sea of each month, measured over many years.

MonthRain (mm)High / low (°C)Sea (°C)Rough for small boats (% of time)
January21430 / 2429.60
February24430 / 2429.50
March29230 / 2429.60
April25930 / 2429.60
May31030 / 2429.24
June25629 / 2328.412
July14629 / 2227.615
August8830 / 2127.48
September7732 / 2227.73
October9433 / 2328.60
November10934 / 2429.40
December24532 / 2429.60

Rain: CHIRPS, 1991-2020. Temperatures: NASA POWER, 2001-2025. Sea temperature: NOAA Coral Reef Watch, 1991-2020. Waves: NOAA WAVEWATCH III, 2017-2026, in the open sea about 46 km away. Bays and straits are calmer. Rough means waves of 1.25 m or more, BMKG's warning level for small boats.

See Kendari on the live weather page

Kendari travel guides

The Sulawesi.com guides that cover Kendari.

Tours that go to Kendari

Every published trip that reaches this part of the island.

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Where to stay

See all 140 places to stay in Kendari

Local businesses in Kendari

Contact each business directly.

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