Ternate Travel Guide
A volcanic island in North Maluku that is almost entirely the slopes of Mount Gamalama. Seat of the Ternate Sultanate, one of the world’s most important spice kingdoms, whose cloves were fought over by the Portuguese, Spanish and Dutch. Old forts, the sultan’s palace, crater lakes and views of Tidore await.
Why Go to Ternate
For centuries cloves grew on only a handful of Maluku islands, and Ternate was one of their centres. The spice drew Portuguese ships in the early 16th century, followed by the Spanish and Dutch. In 1575 Sultan Babullah drove the Portuguese out of Ternate after a long siege.
Traces of that era line the island’s ring road: Fort Oranje in the city centre, the Tolukko and Kalamata forts on the coast, and the sultan’s palace, now a museum. Above it all rises Gamalama, an active volcano that has erupted several times in modern history.
Ternate is small: the ring road is only about 45 km. Two or three days are enough to circle the island, hop across to Tidore by speedboat and enjoy North Maluku’s fresh fish.
- The Ternate Sultan’s palace and museum
- Fort Oranje, Fort Tolukko and Fort Kalamata
- Lake Tolire at the foot of Gamalama
- Batu Angus, a black lava field on the coast
- Views of Maitara and Tidore islands
Current Conditions in Ternate
Districts & Where to Base Yourself
- Central Ternate (city centre)Fort Oranje, the market, harbour, hotels and the sultan’s palace.
- North of the islandFort Tolukko, Batu Angus and Lake Tolire.
- South of the islandFort Kalamata, Lake Laguna and the lookout to Maitara and Tidore.
- BastiongThe speedboat and ferry harbour for Tidore.
What to See in Ternate
- City centre Kedaton Kesultanan Ternate The sultan’s palace, part of which serves as a museum of weapons, royal dress and manuscripts. The sultan’s crown is considered deeply sacred and only shown at certain ceremonies. Dress modestly and follow the attendants’ directions.
- City centre Benteng Oranje A fort built by the Dutch in the early 17th century and the Dutch East India Company’s headquarters in Maluku before the base moved to Batavia. Parts have been restored.
- North of the centre Benteng Tolukko A small hilltop fort by the sea built by the Portuguese in the 16th century and later held by the Dutch, with views across to Halmahera.
- Northwest of the island Danau Tolire A steep-walled crater lake at the foot of Gamalama, wrapped in local legend. Visitors usually view it from the rim and try throwing a stone into water that looks close but is hard to reach.
- North of the island Batu Angus A spread of black lava rock from an 18th-century eruption of Gamalama running down to the sea, with the volcano towering behind.
Local Food
- Gohu ikan: raw tuna with lime, chilli and hot coconut oil
- Papeda with yellow-broth fish
- Ikan fufu: smoked skipjack tuna
- Cakes and drinks made with nutmeg and cloves
Getting There
Sultan Babullah Airport has flights from Jakarta (direct or via Makassar/Manado), Manado and Makassar. Pelni ships call at Ahmad Yani port. For Tidore, take a speedboat from Bastiong (about 10 minutes).
Getting Around
Minibuses run around part of the island and motorbike taxis are easy to find. The most practical way to circle the island is a car with driver or a scooter for a day.
Practical Tips
- Circle the island clockwise in a day: forts, Batu Angus, Tolire, then sunset in the south.
- Check Gamalama’s status on MAGMA Indonesia before hiking or approaching the crater.
- Don’t miss Tidore: its palace, forts and quieter town.
- Carry cash for boats and small stalls.
- Respect places local people consider sacred, including around Lake Tolire.
Full Ternate Guide
🧭 About the City
Ternate is the seat of the Sultanate of Ternate. The nearby island of Tidore has its own sultanate. The two sultanates have ruled much of the Maluku islands for centuries, and during the era of the spice trade, Ternate allied with the Dutch while Tidore allied with the Spanish and Portuguese. Like the other Maluku Islands, Ternate was the scene of vicious combat between European colonial powers intent on monopolizing the spice trade, and between those European powers and local rulers. The various conquerors left behind forts that can still be visited today. However, unlike in centuries past, Ternate and neighboring islands are no longer central to world trade, and are not among the best-known tourist destinations in Indonesia. Like everywhere else in untouristed Indonesia, people are very curious when they see non-Indonesians walking down the street. Expect to be stared at and expect everybody you see to say hello to you, and try to practice their English. Most of the time this curiosity is good-natured, so smile and be friendly in return.
✈️ Getting There
By plane: 1 Sultan Babullah Airport (TTE IATA). There are frequent flights from Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta Airport, operated by Garuda Indonesia, Lion Air, and Sriwijaya Air. In addition, there are regular flights from Ambon, Manado, and Makassar, as well as flights from various other smaller airports in the Maluku archipelago. By boat: There are ships from various parts of Indonesia only serviced by PELNI. Schedules and reservations can be checked at PELNI office or by PELNI app.
🚌 Getting Around
Taxis to the airport cost an average of Rp50,000. The public ferry leaves from Ternate to Sofifi at 06:00. It returns at 09:00, then makes the second journey at 11:00, and returns for the final time at 16:00. Each trip takes 2 hours and costs Rp15,000. The boat departs from "Kota Baru" which costs Rp10,000-15,000 by Ojek (motorcycle taxis) or Rp5000 by Angkot (bemo or minivans). Port tax is Rp2000. Speedboats operate between Ternate and Tidore, and Ternate and Sofifi all day. It takes 20 minutes to get to Tidore from Ternate and 40-45 minutes to Sofifi. They leave from Semut Harbour and only run when there are 8 or more individuals making the trip though. Each journey costs Rp58,000 (Mar 2025). There is a central station 2 Terminal Gamalama for all of the Angkot's near the tourist market to go around the city. It is more flexible to use Ojek to go to tourist attractions.
📸 What to See
History and building: 1 Museum Kedaton Kesultanan Ternate. 08:00-14:00 T-Sun, closed Mon. This museum highlights the past rule of the Sultanate of Ternate and is housed in the actual palace built for the sultan in 1813. No shorts allowed; must remove shoes at entrance. Free but donation requested. (updated Nov 2017) 2 Ternate Sultanate Mosque. (updated Nov 2017) 3 Benteng Oranje (Fort Oranje), Jl. Hasan Boesoeri, Gamalama. 07:45-16:30 Mon-Thu, 07:45-11:00 Fri, closed Sat-Sun. The largest fort in Ternate island. It has thick walls that are, despite frequent earthquakes, still in good conditions. It represented the heart of Dutch operations in the Spice Islands until that era ended and Dutch interests moved on to Batavia. One of the buildings houses a small branch of the National Indonesian archive (Arsip) that can be visited free of charge. (updated Jan 2020) Sultan's Tomb. (updated Nov 2017) 4 Benteng Tolukko. 08:00-17:00 daily. Portuguese fort constructed in 1512 that has, over the years, also seen occupation by the Dutch, British, and a Sultanate. Abandoned in 1864 and then the focus of renovation efforts in 1996, it has a nice phallic shape. (updated Sep 2020) 5 Benteng Kalamata (Fort Kalamata). 08:00-18:00 daily. Fort Kalamata is a Portuguese star fort that was built in 1540 and also later saw occupation by Dutch and British forces and then subsequent restoration by Indonesia in 1994. It was originally called Santa Lucia and offers a good view of Tidore from its ramparts. (updated Sep 2020) 6 Masjid Raya Al Munawwar Ternate (just southeast of Fort Oranje, on the coast). One of those grandiose mosques dominates the skyline, but it particularly stands out with the way it kind of hangs precariously to the shoreline. In fact, apparently, some minarets were previously jutting out of the sea until the sea decided to claim them. No entry for non-Muslims. (updated Sep 2020) Various memorials to massacred Christians during the riots of 1999-2000. Many abandoned churches too. Nature: 7 Lake Tolire (Danau Tolire Besar). 06:00-18:00 daily. Crater lake with green water that supposedly hosts a small crocodile population with Mount Gamalama in the background. Trails to rim of lake. There is a wild legend associated with the lake which is explained in the Wikipedia article. small entry fee. (updated Sep 2020) 8 Batu Angus. Observation area of old lahar from Mount Gamalama, picnic area, the viewpoint of other islands of Maluku. Small admission fee. (updated Sep 2020) 9 Lake Ngade (Danau Ngade). Another lake with majestic views of Tidore Island and Mount Kiematabu. (updated Sep 2020) Lagoons Wildlife: 10 Falajawa Beach (Pantai Falajawa), Jl. Falajawa No.1, Muhajirin, Ternate Tengah. 24 hours. Dive to see endemic species of walking shark (Hemiscyllum halmahera) or hiu berjalan (in Indonesian). (updated Jul 2022) City views: 11 Taman Moya Mabuku, Moya, Ternate Tengah. 24 hours. A park in a hilly area to see the view of the downtown of Ternate. It is good to go there in the afternoon or evening. Free. (updated Jul 2022) 12 Taman Nukila, Jl. Sultan Muhammad Iskandar Djabir. Seaside park with promenade and benches for viewing the great expanse of land and sea. Also, don't miss the Ternate Landmark — there's a monument to either Vasco da Gama or Magellan— immediately to the south for great selfie and sunrise viewing opportunities. (updated Sep 2020) Graffiti murals dedicated to various punk bands and some figures.
🎯 What to Do
Beaches: 1 Sulamadaha Beach (Pantai Sulamadaha). Pretty black sand beach surrounded by trees with clear calm waters good for snorkeling. (updated Sep 2020) 2 Kastela Beach (Pantai Kastela) (below Fort Kastela). This is a nice beach for watching sunsets. (updated Sep 2020) 3 Jikomalamo Beach (Pantai Jikomalamo). Another nice beach for swimming, snorkeling, and diving. (updated Jan 2021) 4 Bobane Ici Beach (Pantai Bobane Ici). A beautiful beach, It has 2 pools and a cafe. (updated Jan 2021) Hiking: 5 Mount Gamalama. Exercise caution in climbing in consideration of its volcanic volatility and its past eruption in 2011. (updated Nov 2017) Events: Festival Kora-Kora, A maritime festival. It is held every November. Legu Gam, An annual event available during April and located in Lapangan Salero, in front of the Kedaton Museum.
🍜 Food
Budget: Indonesian: 1 Maryam-1, Muhajirin, Central Ternate (Near Ternate Landmark), ☏ +62 852 319 16928. Famous for its delicious satay. (updated Oct 2020) 2 Salero Yellow Rice (Nasi Kuning Salero), Soa Sio, Kota Ternate Utara. 07:00-10:00. Nasi kuning is a cheap food for breakfast. It is a plate of yellow rice with some side dishes like fish and egg. Start from Rp15,000. (updated Jul 2022) Mid-range: Indonesian: 3 Pasar Higienis, Jalan Sultan M. Djabir Sjah. Great place to eat fish especially in the evening. (updated Oct 2020) 4 Rumah Makan Baghdad, Kompleks Pohon Pala, Jl. Wijaya Kusuma, ☏ +62 823 961 06592. 07:00-22:00. Try grilled bubara (giant trevally). (updated Jul 2022) 5 Rumah Makan Lilian, Jl. Sultan M. Djabir Sjah, Ternate Tengah, (200 m walking from Ternate Grand Mosque). Try Gohu ikan is known as Sashimi of Ternate. (updated Jul 2022) Western: 6 Papa Ron's Pizza, Jatiland Mall, Jl. Jatiland. A pizza place. (updated Jul 2022) Splurge: Indonesian: 7 Pondok Katu Ternate, Kalumpang, Ternate Tengah. 10:00-22:00. Try ketam kenari (coconut crab) cooked in padang sauce or oyster sauce. Rp450,000 for ketam kenari. (updated Jul 2022)
☕ Drinks & Nightlife
1 Kawasan Tapak, Jl. Sultan M. Djabir Sjah. 09:00-22:00. There are many food stalls or hawkers beside the coastline which sell traditional Ternate ginger drinks called air guraka. It is served with some snacks including fried anchovy, fried peanuts, banana chips called pisang mulu bebe, and sambal roa. Start from Rp5,000. (updated Jul 2022)
🛏️ Where to Stay
1 Hotel Vista, Jl. Pahlawan Revolusi, Muhajirin, Ternate Tengah, ☏ +62 921 3119547. Hotel Vista is a neat hotel with plenty of rooms right in the center. A simple breakfast is delivered to the hotel room early in the morning. Rp300,000. (updated Oct 2020) 2 Muara Hotel and Mall Ternate, Jl. Merdeka No.19, Gamalama, Ternate Tengah (Near Fort Oranje), ☏ +62 921 3125553. It has balcony room with the view of Mount Gamalama, Fort Oranje, city beaches and island of Halmahera. There is also a supermarket on first floor. Start from Rp371,250. (updated Jul 2022) 3 Sahid Bela Ternate (rebrand from Grand Dafam Bela Ternate), Jl Jati Raya No. 500, ☏ +62 921 3121800. The 4-star hotel in Ternate. Start from Rp630,822. 4 Wisma Aira, Jl. Sultan Khairun, toll-free: +62 821 2391 6159. An economical homestay option. A/C and smoke-free. Lounge with viewing area of surroundings. Rp160,000-200,000. (updated Sep 2020)
⚠️ Stay Safe
Mount Gamalama is an active volcano. The last eruption in December 2011 shut down air traffic in the region and killed 4 people in a lahar.