Manado (Indonesian pronunciation: [maˈnado], Tombulu: Wenang) is the capital city of the Indonesian province of North Sulawesi. It is the second largest city in Sulawesi after Makassar, with the 2020 census giving a population of 451,916, and the official estimates for mid 2022 showing 454,606 inhabitants (228,011 males and 226,595 females), distributed over a land area of 157.26 km2. The Manado metropolitan area had a population of 1,365,237 as of mid 2022.
The city is situated on the Bay of Manado, and is surrounded by a mountainous area.Manado is among Indonesia's top-five tourism priorities and Bunaken National Park is one of the city's most famous tourist attractions. The city is served by Sam Ratulangi International Airport, which connects Manado with various domestic destinations, as well as international destinations in East Asia and Southeast Asia.
The city is also known for its Christian-majority population, and holds the country's biggest Christmas celebration annually.
It is also recognised as one of the most tolerant and peaceful cities in Indonesia.
*Modoinding. Agro-tourism place, where all kind of vegetables and spices come from, to supply the demands of east part of Indonesia, the area is about above sea level. The place is cool and you will find Modoinding valley with Moat Lake with Bukit Doa on the east, very beautiful place. There is also Ambang National Park where you can see Golden Owl as favourite for bird watching activity. About from Manado. You also able to stay in the community house, traditional Minahasan wooden house for Rp 200,000 a night for the small house with western toilet and shower.
*Day trip to Bunaken: Manado is famous throughout the region for its diving areas. Bunaken is one of the well-known national marine park in Indonesia. 30 minutes boat ride. See its Wikivoyage article for more information. *Day trip to Tangkoko Nature Reserve: home of tarsiers and macaques, about from Manado. 1-2 hours ride. See its Wikivoyage article for more information.
Manadonese food is famous throughout Indonesia for two things: the Minahasa eat absolutely anything, and the flavour of choice is very spicy. Sugar is used little if at all, with flavour added through lemon and herbs. Being Christian, the Minahasa also often marinate meat in alcohol and favour pork. More exotic protein options include cats, forest rats, fruit bats, and dogs, the last of which is the obligatory centrepiece of any wedding ceremony or Christmas feast. Classic dishes include: *ikan mas bakar rica, grilled spicy fish cooked in traditional style, using a piece of coconut shell as a way of cooking. Grilled together with chilli, that poured in the fish while cooking. *ikan mas goreng, fish fried till the soft bone is crunchy. *ayam rica-rica, grilled chicken topped with a fiery red chilli-and-onion paste *ikan mas woku balanga, fish simmered in herbs *babi tore, fried pork until crunched with a lot of chilli *perkedel milu, corn fritters *tinutuan (or bubur manado), a goopy porridge of rice, pumpkin, noodles and random vegetables; doesn't look very attractive, but it can be tasty and, for once, not spicy. *miedal, very similar to tinutuan (same sauce), but using noodles instead of rice. *biapong, a Chinese-style bun dumpling, what is called 'bao' in Chinese, is called biapong here. Different fillings are available.
Dutch settlement here has also brought in a few surprising influences, notably: *brenebon (bruine bonesoep), a rich red kidney bean soup, comes in two versions, savoury (as a side dish) and sweet (for desserts). *klappertaart, a western-style coconut cake.
These two kind of drinks are made from Palm trees: *saguer, *cap tikus Please drink responsibly, some locals have a bad habit of drinking irresponsibly. A major crime problem in town is caused by drunkards.
There are also some coffee shops. *
Manado is Sulawesi's other bustling centre of business and tourism. And with demand to match, the prices here are higher than elsewhere in Sulawesi. However, if you are willing to pay up, luxury options that you haven't seen since Makassar are available here.
Manado is quite far from the rest of Indonesia, and most visitors arrive by plane.
The main ways of getting around are ojek/ompreng, moped taxis that can be a bit scary, or with Mikrolets (mikros), the blue minibuses that you jump on just standing by the street. They all have a certain route, and within a day one should figure out how it works.
The capital of the province, the former stronghold of the Dutch (called Menado during Dutch colonial times), and the cultural centre of the Minahasa people, for a long time Manado prospered through trade with the nearby Philippines, and the spice trade with the rest of the world. Alas, the bombings of World War II, and the suppression of a local insurgency in the 1950s flattened most of Manado's older buildings. While by Indonesian standards still relatively prosperous, most visitors will be rather less impressed and head straight to the islands and reefs of nearby Bunaken. Unlike much of the rest of predominantly-Muslim Indonesia, Protestant Christianity is the dominant religion in Manado.
