Although small in size, Ambon island still offers plenty of experiences for adventurous travelers. From exploring the charming Kota Ambon, the main town of the island, to walking up mountains through lush tropical vegetation, there are many undiscovered gems ready for visitors to experience.

The town of Ambon, Kota Ambon, is known as ‘Ambon Manise’ meaning sweet or beautiful Ambon. The name refers to both the beauty of the people here and the beauty of the tropical island location. As one of the earliest places in Indonesia to be occupied by colonial powers, Ambon has a rich and ancient history. Many of the Ambonese today have mixed European and Ambonese heritage.

Get Around

To get around in the downtown Ambon try a becak, a carriage attached to a bicycle. This local transport may not be quick but it’s definitely unique.  Alternatively bemo (local minibus) are also available as well as ojek (motorcycle taxi). To cross Ambon Bay, speedboats are available at the pier where the ferries dock from the other side of the bay.

Get There

Travelers visiting Ambon usually start their flights either from Denpasar, Bali or Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Jakarta. Garuda Indonesia has recently started flying to Ambon, and serves a brand new route from Jakarta to Ternate, North Maluku transiting in Makassar.