Makassar (Sulawesi) weather in December

December in Makassar: sweltering, soaked, with muggy air — not the time — 29 rainy days.

Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis

Makassar🇮🇩 Indonesia · Java, Bali & Nusa Tenggara · City44
  1. 45Jan
  2. 46Feb
  3. 49Mar
  4. 52Apr
  5. 55May
  6. 58Jun
  7. 65Jul
  8. 74Aug
  9. 70Sep
  10. 62Oct
  11. 51Nov
  12. 44Dec

#12 of 12 months in Makassar · #1266 of 1413 destinations to visit in December · comfort 44/100 (tier F)

Days
30°C
Nights
24°C
Wet days
29
Sun
7.3 h
Humidity
87%
Daylight
12 h
Makassar, Indonesia
Photo: muallim nur · Pexels

Traveller notes on Makassar in December

Other months in Makassar

Forum posters discussing Indonesia's wider wet season note February typically runs a bit drier than January, though rain remains a real presence and some posters describe daily rain potentially continuing well into May depending on the year. It's worth noting Makassar's own 12-month climate record backs the drier-than-January comparison (about 26 rainy days in February versus January's 30) but doesn't support treating February as close to the season's end - the city's genuinely drier stretch doesn't arrive until around July-September. Posters describing Makassar itself note it runs hot in a similar way to Brisbane in December, with southern Sulawesi generally considered a reasonable place to be this time of year despite the rain. Posters generally rate February as still solidly wet season for Makassar, marginally better than January but far from the year's driest stretch.
Tripadvisor community · February · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗
Forum posters describe August as sitting in the region's drier season, with generally good conditions for travel compared to the wetter months, even though some rain remains part of the picture rather than a fully dry stretch. Temperatures are described by one poster as 'a bit hot, just like Brisbane in December' - warm and humid but not extreme. Posters recommend Makassar as a worthwhile stop for diving, fishing and jetboat activities on the water, generally framing it as an underrated base compared to more heavily-touristed parts of Indonesia, with August's drier conditions supporting a full slate of outdoor activities.
Tripadvisor community · August · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗

Add your own note from Makassar's card on the map.

Makassar climate normals — December

Daytime high30°C / 87°F🔥 sweltering
Nighttime low24°C / 75°F
Feels like (high)36°C / 97°F
Sea temperature31°C / 87°F♨️ bath-warm
Rainfall400 mm / 15.8 in⛈ soaked
Rainy days29 days
Humidity87%💦 very humid
Dew point24°C / 76°F
Sunshine7.3 h/day
Daylight12.4 h
Wind13 km/h / 8 mph
Air quality (US AQI)59🙂 moderate

Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.

Crowds in Makassar in December

How busy the place itself is — school and mass holidays, the months an editor tagged, and how sought-after the weather makes them. Never part of the comfort score.

Peak crowdsChristmas and New Year, Year-end break in Indonesia, school holidays in 5 of the markets that fill it(estimated)

JFMAMJJASOND

Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet

Best months for Makassar's weather

Ranked by this destination's own climate comfort score across the year — a different thing from how busy it gets (see Crowds above).

Toughest weatherMakassar's weather peaks July–September, best around August.

JFMAMJJASOND

Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather

What's on in Makassar in December

Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.

  • Holiday

    Christmas and New Year

    18 Dec – 5 JanChristmas & New YearCrowdedBook early

    Eastern Indonesia's Christian holiday traffic runs through this airport, so the flights to Toraja, Manado and the Malukus are the tightest they get all year. Source ↗

  • Season

    Wet season

    MonsoonRisk

    29 rainy days and about 400 mm in the month — the real kind of rainy season, not afternoon showers.

    from the climate normals

What's on around the world in December →

Where is Makassar?

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Makassar in December — FAQ

Is December a good time to visit Makassar?
December in Makassar: sweltering, soaked, with muggy air — not the time — 29 rainy days. It ranks #12 of 12 months for Makassar on SeasonMap's comfort score (44/100).
What is the weather like in Makassar in December?
In December, Makassar averages a daily high of 30.3°C and a low of 24.1°C, with about 400.3 mm of rain over roughly 29.1 rainy days.
What is the air quality in Makassar in December?
Makassar has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 59 in December.