Tickets start around IDR 25,000 for the Damri Bus Samarinda
The Damri Bus Samarinda runs between Aji Pangeran Tumenggung Pranoto International Airport (terminal 1) and central Samarinda, giving you a cheap alternative to taxis that often run above IDR 150,000. It’s a standard city-style bus, not an airport coach, so expect basic seating and limited luggage space compared with a private car.
Services usually line up with daytime arrivals, with most departures running in a loose 07:00–18:00 window, but you won’t find a perfectly timed schedule posted at every stop. The key detail: the bus departs from the ground transport area in front of terminal 1, outside arrivals, after you exit baggage claim and walk roughly 100–150 meters toward the marked public transport bays.
Tickets are typically paid on board in cash, and recent reports mention fares in the IDR 25,000–40,000 range per person, depending on distance and any local adjustments. Have small bills (IDR 10,000 and IDR 20,000 notes) ready, because drivers rarely carry enough change for IDR 100,000 and above, and card or app-based payments are generally not available.
The route covers the airport–Samarinda corridor in about 45–70 minutes, depending on traffic on the Samarinda–Balikpapan road and city congestion near key stops. You’ll usually be dropped along main corridors in Samarinda rather than right at hotel doors, so plan on adding a short Gojek, Grab, or local angkot ride of 5–15 minutes if your accommodation is away from the main road.
Seating is first-come, first-served, and there is no formal luggage limit, but once the bus fills its roughly 30–40 seats, standing passengers become common on busy afternoon runs. If you’re hauling large checked bags over 20 kg or carrying bulky sports gear, boarding earlier in the queue at the terminal 1 stop helps you claim space near the front door or the rear bench.
Practical tip: before you exit terminal 1, stop at an ATM in the arrivals hall to pull at least IDR 100,000 in small notes so you can pay the Damri fare quickly and avoid scrambling for change at the bus door.