Reaching Indonesia’s future capital city Nusantara is becoming more accessible thanks to major infrastructure developments. The most prominent among them is the construction of the Nusantara International Airport (Bandar Udara Internasional Nusantara) and a series of toll roads connecting the capital to Balikpapan. While in the future, visitors will be able to fly directly to Nusantara, for now, traveling through Balikpapan remains the only viable option.

Nusantara International Airport has been operating since 12 June 2025, but as of October 2026 it only serves state, government and charter flights. A draft presidential regulation to make it a public airport has been submitted (August 2026), and we found no report that it has been issued. Construction began on 1 November 2023, and the airport covers 347 hectares with a 3,000 metre runway.

Bandar Udara Internasional Nusantara

In the meantime, travelers looking to visit Nusantara must fly into Sultan Aji Muhammad Sulaiman Sepinggan International Airport (IATA: BPN) in Balikpapan, which is the nearest commercial airport. This airport serves both domestic and international flights and is currently the main entry point for those heading to Nusantara. The overland journey from Balikpapan to Nusantara spans around 60 kilometers, usually taking about two hours by car, depending on road conditions.

The toll road from Balikpapan to IKN is not in full operation as of October 2026. It has opened on a limited basis in holiday periods, such as Christmas and New Year 2025/2026 and 13 to 29 March 2026. A limited opening for Christmas and New Year 2026/2027 is being prepared, but the regulator has not set a date. Outside announced periods, use the regular road, about 2 hours. See Getting From the Airport to Nusantara for details.

Currently, the journey to Nusantara involves a combination of air and road travel:

• First, fly into Balikpapan’s airport (BPN).
• Then, travel overland via existing roads or partially completed toll roads toward the government center in Nusantara.

In the near future, once the Nusantara International Airport is open to commercial flights and key toll road sections are completed, traveling to the new capital will be much faster and more convenient. These developments are critical to supporting the broader vision of Nusantara, which aims to become a smart, green capital and accommodate up to 2 million residents by 2045.

For now, while visiting Nusantara requires an extra step through Balikpapan, infrastructure progress is steady.