Manado, the second largest city in Sulawesi, serves as a gateway to the island primarily because of its airport. Standing by the stunning Bay of Manado and fringed in by forested volcanic mountains, this is a typical Indonesian city. It is the perfect base for visiting the nearby highlands and coral islands of Tomohon, Bunaken, the Lembeh Strait and the Tangkoko Rainforest area. Manado has an urbane charm of its own too, with a friendly Christian population, modern shopping malls, a beautiful waterfront by the bay, and trendy eateries serving delectable Indonesian cuisine.