On holiday it’s always a pleasure to get away from what you see everyday and soak in some different views. North Sulawesi has so much to see, it’s an absolute feast for the eyes. From the white sandy beaches, to volcanic lakes and lush mountains, you will have your breath taken almost everywhere you go. Here are 5 places you don’t want to miss for their picturesque views in North Sulawesi.

1. Bukit Kasih

Also known as The Hill of Love, Bukit Kasih is an interesting spot about 50 kilometres south of Manado city. The name comes from the aim of this spiritual centre to bring people from all religious and cultural backgrounds together.

Here you can find places of worship for 5 different religions – Islam, Christianity, Catholicism, Hinduism, and Buddhism. There are no less than 2,435 steps to get to the peak of the hill but once there the views are truly breathtaking.

2. Lake Tondano

Just around 36 kilometres from Manado’s city centre, Lake Tondano is a major tourist attraction in North Sulawesi. This is the largest lake in region and is in a stunning area of natural beauty in the highlands.

Lake Tondano is home to Minahasan fishermen that breed colourful fish in the lake and also fish in traditional ways and live in wonderful stilted houses over the lake.

From Gangga Islands Resort & Spa it is easy to book a day trip that take in the lake. You can find more information on that here: Explore the Highlands of Manado

3. Bunaken Island

We can’t forget underwater scenes when talk about picturesque places in North Sulawesi. Gangga Divers at Gangga Island Resort & Spa take trips into the Bunaken National Marine Park for diving.

The underwater landscapes here are absolutely spectacular and teeming with marine life of every shape, size and colour. Underwater photography enthusiasts will be overwhelmed with the shooting options.

4. Blessing Jesus Statue

One of the icons of Manado City is the Tuhan Yesus Memberkati or the Blessing Jesus Statue. You don’t have to be religious to appreciate this enormous statue, which is actually the second largest in the world next to Rio de Janeiro’s Christ the Redeemer.

Standing over Manado on the edge of the Ciputra housing complex, the 50 metre high statue looks to be blessing the population of the city. This is a great place to take some pictures and look out on the skyline views.

5. Gangga Island

Gangga Island is just a dot on the map just off the coast of Manado. There is only one resort and 2 small villages, Gangga I and Gangga II. This means long stretches of idyllic white sand lined by swaying palms and crystal clear water. If you’re looking for picturesque beach scenes, it doesn’t get much better than this.

The resort’s private jetty makes for a picture-perfect viewpoint or you can look out from your lounger on the beach to the other islands dotted in the distance.

Jaw dropping landscapes

This is only 5 places in North Sulawesi with jaw dropping views but there are so many more. You’ll have to explore to find the place you find most impressive.

We’d love to hear about what kind of views really take your breath away – mountains, beaches or underwater landscapes. Leave a comment below to let us know.