Balikpapan is a city (population 309,234 as of 1990) on the island of Borneo, in Indonesia. It is the second largest city in the province of East Kalimantan. It is located on an inlet of Makassar Strait, about 115 km from Samarinda , the capital city of East Kalimantan. Mostly surrounded by sea, Balikpapan is an important center of the petroleum, mining, and timber industries.

The city is sometimes called the "Main Gate" of East Kalimantan. It has one international airport, called Sepinggan , several harbors such as Semayang and Somber , and one port for the petroleum industry.

Surrounded by a bay, called Balikpapan Bay, the city also has potential for business, such as trades and tourism. Many diverse people live in this peaceful city; Dayak, Bugis, Javanese, and some foreigners.