Manado is the capital city of the Indonesian province of North Sulawesi. It is the second largest city in Sulawesi after Makassar, with the 2020 Census giving a population of 451,916 distributed over a land area of 162.53 km². The Manado metropolitan area has a population of 1.2 million as of 2018. The city is located adjacent to the Bay of Manado, and is surrounded by a mountainous area.
Manado is among Indonesia's top-five tourism priorities. The city is served by Sam Ratulangi International Airport, which has direct international flights to the Philippines, Singapore, and China, as well as many domestic destinations. Bunaken National Park is one of the city's most famous tourist attractions. The city is also known for its Christian-majority population, and holds the country's biggest Christmas celebration annually. It is also recognised as one of the most tolerant and peaceful cities in Indonesia.