Ternate's main draw is its extraordinary history: the island's Portuguese and Dutch forts, the old Sultan's Palace, and the volcanic cone of Gunung Gamalama that dominates everything. A half-day tour on foot or by ojek (motorcycle taxi) covers the main historical sites on the flat coast road; climbing Gamalama takes a full day and requires a guide.
The Bacan and Tidore crossings offer easy excursions to neighbouring islands with their own ruins, climbs, and spice-trade history.