Kuta Lombok was everything we needed after having climbed the Rinjani. With a hotel that offered gluten free breakfast, plenty of restaurants to choose from and some amazing beaches on a stone’s throw away, we felt like we had made it to paradise. Besides offering some nice shops and places to eat, Kuta itself is not that exciting, but its surroundings are breathtaking. From charming villages to stunning cliffs and turquoise waters, there are plenty of things to do in Kuta Lombok for every type of traveler, which I have listed below.
Best Time to Visit Kuta, Lombok
We visited in October, and while you can expect dry weather, the land is super dry too, as you will be approaching the rainy season that starts in November to March. If you want to experience the lush landscape, I would recommend going in May, June or September. July and August is high season. April can also be great because of bluer skies but green landscapes.
How to Get to Kuta, Lombok
1. By Plane
The easiest way to get to Kuta, Lombok is by plane. We flew from Surabaya to the island’s international airport, but you can fly from nearly anywhere in Indonesia and East Asia. We found the cheapest tickets via Skyscanner, which I love for their flexible search option. After landing in Lombok, you can book a minivan or taxi via 12go in advance, or take a Grab, but more on that below!
2. By Boat
You can also reach Lombok by boat. One of the most popular travel routes goes from Bali to Lombok, where you can stop on Nusa Penida or one of the Gili’s, like Gili Trawangan, along the way. On Bali, you can take a fast boat from Padang Bai, Sanur Port or Serangan Port to Bangsal Harbor on Lombok. You could also take the public ferry from here, which is cheaper and less rocky than the fast boat, but a lot slower. Find the cheapest fast boat tickets here, or just show up at the port and buy your tickets there if you are taking the public boat.
Tip! Boat rides can get rough and your stuff might get wet, which is why having travel insurance is super important. Heymondo has some great plans fit for any traveler, which you can check out here.
Another ferry option comes from Sumbawa. While you could fly from Lombok’s eastern neighbor, you could also take a public ferry or fast boat from there. From Poto Tano Harbor on East Sumbawa it will take you about 1.5 hours to get to Labuan Kayangan on West Lombok by fast boat, which runs multiple times a day, but there are also some public options which generally leave once or twice per day.
If you love surfing, you are probably staying somewhere close to Benete Port in Maluk on Sumbawa’s south-west coast. From here you can sail to Labuan Kayangan on Lombok as well, which will take 1.5 hours and costs around 135.000 Rp.
How to Get Around
Grab is by far the best way to get around Indonesia. South-East Asia’s Uber will offer you cheap rides for short distances, and can even be affordable for longer stretches between cities. However, you will need reliable data for it to work, which is why we tried Airalo for the first time on this trip. Making it possible to purchase an e-sim through their app from nearly every country, Airalo made our time in Indonesia a lot easier. Set-up was super easy and prices were not too high, which is why I recommend it to anyone traveling to countries outside of their data plan.
Tip! Already a great thing to do early on in this guide: booking a dirt bike tour around Kuta to get an adventurous look at the city’s surroundings.
The more fun way to get around Kuta is to rent a motorbike. We did so as soon as we arrived and had the best time racing around the island’s southern parts. However, it is more dangerous than a Grab and you should have some experience driving a motor. There are rental places everywhere in Kuta, so no need to reach out weeks in advance. Once you pick it up, just make sure that your bike has a license plate and a helmet that fits you. A full guide on how to rent a motorbike on Lombok is coming soon!
Where to Stay in Kuta Lombok
We stayed at the El Tropico Boutique Hotel and had the time of our lives. Upon arrival we got upgraded to the suite which had a massive bed and bathroom including a tub, and the chef came to talk to me about my dietary requirements after asking for gluten free breakfast. Besides some amazing service, the hotel is a stunner. With two pools and a poolside restaurant service you will never have to leave your hotel (but we will, as there is so much to explore).
Another great hotel which we considered is Martas Windows, which offers small poolside villas besides gorgeous rooms as well. Similar to El Tropico, their rooms and villas encircle the pool. Or book a stay at the green Jivana resort, where you can not only swim in their natural looking pool, but also rent a villa with its own pond. Whatever hotel you choose, Kuta knows how to pamper you.
11 Best Things to Do in Kuta Lombok
While the town of Kuta itself does not have a lot to offer besides some great (gluten free) food experiences, there is plenty to do around the area. With its many accommodation and restaurant options, Lombok’s southern town is the perfect base to explore the island from.
1. Go Surfing
Lombok is a great island for surfing, with the well-known Desert Point wave, said to be one of the best waves in the world. Whether you are a beginner or a pro, Lombok has got waves that suit any type of surfer. Kuta itself is a surf town, with many shops selling boards, suits and other types of gear, as well as being a Walhalla for surf camps. If you are a beginner or an intermediate surfer looking to up your skill, I would recommend booking a couple of nights, or even a week, at a surf camp.
Tip! Book a complete surf tour that takes you to multiple beaches and breaks in one day
We went to a surf camp on Bali and had an absolute blast, but Kuta Lombok might be your preferred choice, as it tends to be less crowded than Uluwatu. LMBK Surf House, Xanadu Surf & Yoga and Kura Kura are just a couple of options. Prefer to take it at your own pace though? Then go to Selong Belanak Beach like we did, which is one of the best beaches for beginners, and rent your own board or book a lesson at one of the surf sheds.
2. Visit a Sasak Village
The Indigenous people of Lombok are called the Sasak and form about 85% of the island’s population. Related to the Balinese, they are said to have inhabited Lombok since before Christ, but their exact origins remain unclear. Still, their culture is noticeable across the island, and two traditional villages remain which you can visit to learn more about their lives: Sade and Rambitan.
We visited Sade and were immediately greeted by the sound of gamelan, drums and two men sword fighting. They were performing a traditional sport called Peresean, which is an old war tradition now used to welcome guests. While walking around Sade with our guide, he explained about the houses made of clay and cow dung, with thatched roofs and barns built on stilts with upside down umbrellas to keep the rats out. He explained these houses remain much cooler than regular brick houses. Sade also happened to be known as the weaving village, and women learn to weave here at a young age. Buy yourself a sarong while you are there!
One final tip before you go on with the rest of the best things to do in Kuta Lombok: there seems to be some disagreement online whether you should go with a guide or try to enter without one. I would strongly urge you to accept the help of one of the guides, who will approach you as you walk up to the gate. They simultaneously fulfill the role of guide and host, inviting you into their living space, which is not a tourist attraction, although it might seem like it sometimes. For the same reason, do not enter people’s homes without being invited, be respectful and genuinely interested. Finally, always pay your guide. They will not ask for it, but it is a way to show respect and gratitude for their time, and to contribute to the village.
3. Go on a Motorbike Tour
I already talked about how renting a motorbike is the more fun way to get around Kuta, but it is also a fantastic way to explore its surroundings. You can rent one on nearly every corner in the city, just make sure your bike has a license plate (ours didn’t at first) and that your helmet fits. Once you are all set, you can start exploring the coastline and hills around Kuta. One of the beaches below are great destinations for a day trip or make your way through the inland hills and visit its villages. For the more adventurous type, you can also book a dirtbike tour and go offroad, discovering multiple hidden gems along the way.
4. Visit Selong Belanak Beach
Besides surfing, Selong Belanak Beach is a great place for relaxing, a beach stroll and lunch. Its crescent moon beach is surrounded by lush hills, often partly obscured by the spray of the waves. Even if you are not surfing, you can rent a sunbed for the day and watch people frolic in the waves or just read a book. These sunbeds are often free when you decide to have lunch at its corresponding surf shack, which is a great way to try some local cuisine. Prefer a beach club vibe? Then you should check out Laut Biru, which has some amazing papaya juice and pad thai.
5. Visit Tanjung Aan Beach
Another beach that is perfect for beach bums and beginner surfers, is Tanjung Aan. With similar white sands, gorgeous hills and some great food at the myriad beach restaurants, you can easily spend an afternoon here. If you prefer a more tranquil beach experience, this is the place to go, as it is a little quieter than Selong Belanak Beach. Just note, that when you want to go surfing here, you will probably need a boat ride out as the break is further out on the water.
If you have already tried Tanjung Aan and Selong Belanak, then you should not worry because there are plenty more beaches around. Kuta itself has a beach called Mandalika, which is just on a 10-minute walk from the town, while you could also drive to the next beach called Seger Beach. Other great, more idyllic and secluded beaches than the ones closest to Kuta, are the Katil, Bilasayak, and Teluk Ujung beaches.
6. Visit the Goa Bangkang Prabu and Gua Sumur Caves
Also known as the Bat Caves, the Goa Bangkang Prabu and Gua Sumur Caves are a popular destination for those who love adventure and wildlife. The experience costs about 50.000 IDR per person and the caves are on about a ten-minute drive from Kuta. We unfortunately did not get to experience the gorgeous light that is said to come through holes in the cave, but we will visit next time.
7. Go Out for Dinner
Kuta, Lombok is the perfect place to go out for dinner. With its plethora of trendy restaurants, it has got nearly everything you crave without having that massive touristy feel. One of my favorite restaurants in town was Knalpot, an Asian European fusion restaurant which served rendang bitterballen and even had a speakeasy with incredible cocktails. I also wrote a complete gluten free Kuta guide, which has plenty of other restaurants in there for you to try!
8. Go Shopping for New Bathing Suits
Because Kuta is a surfer’s paradise, it has got a couple of great stores for surf boards, wetsuits and bathing suits. While you can find the mainstream brands here like Billabong, many stores also sell local brands from Lombok and Bali. I bought two new bikinis here and saw so many more great ones, I wanted to take everything home with me. If you get bored of trying on bathing suits, however, there are a couple of local homeware and jewelry stores too. Make sure to go shopping at night, as the temperatures drop and it is way more comfortable when the burning sun has set.
9. Visit the Secret Gilis
Gili Trawangan, Air and Meno are incredibly popular, which our trip to Gili Trawangan proved ten times over. However, did you know Lombok is also home to a couple of small islands called the Secret Gilis? These three islands are the Gili’s smaller sister, with Gilli Kedis being the smallest: it has nothing but beautiful coral reefs and booming sea life. The other two islands, Gili Sudak and Gili Nanggu, do offer accommodation, with Gili Sudak having only one hotel, while Nanggu has two. You could book a day trip, or choose one of the two islands with hotels and spend a couple of days there, soaking up the gorgeous sea life and solitude.
10. Daytrip to Tiu Kelep Waterfall
This is one of the things I strongly regret not doing when we were on Lombok: visiting the Tiu Kelep Waterfall. After hiking the Rinjani we were so knackered, we did not care, but it would have been worth it in the end. This waterfall is often used as Lombok’s postcard: with lush green rainforests circling the water, it is the perfect place to unwind after the one-and-a-half-hour climb. The best way to see it is to book a tour with a guide, which will take you past the Sendang Gile waterfall and Selong Hill viewpoint as well.
11. Daytrip to the Benang Stokel and Benang Kelambu Waterfalls
On just an hour drive from Kuta, you will find a couple of other stunning waterfalls: Benang Stokel and Benang Kelambu. Smaller than Tiu Kelep, they are also less popular and might therefore be a more authentic experience. The trek to the waterfalls will also just take you thirty minutes, making it the perfect day trip from Lombok. If you go in the morning, you can even be back at the beach by noon! Prefer to make a day out of it? Then book a tour that includes a trip to the Sukarara weaving village as well.
Final Thoughts on the Best Things to do In Kuta Lombok
With so many great things to do, Kuta Lombok is one of the best places to visit on your trip to Lombok in my opinion. We had a splendid time here, filled with good food and great beaches, and will return one day. Doing a complete tour of Lombok and its neighboring islands sounds amazing to our ears, and is at the top of our bucket list.
If Kuta’s beachy vibes sound nice, but you would like a little more adventure, then check out my Rinjani Trekking guide, where I tell you everything you need to know before hiking Lombok’s only volcano. For those visiting the rest of the country too, I have plenty of Indonesia guides out there, so go check them out. If you would like to stay up to date with all of my travel guides, then sign up to my newsletter, or follow me on Instagram.
