Kuta Lombok Travel Guide: 17 Things To Do, Where to Eat & Stay
Kuta Lombok is a small village on the southern tip of Lombok Island that has experienced massive development for tourism in the past decade, and is what travel agents are calling the “New Bali”. While you won’t find even 1/100th of the tourist crowds in Lombok that Bali attractions, you can now get a real wood-fired pizza, iced Americano, and 100 MBPS wifi – all of which is attracting more international tourists than ever before.
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✔️ Kuta Lombok Quick Guide
🏝 Best Things to Do
– Attend a surf camp
– Visit the Secret Gilis
– Climb Mt. Rinjani
🌊 Best Beaches
– Selong Belanak Beach – Swimming and relaxing
– Tanjung Aan – Surfing, swimming, and relaxing
– Seger – Surfing and sunset viewpoint
🏨 Where to Stay
$$$ Luxury – Novotel Resort Kuta Lombok
$$ Mid-Tier – El Tropico Boutique Hotel
$ Budget – Pipes Hostel Kuta Lombok
🛵 How to Get Around
By scooter, there are no taxis or Grab in Kuta Lombok.
✈️ How to Get There
By a quick flight to LOP Airport, or by ferry from Bali or the Gili islands + shuttle service.
Best Places to Stay in Kuta Lombok
Although more remote, the prices for accommodation in Kuta Lombok are similar to those in Bali, because most of the hotels and hostels are new developments. You can find a place to stay in Kuta Lombok for pretty much every budget and style of traveler. Here are the places I recommend:
$ Budget – Pipes Hostel Kuta Lombok
$$ Mid-Tier – El Tropico Hotel
$$$ Luxury – Novotel Resort Kuta Lombok
Why Visit Kuta Lombok?
As someone who has spent around three months in Kuta Lombok, I would recommend it to people coming to Indonesia looking for a place to surf, or those who are overwhelmed by the crowds in Bali and are seeking a more untouched paradise. There are some attractions on Lombok Island for travelers, like climbing Mt. Rinjani and visiting the secret Gili Islands, but these are all quite far from Kuta Lombok. Within Kuta itself, there’s not that much to do if I’m being honest!
The Best Time to Visit Kuta Lombok
The best time to visit Kuta Lombok is during Indonesia’s Dry Season, which spans from April to October. The Rainy Season, also called the Monsoon Season, goes from October to March. I’ve been to Kuta Lombok in both the rainy and the dry seasons, and the rainy season wasn’t too terrible in my experience.
17 Things to Do in Kuta Lombok
I’m gonna be honest, there isn’t that much to do in Kuta Lombok. The beaches are nice, but if you’re not a surfer, I probably wouldn’t recommend visiting for the activities alone. That being said, Lombok as a whole has tons of hidden gems and great activities, and Kuta is a great hub for travelers visiting the island.
1. Surf!
Surfing is the #1 thing to do in Kuta Lombok, it’s the reason for most of the development in the area. If you’re just learning how to surf, I recommend taking a surf camp as I found it pretty difficult to arrange private surf lessons in Kuta Lombok.
🏄♀️ My favorite surf spots in Kuta Lombok
- 🏆 Seger – “Secret Spot”
- Tanjung Aan – Most popular, good for beginners
- Gerupuk – More advanced, Inside spot is good at all tides
Keep Reading: My Guide to Staying at a Surf Camp in Kuta Lombok
2. Party
Kuta Lombok is a surprisingly pretty hot party spot, with many travelers going straight from the surf to the bars. Although there have been some huge treehouse-style clubs and bars built recently along the Mandalika Beach Walk, I’ve never seen anyone in them! Instead, most partiers stick crawling the smaller bars that line Kuta’s main street.
These are the top party bars in Kuta Lombok
- Rasta Bar
- Surfers’ Bar
- El Garito
My experience staying in a surf camp for 2 weeks in Kuta lombok + Tips!
3. Enjoy the View from Ryans Cafe or Ashtari Viewpoint Restaurants
A little bit of a drive out of the center, you can watch the rolling waves come in on the beach from one of Kuta’s viewpoint restaurants. Ryans is more lowkey, while Ashtari is a bit trendier.
4. Have Some Good International Food
Kuta Lombok has such good food. It has authentic international cuisine for the expat population in the area, as well as fantastic local fish BBQs that spring up every night featuring the daily catches.
My Favorite Restaurants in Kuta Lombok
- FishBones Warung – Indonesian BBQ
- Mama’s Pizza – Wood-fired pizza
- Cantina Mexicana – Pretty Good Mexican Food & Cocktails
- MILK Espresso – Brunch & Coffee
- Bush Radio – Hipster Cafe & Bar
- Ryan’s Cafe – Best Sunset Spot
Keep Reading: My Favorite Restaurants in Kuta Lombok
5. Relax on the Beach
If you’re not into surfing you can still enjoy Kuta’s beaches, but do know that not all of them are good for swimming. If you want to rent a beach bed and relax, or go for a swim on a white-sand beach, I recommend Selong Belanak Beach. Tanjung Aan is also a nice white-sand beach where you can watch the surfers from beach beds and little local warungs that line the shore.
Best Swimming & Surf Spots in Kuta Lombok Ranked
- 🏊♀️ 🏄♀️ Tanjung Aan: Top Beach for Surfing and Swimming
- 🏄♀️ Gerupuk Bay: Great Surf Spot for All Levels
- 🏄♀️ 🌄 Seger: Kuta’s “Secret Beach” for Surfing & Sunsets
- 🏊♀️ 🐃 Selong Belanak: Unique Spot With Buffalos 40-min from Town
- 🏊♀️ Kuta Beach: Located Right in the Center of Town
- 🏄♀️ Mawi: Remote “Secret” Beach for Adventurous Travelers
- 🏄♀️ Ekas Surf Spot: Hard to Reach & Less Crowded
Keep Reading: Best Beaches in Kuta Lombok
6. Watch the Sunset from Seger Beach Viewpoint
Seger was my favorite beach for surfing in Kuta Lombok. If you’re not a surfer, there’s a viewpoint you can walk up to which is the best sunset spot in town. Although the rock looks tall, it only takes 5 minutes to reach the peak of the viewpoint at Seger.
💡 Tip! Bring small change, the locals charge 10K IDR for parking at Seger Beach.
7. Visit Kuta Beach SkatePark
Surfing and skateboarding go hand in hand, so it would make sense that Kuta Lombok has a skate park! Kuta Beach Skatepark is a new facility that has beach-front views, it’s a great addition to the town.
8. Visit Bangkang Bat Cave
Goa Bangkang Prabu is a cave conveniently located a short drive from Kuta Lombok. Housing over 2 million bats, visiting this cave is an interesting experience. Only accessible via a narrow staircase leading to the main chamber, the cave has a small opening in the roof, allowing a beam of light to filter through between 11:30 AM and 3:00 PM—This is the best time to visit.
While the cave itself isn’t that exciting, the lighting during this time creates a stunning backdrop for photography, often enhanced by the cave staff lighting a small fire with dry coconut husks to make the beam more visible through the smoke. Beyond its photographic appeal, Goa Bangkang Prabu is also a habitat for various non-venomous pythons, which rest in the cave during daylight hours.
Note! While I think that Goa Bangkang Cave is a cool spot to visit, it’s important to mention the bat feces in the cave create an overwhelming unpleasant odor that some travelers can’t handle – Especially in the mid-day heat!
9. Visit Benang Kelambu and Benang Stokel Waterfall
Benang Kelambu and Benang Stokel Waterfall are the two most popular waterfalls to visit from Kuta Lombok. Approximately 1.5 hours north of Kuta, in central Lombok near Mount Rinjani, you can visit both waterfalls in a day trip from town.
Each waterfall is located around a 30-minute hike from the parking lot, but you have the option to pay a local around 50,000 IDR to take you to the entrance via motorbike if you want to save time. There is a bit of a tourism mafia at these waterfalls. I’ve written about the Indonesian Tourist Mafias I encountered while visiting Mt. Batur Volcano and Wae Rebo Traditional Village. Basically, the locals who live near the waterfall will pressure foreigners to pay for a guided tour for activities that do not require one. It’s a complicated topic because the locals need to make money in some way, but it’s annoying.
💡 Tip! The waterfalls get super crowded on the weekends or during the afternoon. It’s best to come as early as possible if you want to have a better experience.
10. Work Out in A Treehouse
I was a member of Xeno Fitness Treehouse gym for my first month in Kuta Lombok. It’s very expensive by Indonesian standards, but the place is insane.
11. Attend a Moto Race at the Mandalika International Circuit
You wouldn’t guess that Kuta Lombok has an international-quality motor racing track, but it does! 10 minutes outside of town is the huge Mandalika International Circuit track that hosts the annual Moto GP Race.
12. Take a Walk Down the Mandalika Beach Walk
Kuta has received a massive infrastructure upgrade in recent years, and one of the major additions was the Mandalika Beach Walk. A wide and well-paved boulevard lined with bars, shops, and convenience stores, you’ll see locals and tourists alike hanging out on the Beach Walk at all hours of the day.
13. Climb Mount Rinjani
Mount Rinjani is the largest volcano hike in Indonesia. At 3,726m / 12,224ft, Mount Rinjani is one of the tallest peaks in SE Asia. For serious climbers only, you can embark from Kuta Lombok for a 3 or 4-day hiking trip up Rinjani where campers sleep on the mountain.
14. Swim at Lombok’s Pink Beach
Lombok is fortunate to boast one of the world’s only naturally pink beaches, located 1.5 – 2 hours to the east of Kuta. Although not as intensely pink as the one located in Komodo National Park, Lombok’s Pink Beach still has a noticeable pinkish hue. There’s not much at the beach, it’s little more than a sandbar, but you can go snorkeling and enjoy the blue water.
Note! The sand at this beach has a pinkish hue, but it’s not as pink as what you’ll find in the Komodos, so set your expectations accordingly!
15. Visit Sade and Rambitan Traditional Villages
Sade and Rambitan Traditional Villages are located right next to Kuta Lombok, around a 15-minute drive from the center. While designed for tourists and may feel somewhat inauthentic, you can look past the souvenir shops to appreciate the charm of Lombok’s Traditional Villages. Sade village is particularly popular with tourists. Known for unique fabric-making, these villages showcase houses crafted from woven bamboo mats. Guided tours operate on a donation basis.
16. Visit the Secret Gilis
The Secret Gilis form a cluster of islands situated in the southern part of Lombok. In contrast to the more renowned trio of Gili islands—Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno, and Gili Air—these lesser-known gems include Gili Kedis, Gili Nanggu, Gili Sudak, Tangkong, Layar, and Rengit.
The journey to Lembar Harbor, where many snorkeling excursions commence, takes approximately one hour from Kuta Lombok. Many of the Secret Gilis are nothing more than sandy patches adorned with palm trees. While the Secret Gilis make for an ideal day trip from Kuta, those with more time can opt to extend their stay for a few nights.
17. Take a Komodo Boat Tour
Taking a Komodo Boat Tour is one of the best things I have done in all of my travels in Indonesia. The Komodo Archipelago is a string of 30-odd islands that lie between Lombok and Flores. Each island has its own unique landscape and natural wildlife, with the most iconic being the eponymous Komodo Dragons. Typically visited on multi-day all-inclusive cruises, visiting the Komodo is one of the best things you can do on your trip to Indonesia.
The Backpackers Boat, which is an ultra-budget Komodo Boat Cruise, embarks from Lombok, sails through the Komodo Islands, and then docks in Flores. If you want to take a more luxurious Komodo Boat Tour, it will embark and dock in Flores – Only the Backpacker’s Boats (which are a lot of fun!) sail from Lombok.
🚢 Related Article -> All of the Different Types of Komodo Boat Tours You Can Book
My Top Tips for Visiting Kuta Lombok
✅ Don’t Get it Confused With Kuta in Bali!
That’s right, there are two Kutas popular with travelers in Indonesia. Kuta Selatan, also known as “Kuta Bali” is the ever-popular tourist hub located right next to Bali’s Denpasar International Airport.
✅ Keep Small Bills on You
Most beaches and attractions in Kuta Lombok charge 10K IDR cash for parking or entrance. Sometimes, there will also be a 5K charge for bathrooms.
✅ Don’t Expect the Best Wifi
There are some cafes and CoWorks with 100MBPS wifi in Kuta Lombok to accommodate its new Digital Nomad crowd, but that’s not the norm. My rental in Kuta Lombok advertised wifi, but with speeds of 1 MBPS, I wound up using local data off my phone and hot-spotting my laptop most of the time.
✅ Get a Scooter
Most of the attractions in Kuta Lombok are located 20-45 minutes outside of Kuta Center, including the surfing beaches. If you don’t know how to drive a scooter it can be difficult to get around the island as they also don’t have any ride-hailing apps like they do in Bali in Kuta Lombok.
🛵 Related Article -> Guide to Scooter Rentals in Indonesia
✅ Be Aware Lombok is Majority Muslim
Every island in Indonesia has its own culture, and that’s why I love traveling this country so much. Lombok Island is majority Muslim, and they have prayer calls. If you’re a light sleeper I recommend bringing earplugs because the earliest prayer call can be at 4:30 AM!
✅ Know That Things Are Pretty Far Apart
Kuta Lombok has a small town center, and most of the best beaches for surfing and swimming require a 15-45 minute drive from town.
✅ Make Friends With a Local
You’re not gonna find the best local warungs, or surf and swim spots on an online article in Lombok. The locals know where to go to miss the tourist crowds better than any blogger!
✅ Know That There’s No Grab
Kuta Lombok is still a small sleepy beach town. I am aware this is changing rapidly, and 10 years from now it might be a mini Bali. As of right now, Kuta Lombok doesn’t have modern amenities like Grab (Indonesia’s version of Uber), or Tokopedia (Indonesia’s Amazon). If you want to get somewhere, you need to drive yourself, and if you need something, you’ll most likely have to drive 1.5 hours to Lombok’s main city of Mataram to get it.
How to Get to Kuta Lombok
It’s relatively easy to reach Kuta Lombok from Bali, the Gili islands, or most major cities in Indonesia.
✈️ By Plane
Lombok’s international airport is conveniently located around 20 minutes from Kuta Lombok, so it’s easy to fly in from. Flights from Bali to Kuta Lombok run multiple times per day, every day. These flights are expensive compared to other internal short-distance flights in Indonesia. It’s around $70 each way, and checked luggage is paid per Kilo.
⛴ By Ferry from Bali
There is also a ferry and fast boat that runs multiple times per day from Bali to/from the Gili Islands and Kuta Lombok.
The journey goes Bali > boat to the Gill Islands > Bangsal harbor in Lombok > car shuttle to Kuta Lombok.
The boat companies sell boats and shuttles as a package, so you don’t have to book each leg of the trip independently. The typical tourist trail for Kuta Lombok is to visit it after the Gili Islands and before embarking on a Komodo Islands Boat Tour that departs from Lombok.
👉 Note! If you’re taking the speed boats don’t pack more than you can carry, as you need to wade into the ocean to board the boats.
How Long Should You Spend in Kuta Lombok?
This is a tough question to answer – If you’re going for the surf, then there’s no reason to ever leave! But if you’re just visiting Lombok to see the top sites, then 3-4 days in Kuta Lombok should be more than enough to see the best beaches, waterfalls, caves, etc.
The Downsides of Kuta Lombok
There are unfortunately some very real downsides to visiting Kuta Lombok that travelers should know about before planning their visits. There’s a hustle culture in Lombok that you don’t see in Bali, everywhere you go you’ll find kids patrolling the streets and relentlessly hawking goods to tourists. I always recommend not buying from children, because they’re being kept out of school to sell things to tourists, and supporting the practice is pretty unethical.
In one dinner at a restaurant off the main street, you might be stopped by 10 different kids selling bracelets, it’s sad, and the only reason there are so many is because tourists keep buying from them. Since it’s a developing area, there are a lot of street dogs and a lot of pollution and litter. Hopefully, in a few years as more tourism dollars are poured into the area this will no longer be the case.
How to Get Around: Another thing I should mention is that there are no Grab or Gojek Taxis like you’ll find in Bali, and getting around is difficult if you don’t drive a scooter.
Best Laundry in Kuta Lombok
I don’t usually include laundry in travel guides, but Kuta Lombok has one of the best laundry services I’ve ever used. The best laundry shop in Kuta Lombok is Espress’ O Laundry – Everyone there is so kind, and they do same-day cleaning.
