Our guide details five different areas of Lombok Island with suggestions on where to stay based on your budget and preferences. A must-read if youβre planning a trip to Lombok!
Itβs wonderful that you chose Lombok for your vacation instead of Bali. βLombok or Bali?β is one of the most asked questions from travellers visiting this part of the world. While Bali has everything you are used to from Western countries, such as fast-food chains, shopping malls, big grocery stores, and even chiropractors, the authenticity is slowly fading due to insane crowds and overdevelopment.
For adventurous travellers, I cannot recommend Lombok enough. And itβs just an hour and a half away from Bali if you want to visit both islands.
Like any other tourist destination, Lombok offers a great variety of hotels, homestays, big resorts, yoga retreats, jungle cottages and bungalows for travellers. And while finding accommodation is easy, choosing the best area to stay in Lombok can make or break your trip.
We spent three weeks in Lombok, travelled to and stayed at all parts of the island for different adventures, and therefore have many tips to share.
Here are my recommendations for the best places to stay in Lombok so that you can enjoy the island to the fullest.
Where to stay in Lombok
Lombok spreads across 4,740 square kilometres / 1,830 square miles, a little smaller than Bali. The population is reaching 3.9 million, with 1 million tourists visiting annually (while Bali aims for 4.5 million tourists in 2023). This is why I highly recommend visiting Lombok before it changes into an overrun tourist destination. If you visit both islands, you can see the change in crowds immediately.
Despite the small size of Lombok Island, itβs only 80 km between the south and north, and it can take three hours to travel this distance.
Lombok has five main areas where travellers stay, plus the three popular Gili Islands:
- On the south side along the coast, especially around and in Kuta town, ideal for surfing and exploring beaches
- In the southwest side around Gili Gede for snorkelling
- Mataram, the capital for sightseeing or central Lombok/Tetebatu south of Rinjani crater for waterfall trips
- On the northwest side, along beaches and hotel resorts in Senggigi
- Gili Islands (Gillis) β Gili Trawangan for parties, Gili Meno for honeymooners and Gili Air for scuba diving
- On the north side in Senaru where people stay to trek the Rinjani volcano
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What we liked the most in Lombok was access to every beach on the island. According to the Indonesian government, every beach in Indonesia is public, no matter what a few hotel chains say. The government also ordered the removal of buildings at the beachfront so tourists can enjoy the beaches to the fullest.
Best places to stay in Lombok
Best luxury hotels in Lombok
The Oberoi Beach Resort (Senggigi)Β β’ Villa Kayu (Gili Air) β’ Seven Havens Residence (Kuta)
Best unique hotels in Lombok
Atoll Haven Villas (Gili Air) β’ Neptune Studios Lombok (Kuta) β’ Martas Windows (Kuta)
Best family hotels in Lombok
Novotel Lombok Resort & Villas (Kuta) β’ Merumatta Senggigi Lombok (Senggigi) β’ Holiday Resort Lombok (Senggigi)
Best cheap accommodation in Lombok
Ebucu (Kuta) β’ Whiterose Guesthouse (Senggigi) β’ Adinda Bungalows (Gili Air)
READ NEXT
Lombok itinerary for active travellers that includes water activities, beaches, rainforest walks, waterfalls, and hiking.
β First time in Lombok? Stay in or near Kuta
β Best area in Lombok for families: Senggigi or Kuta
β Best area in Lombok for surfing: Kuta
β Lombok on a budget? Stay in Kuta in homestays
β Best place in Lombok for snorkelling & diving: Gili Gede or Gili Air
β Most romantic place in Lombok: Gili Meno
β Best place to stay for climbing Rinjani volcano: Senaru (with several waterfalls nearby)
β Best place in Lombok for nightlife: Gili Trawangan or Kuta
How to get around Lombok Island
Getting to Lombok Island
- By plane
The international airport in Lombok Praya is only 20 minutes away from Kuta. We booked flights from Bali to Lombok last minute on Traveloka (the Indonesian version of Skyscanner) and flew to Lombok in 20 minutes for 18 USD per person.
The taxi from the airport to Kuta took 20 minutes and cost 100,000 IDR (7 USD). Blue Bird Taxis use the meter, and travellers have good experience with them, or you can agree on a price in advance with any other driver.
- By ferry
If youβre arriving in Lombok from neighbouring Bali, Sumbawa or Gili Islands, you can take a ferry. There are slow boat and fast boat options. From Bali, the slow boat takes around 5 hours for 4 USD, mostly used by locals.
Given the frequent incidents of these boats, Iβd recommend going by fast boat, it takes 1,5h and costs 25 USD per person. The ferries leave from Padang Bai Port in Bali and arrive at Bangsal in Lombok.
Getting around Lombok Island
The most common transport on the island is a scooter – every homestay or hotel rents scooters for around 50,000 IDR (3.50 USD) per day.
Having experienced traffic on Bali and Lombok Islands, I can say itβs easier to learn how to drive a scooter in Lombok. The roads are not congested at all, except in Mataram, and youβre not forced by others to go faster than you like.
The petrol is sold in 1-litre bottles on the side of the road for 10,000 IDR and lasts for 30-40 km.
If youβre not comfortable on a scooter, you can use for very reasonable prices:
- local scooter taxis
- regular taxis
- Grab (Indonesian version of Uber)
Hereβs a detailed description of each area of Lombok so you know what to expect.
Accommodation in Kuta and surrounding beaches
Kuta is a place where you will meet a lot of young European tourists wanting to learn and improve their surfing skills. Mostly you will need to rent a motorbike to get to the beaches. The most beautiful Tanjung Ann Beach is accessible by 15 min motorbike ride from Kuta.
Kuta is also the closest place to Pink Beach, a unique beach in Lombok with pink-coloured sand.
TIP
Read our Travel Guide to Kuta for more tips & activities.
Kuta is also frequented by surfers, whether newbies like us or experienced. While most surf schools go to Gerupuk, it can get crowded fast. We enjoyed our surfing experience at Tanjung Aan Beach, where we didnβt have to worry about other newbies crashing into us. There are plenty of other surfing beaches near Kuta; hereβs the breakdown of surfing spots in Lombok.
We stayed in town on the main street. It gave us good access to many restaurants and warungs (local eateries). You can also try some of the yoga places in Kuta. Staying in Kuta means that streets can be quite loud if you stay close to bars.
About half of the hotels have a swimming pool, and breakfast and Wi-Fi are included. One more thing to consider is mosques with their morning prays. They can be loud and usually start around 5 a.m.
Recommended accommodation in Kuta, Lombok
Budget pick: Village Corner Homestay
We enjoyed our stay at Village Corner Homestay. It has the highest review score for budget options. Itβs only 5 minutes by scooter from the center and features a double room with air-conditioning and breakfast included.
Click here for reviews and the latest prices
Mid-range: Mana Eco Retreat
We visited Mana for a yoga class and dinner, both of which were amazing. They have a huge garden with a pool, a yoga room and a double room with air-conditioning with breakfast included. A great perk is an on-site restaurant and frequent outdoor movie screenings.
Click here for reviews and the latest prices
Luxury: Martas Windows
This is a quiet oasis in Kuta. Martas Windows offer beautiful bungalows with pool views, spacious rooms and bathrooms. Air conditioning and breakfast are, of course, included.
Click here for reviews and the latest prices
Why would you want to stay in Senggigi
Senggigi is the complete opposite of Kuta. All the accommodation is along one main road from Mataram to the main tourist port Bangsal. Senggigi is the oldest tourist destination in Lombok because it is easily accessible by boat from Bali.
You can find here a wide variety of multi-storey hotels and resorts. Staying here is more expensive than staying in Kuta, but the beaches are closer and usually donβt require renting a scooter.
Restaurants are more Western style, with many pizza places and even Burger King. There is not much of a difference between Bali and Senggigi. Itβs a great place to stay for those who donβt want to explore much and love their comfort in Western-style hotels.
Also, this is a place where you can get genuine pearls and plenty of gift shops. Hotels in Senggigi are more expensive than anywhere else, and beaches are not as nice as in Kuta. But Senggigi has the only black sand beach that we loved. Read our guide about the Best Beaches in Lombok to know where to go and where you donβt have to bother visiting.
Recommended accommodation in Senggigi
Budget pick: Whiterose Guesthouse
Walking distance to Montong Beach, Whiterose Guesthouse offers spacious rooms, a peaceful garden and a restaurant on-site. The biggest perk is a shared kitchen, airport transfer and a playground.
Click here for reviews and the latest prices
Mid-range: Merumatta Senggigi Lombok
With a large pool, spa, and an all-day dining restaurant, this mid-range hotel is great for couples and families. The biggest perks are volleyball and badminton courts, airport transfer, and bicycle rental.
Click here for reviews and the latest prices
Luxury: The Oberoi Beach Resort
The Oberoi Beach Resort is the highest-rated hotel in all of Lombok. They have a private beach area and offer live dance performances in their amphitheatre.
Click here for reviews and the latest prices
Where to stay in North Lombok/Senaru
You may be disappointed if youβre looking for some nice beaches in Northern Lombok. North Lombok has a quiet ocean with a lot of murky waters.
On the other hand, North Lombok is a place where you can cool off. Senaru and Sembalun towns are in higher elevations, with daily temperatures lower by 5Β°C or 10Β°C than the rest of the island.
Come to Senaru to trek Rinjani volcano (read about our volcano trekking experience) or visit Sendang Gile & Tiu Kelep waterfalls. There are many hotels for all types of budgets. Sembalun is a place where you can visit rice fields and more waterfalls. From Sembalun, most travellers start their easier version of Rinjani Trek and finish in Senaru.
Recommended accommodation in North Lombok/Senaru
Budget pick: Achita Cottages
Walking distance from Sendang Gile & Tiu Kelep waterfalls, Achita Cottages have a perfect location for exploring and offer rooms with mountain views.
Click here for reviews and the latest prices
Mid-range: Pondok Senaru Cottages
We loved our stay at Pondok Senaru Cottages. They have comfortable bungalows, a great restaurant, and a stunning view of the Rinjani volcano.
Click here for reviews and the latest prices
Luxury: Rinjani Lodge
Rinjani Lodge offers an outdoor pool overlooking a volcano, an in-room breakfast, and amazing mountain views. Itβs close to the traditional Sasak Village and Rinjani National Park.
Click here for reviews and the latest prices
Why stay in central Lombok/Tetebatu or Mataram
South from the crater of Rinjani, you will find an area where you can rent a scooter and explore waterfalls and jungle. From here, itβs fairly easy to reach about ten different waterfalls. The local forest is full of monkeys. You will have a chance to see locals doing stick fighting in nearby Kotaraja.
Tetebatu village is for those looking for a quiet place to relax. Most of the homestays overlook rice fields. A few things that might persuade you to stay here are cheap accommodation and almost no tourists compared to other places in Lombok.
Mataram, on the other hand, is the capital and very busy. We opted to stay in Mataram due to the convenience of the location. We could explore Benang Kelambu & Benang Stokel waterfalls (pictured below) by scooter and be close to the ferry. But staying in central Lombok would be a more peaceful experience.
Recommended accommodation in central Lombok/Tetebatu
Budget pick: Satu Lingkung
Bungalows at Satu Lingkung offer quiet and peaceful accommodations overlooking rice fields. Tetebatu Monkey Forest is close by, as well as several waterfalls.
Click here for reviews and the latest prices
Mid-range: Nirvana Hotel Resort Tetebatu
The location and services are unbeatable, offering an outdoor swimming pool and a view of rice fields and the Rinjani volcano.
Click here for reviews and the latest prices
Where to stay around Gili Gede
Most travellers come to the southwest corner of Lombok for snorkelling day trips. Itβs also a great place to disconnect and unwind since itβs quiet. Gili Gede is the biggest island around Lombok with the most options for accommodation. On surrounding islands, you find a lot of fishermen working on pearl farms.
This is a great alternative to the northwest’s somewhat crowded Gili Islands (Trawangan, Meno & Air). Much fewer hotels still offer a variety of prices. Also, this area is the closest accommodation to Desert Point (a famous surfing place for pros).
Recommended accommodation for Gili Gede
Budget pick: Yutβs Inn Flower Paradise
Centrally located on Gili Gede, the beach is a few steps away. They offer bike and kayak rentals to enjoy this peaceful paradise.
Click here for reviews and the latest prices
Mid-range: Alam Karang
They offer sea view or garden view rooms. Located right on the beach with a view of Rinjani volcano, itβs a stunning location. The biggest perks are breakfast included and the open-air bathroom.
Click here for reviews and the latest prices
Luxury: Kokomo Resort Gili Gede
The beachfront luxury resort offers a swimming pool, water sports, mini golf, and even villas with private pools.
Click here for reviews and the latest prices
Where to stay on Gili Islands
The most famous and most touristy places in Lombok are the three Gili Islands in the northwest. Beaches and relaxation options are similar, but they have distinctive differences.
The biggest Gili Trawangan (Gili T) is a party place mainly for young people and the busiest of all islands. Gili Meno, the smallest one with the least visitors, is the most natural. And Gili Air is the closest to the mainland. Gili Air is still quite crowded with tourists compared to other destinations in Lombok.
Gili Islands are an ideal location for tourists who donβt require more than a little bit of ocean. There are no cars on the islands (so no loud honking as in Lombok), and Gili Air has a huge solar power plant (thumbs up for green energy). You can find on these islands a variety of western food and plenty of local warungs. Diving and snorkelling with turtles is a common activity on islands.
We visited Gili Air and enjoyed walking around the island, visiting different warungs daily, wandering around the shops and snorkelling. Gili Air, with no scooters or vehicles allowed, was a welcome change of pace.
Recommended accommodation for Gili Air
Budget pick: Adinda Bungalows
Beachfront bungalows are perfectly located for dinner on the beach at sunset. They have a beautiful tropical garden and offer bike rental and free drinking water refill.
Click here for reviews and the latest prices
Mid-range: Island View Bar & Bungalow
Beachfront bungalows offer a quiet slice of paradise and island views of Gili Meno. Their biggest perk is an open-air bathroom.
Click here for reviews and the latest prices
Luxury: Atoll Haven Villas
The biggest perk of Atoll Haven Villas is their outdoor private swimming pools. Itβs a gorgeous and very romantic place to stay.
Click here for reviews and the latest prices
What is the best place to stay in Lombok?
The best place to stay in Lombok was Kuta, as we utterly enjoyed our scooter rides and beach hopping on the south coast of Lombok. Whatever your itinerary is, I suggest trying at least two parts of the island to compare differences. Itβs worth visiting more beautiful accommodations than driving to different parts of the island.
Money and ATM
Be prepared that not many places accept card payments. Itβs usually possible to pay by card in areas where the price per night is more than 50 USD. ATMs are available in every corner of the island.
The popularity of Lombok is constantly growing, so donβt hesitate too long and start planning your Lombok vacation!
Do you have any questions about where to stay in Lombok? Let me know in the comments below!
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Thank you Maya, very informative and helpful guide!
Glad to here it’s helpful for you, Melody.
Informasinya lengkap sekali maya.
Terima kasih
Apakah disana ada rental mobil apabila membawa keluarga ke lombok
Great, detailled and practical info. Thanks a lot. Wishing you lots of adventure.
Is Lombok a good place for non adventurous retirees to visit
Thanks Maya, where would you say one can find budget beach bungalows? Thank you.
There are lots of those on Gili Meno.
Is it worth going to Indonesia in February? Not sure how much rain they get daily.
February is the end of the wet season. Although there might be occasional showers, it’s still hot and beautifully green.
Really helpful info here – thinking of visiting in early January from Singapore where we live. We are used to rain and humidity here obviously but looking for some quieter beaches with good snorkelling so will head to Gili Gede for less busy beaches and good snorkelling. Do you think the weather will be ok for that in early January? I know its their off season….
I would reach out to a few resorts where you’d like to stay and ask them directly.
Sorry guys, no Burger King in Senggigi, only KFC.
If you want the best Burgers in town, go to my mate’s place “SALT”.
Also really good food at Indo BBQ & Grill in Duduk, 2 minutes from Senggigi.
Lol, doesn’t matter which burger chain nowadays, I was making a point about the area and how westernized it is.
My girlfriend and I are planning to go to lombok for 5 days. we are a little bit doubting to just stay at Kuta for 5 days and make day trips on the mainland of Lombok or that we als go to one of the Gili islands for let’s say 2 days. What would you guys recommend? is visiting Gili worth it with the little time we got?
Thank you!
P.s. loved reading your blog π
If you’re planning to go to Gili for 2 days, you can definitely stay the rest in Kuta, there’s so much beautiful places around! I liked the slow pace of Gili Islands where we just walked, snorkeled, and hang in the hammock. If that sounds good to you, then definitely visit. If you’re interested in more adventurous stay, then stay at Senaru to climb Rinjani or in central Lombok to explore the waterfalls around.
This is so helpful! Can you let me know how you traveled to each location you stayed at. I know you mentioned using scooters to get around but that seems like a far distance to use a scooter to get to mid or north Lombok when switching accommodations.
From the airport, we took a taxi to Kuta, then from Kuta, our Rinjani trek package included transfer to and from Senaru. Taxis are very easy to find and budget friendly. We used Blue Bird Taxis or Grab (indonesian Uber).
Superb blog ! These are the kind of detailed posts I like to read before heading off to a new destination ! Thanks a ton !
what is better ??
– Stay at Gili T and cover other Lombok beaches on day Trips ? Or
– Stay at Kuta and then cover other beaches + Gili T on day trips ?
Thanks.
I’d recommend staying in Kuta if you’d like to explore around Lombok. It saves a lot of hassle around the boats.
thanks for the great info.
how many days you do recommend in Lombok per area, do not consider the touristic Gilis but one day for the Secret Gilis instead?
how realistist is the google maps jorney duration when travelling by scooter?
I’d recommend at least a week in Lombok – Kuta and north of the island. You can see one Gili Island on a day trip from Lombok. Aabout the scooter – I think it depends whether you’re an experienced scooter driver. Riding around Kuta is beginner friendly but Senggigi is another story.