If you’re here looking for the very best things to do in Kuta Lombok, then you’re in exactly the right place.
Kuta Lombok (sometimes written as Koeta, its old colonial spelling) is one of the main hubs to base yourself when exploring Lombok, Indonesia. Sitting on the island’s south coast, it’s a small, laid-back town known for its stunning beaches, abundance of nearby surf spots and a perfect base for arranging day trips to explore the rest of the island.
My name is Sami, and I’ve been travelling the world, slowly, for the last 4 years. And I’ve just spent five weeks living in Kuta, Lombok. And it’s completely won me over.
After 61 countries – I’ve been to some show-stopping places – Kuta, Lombok’s the first and only place that has truly made me stop, feel immediately at home, and start looking at long-term accommodation options.
In this Lombok travel guide, I will share my experience of Kuta to help you decide if it’s worth visiting, or, once you’re here, how to make the most of it.
P.s. You can find my complete guide to visiting Lombok here.
Getting to Kuta Lombok is straightforward, no matter how you arrive on the island. If you’re flying into Lombok International Airport (LOP), Kuta is just a 25-minute drive away. You can either ask your accommodation to arrange a pickup or take one of the official taxis waiting outside the terminal. Expect to pay around 50k IDR.
If you’re arriving by ferry from Bali, the Gili Islands or Sumbawa, you’ll most likely arrive at Bangsal Port in North Lombok. From there, it’s around a 2-hour drive to Kuta Lombok by taxi. Prices vary slightly depending on demand, but you can expect to pay roughly 250k IDR, especially if sharing with others.
Finding accommodation in Kuta, Lombok is easy. Deciding which place is the tricky part, because there are so many beautiful options and they are such great value, no matter your budget.
A quick search on Booking.com or Airbnb will give you a good sense of what’s available, and as long as you do your due diligence and check reviews, it’s hard to go wrong.
Travel tip:
Lombok is a predominantly Muslim island, and the call to prayer can be heard throughout Kuta. The Main mosque is right in the middle of town. I’d recommend checking how close your accommodation is to the nearest mosque if you’re a light sleeper and want peaceful nights.
I stayed a month at Nomada Villas , which was absolutely perfect. I stayed in one of their studio bungalows, centred around a beautiful communal pool and garden. The studio was high-ceilinged, well-proportioned, with excellent air conditioning, a fully equipped kitchen, a comfortable bed and a desk, and included daily cleaning, making it ideal for digital nomads looking to balance work and play. The staff were incredible and went above and beyond, sharing local knowledge, organising a scooter, and even taking me to the local fruit and veg market to help me haggle and pay local prices.
I also splashed out a little and spent a week at Mango Valley, staying in a private one-bedroom villa. The design was stunning, with soft curved walls, a sunken sofa and a private pool. They have five villas in total, each slightly different in layout, size and price, making it a great option if you’re looking for something a bit more special.
Go Surfing or take a lesson
You can’t write a Lombok guide without starting with the surf. Lombok is known for its world-class breaks, but what really sets it apart is that there are waves all year round. Staying in Kuta makes surfing incredibly easy, with a huge number of surf schools, camps and local guides based right in town.
Whether you book a one-off lesson or commit to a surf camp, almost everything is taken care of for you. Lessons typically include pick-up and drop-off from your accommodation, board hire, rash vest, a boat ride out to the reef and a coach in the water with you. It genuinely couldn’t be more accessible, even if you’ve never surfed before. The average price is between 450-550k IDR per lesson.
I spoke with several schools and guides and opted to support 100% local surf schools. Toby at Lombok Surf Collective was excellent at assessing my level and patient with me when I felt a bit nervous at the start. I would highly recommend booking with him, especially if you are new to surfing.
Book onto a surf school
In the latter part of my trip, I booked the 7-session package with Aqila at Bagus Surf School, who helped me progress into a much more confident intermediate surfer. He consistently chose the best breaks based on the conditions and my ability, which made a huge difference to my progression.
If surfing is a significant focus of your trip, it’s also worth considering a surf camp. I didn’t stay at one myself, as I already had accommodation booked, but based on research and local recommendations, Marshmallow Surf Camp and Xanadu Surf Camp are highly regarded.
It’s worth noting that the majority of the surfing breaks are reef breaks and are accessed via boat (even the complete beginner waves). There’s a ton of breaks with nice deep channels that mean you rarely get stuck in the ‘washing machine’. You can surf only left or only right or a mix of both, and lots of spots offer long peeling waves.
Yoga sessions
Often, where there’s good surf, there’s also good yoga, and Kuta Lombok is no exception. You’ll find plenty of drop-in yoga, meditation and sound healing sessions dotted around town, making it easy to fit a class into your routine whether you’re here for a few days or a few weeks.
One of my favourite places to practise was Ashtari Yoga, perched high on the hills behind Kuta with sweeping views across Kuta Bay. Practising yoga here feels genuinely special, with a gentle sea breeze, wide open views and the jungle sounds behind you. I joined a Hatha class and loved how grounding the whole experience felt. If you go, make sure you stay afterwards for a huge fresh coconut or a smoothie from the café.
If you have more time, you could also consider completing a yoga teacher training here. Mana Eco Retreat, is a little tucked away oasis with beautiful bungalow style accommodation, a peaceful yoga shala and an onsite plant based restaurant.
Relax on a beach with a coconut
After all the surfing and yoga, slowing things down and spending time on the beach is like a nonnegotiable. While Kuta Beach itself is convenient and close to town, it’s also a working fishing harbour, which means it’s not always the cleanest or most inviting place for a swim.
Some of the most beautiful beaches in the area are a short scooter ride from town. Tanjung Aan has immaculate white sand and crystal clear water. The beach is dotted with surfboards to rent and local vendors selling fresh coconuts, pineapples and coffee. Perfect.
If you want somewhere even quieter to put a dent in your book, head about 15 minutes west of Kuta to Mawun Beach. Pulling up here feels pretty magical; a huge bay of soft white sand framed by lush green hills that somehow feels calmer and less busy than many Thai islands. There are beach loungers and umbrellas to rent, plus warungs selling cool coconuts and snacks.
For a slightly more elevated beach afternoon, make your way to Lancing Beach, just a few minutes further along from Mawun. Here, you will find BIRAS beach bar and Codium Restaurant, bourgie places to sit on super comfy loungers until sunset. Codium is worth visiting for a relaxed Mediterranean-inspired restaurant with open-fire cooking, locally caught seafood, creative dishes and sunset views right on the sand.
Brunch and coffee
I usually try to eat local when I travel, but Kuta Lombok’s brunch scene is impossible to ignore. The town is packed with high quality cafes serving everything from smoothie bowls and pancakes to excellent coffee, and after one stroll down the main street, you’ll see exactly why. I can’t list all of them, so here’s my favourites:
- Bush Radio – Hands down the best choco banana smoothie bowl I’ve ever had. Blended with pure cacao and sweet dates, it’s rich, delicious and huge. Pair it with one of their excellent coffees and you’re sorted for both a sugar and caffeine hit.
- Milk – An Aussie style favourite known for all day brunch, great flat whites, flaky croissants and seriously good banana bread. Plus, they also sell locally made clothing, jewellery and gifts. I can’t promise you won’t want to buy everything. They also do a 6am run and coffee club.
- The Well – 100% gluten free, using local, organic and grass-fed ingredients. If you want to eat well while also being kind to your gut, this place is a winner. They also have an air conditioned coworking space, making it ideal if you need to mix brunch with a bit of work. Keep an eye on their instagram page for updates about pop up markets they host too!
- SO.NAK COFFEE – For fellow coffee lovers, this is one to seek out. A small, hidden gem just a few minutes’ scooter ride from Kuta’s main street, serving the best coffee. Pair your coffee with one of their delicious freshly made pastries. I love that SO.NAK partner closely with independent Indonesian coffee farmers for their beans.
- Guru – A cool, open air café perfect for a post-surf hangout. Expect all the brunch classics, plus sourdough toasties, baked goods, juices and thick smoothies. It’s also laptop friendly!
Day spas and massages
One thing that genuinely surprised me in Lombok was the quality of the spas, especially given how laid back and low key the island feels. Taking an hour out for a massage quickly became part of my routine in Kuta. You can expect to pay about 250k IDR for a 60 min massage which in my opinion, is excellent value!
- Lina Boutique Spa – For a slightly more luxurious experience. The space is beautifully designed in a modern Moroccan style, with exceptional attention to detail. It’s ever-so-slightly more expensive than the average, but absolutely worth it if you’re after something special.
- Matcha Spa – I had my best deep tissue massages here! They also offer local traditional treatments like a bamboo massage. This was my regular.
- Jivana Spa – Step off Kuta’s busy streets and into Jivani, and it instantly feels like a different world. Set within a lush resort, the calm hits you the moment you arrive.
Bamboo Notebook workshop at Awan
Booking a workshop with Awna Paper is a beautifully hands on experience and leaves you with a perfect souvenir to take home. This local studio specialises in 100% handmade, sustainable paper crafted from natural bamboo fibres, using traditional techniques passed down through generations.
I joined their notebook making workshop and absolutely loved it. The process was slow, calming and surprisingly grounding. I learnt how the bamboo paper is made and then bound my own finished notebook. They also have a shop selling notebooks, art prints, postcards and bookmarks, all made in house and all absolutely beautiful.
Eat local food at a Warung
A warung is a small, family run eatery serving traditional Indonesian food, and eating at one is an experience in itself. While Kuta Lombok has plenty of great international cafés and restaurants, some of the most memorable meals are found at these simple local spots.
Expect classic dishes like nasi goreng and nasi campur for around 20-25k IDR. It’s affordable, authentic and a great way to support locals.
Warung Bu De is a must. Their nasi goreng is consistently excellent and they will make it with chicken or vegetarian, and their fresh juices only cost 10k IDR. Simple, delicious and always busy with locals which is a good sign.
For a more atmospheric evening, head to Mandalika Bazaar on the edge of town. Several warungs sit side by side, with locals and travellers eating together outdoors in the evening.
Gyms and recovery
If surfing hasn’t already wiped you out and you want to keep up your fitness while in Kuta Lombok, you’re very well catered for. There are two standout gyms in town;
- XENO Fit – a huge open-air space with everything you could need: free weights, machines, an air-conditioned cardio room, boxing bags, a climbing wall, dedicated stretching areas, plus an on-site café and coworking space. It’s also CrossFit and HYROX affiliated, offering daily classes for both. I loved using this gym on the days I wasn’t surfing and salute anyone doing the afternoon HYROX class in the sun!
- Loka Gym – Alongside a well equipped gym, and sparring area Loka has a recovery suite with a sauna, three ice baths and a magnesium pool. Even if you’re not a gym member, you can do drop in sessions just for the recovery facilities.
Padel Session at La Reunion
Padel has exploded in popularity around the world over the past few years, and Kuta Lombok is very much on trend. La Réunion is home to Lombok’s padel. With regular social nights and mixed ability games, it’s an easy way to meet people whether you’re in Kuta for a week or a few months.
Take a picnic dinner to watch sunset
While Kuta itself doesn’t face west, a short scooter ride will take you to a few headlands that offer uninterrupted sunset views over the ocean. Bukit Merese and Bukit Segar (Bukit means hill) are the best spots. Both spots are popular with locals and travellers. Once you park up you can easily wander along the ridge of the hill and find a quiet patch of grass to roll out a blanket.
One of my favourite evenings was grabbing a takeaway salad bowl from Shaka and heading up to Bukit Segar to watch the sun go down.
Jewellery making
Silver jewellery making has long been part of Lombok’s traditional craft, with skills passed down through generations of local artisans. In Kuta Lombok, this heritage has evolved into hands on workshops where you can learn directly from skilled silversmiths and create something truly personal.
You’ll notice a few jewellery workshops around town, but I loved Lomboks Silver Class. In a 2-3 hour session, you’ll design and craft your own ring or necklace from scratch, guided step by step through the process. It’s such a fun experience and you’ll leave with a one of a kind piece to remember your time in Lombok.
Coffee Workshop at The Roastery Lombok
Indonesia sits firmly on the Coffee Belt, with rich volcanic soil and ideal growing conditions that produce some of the best coffee in the world. In Lombok, its apparent coffee is part of daily life and The Roastery Lombok is the place for all things coffee. It’s a café, roastery, shop and workshop space!
I joined their Latte Art workshop and quickly realised just how much skill sits behind effortless flat whites. The head roaster is incredibly knowledgeable and passionate, and in just two hours I learnt more about coffee (and milk!) than I ever expected. Workshops vary, so it’s best to reach out to them directly via Instagram to see what’s coming up during your stay.
Take a Surfskate lesson at Tribe Park
Book a surfskate lesson at Tribe skatepark in the centre of town, to help you work on balance, flow and turns in a way that directly translates to the waves.
If you already have some skating experience, you can take a rental board for a spin. They also have a ‘Gals day takeover’ every Wednesday evening, where females get free skate bowl access and a free iced tea! Seems like the perfect opportunity to give it a go.
Have you been to Kuta Lombok?
What are the best things to do in Kuta, Lombok? Anything you’d add to this Kuta Lombok bucket list?
Love as always and happy adventuring…
You can follow Sami’s adventures on Instagram here.
