On Lombok’s southern coast, Kuta is known for its beautiful white sand beaches, warm sea, and its rugged landscape. With world-class waves and a fantastic surfing culture. Modern cafes and restaurants, Bars and hotels, spas and gyms are all nestled amongst the old town, blending modern and traditional Indonesian life together to create a laid-back, authentic vibe with modern amenities.

This guide covers, the best things to do in Kuta, where to eat, where to get good coffee and the best accommodation options and how to get to Kuta, Lombok.

Top things to do in Kuta

1. Spend the day on the beach 

One of the main draws of Kuta is its beaches, crystal clear turquoise waters, and panoramic views. 

The best beaches to explore:

Tanjung Aan Beach

This beach was our favourite beach to visit, and we returned a number of times.

The curved bay is lined with palm trees and rugged panoramic hills to give you that tropical paradise beach feeling. Go swimming in the crystal clear sea, walk along the large white sand beach, or catch world-class waves. 

There are warungs all along the beach serving drinks and food and providing sunbeds and beanbags for everything you need for the perfect beach day. 

Kuta Beach

With its long expanse of sand and dramatic rolling hills that drop into the ocean, Kuta Beach is a great place to have on the doorstep.

Along the beach is an array of shops, cafes and restaurants, and beach stools selling anything from cold coconuts to jewellery.  

Being so close to town can be a bit of a disadvantage when it comes to trash and pollution. While walking around this beach, it lacked some of the wow factor that other beaches provided us on this trip. 

So, if you have your own transport and are willing to travel for a short distance the neighbouring beaches are much better.

Mawun Beach

This secluded beach offers fantastic mountain views with picturesque rolling hills and turquoise waters. With a little swell here, there is some surfing, but it makes for great swimming. Grab your snorkels and dive into the underwater worlds of Lombok’s tropical fish reefs. 

With small pockets of shade, this beach can get a lot of sun. A few stands and warungs offer limited food and drink options, so come prepared with drinks and snacks. They also rent sun loungers, but only a few, as this is less popular with tourists.

Selong Belanak Beach

This beach has a long stretch of sand that you can walk along, with a beautiful backdrop, and if you are lucky, buffalo are known to be walked along here later in the afternoon. 

Warungs provide all your essentials for a beach day, including sunloungers and umbrellas for hire. This is a great place to learn to surf, and several surf schools are dotted along the beach. This is a popular swimming with gentle waves and warm waters.

2. Try Surfing.

Kuta is known as a bit of a surfer’s paradise, with surf shacks and board rental at almost every cove and beach. A variety of breaks and consistent swells make this an excellent location for surfers of all abilities. Generally quieter than Bali’s surf spots, with a taxi boat to drop you to the breaks and stunning backdrops, it is easy to see why so many surfers talk about Lombok surfing.

3.Catch a Lombok sunset.

One of the most magical things is the sunset over this dramatic landscape. 

• Bukit Merese Hill Sunset: The best place to catch sunset in Kuta! Watching the sunset behind the mountains and over the Indian Ocean was the highlight of our trip. This is a very popular place, but we recommend hiking towards the highest point of the Bukit (hill). Less people make the trip up, and there is plenty of places to sit. Bring a drink and some snacks to eat while watching the sunset. Be aware there are monkeys up here, so keep all food nearby.
• ASHTARI: Head up into the hills and dine while the sun is setting. Ashtari is a restaurant nestled in the hills overlooking Kuta. With a dining terrace providing some amazing views, this is a great way to spend the last few moments of the sun as the sky transforms to night with dramatic colours and reflections. The food at Ashtari is delicious, and we can highly recommend it. 

4. Head to a beach club

Siwa Resort 

If you want a change of scenery from all the beautiful beaches, head up the hill exiting Kuta, and you will find Siwa Resort with its infinite pool looking out across Kuta and out to the Indian Ocean. This is a beautiful place to come, tan, and enjoy cocktails in the pool.

Mandalika Beach Club

This beautiful beach club is located on the beachfront with chilled day drinks for family and friends, to a packed event with world-class artists performing here. There is no entry fee here; you simply need to buy some food or drinks and you are set for the day!

5.Indulge in some self care!

KU Salon & Spa

Take some time for yourself and relax in this beautiful, tranquil piece of paradise.

6. Engage your mind and body in a Yoga class. 

Check out one of the top yoga venues in Kuta Lombok:

• Mana Yoga Studio
• Ashtari Yoga
• Novotel Beach Yoga

7. Learn to cook some local delights. 

Head to Ashtari for a cooking class to learn how to cook local Indonesian food. Cooking classes are always fun, and this one stands out from the crowd with its panoramic views of Kuta bay.

8. See Kuta from the sky and try paragliding.

This has to be one of the best ways to see the beautiful landscape and get a birds-eye perspective of the surrounding area. Check here for more information on this unique experience.

9. Snorkel around the secret Gilis.

You may have heard of the Gili islands. Gili T and Gili Arie are the most well-known. The secret Gili island trips are entirely different. The islands here are nearly deserted except for the day trippers coming to swim in some of the clearest waters around Lombok. With large schools of tropical fish living in the reefs, this is one of the most impressive things you can do.  

10. Head out on a day trip to protect sharks with Project Hiu

Helping the conservation of sharks in Indonesia. Their mission is to repurpose a fleet of shark fishing vessels by providing alternative income through tourism. You will be taken out on the repurposed shark hunting ship and taken to a few remote areas of natural beauty away from the main tourist areas. You will enjoy activities on the boat. And learn about their history and how tourism is helping them from going out and hunting sharks. You can snorkel around some areas and spot a shark or two. 

Learn more here: www.projecthiu.com

11.Visit Lombok’s pink beach

Whilst not in Kuta Lmobok itself, it is pretty close of a journey and most people use Kuta as a base for exploring the nearby sites. Now, the beach isnt really THAT pink. If you really want to visit a pink beach you should head to the Komodo islands. It’s a lovely beach, and it’s a nice day trip, but I wouldn’t get your hopes up of being overwhelmed by a blanket of pink sand… 

If you google Lombok Pink Beach, it can get CONFUSING, with many beaches claiming to be THE pink beach. So, here’s the pin, save it if you wish to go!

The journey from Kuta by moped is an adventure itself… the roads are bumpy, and its definatly off the beaten path. If you condifent on a bike, it adds to the adventure; if not, we would recommend booking a tour.

Where to get your caffeine fix, Kuta Lombok style.

• Mushroom Espresso Mandalika: This bright and colourful cafe is a great spot to start the morning and offers great-tasting coffee plus some small bites.
• Jelajah Coffee Kuta: Jeljah Coffee is a beautiful setting to enjoy your morning coffee with freshly roasted coffee in this small cafe. You feel close to the action as your barista makes your coffee, with the sounds and smells filling the air.
• Milk Espresso: The only place open early doors in Kuta Lombok, so if you are an early riser, this is sure to be a daily spot for you! This Australian-style cafe served excellent food and good coffee.

The best places to eat in Kuta, Lombok.

One of the reasons Lombok and Kuta particularly has become so popular is the quality of the cafes and restaurants that have brought a wealth of different cuisines to the area. 

With the rich foodie culture in Kuta, you can find everything from Indonesian, Mexican, Italian, Chinese, and even crepe stalls late in the evenings.

Here are some of our favourite places to eat in Kuta:

• The Mexican In Town -This lively Mexican restaurant offers large portions at great prices with even better flavour and taste. This is an excellent spot for dinner. Dietary Options: plant-based and Vegetarian options are available.
• Kenza Cafe & Restaurant Kuta Lombok – offers a great range of food for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, from burgers and wraps to salads. Dietary Options: plant-based and Vegetarian options are available.
• Jiang Nan Lombok – Serve dumplings, noodles, and stir-fried dishes in a beautiful setting. This is a great place for a romantic dinner in low light with candles and good cocktails for two. Dietary Options: plant-based and Vegetarian options. https://www.instagram.com/jiangnanlombok/
• ASHTARI – The views from the terrace over Kuta and the surrounding areas are spectacular. Serving ‘slow’ Indian food. Dietary Options: plant-based and Vegetarian options 

The best accommodation options in Kuta Lombok.

With a mixture of resorts, hotels, villas, guesthouses and hostels that suit any budget, there is something for everyone here.

Here is a quick look at what we can recommend in Kuta, Lombok:

Rascals Hotel – Adults Only

Just off the main street in a quiet area, this hotel is in the perfect location with all amenities and shops a short walk away. This Boutique Hotel has a central pool with lots of shade to escape the sun and is designed beautifully. We really enjoyed staying here.

Price £££

Village Vibes Lombok

Now, this place lives up to its name. It is very much a vibe. Driving to the hotel, you drive through the village and will see locals walking around and selling from their stalls. You feel part of the community here, and when you arrive at the hotel, you are greeted with beautiful traditional buildings where you’ll be staying. This place felt very special.

Price: £££

Kalma Bamboo Eco Lodge

This has to be one of THE best places to stay in Kuta. The views were breathtaking. Located outside of Kuta town, up in the hills, you have incredible views over Kuta and the surrounding landscape and ocean views. This is the dream: stay in a luxury two-story bamboo villa and relax and lay back above your private pool. 

Price £££

Loka Surf & Fitness Lodge

This homestay is part of the Loka Fitness Centre. As an added bonus of staying here, you get access to spa facilities and wellness classes like daily yoga. The rooms are clean, tidy and new. The location is near to all the shops and amenities you will need.

Price: £££

How to get to Kuta, Lombok.

Getting to Kuta Lombok from Bali is easy, and you have a few options.

By Fast Ferry

Most fast boats Depart from Pandang Bali, or Sanur (Bali). And arrive and Bangsal (Lombok). From here, you will have to travel down to Kuta, which is around 1.5 – 2 hrs.

By plane

Lombok has an International Airport. The flight from Bali to Lombok is around 25 minutes. Transport from the airport to Kuta is around 30 minutes. 

By Car/Bike – Public Ferry 

Travelling via the public ferry is a great option if you want to bring your bike or car with you to Lombok. As this is a larger ferry, the journey is around 3,5 – 4 hours, but in bad weather conditions, it could take up to 6 hours.

Summary of our guide to Kuta Lombok.

Immerse yourself in the diverse beauty that Kuta, Lombok has to offer in and out of the sea. Whether you are here on a big or a small budget, short or long visit, there is something for everyone. We really enjoyed our time in Kuta and had many wow and pinch-me moments exploring this area of Lombok. We can not recommend adding Kuta to your Lombok trip. 

Also heading to Bali? Check out our Bali guides here:

• Undiscovered Bali: 12 Beautiful Things to do in Sidemen, Bali
• The Ultimate Canggu Travel Guide
• 12 Awesome things to do in Canggu, Bali
• Discover 12 Amazing Things to do in Ubud, Bali.
• A guide to the best Hotels in Nusa Lembongan
• The Best Things to do in Nusa Penida
• 15 Magical Things to do in Munduk, Bali
• Paradise Found: 12 epic things to do in Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan
• The Ultimate Guide to Vegan Food in Uluwatu, Bali
• The Ultimate Guide to Vegan Food in Nusa Lembongan and Ceningan
• The ultimate guide to vegan food in Kedungu, Bali
• Discover the wonders of Kelingking Beach, Nusa Penida.