Comparison · Bali vs Lombok · Indonesia
Bali vs Lombok
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Paskuu, CC BY-SA 4.0
.jpg){kind=link}
Quick answer
Choose Bali for Hindu temples and Rice terraces; choose Lombok for Gili Islands, Mount Rinjani, lower day-to-day costs and free sights. Lombok is generally less expensive, and the two are about 127 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 127 km
- Less expensive
- Lombok
- Best time for Bali
- April–June and September–October
- Best time for Lombok
- May–September
Side by side
| Bali | Lombok | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Indonesia | Indonesia |
| Known for | Hindu temples, Rice terraces and Surfing | Gili Islands, Mount Rinjani and Surfing |
| Best time to visit | April–June and September–October | May–September |
| Ideal stay | 10 days | 8 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $80–$180 | $70–$150 |
| Cost level | Affordable | Affordable |
| Warmest month | April, 32°C (90°F) | October, 32°C (90°F) |
| Coldest month | June, 30°C (86°F) | June, 30°C (86°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 1 | 4 |
| Day trips in our guide | 6 | 5 |
| Beaches | Seminyak and Double Six Beach | Tanjung Aan |
| Airports | DPS | LOP |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Bali for…
Hindu temples and Rice terraces. Bali is a Hindu island in mostly Muslim Indonesia, about 140 km across, where daily offerings sit on doorsteps and temple ceremonies close roads. The south — Seminyak, Canggu, Kuta, Uluwatu and Nusa Dua — has the beaches, surf breaks and beach clubs, while…
Choose Lombok for…
Gili Islands, Mount Rinjani, lower day-to-day costs and free sights. Lombok lies just east of Bali across the Lombok Strait, a larger, slower island shaped by the 3,726-metre volcano Mount Rinjani and its crater lake. The south coast around Kuta and the Mandalika area has horseshoe bays of white sand and surf breaks, the…
Top sights compared
| # | Bali | Lombok |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Uluwatu Temple and Kecak dance | Gili Trawangan |
| 2 | Tanah Lot | Gili Meno and the Nest |
| 3 | Tegallalang Rice Terraces | Gili Air |
| 4 | Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary | Mount Rinjani trek |
| 5 | Tirta Empul | Sendang Gile and Tiu Kelep waterfalls |
Food compared
| Bali | Lombok |
|---|---|
| Babi guling | Ayam taliwang |
| Bebek betutu | Plecing kangkung |
| Nasi campur Bali | Sate rembiga |
| Sate lilit | Sate bulayak |
Which is cheaper?
Lombok is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about $70–$150 per person there, against $80–$180 in Bali (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Lombok on a budget.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Bali and Lombok are about 127 km apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 10 days in Bali and 8 in Lombok.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Bali or Lombok cheaper?
Lombok is usually less expensive: about $70–$150 a day mid-range against $80–$180 (estimates).
+Is Bali or Lombok better for a first trip?
Pick Bali for Hindu temples and Rice terraces, or Lombok for Gili Islands, Mount Rinjani, lower day-to-day costs and free sights.
+How far is Bali from Lombok?
About 127 km in a straight line.