Where to stay · Lombok · Indonesia
Where to stay in Lombok
8 neighbourhoods compared, with the trade-offs hotel listings don't tell you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Suryanata budi, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
For a first visit, stay in Kuta and Mandalika. The south-coast surf town, beach bays and the Mandalika resort zone. Best alternatives — families: Selong Belanak.
Key facts
- First visit
- Kuta and Mandalika
- Families
- Selong Belanak
- Budget
- Kuta and Mandalika
- Nightlife
- Kuta and Mandalika
Best area for each kind of trip
| Trip type | Area | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First-timers | Kuta and Mandalika | The south-coast surf town, beach bays and the Mandalika resort zone |
| Families | Selong Belanak | A long, gentle beach bay with a surf school and a few villas |
| Couples | Selong Belanak | A long, gentle beach bay with a surf school and a few villas |
| Budget | Kuta and Mandalika | The south-coast surf town, beach bays and the Mandalika resort zone |
| Nightlife | Kuta and Mandalika | The south-coast surf town, beach bays and the Mandalika resort zone |
| Solo travellers | Gili Trawangan | The largest, liveliest Gili, with dive schools, beach bars and sunset swings |
| Quiet stays | Selong Belanak | A long, gentle beach bay with a surf school and a few villas |
| Beach | Kuta and Mandalika | The south-coast surf town, beach bays and the Mandalika resort zone |
Lombok neighbourhoods in detail
$$ · Best for first-timers, beach, budget and nightlife
Kuta and Mandalika
Kuta (not to be confused with Kuta in Bali) is Lombok's main southern base, a small town of guesthouses, surf shops, cafés and warungs that has grown quickly alongside the Mandalika development and its Pertamina Mandalika racing circuit. Tanjung Aan, Seger, Gerupuk and Mawun beaches are all within about 20 minutes by scooter, and the airport is about 30 minutes away.
- Good
- Close to the airport; Wide choice of beaches and surf breaks; Good-value food and stays
- Watch out
- Construction and traffic from Mandalika's growth; Needs a scooter or driver to reach most beaches
- Nearby
- Tanjung Aan, Bukit Merese, Seger beach, Gerupuk
$$$ · Best for beach, couples, families and quiet stays
Selong Belanak
West of Kuta, Selong Belanak is a wide curve of soft white sand with gentle waves that make it one of the best places in Lombok to learn to surf. A handful of villas and boutique hotels sit on the hillsides behind it, and evenings are very quiet.
- Good
- Beginner surf on the doorstep; Calm, scenic bay; Quiet evenings
- Watch out
- Few restaurants; About 30 minutes from Kuta's facilities
- Nearby
- Mawun, Mawi, Kuta
$$ · Best for families, couples and quiet stays
Senggigi
Senggigi, north of Mataram, was Lombok's first resort area and has larger hotels, a beachfront temple at Batu Bolong and the scenic coast road north past Malimbu towards the Gili boat harbours. It is calmer than it once was but makes a convenient base between the airport, Mataram and the Gilis.
- Good
- Sunsets over Bali's Mount Agung on clear evenings; Good-value larger hotels; Close to the Gili boats
- Watch out
- Quieter beaches than the south; Some tired buildings along the main road
- Nearby
- Pura Batu Bolong, Malimbu viewpoints, Mataram, Bangsal harbour
$$ · Best for nightlife, solo travellers, beach and budget
Gili Trawangan
Gili Trawangan is the most developed of the three Gilis, with a strip of dive centres, restaurants, bars and accommodation along its east coast and a nightly food market near the harbour. The island can be circled by bicycle in about an hour, sunset bars line the west coast, and turtles are often seen snorkelling just offshore.
- Good
- Most choice of food, diving and nightlife; Walkable and car-free; Easy snorkelling with turtles
- Watch out
- Party noise near the main strip; Crowded in July and August
- Nearby
- Gili Meno, Night market, Sunset point
$$ · Best for couples, families and beach
Gili Air
Gili Air sits nearest the Lombok mainland and strikes a balance between Trawangan's energy and Meno's quiet. A sandy path circles the island past beach cafés, yoga studios and dive schools, and the shallow reef off the east coast is good for snorkelling.
- Good
- Relaxed but well served; Shortest boat ride from Lombok; Good snorkelling from the beach
- Watch out
- Some beaches are rocky at low tide; Limited nightlife
- Nearby
- Gili Meno, Bangsal harbour
$$$ · Best for couples, quiet stays and beach
Gili Meno
Gili Meno, between Air and Trawangan, has the fewest visitors and is popular with honeymooners. Its main draws are the white-sand beaches, turtle sightings and the Nest, a ring of underwater life-size figures by sculptor Jason deCaires Taylor off the west coast.
- Good
- Very peaceful; Excellent snorkelling; Uncrowded beaches
- Watch out
- Few restaurants and little to do at night; Limited shops and ATMs
- Nearby
- The Nest, Gili Trawangan, Gili Air
$ · Best for quiet stays, budget and solo travellers
Senaru
Senaru, in the hills of North Lombok, is the trailhead for routes up Mount Rinjani from the north and the base for the Sendang Gile and Tiu Kelep waterfalls. Simple guesthouses look out over the forest and rice fields, and nights are much cooler than on the coast.
- Good
- Cool mountain air; Walk to the waterfalls; Trek operators on hand
- Watch out
- Remote, about 2.5 hours from the airport; Very basic facilities
- Nearby
- Sendang Gile and Tiu Kelep, Mount Rinjani, Bayan
$$ · Best for quiet stays, couples and beach
Sekotong
Sekotong is the quiet south-western arm of Lombok, facing a scattering of small islands such as Gili Nanggu, Gili Sudak and Gili Kedis with clear water and coral reefs. Accommodation is mostly small bungalows and island resorts, and the area feels far from the busier Gilis.
- Good
- Uncrowded islands and reefs; Very peaceful
- Watch out
- Long, slow road from the airport; Very few restaurants or services
- Nearby
- Gili Nanggu, Gili Sudak, Gili Kedis, Lembar port
Areas compared
| Area | Price | Nearby |
|---|---|---|
| Kuta and Mandalika | $$ | Tanjung Aan, Bukit Merese, Seger beach, Gerupuk |
| Selong Belanak | $$$ | Mawun, Mawi, Kuta |
| Senggigi | $$ | Pura Batu Bolong, Malimbu viewpoints, Mataram, Bangsal harbour |
| Gili Trawangan | $$ | Gili Meno, Night market, Sunset point |
| Gili Air | $$ | Gili Meno, Bangsal harbour |
| Gili Meno | $$$ | The Nest, Gili Trawangan, Gili Air |
| Senaru | $ | Sendang Gile and Tiu Kelep, Mount Rinjani, Bayan |
| Sekotong | $$ | Gili Nanggu, Gili Sudak, Gili Kedis, Lembar port |
Getting to your hotel
Lombok International Airport is near Praya in the centre-south of the island, about 30 minutes by car from Kuta, about 1–1.5 hours from Senggigi and about 2 hours from the Gili boat harbours. Blue Bird taxis and fixed-price taxi counters operate in the arrivals hall, and hotels can arrange transfers.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best area to stay in Lombok for first-time visitors?
Kuta and Mandalika. Kuta (not to be confused with Kuta in Bali) is Lombok's main southern base, a small town of guesthouses, surf shops, cafés and warungs that has grown quickly alongside the Mandalika development and its Pertamina Mandalika racing circuit.
+Where should families stay in Lombok?
Selong Belanak: Beginner surf on the doorstep.
+Which area of Lombok is best for a budget stay?
Kuta and Mandalika ($$): The south-coast surf town, beach bays and the Mandalika resort zone.