Kuta, Lombok is the hot new Indonesian holiday destination fast taking over from the hustle and bustle of Bali. There are many things to do while in Kuta, Lombok but here is our list of “must dos.” In no particular order…

Hang out in a Lombok Beach Bar

Order some drinks and maybe some food and enjoy the sea, sand, sun and whatever else comes your way.

Go Swimming at Mawaun Beach (or Tanjung Aan)

There are many beaches in and around Kuta but Mawaun Beach definitely takes the cake. Tanjung Aan Beach is a close second and a bit closer to Kuta Town (refer to our map at the bottom of the page).

Visit the Traditional Sasak Village

See how the Sasak people have been living for centuries in this traditional Sasak village. It is a little on the touristy side but still a really interesting visit.

Hit Up One of the Surf Spots or Take Surfing Lessons

South Lombok is a famous surfing mecca with many great breaks to choose from. If you’re not already a surfer, Kuta is also a great place to take some lessons and have a lot of fun. We’ve found Kimen Surf to be really high quality surf lesson providers.

Take in the Magnificent View of Kuta Bay from Ashtari Coffee House

Ashtari Coffee House has been entertaining Kuta visitors and locals for more than ten years and once you get there its not hard to see why its so popular. The beautifully constructed building sits up on the high and the large balcony overlooks Kuta and Kuta Bay. The views are simply stunning! Ashtari also has tasty food and drink and board games to keep you entertained for hours.

Visit Monkey Mountain and Princess Mandalika Statue

What will you find there? Monkeys! From around mid afternoon, monkeys gather at this base of this large and steep hill next to the ocean. You can buy some fruit from a local and feed the monkeys if you are game. If you walk around the “mountain” you’ll also find some nice quiet swimming spots.

While you’re there you should also check out the Princess Mandalika Statue which illustrates a local legend.

Photo above courtesy of Kileetravels.com

Have a Yummy Meal (or three) in Local Restaurants and Cafes

There’s tonnes of great restaurants and cafes in Kuta, see our list over here. We’ll just give a quick shout out to El Bazar Cafe & Restaurant, Gulas Garden & Warung Drifters.

Go Scuba Diving, Snorkeling or Boating

We’ve discussed the magnificent beaches and swimming but you should get out and explore the wider ocean too. Scuba Diving, Snorkeling and Boating trips can be organised through Scuba Surf Lombok and Scuba Froggy.

Visit an Out of the Way Village

Take half a day or a day to visit an out of the way village away from the rest of the tourists. This is a great opportunity to interact with local people who don’t come across tourists everyday. Don’t be surprised when local school children point and shout “tourist!” with big smiles on their faces as you drive past. If you have the opportunity, stop and say hello, interact with the locals, see how they live. The experience will be totally different and very rewarding.

A good time to do this is on the way to or back from the Benang Stokel & Kelambu Waterfalls (pictured below).

Watch the Sunset

For the perfect way to end your Kuta, Lombok trip, watch the sunset over Kuta Bay. There’s two main sunset viewing points that you can see on our map. The Merese Hills point gets a better sunset view but its a bit further away. The Pantai Seger point is closer to the town and therefore you get a better view of Kuta itself before the sun disappears behind the headland (as in the photo below).

Bonus 1: Get to know the bracelet kids

They seem cute at first but quickly become annoying – young kids down on the beach trying to sell you bracelets and other things. However, if you’re in Kuta a for a while we suggest trying to get to know the kids, have some fun with them and admire their awesome sales skills – they know every trick in the book.

Bonus 2: Hire a scooter and explore the area

The best way to explore Kuta and southern Lombok is by scooter. They cost around 50,000 IDR / day (not including fuel). A scooter will give access to tonnes of secluded beaches, towns and other spots just waiting to be explored.

Bonus 3: Sleep in and Lay By the Pool All Day at Sari Inn

Don’t forget you’re on holidays and need to take time to relax! We’ve got you covered at Sari Inn with a pool, sunbeds, gazebos and massages available for our guests.

Check out the Sari Inn Villa | Take a Look at the Sari Inn House

Tourism Map

We hope you enjoyed our article. Check out the map below to find all the spots we’ve mentioned and some more.