*Note: I visited Kuta Lombok again in February 2019, following the devastating earthquakes that hit Lombok in the summer of 2018. I’m happy to report it’s business as usual in Kuta.

I love Kuta Lombok. I didn’t think I would but that beautiful little corner of the world totally managed to steal my heart. I’d always heard mixed reviews about Kuta — not to be mistaken for Kuta Bali — which is why I always balked at the idea of going there. But booking tickets to Lombok instead of Bali this summer turned out to be a refreshingly good decision! From the beaches to the food to the natural attractions, there are so many things to do in Kuta Lombok.

Seriously, that place is downright beautiful and while I can understand that it’s not for everyone, I just happened to fall head over heels in love with it.

I was so smitten with Kuta and southern Lombok that I figured I’d write a little guide on things to do in Kuta Lombok. And I also included a few practical tips on what to expect. Again, it does get a lot of mixed reviews so hopefully, this post will help you decide whether or not Kuta is right for you.

Things to do in Kuta Lombok + Beaches to Visit Near Kuta

Tanjung Aan Beach

This is quite literally one of the most beautiful stretches of beach I’ve ever laid eyes on. It’s definitely the most well-known beach around Kuta, and there’s a good reason for it. Just look at this beauty! The water is the bluest of blue and the sand is the whitest of white.

If you’re a beach lover, I can’t imagine you won’t be bowled over by the natural beauty of Tanjung Aan. The calm waters also make it a great swimming beach.

Tip: Do note that if you keep walking to the east side of the beach (past the huge boulder which you should definitely climb for some great views) the beach is pretty much deserted (pictured above). It looks like a great place to hang out if you want a gorgeous stretch of sand all to yourself!

Batu Payung

You can rent a boat to take you to Batu Payung, a towering and funky rock formation located a short ride (or treacherous walk over rocks) from Tanjung Aan Beach. I saw the formation from the beach but when I attempted to take my motorbike there it turned out there’s no way to actually drive there. Though I didn’t make the journey, it looks kinda cool. It’s becoming a super popular spot among selfie-takers and Instagram lovers. So if that’s your thing, you might want to make the trek.

Merese Hill

Merese Hill is a must-do if you’re at Tanjung Aan Beach. Located at the west end of the beach are some gorgeous hills that are prime for exploring. From a distance, it kind of looks like a daunting climb to get up there but it’s actually an easy 15-minute walk to the top.

From there you can walk along the hills and the further you go the fewer people you’ll see. The views are absolutely incredible. It’s also possible to access hidden beaches and coves from different areas of Merese Hill, so it’s well worth taking some time to explore the hills.

A lot of people go to Merese Hill to watch the sunset over Kuta, which I highly recommend. But it’s also a great place to explore at any time of day. The views are jaw-dropping and you can hike down to secret beaches to take a dip (depending on the tides, of course!). If you ask me, I’d say it’s definitely worth visiting during the day.

Mawun Beach

Mawun Beach is another stunning beach near Kuta Lombok. The color of the water is so unreal and there are surprisingly few tourists. Most visitors are clustered near the parking area, which has a bunch of warungs (Indonesian eateries) selling mie goreng (fried noodles), coconuts and other snacks and drinks to tourists.

It’s also possible to get a lounge chair for about 50,000 rupiah a pop. I will say that during my visit the shore break made swimming at the beach look fairly treacherous. The first thing I noticed was that there were quite a few people on the beach but no one in the water.

When I first arrived I decided to just chill and read in a chair, opting not to swim. After a while, all the little kids selling bracelets (something that’s very common in and around Kuta) became a bit much so I decided to take a walk down the beach.

Not only were there literally no other people down there, but the water was much calmer and perfect for swimming. So I packed up my stuff and decided to hang out down there instead. It was kind of amazing.

Pantai Tampah

Pantai Tampah is one of my favorite beaches around Kuta. Located down a narrow dirt road lined with cornfields it’s dubbed itself “the cleanest beach on Lombok.” Seriously that’s what the colorful, handwritten sign says at the turnoff. What was nice about this particular beach was that there were literally a handful of people there (and two energetic dogs) when I visited. There was also a little warung selling coconuts, drinks and simple Indonesian dishes.

I have to say the beach was clean. There were also no touts and no children hawking bracelets. Personally, I found this beach to be super relaxing and serene and the perfect place to just float in the super calm water and read on the beach.

Kuta Beach

In my opinion, Kuta Beach pales in comparison to the beaches around it. While the beach itself and the hills around it are beautiful, the entire place is now part of the Mandalika Resort Development Project. I’m not sure what the area used to look like, but the road in front of the beach has been made into a paved, pedestrian-friendly area. It just all feels very sterile and commercial. What disturbed me about Kuta Beach, and the project in general, is that it’s just a sign of what’s to come in Kuta and on Lombok.

The Mandalika Resort Development Project encompasses 4.6 square miles of beachfront land in the Kuta area. The plan is to build high-end resorts and luxury hotels…and a potential theme park. Construction of many resorts was well underway during my visit in June 2018, and there were some beautiful stretches of once-public beaches that were off-limits to anyone not staying at the resorts.

Seger Beach

Seger Beach is a beautiful little beach located just a short 15-minute drive from Kuta Beach, and it’s an example of one of Kuta’s beaches that will likely be off-limits to tourists in the near future. On the road to Seger Beach is where the majority of Mandalika’s high-end resorts (Pullman, Sheraton, etc.) are currently being built. I’m definitely curious to see how this development will impact this little gem of a beach.

For now, the beach is open to the public. I happened to visit during Idul Fitri (a major Indonesian holiday). So the beach filled with families and kids playing in the water. But typically this place is pretty deserted. Not only is it gorgeous but the little hills surrounding the actual beach are prime for climbing and offer lovely views of the area.

Sample the Sasak food

I’ve spent so much time on Java and Bali that I honestly had no idea that Sasak cuisine was a thing. It’s delicious, spicy and surprisingly vegetarian-friendly. It was love at first bite. I’m a big spicy food lover, so whenever my waiter asked me if I wanted things spicy I nodded with glee. And the best part is that the food was actually really spicy.

During my trip, I tried all sorts of dishes from eggplant mixed with tomatoes and spices to tempeh fritters infused with chili peppers and coconut milk to super-spicy veggie curries. Don’t worry meat lovers, most of the local dishes are not, in fact, vegetarian and they looked delicious.

Fun fact: Did you know that Lombok means spicy? If you’re in Kuta I highly recommend going to Warung Lalapang Santai (pictured above) if you want to try home cooked Sasak cuisine.

Things to know before traveling to Kuta Lombok:

Touts and children selling bracelets

I’m used to the touts on Bali but I wasn’t exactly expecting there to be so many touts and children selling bracelets in Kuta. I was in Lombok during Idul Fitri so, for the most, part my trip was tout-free since most Indonesians were celebrating the holiday. But during my last couple days, the touts were out in full force and it was a bit overwhelming.

I do realize that this is a controversial and touchy subject and every traveler has their own opinion on whether or not to purchase goods off of local children. I for one do not based on the fact that it’s clear that the money is not actually going to end up in their hands…among a whole slew of other ethical reasons. Either way you look at it, it’s a reality in Kuta so just be aware.

Lombok is predominately Muslim

I used to live in Jakarta so I’m very used to Indonesia’s Muslim culture and I always try my best to be respectful. It’s weird though being in Kuta. It’s clear that international tourism is really starting to boom there and I found it to be a bit awkward.

My friend Chantae wrote a great post about the impact of Western tourists on the Muslim culture in Kuta that’s a wonderful read.

Personally, I felt like there could be a bit more effort to be respectful when it comes to respecting the culture. But that’s just me. Also, I was there during a holiday when tons of Indonesian families were at the beach. It was very obvious that many of the kids and teens weren’t used to seeing foreigners…especially foreign women in bikinis. Again, I don’t know where people land on this issue. I’m just saying be aware that this place is pretty conservative so I tried my best to be respectful.

Kuta town is probably going to let you down

I feel like a lot of people criticize the actual town of Kuta Lombok. And that’s OK. There’s a reason I took zero pictures of it to show all of you! While it’s becoming increasingly built up and there are a bunch more trendy western dining options moving in (there’s even a Mexican-ish restaurant) and boutique hotels available, I feel like most people I met were super let down by the town.

I did my research before my visit so I kind of had an inkling that Kuta itself wasn’t the draw…the beaches and villages around Kuta are what lured me there. But I understand why people would immediately be put off by the town of Kuta and decide to leave after a day. That being said, I urge people to look past the town itself and explore the surrounding areas. It really is an amazing corner of the world.

It’s best to rent your own motorbike

Another common complaint is that Kuta’s attractions are so spread out. Most are a 15-minute drive away from town, but still you do have to drive to reach them. I met a few tourists who weren’t comfortable riding their own motorbike so they had no option but to hang out in town or hire someone to drive them around. They walked away from their trip hating on Kuta. But I can only imagine how different their experience would have been had they been more mobile.

Personally, driving a motorbike around Kuta was half the fun. But if you don’t feel comfortable, know that you will have to hire someone to take you around. And if that’s not what you’re looking for, perhaps you should rethink visiting Kuta.

If you’re not comfortable riding a motorbike this might not be the best place to learn. In my experience, people drive a bit crazily in Lombok and some of the roads are steep, windy and riddled with potholes. If you don’t feel comfortable, it’s not worth the risk. You can always hire a driver to take you around the area.

You don’t have to be a surfer to visit Kuta

The fact that I wrote a whole post about Kuta Lombok without mentioning surfing should make it clear that I’m not a surfer. One of the many reasons I opted not to visit Kuta in the past was because I thought there was nothing else to do there besides surf. Oh, how wrong I was. I stayed in Kuta and explored the area for almost a week and was endlessly entertained. Perhaps during my next visit I’ll give this surfing thing a shot. But even if surfing isn’t in my future, I’m sure I’ll be going back to Kuta soon because that place is amazing!

Where to stay in Kuta Lombok

There is no shortage of places to stay in Kuta Lombok, but the quality varies wildly. I was absolutely smitten with my room at Rascals.  I stayed here for a week during my second trip to Kuta in February 2019. Rooms go for about $55 a night but it’s honestly a steal. The boutique hotel is kind of like a mini-resort. The rooms are spacious and beautifully decorated, the outdoor bathrooms make it feel like you’re showing in the jungle, the breakfast is enormous, amazing and on par with eating a hip cafe in Canggu, the customer service is topnotch and clearly, the pool area ain’t too shabby. I cannot recommend this place enough.

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Have you been to Kuta, Lombok? Did you love it or hate it?