Cool Things to do in Kuta, Lombok: Beaches & Beyond

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Post Updated: September 7, 2026

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 visiting. But booking tickets to Lombok instead of Bali turned out to be a refreshingly good decision! From the beaches to the restaurants to the natural attractions, there are so many cool things to do in Kuta, Lombok.

I’m so smitten with Kuta and southern Lombok that I’ve now visited multiple times. So I figured I’d share my knowledge and write a little guide on the best things to do in Kuta, Lombok. In this guide, I’ve included must-visit beaches and 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

Rent a scooter and get exploring

First things first: The top attractions in Kuta are all fairly spread out so the best way to see and do it all is by renting a scooter. I don’t really recommend doing this if you’re not an experienced driver, but if you’ve ridden before, zipping around on a scooter is easily one of the most fun things to do in Kuta, Lombok!

Spend the day at Tanjung Aan Beach

Tanjung Aan Beach is quite literally one of the most beautiful stretches of beach I’ve ever laid eyes on, and visiting it should be at the top of everyone’s “things to do in Kuta, Lombok” list. 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. It’s an easy place to spend a day. There are about a dozen warungs lining the beach and if you purchase a drink or meal, you can set up shop on one of their loungers for free!

Chill out at KLEO Beach Club

You’ll find KLEO Beach Club at the northern end of Tanjung Aan. This is a great place to go if you want to make a day of it. Entrance is free, although you can reserve a sofa, day bed, or cabana with a 500,000+ rupiah minimum spend on food and drinks. There’s also a restaurant and a bar on-site. Don’t miss out on the buy one, get one happy hour each evening from 5-8 pm!

Hike up Merese Hill

Merese Hill is a must-do if you’re at Tanjung Aan Beach. Located at the south 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. If you ask me, it’s one of the best things to do in Kuta, Lombok any time of day.

Insider tip: A lot of people go to Merese Hill to watch the sunset over Kuta, which I highly recommend. The views are jaw-dropping and you can hike down to secret beaches to take a dip (depending on the tides, of course!).

Take a dip at Mawun Beach

Mawun Beach is another stunning beach near town and one of the top Kuta Lombok attractions. 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 selling mie goreng, coconuts, and other snacks and drinks to tourists.

You will have to pay a 10,000 rupiah fee at the parking lot. It’s also possible to get a lounge chair for about 50,000-100,000 rupiah a pop. I will say that during my visit the shore break made swimming at the beach look fairly treacherous, so do be careful of the waves and current.

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!

Visit Pantai Tampah, the ‘cleanest beach on Lombok’

Pantai Tampah is one of my favorite beaches near Kuta and visiting is one of the most chilled-out things to do in Kuta, Lombok. 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, so visiting this place is one of my favorite Kuta Lombok activities. 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.

Sample the Sasak food

Looking for spicy things to do in Kuta, Lombok? Try the local cuisine.

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. Warung Flora is a solid option for local food.

Where to stay in Kuta Lombok

There is no shortage of hotels in Kuta, Lombok, but the quality varies wildly. I was absolutely smitten with everything about Rascals Hotel.  FYI, this place is adults only so it’s a great option if you’re not traveling with kids. I stayed here for a week and didn’t want to leave. Rooms go for about $80 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 showering in the jungle, the breakfast is enormous, amazing and on par with eating one of the hip cafes in Canggu, the customer service is top notch and clearly, the pool area ain’t too shabby. I cannot recommend this place enough.

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That completes my guide on all of the things to do in Kuta, Lombok. Have you been to Kuta, Lombok? Let me know in the comments!