The 9 Best Things to Do in Kuta Lombok: My Favorite Activities 2026

Kuta Lombok is one of my favorite places I have visited in probably all of Southeast Asia so far. Yes, I’m a sucker for a good beach or surf town, even though I’m not a great surfer, I just love the vibes.

With Kuta Lombok becoming more and more popular, and from what I’ve noticed, people are coming here instead of Bali due to overtourism etc, I’ve decided I’m going to put together a few guides on my favorite little beach town.

In this guide, I’m talking about the best things to do in Kuta Lombok to give you guys a good idea of what there is to do. And yes, that includes surfing, but there are definitely more cool things I enjoyed that are totally worth checking out.

One last thing to make sure we’re on the same page: this guide is only going to be about Kuta, a small surf town in the south of Lombok and the coolest activities around there. 

I won’t be mentioning any waterfalls or Mount Rinjani here; for that, you should check out my other Lombok island guides.

Things to Do in Kuta Lombok – My Experience

I spent over two months in Kuta Lombok because I just needed somewhere to lay low for a little, get some work done from my laptop, and enjoy island life. I kinda blindly picked Kuta even though I had never been before, and it was exactly what I needed, so I was super happy with that decision.

For me personally in a place like Kuta Lombok, I don’t necessarily need a load of activities. I’ll be surfing most days and I’m happy with a bunch of restaurants, cafes, and beaches to fill my days, to be honest. But of course, there is and was more to it than just that.

I had a scooter the entire time I was in Kuta which I definitely needed to get around. There were some really cool things I did and some cool things I didn’t, but I still put them on this list because I wish I would’ve done them.

One of the coolest things many people do from here is taking a day trip to the secret Gili islands, which was such a cool day and I had so much fun with that. Yes, it’s secret Gili islands which are Gili Nanggu, Gili Sudak, and so on, and they’re gorgeous and for the most part uninhabited and super fun to explore and go snorkeling.

I also went scuba diving here in Kuta, which I didn’t even know was a thing, but it was super fun. I saw a bunch of turtles, fish, and beautiful corals, and the visibility was actually much better than I thought it would be.

All in all, there is easily enough to do around here to fill your time.

My Top 9 Activities in Kuta and Around (NOT the Whole Island of Lombok)

1. Learn How to Surf at Tanjung Aan

I know this might be a little obvious to some of you, but Kuta Lombok is a massive surf hotspot and I bet many of you are coming here for that exact reason. 

I’m not the best surfer by any means, I’m a super beginner, honestly but whenever I get the chance, I’ll try to get out there or take a few lessons.

The most popular spot for surfers is Tanjung Aan, a beach close to town that I visited constantly. The break is a bit far out, so we did what everyone does and paid local fishermen to boat us out. 

I had some ups and downs there; some days the swell was consistent and manageable, but other times it was absolute chaos. If you aren’t super confident, I’d highly recommend going with a surf school. They take care of everything from transport to the beach, board rentals, and the boat ride out to the lineup.

I personally loved going with LMBK Surf House. I booked with them a few times and they were just fantastic.

2. Visit My Favorite Beach Club Biras Beach Bar

I have to be honest: while I love the beaches around Kuta Lombok, they can be a bit of a mixed bag. 

Many of them are stunning, but I’ve definitely had some frustrations. Sometimes there’s an awful amount of trash, other times they’re a pain to reach, and, to make matters worse, the government recently tore down all the cute local beach bars and restaurants at Tanjung Aan Beach that everyone loved so much.

Because of all that, I eventually decided it was just easier to head to a spot that’s pristine, trash-free, and actually has decent facilities. My absolute favorite is Biras Beach Bar. I’d call it a beach club, but it’s nowhere near as big, loud, or “full-on” as the clubs in Bali. It’s super chill. I loved going there because it was the perfect place to just relax in peace and quiet with a cold drink and good food. Honestly? It’s a 10/10 beach spot.

If you’re looking to explore other beaches around Kuta, you should check out my guide on the best beaches in Kuta. I think it’s super helpful for getting a rough idea of what your options are.

3. Take A Day Trip to The Secret Gili Islands

I bet not many of you have heard of these, at least, I hadn’t before I came to Kuta Lombok.

We all know the famous Gili Islands (Gili T, Gili Air, and Gili Meno), but there is a whole other set of “Secret” Gili Islands near Lombok. They are mostly uninhabited and are usually visited as part of a boat snorkeling tour. They are called Gili Nanggu, Gili Sudak, Gili Kedis!

Needless to say, it sounded amazing, so I had to try it for myself. I booked my trip through Viator and my guide was fantastic. Everything was included: the bus transfer, the boat ride, all the snorkeling spots, and some of the best beaches I’ve ever seen. 

Honestly, I think it’s totally worth the trip, in my experience, this might be the single best day trip you can do from Kuta.

Book Here: Secret Gili Islands Day Trip

4. Watch Sunset at Pantai Seger (or Ryan Cafe)

There are plenty of decent sunset spots in Lombok, but one of my absolute favorites has to be Pantai Seger. It’s a popular spot for locals to gather, and it’s basically a beautiful hill overlooking the ocean and the island.

Fair warning: it’s a bit of a mission to find. If you plug it into Google Maps, you’ll likely end up at a huge fence on the road leading to the MotoGP track. From there, you have to take a dirt road down to the side. That’s really all the directions I can give you, it’s tricky if you don’t have someone to show you the way.

That said, the vibe once you get there is unmatched. Whenever I went, everyone was just hanging out, sharing drinks, and chatting as the sun went down. My advice is to bring a sarong or a blanket, pack some cold beers, and, most importantly, bring a light. Once the sun dips below the horizon, it gets pitch black, and you’ll want a torch to find your way back to your scooter.

Alternatively, Ryan Cafe is another amazing spot to watch the sunset and much easier to get to!

5. Paragliding in Kuta Lombok (Or Just Watch Them Like I Did)

I’ll be honest: I didn’t actually do this myself because I was a little too intimidated by it, but there is a really cool spot near Kuta where you can go paragliding right over the coast. The views from up there must be absolutely incredible.

I know about it because I love hanging out at a place called Folk Cafe. It’s a great little spot for lunch with a view that is genuinely the best I have seen in all of Kuta Lombok. 

It’s located pretty much right next to the paragliding takeoff point, so if you’re in a situation where your partner wants to fly but you’d rather keep your feet on the ground, you can just grab a seat at the cafe, relax, and watch them soar through the sky instead.

Book Here: Paragliding in Kuta Lombok

6. Join a Jewelry Making Workshop

I was a bit surprised when I first realized there were quite a few jewelry-making workshops in Kuta. To this day, I still find it a bit random, but it’s definitely a “thing” here!

The workshops are super fun, you’ll usually be making bracelets, rings, or necklaces. The instructors are incredibly helpful and walk you through every step of the process, even if you’re a total beginner. 

This is definitely something I’m planning to do on a rainy day; it’s one of the few indoor activities you can actually do in Lombok, and it’s a great way to walk away with a unique souvenir.

Book Here: Silver Jewelry Workshop

7. Night Out & Live Music at Double D

I’m really not a huge party person anymore, I definitely used to go out a lot more when I was solo backpacking the world, but things have changed! 

That said, I still went out a couple of times while I was in Kuta, and for a proper night out, there is really only one place everyone goes: Double D.

It’s very on-brand for the island vibe; it’s basically just a little shack on the way to the beach from town. They usually have live music every weekend, and it’s where everyone ends up for cheap, strong drinks and a good time. If you’re looking for where the crowd is, this is it.

8. Watch the Moto GP

My dad would have absolutely loved this, and I think I would have too, but unfortunately, there were no races on while I was in town. Only about a 15-minute drive from Kuta is the Mandalika International Street Circuit, which hosts the Indonesian Moto GP.

In case you aren’t familiar, it’s basically the Formula 1 of motorbikes. It’s a massive event with food stalls, merch, and a great atmosphere. It would be such a fun experience, so if you’re even slightly into racing, definitely check the schedule to see if your trip lines up with a race weekend!

9. Scuba Diving in Kuta Lombok

I love scuba diving, though I don’t get to go nearly as much as I’d like. I’ve only managed a few dives this year, some in the Philippines and some on Gili T, but I also made sure to get under the water here in Kuta.

I went with a shop called Blue Marlin, and they were fantastic. They had great gear, a nice boat, and really friendly staff, which always makes a huge difference. The dive itself was actually decent; the visibility was better than I expected, and I even spotted a turtle.

To be honest, it wasn’t the best diving I’ve ever done in my life, and I mainly went just because I hadn’t been in a while and really wanted to get a dive in. But I was genuinely happy with the experience, and it’s a great option if you want to switch things up from surfing.

FAQs About What to Do in Kuta Lombok

Where to go for nightlife in Kuta Lombok?

Kuta Lombok has tons of amazing restaurants and bars in the town center, but for a proper night out, I think most of the younger crowd heads to Double D first and then makes their way to the Reggae Bar afterward. I can assure you that the nights here can get pretty full-on!

Is Kuta Lombok worth visiting?

I absolutely think so. I personally love a good chill beach or surf town, and Kuta is exactly that. It’s got amazing beaches, solid surf, a great community, and loads of incredible restaurants and cafes.

Is Tanjung Aan good for surfing?

Tanjung Aan is probably the best place I’ve been to in and around Kuta Lombok. It’s great for beginners but also works for intermediates, too. The only real “downside” is that you’ll have to take a boat out to the break, so I highly recommend going with a surf school if you aren’t feeling super confident.

What is there to do in Kuta Lombok besides surfing?

There are loads of amazing beaches, viewpoints, scuba diving spots, and even paragliding. Honestly, I never felt like I couldn’t fill my days here, there is just so much to do, and I loved every minute of it.

Final Thoughts on The Best Activities in Kuta Lombok

All in all, I think Kuta Lombok is packed with cool activities. From my experience, small beach or surf towns can sometimes feel fairly limited in terms of what you can actually do compared to bigger cities, where often just chilling on the beach and surfing are the main activities. 

But what I really loved about Kuta is that there was so much more to it than just that: from scuba diving and paragliding to island hopping and jewelry workshops, there’s no shortage of cool stuff to get into.

I hope that this little guide on the best things to do in Kuta Lombok gives you a good idea of how to plan your next trip to the island!

Check Out My Other Lombok Guides

Is Lombok Worth Visiting? My Honest Review

The Best Cafes in Kuta Lombok: My Favorite Coffee Shops in Kuta

The Best Restaurants in Kuta Lombok: My Top Places to Eat in Lombok

Beaches in Kuta Lombok: My Favorite Beaches in Kuta

Best Time to Visit Lombok Island: My Seasonal Guide

Best Things to Do in Kuta Lombok: My Favorite Activities in Kuta

Places to Stay in Kuta Lombok: My Top Areas in Hotels in Kuta Lombok