- Money and costs
- Safety
- Etiquette and dress
- Ramadan
- Health
- Connectivity and power
- Food
- Packing list
- Accessibility
Money and costs
The currency is the Indonesian rupiah (IDR). ATMs are common in Mataram, Senggigi, Kuta and on Gili Trawangan and Gili Air, but scarce in the mountains and the east; carry enough cash for rural trips. Cards are accepted by larger hotels, restaurants and shops, often with a surcharge.
Lombok is generally cheaper than Bali. A simple warung meal costs very little, a café meal in Kuta more; budget rooms are widely available, and private drivers are good value when shared. Prices on the Gilis are higher. Tipping is not expected but is appreciated, especially for guides, porters and drivers.
Safety
- Roads: traffic is chaotic and roads are winding. Only ride a scooter if you are experienced, licensed for motorbikes and insured; always wear a helmet.
- Sea: many south-coast beaches have strong currents; swim only where locals do, in calm conditions.
- Theft: petty theft from rooms and parked scooters happens; use safes and do not leave bags on bikes.
- Rinjani: trek only with a licensed guide and respect closures.
- Natural hazards: Lombok is seismically active — strong earthquakes struck in 2018. Learn your hotel’s evacuation route.
- Alcohol: buy drinks from reputable venues; adulterated spirits have caused deaths in Indonesia.
Etiquette and dress
Most of Lombok’s people are Muslim, and the island is more conservative than Bali. Swimwear is fine on the beach and by the pool; elsewhere, cover shoulders and knees, especially in villages and at religious sites. Use your right hand to give and receive, remove shoes when entering homes, and ask before photographing people. Public displays of affection are frowned upon. See our culture and etiquette guide for more.
Ramadan
During the fasting month — its dates move about 11 days earlier each year — many local warungs close during daylight and life slows down, while evenings are lively. Tourist areas keep operating, and visitors are not expected to fast, but eat and drink discreetly in public and dress conservatively. Around Eid al-Fitr (Lebaran) transport and accommodation get very busy as people travel home.
Health
- Do not drink tap water; use bottled or refilled filtered water.
- Protect against mosquitoes — dengue fever occurs.
- Rabies is present on Lombok; avoid contact with dogs, cats and monkeys and seek treatment immediately if bitten.
- Coral cuts infect easily; clean them well.
- Mataram has the island’s main hospitals; facilities elsewhere are basic. Travel insurance with medical evacuation is strongly recommended.
Connectivity and power
Mobile coverage is good in towns and along main roads, patchy in the mountains and remote east. Local SIM cards and eSIMs with data are easy to buy; registration rules apply. Most hotels and cafés have Wi-Fi. Power is 230 V with two-pin European-style sockets (types C and F).
Food
Lombok’s name is often linked to lombok, a Javanese and Indonesian word for chilli — and the food lives up to it. Try ayam taliwang (spicy grilled chicken), plecing kangkung (water spinach with fiery tomato sambal), sate rembiga (sweet-spicy beef satay) and nasi balap puyung (rice with shredded spicy chicken). Seafood is excellent on the coast. Alcohol is available in tourist areas but not in many local warungs.
Packing list
- Light, modest clothing (shoulders and knees covered for villages and sights)
- Swimwear, reef-safe sunscreen, hat, sunglasses
- Sturdy shoes and a warm layer for the mountains; full cold-weather kit for Rinjani
- Insect repellent, basic first-aid kit, any prescription medicines
- Reusable water bottle; a dry bag for boat trips
- Cash in small notes for parking, entry fees and tips
Accessibility
Lombok can be challenging for travellers with reduced mobility: pavements are uneven or absent, boats board from the beach, and many sights involve steps or rough paths. International resorts in Mandalika and Senggigi offer the best accessibility; ask in detail before booking. A private driver makes getting around much easier.
