In a nutshell
- The islands of Lombok and Bali sit right next to each other. Both are part of Indonesia and make for amazing travel destinations.
- There are a few ways to get from Bali to Lombok: by ferry, speedboat, or plane.
- We took the public ferry and in this guide, we’re sharing everything you need to know about traveling from Bali to Lombok by ferry.
- We’ll also walk you through the other options — like getting from Bali to Lombok by speedboat or plane.
The Most Important Information About the Ferry from Bali to Lombok
Here’s the most important information about the official ferry from Bali to Lombok – also known as the “Slow Ferry.”
- Ferry terminal Bali: Padang Bai
- Lombok ferry terminal: Lembar
- Duration of the crossing: 4-5 hours
- Price: 80,000 IDR (approx. 5 euros)
Our Experience with Getting from Bali to Lombok by Ferry
We opted for the “slow ferry” crossing because it’s by far the cheapest option to get from Bali to Lombok. As we weren’t stressed for time, the long journey didn’t bother us either.
Here are all our tips for the ferry crossing.
#1 How do you get to Padang Bai?
The Padang Bai ferry terminal is a little off the beaten path from most places to visit on Bali. If you’ve rented a scooter or a car, you can use it to get to Padang Bai – you can even take it onto the ferry.
Otherwise, either take a taxi or book a shuttle to the port. We took the shuttle from Perama Tour. We were able to book our seat easily via WhatsApp, and the journey from Ubud only took about an hour.
We paid 100,000 IDR (around 6 euros) for it.
#2 Buy tickets for the Bali Lombok ferry
You need to buy your ferry ticket before entering the terminal. We bought them at a counter on the main road in Padang Bai. This worked without any problems.
To buy the ticket, we had to show our passport and pay IDR 80,000 in cash. We were then handed a simple paper ticket.
#3 Departure of the ferry in Bali
The ferries to Lombok depart several times a day — but as the departure times likely change constantly, we won’t give you exact times here. Our ferry departed at 11:30 am.
To get to the ship, you have to walk through the harbor building. There you’ll need to have your ticket scanned, and you’ll be given two new paper tickets at the counter.
You keep one of them and hand in the other before boarding the ship.
We got on the boat nearly an hour early since there isn’t much to see in Padang Bai.
Our tip for Padang Bai: If you want to take it easy, you can also spend a night in Padang Bai. There’s White Sand Beach, a super beautiful beach in Bali.
There is a large indoor seating area on the ferry. You may be offered a private cabin at the entrance – you can simply ignore this and sit in a free seat.
Note that the air conditioning inside runs at full blast, so you should dress warmly. Otherwise, our ferry was very old and grungy – don’t expect much comfort.
Before the ferry sets off, all sorts of vendors come on board, and you can buy food and drink from them.
We left half an hour late at 12 noon.
#4 The crossing and arrival in Lembar
The ride started out smooth, but after about an hour, the ferry began to sway quite a bit. During this time, we stayed seated and didn’t get up.
Aside from that, you can walk around on the boat the whole time and also go outside.
Our tip: If you need to use the restroom, it’s best to go right at the beginning or end of the ferry crossing – or preferably not at all.
As the outline of Lombok got closer and closer, the journey became calmer and more pleasant again. We finally got off the ship at around 4:30 pm.
#5 From Lembar to your hotel on Lombok
You can travel by car or scooter directly from the boat to your hotel on Lombok – for example, in Kuta. Otherwise, your only option is to take a taxi or a Grab.
We recommend that you don’t take the first taxi you’re offered, but walk a little further out from the ferry terminal. Then you’ll pay less for the taxi.
For a moto taxi you’ll pay around 100,000-150,000 IDR (6-8 euros) per trip, and by car around 400,000 IDR.
Alternative to the Ferry from Bali to Lombok: Speedboats
If the ferry crossing takes too long, you can also take a speedboat.
The advantage here is that they depart from several ports in Bali.
These are the most common connections from Bali to Lombok:
Note: There are also many speedboats from Bali to the Gili Islands. Most of them depart from Padang Bai and Serangan.
You can book speedboats via 12goasia – sometimes the transfer from different places to stay in Bali is included. Prices vary greatly between 250,000 IDR – 800,000 IDR (15-50 euros), depending on the connection.
Alternatively, you can book tickets spontaneously at the port. As speedboats run regularly, that’s usually not a problem.
Alternative: Flights from Bali to Lombok
There are also several flights a day from Bali to Lombok. Personally, we don’t think it’s worth flying such a short distance. But if you have problems with sea travel, this is an alternative for you.
Flights cost around 60 euros depending on the season and take about an hour.
FAQ about Getting from Bali to Lombok by Ferry
Is it safe to go from Bali to Lombok by ferry?
Admittedly, the ferries don’t look like the most trustworthy ships we’ve ever seen.
However, we are not aware of any problems with the ferries or even a ferry sinking.
Therefore, in our opinion, the ferries are safe in good weather.
In bad weather, we would avoid the crossing.
How to get from Bali to Gili Islands?
As mentioned above, there are many speedboat connections to all three Gili Islands.
Most boats go to Gili Trawangan – the largest of the Gili islands.
These were our tips for the ferry from Bali to Lombok
Did you also travel from Bali to Lombok by ferry or did you use one of the alternatives? What were your experiences? Let us know in the comments, we’re curious!