10 of the Best Things to Do in Gili Air

How could such a small island in the middle of the Indian Ocean feel so magical?  An island so small that there are no need for cars; instead you get around by foot, bike, or horse-driven carriage.  An island that I was supposed to visit for three days but somehow kept me around for three weeks.  And even then, I didn’t want to leave.  Having visited multiple islands in Indonesia, I have to say that Gili Air is one of my top choices.  And despite its size, there are tons of things to do in Gili Air.  Below you’ll find the best ways to occupy your time to allow you to see the magic of this island!

 

If you want to check out more islands in Indonesia, don’t miss…

• 8 Things to Do in Nusa Penida
• The Best Nusa Penida 2 Day Itinerary
• Is Nusa Lembongan Worth Visiting?  A Complete Guide!

 

1.  Snorkel Gili Air & the Surrounding Islands

A highlight of visiting the Gili Islands are the incredible snorkel opportunities.  While you can rent a mask, snorkel, and fins from a local (I’ve found that this is mostly on the eastern side of the island) and snorkel on your own, you can also join a snorkel trip around Gili Air, Gili Meno, and Gili Trawangan.  You can book a ticket from almost anywhere on the island.  Either walk around the beach and find someone selling tickets or ask your hotel about it!

 

BOOK A PRIVATE OR SHARED SNORKELING BOAT TRIP HERE!

 

2.  Hang Out at the Beach

Something that I really enjoyed about Gili Air was not only is there plenty of space to just lie on the sand, but I like that there are many lounge chairs and umbrellas to enjoy without needing to pay.  It is expected that you purchase food/drink when you use the lounge chairs, but there is no minimum spend and no extra charge for the chair itself.

My two favorite places to lounge under an umbrella are the areas around Scallywag and Gili Lambing Bungalows and Bar.  For a more chill experience (with shade but no official lounge chairs) head northwest between Camilla Beach Club and Hakuna Matata.

 

3.  Stretch it Out at Yoga

Another thing that I really like about Gili Air was the ease of getting some exercise.  Of course, walking around the island is great exercise in itself but there are also yoga studios and even gyms!  As far as yoga goes, the two main studios on the island are H2O Yoga and Flowers and Fire Yoga Garden.  (At H2O Yoga you can even try aqua yoga!).

If you want exercise but yoga isn’t your thing, you could visit The Gym Gili Air – a new gym (as of early 2024) with treadmills, bikes, free weights, and machines.  Or there’s an outdoor gym – Radiant Beach Gym & Fitness Center – that’s estimated to open mid-2024.

 

4.  Catch an Outstanding Sunset

Of course, you can’t visit Gili Air and miss one of the epic sunsets!  For the best sunset views, you’ll want to visit the northwest of the island.  If you land somewhere between Camilla Beach Club  and Island View Bar & Bungalow, you’ll get the best sunset views.

My two favorite places for the sunset were Island View Bar & Bungalow and Hakuna Matata.  On a clear day, you can see Bali from Hakuna Matata!

 

5.  Watch a Movie on the Beach

If you’re wondering what there is to do at night on Gili Air, one recommendation I have would be to catch an outdoor movie on the beach!  There are two places you can do this – Lagoon Beach Club & Resto and Ombak Paradise.  (The screen at Ombak Paradise is bigger than Lagoon Beach Club and you will be on the sand).

Walking around the island make sure to keep an eye out for the movies that are playing as they switch it up every few nights.

 

6.  Go on a Food Tour of the Island

Surprisingly enough, Gili Air has some seriously incredible restaurants.  While I was mostly impressed with the number of international restaurants there were also a number of great local restaurants too!  These were my favorite spots…

• Hakuna Matata – Incredible sushi, cocktails, and great for sunset
• ITALY Pizza & Cucina – If you’re craving comfort, Italian food – ITALY it is (please order the traditional brownie – I have no words!)
• KIOSKO Cafe Spanish Tapas & Churros – A cute restaurant in the middle of the island with excellent Spanish food
• Manta Taqueria – For tacos on the beach (not great for sunset)
• Mowie’s Gili Air Bar – For great vibes, food, and cocktails on the beach
• Shendy’s Better Food & Drinks – My absolute favorite spot on the island for local food

 

7.  Hang Out in Cute Cafes

For rainy days, lazy days, or days you simply want to get off the beach and eat in a cafe – these are the top places I’d recommend!

• Gili Coffee Roasters – A gorgeous cafe in the middle of the island surrounded by palm trees and greenery
• Kopi Susu – Kopi Susu is in an ideal location near the pier and gives off the ultimate “island” vibes
• Pachamama Organic Cafe – If you’re looking for paleo, vegan, or vegetarian food – Pachamama is a perfect choice

 

8.  Learn to Make Indonesian Food at a Cooking Class

One fun way to spend your time on Gili Air is to participate in a cooking class where you can learn more about Indonesian culture and food!  There are two places in Gili Air that I would recommend for cooking classes…

• Gili Cooking Classes – This class can be found in the south of the island near the port
• Warung Sunny – This class is done at one of the restaurants in the northwest of the island

 

9.  Bike Around the Island

When you visit Gili Air, I recommend walking around the entirety of the island and also using a bike to get around!  While you can’t bike around the outskirts of the island because of the sand, I enjoyed renting a bike and exploring some of the streets that were more off the beaten path.  You can find bike rentals everywhere and the price for a 24-hour rental is around 50,000 IDR.

 

10.  Learn How to Dive

Lastly, Gili Air is a great place to either learn how to dive or get an advanced dive certificate.  (You can even learn how to free dive on the island!).  I don’t personally dive, but my boyfriend does and these are the places that he’d recommend…

• Manta Dive Resort Gili Air
• Blue Marlin Dive
• Next Level Scuba

 

Is Gili Air Worth Visiting?

Now that you know some of the best things to do in Gili Air… is it worth the visit?  It’s a tiny island with no cars – what makes it so special?  I truly can’t explain the magic that is Gili Air, but I would say it is absolutely worth the visit.  While I did not visit Gili Meno or Gili Trawangan, from my understanding Gili Air is known as being a chill island, with plenty to do.  Gili Meno is the smallest of the three islands and is known for being more romantic and honeymoon friendly.  And Gili Trawangan is the biggest of the three islands and is known for its rowdy nightlife.  For something in the middle – Gili Air is the perfect choice.

 

How Many Days Should You Spend in Gili Air?

I would say that you need a minimum of two days on Gili Air.  Again, the island is very small and you can walk everywhere in just 20-minutes.  But you’ll probably want a day to lounge at the beach, maybe snorkel, and a day to walk around and explore.

I originally planned to stay in Gili Air for three days and somehow ended up on the island for three weeks!

 

Best Time to Visit Gili Air

Monsoon season in the Gili Islands lasts from October-April.  Peak tourist season (when it’s winter in Australia) is July and August.  Keeping that in mind, I would recommend visiting between April-June or in September.  I visited during rainy season in March and while there was rainfall, there were many beautiful, sunny days.  Plus there were few tourists so prices were much lower than during their busier months.

 

How to Get to Gili Air

The only way to arrive to Gili Air is by boat.  Of course you can come from many different islands around Indonesia, but perhaps the two most common ways to arrive are from Lombok, Bali, or Gili Meno/Gili T.

To get to Gili Air from Bali the boat ride is around five hours.  I suggest booking through 12Go or Bookaway.  From Lombok, the boat ride is only 15-minutes.  In Lombok, I would ask your hotel for advice on arranging a boat or book online.  The men at the Bangsal Port in Lombok are known to scam tourists and I would not trust that they would get you on the right boat for a fair price.  (My boyfriend gave them $60 for a ticket to Bali and they gave him a fake ticket).

And lastly, if you’re arriving from Gili Meno or Gili T, simply purchase your ticket at the port for the cheapest price.  Boats are leaving all day so you shouldn’t have any troubling getting to Gili Air.

Once you get to Gili Air, you’ll arrive at the port in the south of the island.  Depending on where you’re staying, you can walk to your hotel or hire one of the horse-driven carriages to give you a ride.  Remember to negotiate the price ahead of time!

 

If you’re traveling to Gili Air from Bali, don’t miss…

• 12 of the Best Hotels in Bali
• How to Spend One Day in Ubud
• Staying at Nirjhara Bali – What You Need to Know
• 25+ of the Best Tours in Bali

 

BOOK A FERRY TO GILI AIR HERE!

 

Where to Stay in Gili Air

When deciding where to stay in Gili Air, there are a few things to consider.  First, do you want something quiet?  Head north.  Do you want to step out on the beach each morning?  Make sure to book a beachside property.  Do you want to be around the action?  Stay in the south.

I stayed at Jago Gili Air and would absolutely recommend it to anyone staying on Gili Air.  The rooms are comfortable, clean, the wifi works well, and I loved that I was near tons of restaurants and it was easy walking distance to the beach.  I also stayed in the north one night at Ardi Beltza Gili Air.  It was a bit more rustic and the wifi was spotty, but if you want something more quiet and off the beaten path it’s also a great choice.

If the above choices are full or don’t suite you, here are some other properties I was eyeing…

• Hani Hideaway
• The KOHO Air Hotel
• PinkCoco Gili Air
• La Boheme

 

Of note, Indonesia is a Muslim country and there is a mosque in the middle of Gili Air.  Because of this, you might hear the call to prayer throughout the day/night.  Just something to be aware of and something to pay attention to when reading reviews about the hotels on the island.

 

BOOK YOUR STAY IN GILI AIR HERE!

 

FAQ

Q:  “Which side of Gili Air is the best?”

• A:  Truthfully, because the island is so small I have trouble with what would be the “best”.  And instead, I think it’s just what you’re looking for.  If you want a quieter experience but on the beach and near bars and restaurants – I would say you should stay in the north.  If you’re looking to be near the port and everything that’s going on – but don’t care about being near the beach, you should stay along Jl. Mojo near the port in the south.  The northwest of the island is best for sunsets, while the east has better beaches (in my opinion).  But again, because the island is so small and you can walk just about everywhere in 20-minutes you truly can’t go wrong!

Q:  “Do you need a visa to visit Gili Air?”

• A:  Yes, it is required that tourists visiting Indonesia have a visa.  You can get one online here (it is more expensive than getting it in person but it’s much more convenient as you don’t have to wait in a long line).  Know that if you arrive to Indonesia without a visa, you can get a 30-day visa at the airport.  If you want to stay longer you can renew your visa for an extra 30-days (60 days total) but after that you have to leave the country in order to enter again.  If you want to visit Gili Air but you need to extend your visa, I would recommend arriving to the island and the next day taking a boat to Lombok to get your visa renewed.  (From what I can tell, you can only do this in Bali or Lombok).  Since you have to leave your passport for around 10-days, you can go back to Gili Air (on the same day) and once your visa is ready you can go back to Lombok to pick it up.  If you don’t have someone helping you out here are some tips…
  • Print your departure ticket ahead of time (you need to show proof of leaving Indonesia before your visa expires)
  • Come with 500,000 IDR (so you don’t have to stop at the ATM)
  • Ask a driver at the port to take you to the visa office, wait for you, and drop you back off at the port – negotiate price ahead of time
  • Bring your passport
  • The entire process will take around 2 hours so go early enough in the morning that you can still return back to Gili Air same day
  • If you arrive at the Bangsal port in Lombok, it’s about a 1.5 hr drive to the visa office

Q:  “Are there ATMs in Gili Air?”

• Yes!  There are three ATMs located in the south of the island and one in the north.  Many places accept credit/debit but I would recommend having cash on an off chance they don’t.

Q:  “What should I wear on Gili Air?”

• Indonesia is a Muslim country so on Gili Air you’ll notice that the locals dress more conservatively.  There aren’t dress requirements for tourists but there are signs requesting that you be respectful and not wear bikinis walking around town (however bikinis are definitely okay at the beach).

 

Indonesia Essentials – What You Need & Need to Know About Visiting Indonesia

 

I hope that this post as not only convinced you to visit Gili Air, but has also helped plan your itinerary.  There are tons of things to do in Gili Air and it is truly a magical island.  If you have any questions about visiting Gili Air, let me know in a comment below!

 

If you’re planning a trip to Indonesia, don’t miss…

• Everything You Need to Know About Visiting Indonesia
• The Ultimate 10 Day Indonesia Itinerary – Island Hopping Edition
• The Best Packing List for Indonesia

 

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For more information on things to see and do in Gili Air, make sure to check out my Instagram page/highlight reelby searching “#ppinindonesia” or under my highlights for “Indonesia”; alternatively, head to my TikTok and search for the saved “Indonesia” highlight

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