Looking for things to do in Labuan Bajo? Of course, you’re coming for Komodo National Park, the snorkeling or diving and the dragons, right? Besides that, we will show you what else to do in Labuan Bajo, where to stay and eat for an unforgettable trip.
Once a sleepy fishing village, Labuan Bajo has emerged as one of Indonesia’s hottest travel destinations in recent years. Sitting on the western edge of Flores Island, the city is the gateway to the spectacular Komodo National Park with its out-of-this-world natural scenery, world-class snorkeling and adventures to suit every traveller out there.
Even with its rise to stardom, Labuan Bajo remains a fishing town at heart and the locals are as friendly and laid back as anywhere else in Indonesia. It’s easy to see why Labuan Bajo is becoming more popular and even better, the region has been named one of Lonely Planet’s best value destinations.
Update: We just returned from our second trip to Labuan Bajo. Sadly, Bajo Tacos has closed down, so no more legit tacos in Labuan Bajo. We’ve updated our post and added a few extra things to do to reflect our most recent visit.
Quick Guide to Labuan Bajo
Visited: January & July
Suggested time: 2 days + extra for Komodo
Where did we stay: La Cecile and Golo Hill Top
Famous for: Komodo National Park
How to get there: Several direct flights a day from Bali and Jakarta. If travelling on the Trans-Flores Highway, the most comfortable option is Gunung Mas to Ruteng (4 hours) or Bajawa (8 hours)
Tip: If you’re a confident rider, hire a scooter to get around town. There is no Grab or Gojek, just informal scooter taxis, so negotiate a price before. Groups can ask their hotel to help arrange a car.
Unique experience: Massage at Wae Molas
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Where to Stay In Labuan Bajo
Everyone coming to Labuan Bajo is here for Komodo National Park, including us. We spent a total of 4 nights in town and one night on an overnight snorkeling trip to Komodo.
We planned to stay two nights to give us time to arrange a boat trip to Komodo and then return for another two nights to find our land legs again.
We narrowed it down to two places but couldn’t choose one, so we decided to split our stay between them. (If you’re posh, you could call it a Twin Center City Break.) In the end, our two choices turned out to be very different, but both were very enjoyable.
La Cecile
Sitting on the highest point in town, La Cecile probably has one of the best views in Labuan Bajo. Our complimentary pick-up from the airport took us to La Cecile in about 5 minutes and it was love at first sight. The sweeping view down towards town, the boats in the harbour and the islands is spectacular.
The views continue in our room with a balcony. Crisp white bedding and AC complete all our needs for a comfortable stay. The pool overlooking that view is just the place for a refreshing dip or to stare vacantly for some time.
The restaurant at La Cecile does a good job of both Indonesian and Western dishes. The included breakfast comes with many different options and of course, that breakfast view.
Some nights, there is a live band, and sipping on a cold one while the sky sets on fire with some good tunes is just magic. Sunset is quite popular at La Cecile, and the atmosphere is fantastic.
Before booking, we were worried that the restaurant might be too noisy or interfere with our privacy at the pool. We are happy to say that our concerns were unfounded. Only guests are allowed in the pool area, and the sound from the band doesn’t drift down to the rooms.
If you’re looking for something a little more upscale with fantastic views and great food, look no further than La Cecile.
Golo Hilltop
An old favourite in Labuan Bajo, Golo Hilltop’s garden setting and quiet atmosphere are great places to relax before or after your island-hopping trip to Komodo. The pool here also has a good view over the islands, and we really like how you are surrounded by lush gardens. (We went in January, which is the rainy season, so please don’t be upset when you get there in July and it’s all brown).
The room is comfy and clean, with a fan, AC, and mosquito net. We also like the little fridge in the room. You can tell Golo Hilltop has been around for a while, but we couldn’t find any fault with it.
A simple breakfast of eggs, bread, fruit, coffee, and juice is included. It is enjoyed overlooking the garden and blue waters behind it.
Golo Hilltop is a solid mid-range option, and we enjoyed staying here a lot.
Explore Komodo National Park
The real reason you come to Labuan Bajo is to explore the awe-inspiring Komodo islands to the west of Flores Island. With some of the best diving and snorkeling on the planet, crystal clear waters, pink beaches and mythical dragons, Komodo is a paradise for adventure lovers.
Numerous tours to Komodo are available in Labuan Bajo and on the internet. Take a stroll along Jalan Soekarno Hatta, the city’s main street, to shop for and compare the tours. We didn’t like the idea of joining a tour, so we looked for a private boat to take us to Komodo.
We chartered a private boat to take us on an overnight snorkelling trip. We did our research, chose the spots we wanted to visit, and communicated our needs to several agencies until we found a boat with the right price. Going private was quite affordable and perhaps the best decision we made when visiting Komodo.
Our island hopping trip revolved around snorkeling, chilling, napping, scaling Padar Island for that quintessential Komodo view and spotting dragons on Rinca Island.
If you’re short on time, consider booking this tour on Klook for a speedboat tour of Komodo.
Find the Best Sunset Spots in Labuan Bajo
Labuan Bajo faces directly west and that makes for spectacular sunsets. Order yourself a drink and watch the sky and water light up in a hundred shades of orange. Here are our favourite places to watch the sunset from:
La Cecile
La Cecile is not only one of the best hotels in Labuan Bajo but also one (if not THE best) sunset spot in town.
The views and vibes from here are what sunsets are made for! With live music, cold drinks and happy people, the atmosphere is just so chilled. Everyone smiles and radiates good vibes as everything glows in the last orange light.
It is indeed the golden hour up at La Cecile during sunset.
Green Cherry
(Formerly Tree Top)
When we came to Labuan Bajo on our first trip, this great sunset spot right above the harbour was called Tree Top. Tree Top is no more; instead, you’ll find Green Cherry here now.
It’s still the same location and the same stunning sunsets, just a different name.
Almost on the water overlooking the jetty, Green Cherry is just the place to watch everything turn orange. Watching the boats come in from the islands in that fantastic orange glow is almost therapeutic.
If you want this view every day, you can also stay at Eco Tree O’tel, which Green Cherry is part of.
Paradise Bar
Park yourself in the front-row seat overlooking the islands and boats, order a cold one and enjoy the beats at Paradise Bar. It is actually a pretty apt name, considering it’s a bar, and well… it’s paradise.
Judging by the size of the bar and the stage, this place might just be a very good party venue. On our visit, it was nice and peaceful. Just how we like it.
Reach Nirvana at Wae Molas Spa
Wae Molas, with their magical touch, was on top of our to-do list on our second trip to Labuan Bajo. We knew what to expect, and looked forward to lying down on that massage bed to look down into the flower bowl beneath while our therapists made every trouble in the world disappear.
On our first visit, after returning from our overnight snorkelling trip, we had one of the best massages ever at Wae Molas, and we believe it’s still the best massage in Labuan Bajo.
Nothing says “holiday” and “relax” quite like a good old massage.
If you didn’t make a reservation, you might have to wait a while or return the next day. We dropped by in the morning and made a reservation for the afternoon.
The spa is at Wae Molas Hotel, so you could have a drink or relax by the pool before or after your session.
We got the Traditional Full-Body Massage for 90 minutes, which costs IDR 235K. People, trust me, it was heaven, and we were like putty in their skilful hands.
Find Paradise on Kelor Island
Those who say that you must go into Komodo National Park to see the most beautiful parts of Labuan Bajo are all wrong. They obviously haven’t been Kelor Island.
Stunning Kelor is one of the islands closest to Labuan Bajo, so come here to see the splendour of Komodo without spending hours on a boat.
A short but steep path goes to the top of Kelor Island, from where you’ll get one of the best views in Komodo. We think it’s the most beautiful spot in Komodo after Padar Island.
There are several warungs selling food, cold drinks, beer, coconuts, and toilets. You can easily spend a few hours here swimming, eating, and relaxing. The clear and shallow water surrounding the island is perfect for dips and swims, but snorkelling is poor.
Combine Kelor Island with Manjarite Beach (see below), which has great snorkelling for a fantastic half-day trip from Labuan Bajo.
Go Snorkelling at Manjarite
If you’re looking for decent snorkeling near Labuan Bajo, but don’t want to spend all day on a boat to get there, then Manjarite Beach is what you’re looking for.
Under an hour by wooden boat (slow boat) from Labuan Bajo harbour, Manjarite is an incredibly beautiful spot. Manjarite is uninhabited, so there are no facilities. The only way to get there is by renting a boat. Some tours do stop here for snorkeling, but most skip it and motor straight to Komodo.
Snorkeling at Manjarite is pretty decent. Expect to see a lot of hard coral and plenty of small, colourful fish. Manjarite has almost no current and beautiful scenery both above and underwater. Snorkelling here is suitable for all ages and abilities, thanks to the calm and shallow water.
Manjarite is a great spot for those who have visited Komodo already, but still want to do some island hopping and snorkelling without the entire dragon-Padar-Pink Beach -shebang.
We rented a wooden boat for a half-day trip to Manjarite and Kelor Island and paid IDR 1.5 million.
Where to Eat in Labuan Bajo
There are, surprisingly, very good options for eating in Labuan Bajo. Everything from typical Padang food joints to Mediterranean fare. The fresh seafood here is especially good, as you can expect from a fishing town.
Labuan Bajo Fish/Night Market
If you’re only having one dinner in Labuan Bajo, let it be at the fish market. The food and atmosphere is something unique to the city.
Officially named Pasar Malam, everyone simply calls it the Night Market or Fish Market. This market is the best place for fresh seafood in town. The stalls are set up around sunset and are popular among local and international tourists alike.
As a good fish market should be, the fresh fish, crabs, lobsters, shells, shrimps, octopus and squid are on display for you to inspect before you choose. (Smell, touch, probe-make sure those gills are fresh and red inside.)
Once you made a choice you can request how you want it prepared. The basic options are either grilled with BBQ or lemon-garlic sauce or cooked as a curry. We went with everything grilled (Bakar) and it was damn good.
You can also order sides such as chicken, rice, vegetables, and drinks. If you don’t get fresh fruit juice, it’s a good idea to grab your drinks or beers from the shops just across from the stalls.
Happy Banana
Happy Banana is the new cool place in town. It used to be Bajo Taco, but that closed down and Happy Banana is now the reigning king of cool.
Happy Banana is definitely not a dull place: pictures of naked women meet the gaze of Ganesh while the plates of food explode with colour and flavour.
On the menu, you’ll find everything healthy and delicious, from sushi, sashimi, poke bowls, quinoa burgers to edamame and falafel. Happy Banana has quickly established itself as the best restaurant in Labuan Bajo for vegans and vegetarians.
I ordered the Rainbow Poke Bowl, which was packed with goodness and colour. It didn’t only look great but tasted dynamite. Jin had the Tuna Tataki with miso mashed potato, which was damn good too.
Fellas
The best pizza in Labuan Bajo lives at a restaurant called Fellas, and man…are they good?!
Fellas was buzzing with locals and tourists when we arrived, showing that it has indeed dethroned La Cucina (see below) as the best pizza joint in Labuan Bajo.
Owned by the same man behind Baccala, another top-rated restaurant in town- the owner definitely knows what good food is and what makes a good restaurant.
Jin went with her traditional Margherita, and I went with the owner’s recommendation—a Rendang pizza. The pizzas at Fellas are medium-thick, with the perfect base-to-topping ratio. My Rendang Pizza had a delightful spicy coconut flavour to the beef. Give it a try when you come.
Fellas open for lunch at 12 pm and closes at 11 pm every day.
Santeria
We just loved Santeria. It’s laid back, has lovely outside seating, friendly staff and the food was amazing.
We came here for Jin’s birthday dinner, and wanted something special but nothing fancy, and Santeria fit this description perfectly.
It feels much like a local Indonesian Warung, but with a bit of finesse.
The grilled fish was perfect, the nasi goreng was smoky and flavourful, and the kang kung (water spinach) had the perfect balance between spicy and fresh. And of course the Bintangs were cold and served with a smile and a friendly chat.
Definitely pay these guys a visit for their amazing food and vibe.
La Cucina
Another great pizza and pasta place is La Cucina if you’re tired of seafood or nasi goreng, bakso and soto ayam.
We are no Italians or pizza experts, but we can say they have good pizzas (although not as good as Fellas). Their portions are large, and we could probably have shared just one. But we were hungry and fresh off a boat with salt still in our hair, so we went for a Margherita pizza and a calzone.
We have an unwritten rule about not leaving anything behind, so the plates were clean when we left- a sign that the pizza was good indeed.
We also appreciated the AC.
Baccala
Rated as the number one spot to eat in town, we decided to go check it out. Baccala looks brand new and the staff is all smiles. The food is really good and feels upmarket without being stuck up. This restaurant has. a slight European feel to it in terms of food portions and presentation, but the flavours and atmosphere is 100 % Labuan Bajo.
We had the grilled octopus and barracuda. Both dishes were beautifully presented. We just wish the portions were a little bigger. We had to order some extra roasted potatoes to fill us up.
Hong Signature Restaurant
For Chinese -Indonesian fare, Hong Signature Restaurant on Jalan Soekarno Hatta is your place. We had a perfectly grilled fish with spicy mango salsa, sweet and sour prawns and bbq clams. The food was incredible.
You can also find some dim sum on the menu. While the food was amazing, the dessert was disappointing.
La Cecile
The restaurant at La Cecile, where we stayed, has some really good food. Going up to La Cecile to catch the sunset and a drink before dinner can make for a good night.
The menu has both Western and Indonesian dishes. We had the rendang and chicken satays, which were both really good.
Get Yourself a Scooter
The best way to get around Labuan Bajo, and any other place in Indonesia for that matter, is by renting a scooter. This gives you the freedom to go where you please and it’s no fun walking anywhere in the tropical sun and humidity.
Ask your hotel, they might have scooters for rent. Our hotel was out of bikes, so I went to good old Google and sent a few WhatsApp messages, which also proved unsuccessful. Luckily Jin found a guy on Korean blogs.
Send Made Perama (WhatsApp +62 82144447272) a message about scooter rental. A 125cc goes for IDR 75K per day including helmets. He will come and deliver and collect it again for IDR 30K. All you need is to send him a copy of your passport and he’ll bring your bike to you.
How Many Days in Labuan Bajo
On our first Labuan Bajo trip, we stayed a total of five nights (one night on a boat). I actually made a mistake when I booked our plane tickets from Bali.
The plan was to stay in Labuan Bajo for 2 nights to find a boat charter to take us to the Komodo islands. After returning from our boat trip, we stayed one night before returning to Bali, making it 3 nights in town and 1 night on the boat.
But I made a fortunate mistake and booked the return to Bali one day later than planned. This turned out to be perfect. It was nice to simply relax by the pool and find our land feet again.
For our second trip, we stayed in Labuan Bajo for three nights, which was just great. Because we had visited Komodo National Park before, we spent three days in Labuan Bajo with only a half-day trip to Kelor and Manjarite.
We suggest a minimum of three nights to make the best of your time in Labuan Bajo.
When is the Best Time to Visit Labuan Bajo
We visited Labuan Bajo in January (height of the rainy / low season), and July (dry/ peak season). Both visits were very enjoyable, so any time is as good as the other. Keep the following in mind:
Rainy Season (November – March): Rainy season was humid AF and hot, with rain every day. The landscape was lush and green. Rain fell mainly at night, so it did not have a negative effect on our travel plans.
Snorkelling was good, but the visibility was not as good as in the dry season.
Sunsets were roughly 250 times better for us in the rainy season.
Low season meant it was not busy at all and reduced prices for accommodation.
Dry Season (April -October): Cool and dry weather, perfect for walking around, hiking and being active. Rain is very unlikely, so you’re in for lots of sunny days. The landscape on the islands was turning yellow-brown, but the gardens in town were still lush and green.
Peak season means it is busy (but not crowded).
Lots of tours and activities on offer. Diving and snorkelling are top-notch in the dry season with fantastic visibility. Hardcore divers and snorkelers will want to come in the dry.
How to Get to Labuan Bajo
Most of you will fly to Labuan Bajo Komodo Airport (LBJ).
Flights: Garuda, Batik, Citilink, NAM Air, Air Asia and Super Jet have direct flights daily from Jakarta and Bali. Wings Air flies to Bajawa, Ende and Maumere on Flores Island on propeller planes.
When searching for domestic flights in Indonesia, use Tiket, an Indonesian flight search engine. You won’t find many domestic flights on Skyscanner and the like, except for Air Asia and maybe Garuda. The other Indonesian airlines simply don’t exist there.
We flew with Batik from Jakarta (2.5 hours), and NAM Air from Denpasar Bali (1 hour).
Overland: After visiting Labuan Bajo, we travelled east on Flores Island to Ende. The first step is from Labuan Bajo to Ruteng, which takes about 3.5 hours and costs IDR 160K.
The best way to travel from Labuan Bajo to Ruteng or Bajawa is Gunung Mas, a comfortable minibus with individual seats. Ask your hotel to make a reservation for you, and Gunung Mas will come and pick you up from your hotel.
The Flores Files
Looking for more Flores travel information? Check out our other posts
And that concludes our travel guide for Labuan Bajo. If we missed anything or you have any questions, drop us a message below.
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Thanks for this great read. May I ask when you were there if there were concerns about malaria? Wanting to go but I have a 3 year old I don’t want to put at risk.
Hi Mands,
We were there in February, and took no anti-malaria tablets. However, malaria is prevalent in the entire Indonesia. We’ve never heard of anyone catching it Indonesia, though.
Going with kids is a completely different story. You’d better ask a doctor, malaria expert or someone more knowledgeable on the topic than us.
Great write up. Looked like a great trip, including the extra day
Thanks for sharing.
Glad you liked it April. We are heading back to Labuan Bajo this summer and will update where necessary. I think I booked the right dates this time so should only be there for 3 days 😝
Hello, I will go at the end of January to labuanbajo. Are labuanbajo cruises to lombok operational at this season? Thank you so much
Hi Philip,
January is the rainy season, and as far as we know, the tourist cruises between Lombok and Labuan Bajo are not running. The public ferries run yearround, though. It’s best to find these tourist cruises online and ask them directly whether they are operating in January.
I will be in Labuan Bajo in early November. Since you mention eating (cooked) fish, curries, rice dishes, etc. and drinking fresh fruit juices (made with water/ice), the question that comes to my mind is: did you encounter any digestive issues (troubles)? I’ve traveled a bit in Asia (Singapore, Hong, Kong, Tokyo) and never encountered issues, but I did (badly) in India and Mexico, so I’m not immune yet also not easily susceptible. Did you take any precautions while eating through Labuan Bajo (and Bali for that matter)? What advice can you give about eating out there? Thanks.
Hi Stefan,
We were just in Labuan Bajo again last week and ate well with no problems.
We’ve been to Indonesia 8 times and never had issues (touch wood).
When eating at the night market, inspect , smell and touch the seafood to make sure it’s fresh.
Ice in drinks should be fine.
We don’t have any real advice on how to avoid getting sick, as this can happen any time or place and there is nothing you can do about it.
Hello!
We are going to Bali in November, and now planning to fly over to Flores for 3 nights (2.5 days) to see a different part of Indonesia. Is the first week in November a good time to go, or would you recommend maybe waiting for another time.
Hi Ness,
The weather is always unpredictable. Early November might be hot and humid with some some rain – but then it is the weather so no one knows what it will be like.
We visited Labuan Bajo in February (height of the rainy season) and in July (dry season). Both times were very enjoyable.
For the casual visitor anytime is as god as the other.
Labuan Bajo is a great addition to Bali
Great article and super useful information, thank you! For a solo traveler who doesn’t ride a scooter, how would I get around the island? My main interest is the 3D2N boat trip to Komodo island, but of course would love to explore a bit of LBJ while I’m there anyway. The town itself is pretty small and walkable, right?
Hi Katie, if you’re staying along (or near) Jalan Soekarno Hatta – the main street in Labuan Bajo, you’ll be fine with walking. Most of the restaurants and travel agents are along this stretch. If you need wheels, ask your hotel to arrange a ojek (motorbike with driver and you sit at the back) for you.