Major city · Indonesia
Bima
Use Bima as a transit stop between Sumbawa's west coast and Komodo: one night is enough to see the palace and mosque.
Bima is the largest city on Sumbawa and a former sultanate capital, but its sights are limited to a palace museum and an old mosque. Most travellers pass through on the way to Komodo National Park via Sape or to Mount Tambora. The city is dry and dusty; the real draw is the surrounding landscape and the ferry connections east.
More
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- IDR
- Best months
- Apr–Oct
- avoid Nov–Mar (rainy season, rough seas for ferries)
- Airport
- BMU
- Nights
- 1
Not a trip line yet
Rules in force · 6Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore…
- Southeast Asia ↗Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Brunei and Myanmar; never carry a bag or parcel for anyone.
- Southeast Asia ↗Carry a passport valid for at least six months from entry with two blank pages; airlines refuse boarding on less.
- Indonesia ↗Buy the visa on arrival or e-visa only on the official Immigration portal; lookalike sites charge extra.
- Indonesia ↗Complete the All Indonesia digital arrival and customs form before landing; it is free.
- Indonesia ↗Foreign visitors to Bali pay a one-off tourist levy; keep the payment proof on your phone.
- Indonesia ↗Riding a motorbike needs a valid licence that covers motorbikes (an international permit alongside your own) and a helmet; check your insurance covers it.
Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Official sites
Emergency numbers for Bima112 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Bima, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Rupiah (Rp) in small notes for warungs, parking, offerings and drivers; large cards are common in tourist restaurants but not everywhere.Indonesia-wide
- SIM or eSIMcheckTelkomsel, XL and Indosat sell tourist SIMs at airports; foreign phones must be IMEI-registered if staying over 90 days — check.Indonesia-wide
- Tap waterNot drinkable from the tap; refill stations common in Bali.Indonesia-wide
- TippingRestaurants: Often 10% service + tax on the bill; nothing more needed.Indonesia-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets C/F. US/Canada (A/B): adapter · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 230 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Indonesia-wide
- SafetyBima is generally safe.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsWestern in hotels and cafés; squat toilets with a water scoop elsewhere; paper in the bin.Indonesia-wide
- Emergency numbers112 General emergency · 110 police · 118 ambulance (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysBali shuts completely for Nyepi; government offices close Friday midday for prayer; Lebaran slows the country for two weeks.Indonesia-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportcheckBMU Sultan Muhammad Salahudin Airport (About 20 min drive from city centre; flights from Lombok and Bali (check)).
- Getting aroundBemo (minibus) and ojek (motorcycle taxi) cover the city; walking is fine for the centre.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- CoffeeCoffee at a warungRp5,000–10,000
- Museum or sight ticketMuseum Asi Mbojo entryRp10,000–20,000 (check)
- Budget bedHostel or losmen bed, a night, per personRp100,000
- Mid-range bedBasic hotel double room, a night, per roomRp350,000
- High-end bedBasic hotel double room, a night, per roomRp600,000
A day, not counting the bed: Budget Rp200,000 · Mid Rp400,000 · High Rp700,000
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- BMU Sultan Muhammad Salahudin Airport (About 20 min drive from city centre; flights from Lombok and Bali (check))
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Avoid
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Feb
Avoid
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Mar
Avoid
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Apr
Best
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
May
Best
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Jun
Best
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Jul
Best
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Aug
Best
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Sep
Best
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Oct
Best
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Nov
Avoid
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Dec
Avoid
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Best: Apr–Oct. Avoid: Nov–Mar. Month by month →
Warmest Sep (33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)), coolest Jun (21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C) low), wettest Jan (18 rain days), driest Aug (1). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Bima: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
18 rd
Feb
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
16 rd
Mar
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
14 rd
Apr
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
10 rd
May
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
6 rd
Jun
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
4 rd
Jul
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
2 rd
Aug
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
1 rd
Sep
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
2 rd
Oct
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
5 rd
Nov
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
10 rd
Dec
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
16 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
Bemo (minibus) and ojek (motorcycle taxi) cover the city; walking is fine for the centre. To reach Sape or Tambora, hire a car and driver or take a shared minibus.
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Sape
goDoor to door: About 2 h
Shared minibus or car, about 1.5 h
Ferry port for Komodo; check schedules.
Mount Tambora
overnightDoor to door: About 3 h to trailhead
Car to the trailhead, about 2 h, then a 2-day trek
Requires a guide and camping gear.
Door to door: About 3.5 h
Shared minibus or car, about 3 h
Larger town with more services.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
City centre (around Jalan Sultan Hasanuddin)
Close to the palace and mosque; basic hotels and losmen.
Near the harbour (Bima Bay)
Convenient for early ferries to Sape; fewer options.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- Rp200,000–350,000 excl. bed
- Mid
- Rp350,000–600,000 excl. bed
- High
- Rp600,000+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Basic hotel double room1 × 1 night × Rp350,000 | Rp350,000 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × Rp400,000 | Rp800,000 |
| Shared minibus Bima → Sape2 × Rp50,000 · check | Rp100,000 |
| Ferry Sape → Labuan Bajo2 × Rp100,000 · check | Rp200,000 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | Rp145,000 |
| Trip total≈ Rp798,000 per person per day, bed included | Rp1,595,000≈ US$100 |
2026 estimate in rupiah; flights and ferry tickets excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Nasi campur (rice with sides) | Rp15,000–30,000 |
| Bottle of water (1.5 L) | Rp5,000–8,000 |
| Coffee at a warung | Rp5,000–10,000 |
| Ojek ride (short trip) | Rp10,000–20,000 |
| Museum Asi Mbojo entry | Rp10,000–20,000 (check) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Ferries to Sape can be cancelled in rough weather (Nov–Mar).
- ATMs are limited; bring enough cash from Lombok or Bali.
- The airport is small; check flight schedules ahead.
Emergency numbers
- General emergency
- 112
- Police
- 110
- Ambulance
- 118
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
BimaBima
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
Ke alamat ini, tolongTo this address, please
Emergency
- General emergency112
- Police110
- Ambulance118
Embassy
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Airport → city centre: about Rp50,000–100,000 by ojek or car (check)
- Bima → Sape, shared minibus: about Rp50,000 per person (check)
Say or show
- Apa kabar — Hello (apa ka-bar)
- Terima kasih — Thank you (te-ree-ma ka-seeh)
- Berapa? — How much? (be-ra-pa)
- Di mana pasar? — Where is the market? (dee ma-na pa-sar)
- Saya mau ke Sape — I want to go to Sape (sa-ya mau ke sa-pe)
Indonesian is understood; Bima language is local.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Bima. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Apr–Oct · avoid Nov–Mar (rainy season, rough seas for ferries) · month by month →
- 1 airport and 2 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 3 day-trips, door to door
- 3 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Place pages for Museum Asi Mbojo and Masjid Sultan Muhammad Salahuddin with verified hours and entry fees.
- Ferry schedules from Bima harbour to Sape and Komodo, with seasonal cancellation risk.
- Eat pages for local Bima dishes (e.g. jepa, se'i).
Sources
Ask about Bima
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