Bima
Introduction
Bima is a coastal city on the eastern side of Sumbawa, in Indonesia's West Nusa Tenggara province. It is the largest city on the island, and it sits apart from the adjoining Bima Regency, which covers the surrounding area.
Before you go
Bima sits on the eastern coast of Sumbawa, in Indonesia's West Nusa Tenggara province, and is the largest city on the island. It is a separate entity from the Bima Regency that surrounds it on the landward side, so check which one you are dealing with when you book transport or accommodation. The city has long been a trading centre for communities across eastern Sumbawa, and its economy still rests on agriculture, livestock, fishing, commerce and government services.
Expect a relatively dry climate compared with the wetter western parts of Sumbawa. The landscape around the city is made up of hills, dry agricultural land, coastal stretches and bays. The local culture is strongly shaped by the Bima people: Bima language is widely spoken in daily life, while Indonesian is the language of education, government and formal communication. Picking up a few words of Indonesian will serve you well, and a phrasebook or translation app is worth having on hand.
Getting there
Bima is served by Sultan Muhammad Salahudin Airport (BMU), located on Jalan Sumbawa in Belo, Palibelo. This is the point of arrival for travellers flying into the area.
Getting around
Bima has no rail, metro or tram network, and no train service anywhere on Sumbawa, so plan your movements around the road network. The city sits on a provincial road linking it to Dompu to the west and Sape to the east, with the trans-Sumbawa road continuing onward to Sumbawa Besar and Taliwang. Central Bima is compact enough that walking works well in the downtown commercial zone, where the main sights and services cluster, and the main bus station on Jalan Sultan Salahuddin is a 15–20 minute walk from the centre. Beyond the centre the city spreads out and walking becomes less practical, particularly in the heat; Bima has a tropical savanna climate with heavy rainfall from December to March, so plan around the weather if you intend to walk.
Buses are the main form of intercity public transport, useful for reaching Bima's neighbours and more distant destinations. Regional buses from the main station serve Dompu and Sape, as well as longer runs to Sumbawa Besar and Mataram in Lombok, with departures generally through the morning and afternoon and the longest services leaving earlier in the day. Long-distance VIP buses can be booked at travel agents on Jalan Sultan Salahuddin near the intersection with Jalan Soekarno Hatta; these depart in the evening for destinations including Sumbawa, Poto Tano, Mataram, Denpasar, Banyuwangi, Surabaya, Semarang and Jakarta. Within the city, public transport is limited, so taxis are the most straightforward option for getting around and for reaching the airport, where fares are fixed and quoted per vehicle rather than per person; sharing a car with other passengers lowers the per-person cost. An ojek (motorbike taxi) can serve some routes, but is not practical if you are carrying surfboards or large luggage. For general city trips, expect to negotiate or agree a fare with a driver rather than rely on a meter. From Sultan Muhammad Salahudin Airport on the southern outskirt, a taxi ride to central Bima takes around 20 minutes, and taxis also run to Lakey and to Sape for the ferry to Flores; there is no public transport from the airport itself, so the only budget alternative is walking to the main road and flagging a passing bus. If you are heading straight to the surf at Hu'u or on to hike Tambora, arrange your onward transport from Bima rather than expecting to find it at the airport, and confirm ferry connections to Flores through a local travel agent before you set off for Sape.
Where to stay
Bima is a small city, and its accommodation is concentrated in the town centre, where you'll find simple hotels and guesthouses within easy reach of the main streets and the market. Staying centrally puts you close to the local eateries and the morning activity around the harbour area.
Food & drink
The source material for Bima contains no entries for eating or drinking, so there is nothing to describe here.What to see and do
Bima's past as a sultanate is the main draw for visitors, and the old Sultan's palace, Museum Asi Mbojo, is the place to start. Once home to the rulers of Bima, it now serves as a museum where you can get a sense of the region's royal history.
- Museum Asi Mbojo – the former Sultan's palace and home of Bima's rulers
- Masjid Sultan Muhammad Salahuddin – a historical mosque built in 1770 by Sultan Abdul Kadim Zillulah Fil Alam
When to go
Bima has a tropical savanna climate, and the timing of your visit makes a real difference to how easily you can get around. The long drier stretch runs from April to November, when rainfall is moderate to little and days are generally dry. This is the longer and more reliable window of the year, so travel and outdoor activities are easy to plan.
The wet season falls from December through March, bringing heavy rainfall, frequent downpours and wet conditions. If you visit during these months, expect travel and outdoor plans to be more disrupted.
Three days in Bima
Day one: Start in Bima itself, arriving at Sultan Muhammad Salahudin Airport (BMU) if you fly in, or along Jalan Sumbawa if you come by road. Settle into Central Bima, where Jalan Sultan Salahuddin makes a good orientation point for your first walk. Expect Indonesian food in the local style as you get your bearings, and keep the day light before heading further out.
Day two: Head beyond the city into Bima Regency, using Belo and Palibelo as your direction. Buses and regional services connect the wider area, so you can plan a loop that takes in the character of the regency rather than staying on one street. If you prefer a longer run, the road toward Dompu, Sape, Sumbawa Besar or Taliwang shows you more of Sumbawa without leaving the island.
Day three: Choose your onward route. Long-distance buses and VIP services link toward Mataram and Lombok, with connections via Poto Tano and on to Denpasar, Banyuwangi, Surabaya, Semarang or Jakarta. If you are staying within West Nusa Tenggara, time your travel for the drier stretch between December and March, when conditions are generally easier for the road.