Getting Around Bima
Bima is a coastal city on the eastern side of Sumbawa, and it serves as the largest regional and economic hub of Eastern Sumbawa. It has a central downtown commercial zone, which is where most visitors will find themselves based. The city is connected by a provincial road to Dompu to the west and Sape to the east, and the trans-Sumbawa road links it onward to Sumbawa Besar and Taliwang in the western part of the island.
Rail, Metro and Tram
Bima has no rail, metro or tram network. There is no train service on Sumbawa, so overland travel within and beyond the city is by road, bus, taxi or hired vehicle. Plan your movements around the road network rather than any fixed-rail system.
Buses and Other Public Transport
Buses are the main form of intercity public transport, and they are useful for reaching Bima's neighbours as well as more distant destinations. The main bus station sits on the southern edge of town on Jalan Sultan Salahuddin, roughly a 15–20 minute walk from the centre.
- Regional buses from the main station serve nearby towns such as Dompu and Sape, as well as longer runs to Sumbawa Besar and Mataram in Lombok. Departure windows generally run through the morning and afternoon, with 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 and connect Bima with destinations including Sumbawa, Poto Tano, Mataram, Denpasar, Banyuwangi, Surabaya, Semarang and Jakarta.
- Ferries onward to Flores leave from Sape, a drive east of Bima, with departures to Labuan Bajo. It is worth checking in Bima before travelling to Sape, since travel agents in town can call ahead to confirm the sailing; schedules can change and cancellations have been reported.
Within the city itself, public transport is limited. There is no public transport from the airport apart from walking to the main road to flag a passing bus, which tells you something about how sparse scheduled services are outside the main routes.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
Taxis are the most straightforward option for getting around Bima and for reaching the airport. At Sultan Muhammad Salahudin Airport, taxis operate as an organised cartel with high fixed fares, quoted per vehicle rather than per person. Fares are set for common destinations such as central Bima, Lakey and Sape. Sharing a car with other passengers reduces the per-person cost, so it is worth asking around at arrivals.
An ojek (motorbike taxi) is another option for some routes — one to Lakey has been reported — but this is not practical for travellers 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.
Walkability
Central Bima is compact enough that walking works well in the downtown commercial zone, where the main sights and services cluster. The main bus station is a 15–20 minute walk from the centre, which is manageable on foot if you are not carrying much. 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.
Getting from the Airport into the City
Sultan Muhammad Salahudin Airport (BMU) sits on the southern outskirt of Bima, on Jalan Sumbawa in Belo, Palibelo. It is the air hub for domestic and foreign visitors and is served by NAM Air and Wings Air, with flights to Lombok, Denpasar and Makassar. On arrival, an information kiosk near baggage handling records passengers' passports and destinations.
- Taxi: The practical way into town. Fares are fixed and quoted per vehicle; a ride to central Bima takes around 20 minutes. Taxis also run to Lakey and to Sape for the ferry to Flores.
- Shared car: Splitting a taxi with other passengers lowers the cost per person — worth arranging at the airport.
- Public transport: There is none from the airport itself. The only budget alternative is walking to the main road and flagging a passing bus.
- Ojek: Motorbike taxis can serve some routes, but they are not suitable if you are travelling with surfboards or bulky bags.
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.