Best Beaches in Gili Trawangan: Where to Swim, Snorkel & Watch the Sunset (2026)
One of the things we loved most about Gili Trawangan was how different each side of the island felt.
Before arriving, we assumed it would just be one long stretch of identical beach. However, after spending nearly two weeks on Gili T and cycling around the island almost every day, we quickly realised that every stretch of coastline has something different to offer.
After spending nearly two weeks on Gili Trawangan, we quickly realised there was so much more to the island than just beautiful beaches. From snorkelling with turtles to exploring the island by bike, there are plenty of things to do in Gili Trawangan
Whether you’re looking for the best place to watch the sunset, hoping to spot turtles while snorkelling or simply searching for a quiet spot away from the crowds, there’s a beach for everyone.
In this guide, we’re sharing our favourite beaches on Gili Trawangan based on our own experience, along with what each area is best suited for.
Quick Answer: Which is the Best Beach in Gili Trawangan?
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick overview.
| If you’re looking for… | Head to… |
| Best sunsets | West Coast |
| Best turtle spotting | North Coast |
| Clearest water | North Coast |
| Restaurants and atmosphere | East Coast |
| Beach clubs | West Coast |
| Peace and quiet | South Coast |
| Best overall | West Coast |
Map of the Best Beaches in Gili Trawangan
We’ve marked each stretch of coastline below so you can easily decide which beaches you’d like to visit during your stay.
Although Gili Trawangan is a small island, each side has its own atmosphere, so we’d definitely recommend hiring a bike and exploring all four.
1. East Coast
The east coast is where almost everyone experiences Gili Trawangan first.
It’s home to the harbour, where boats from Bali and Lombok arrive, so it’s naturally the busiest part of the island. This is also where you’ll find the biggest concentration of restaurants, cafés, beach bars and dive shops, making it a lively place to spend a few hours.
While there are some lovely stretches of sand here, many of the beaches are lined with restaurants and sun loungers, so they don’t feel quite as natural as the quieter parts of the island. There are also lots of boats coming and going throughout the day, which makes it less appealing if you’re looking for somewhere to swim.
That being said, we actually spotted turtles here on more than one occasion simply while relaxing on the beach, which was something we weren’t expecting. Watching them pop up for air just offshore was one of those little moments that made us love Gili T even more.
If you’re arriving from Bali, this will almost certainly be the first beach you see. If you haven’t booked your transport yet, we’ve put together a guide on how to get from Bali to Gili Trawangan that covers everything you need to know.
The East Coast beaches in Gili Trawangan are best for:
- Restaurants and cafés
- First-time visitors
- People watching
- Easy beach access
- Turtle spotting from the shore
2. North Coast
If we were looking for a peaceful beach day, this is where we’d head.
The north coast feels completely different to the harbour area. There are far fewer people, much less noise and some of the clearest water we saw anywhere on the island.
It’s also one of the best places on Gili Trawangan for spotting turtles. Whether you’re snorkelling or simply walking along the beach, this side of the island feels much more untouched and relaxed.
One thing to bear in mind is that the northern coastline is slightly harder to reach by bike. The paths become a little rougher in places, so you may need to hop off and push your bike for short sections. It’s nothing too difficult, but it’s worth knowing before you set off.
The quieter atmosphere more than makes up for the extra effort though, and if you’re hoping to escape the crowds for a few hours, we’d definitely recommend making the journey.
The North Coast beaches in Gili Trawangan are best for:
- Turtle spotting
- Snorkelling
- Swimming
- Clear water
- Escaping the crowds
3. West Coast (Sunset Beach)
The west coast of Gili Trawangan is home to the island’s famous Sunset Beach, and this was easily our favourite area to spend the evenings.
Unlike the busier east coast, the western side feels much more relaxed, with beach bars, sun loungers and plenty of space to sit back and enjoy the views. During the day, it’s a great place to relax by the water, grab a drink or simply escape the crowds.
However, the real magic happens around sunset.
Every evening, travellers gather along Sunset Beach to watch the sun disappear behind the ocean, with views stretching across towards Lombok. The atmosphere is one of the things we loved most about Gili Trawangan, people sitting on the sand, music playing from the beach bars and everyone stopping to appreciate the view.
The beach swings are one of the most popular things to do in Gili Trawangan, alongside snorkelling, cycling around the island and watching the sunset. They can get busy around sunset, but they are still worth stopping at while cycling around the island.
The water here is also lovely for paddling and a bit of snorkelling, although if you’re specifically looking for the clearest water and best turtle spotting, we’d recommend heading further north.
The West Coast beaches in Gili Trawangan are best for:
- Watching the sunset
- Beach bars
- Relaxing with a drink
- Beach swings
- Couples
- Evening strolls
4. South Coast
The south coast is often overlooked by visitors, but if you’re looking for somewhere quieter to relax, it’s well worth exploring.
Compared to the east coast, there are far fewer people here and the beaches have a much more peaceful feel. You’ll also find several hotels and resorts dotted along this stretch of coastline, making it a popular area for travellers wanting to escape the busier parts of the island.
We really enjoyed cycling around the south of Gili T. The roads felt quieter, there was less traffic from horse carts and bikes, and it was a nice change of pace after spending time around the harbour.
Although there aren’t as many restaurants or beach bars as elsewhere on the island, that’s part of its charm. It’s somewhere to slow down, enjoy the scenery and appreciate just how beautiful Gili Trawangan is.
The South Coast beaches in Gili Trawangan are best for:
- Peace and quiet
- Resort stays
- Cycling
- Relaxing beach walks
- Escaping the crowds
Our Favourite Beach on Gili Trawangan
If we had to choose just one favourite beach on Gili Trawangan, it would have to be the west coast.
There’s just something about the atmosphere in the evenings that kept drawing us back. Watching the sunset with a drink in hand, listening to the waves and seeing everyone gathered along the beach is one of our favourite memories from our time on the island.
That said, if you’re planning on spending the day swimming or snorkelling, we’d actually recommend heading to the north coast instead. We found the water to be noticeably clearer, there were far fewer people around and it felt like a much more natural place to explore beneath the surface.
So if we had to sum it up:
- Best overall beach: West Coast
- Best for sunsets: West Coast
- Best for snorkelling: North Coast
- Best for turtle spotting: North Coast
- Best for restaurants: East Coast
- Best for peace and quiet: South Coast
The great thing about Gili Trawangan is that the island is so small you don’t have to choose just one. Rent a bike for the day and you can easily experience all four coastlines, each offering something completely different.
Beach Tips for Gili Trawangan
After spending nearly two weeks exploring Gili Trawangan, we picked up a few things that are worth knowing before heading out to the beaches.
Rent a bike and explore the whole island
The best way to discover Gili Trawangan’s beaches is by bike.
The island is small enough that you can cycle around the entire coastline in around an hour, but we’d recommend taking your time rather than rushing. Different parts of the island have completely different atmospheres, and some of our favourite moments were simply stopping whenever we found a beautiful stretch of beach.
Just remember that some paths, especially towards the north, are less developed, so don’t expect perfect roads everywhere.
Bring reef-safe sunscreen
The waters around the Gili Islands are home to incredible marine life and beautiful coral reefs, so it’s important to help protect them.
We’d recommend bringing reef-safe sunscreen where possible and avoiding touching coral or marine animals while swimming or snorkelling.
Don’t expect every beach to have soft white sand
Although Gili Trawangan is often pictured with perfect white sand beaches, not every part of the coastline is the same.
Some areas are better for swimming and snorkelling, while others are better for relaxing, watching the sunset or enjoying a drink at a beach bar. This is why we think exploring different sides of the island is so worthwhile.
Visit beaches at different times of day
A beach that feels busy at lunchtime might be completely different in the evening.
For example, the west coast is beautiful throughout the day, but it really comes alive around sunset. Similarly, the east coast can feel crowded around the harbour but is a great place to spot turtles if you simply sit and watch the water.
Respect the turtles
One of the highlights of Gili Trawangan is the chance to see turtles in their natural environment.
If you’re lucky enough to spot one while snorkelling or swimming, remember to keep your distance, avoid chasing them and never touch them. Seeing these incredible animals in the wild is special, and protecting them helps ensure future travellers can enjoy the same experience.
Make use of beach loungers (without paying a fortune)
One of our favourite things about Gili Trawangan is that you don’t always need to pay for a beach club experience to enjoy the island’s best spots.
A lot of hotels, resorts and beachfront bars will let you use their sun loungers or beach beds if you ask nicely. Usually, they’ll just ask that you meet a small minimum spend, which often means buying a drink or two while you relax.
Of course, you can always throw down a towel on the sand, but having a comfortable lounger makes a huge difference when you’re spending a few hours by the beach, especially in the middle of the day when the sun is strongest.
We found this was a great way to enjoy some of the nicer beachfront areas without spending a lot of money. For the price of a couple of drinks, you could have a much more comfortable spot to relax, enjoy the views and watch the world go by.
Just remember to check with the staff first rather than assuming, as each place will have its own rules.
Many of these beachfront spots also have restaurants and bars, making them a great place to relax for an afternoon before heading out for dinner. If you’re looking for food recommendations, we’ve put together our favourite places to eat in Gili Trawangan.
Frequently Asked Questions About Gili Trawangan Beaches
For us, the best beach in Gili Trawangan is Sunset Beach on the west coast. However, if you’re looking for swimming and snorkelling, we’d recommend the north coast instead.
The west coast, especially Sunset Beach, is the best place to watch the sunset in Gili Trawangan. The views looking towards Lombok are beautiful, and the beach bars create a great atmosphere as the sun goes down.
Yes, but some beaches are better for swimming than others. The north coast generally has clearer water and is one of the best places for swimming and snorkelling, while the east coast is busier with boats arriving and departing from the harbour.
The north coast is one of the best places to see turtles in Gili Trawangan, particularly when snorkelling. However, we were actually lucky enough to spot turtles from the shore on the east coast too, which shows how common they can be around the island
Yes, all beaches in Gili Trawangan are free to access. Some beach clubs and restaurants have sun loungers available for customers, but you can also simply find a spot on the sand and enjoy the coastline without spending any money.
We’d recommend at least one full day to properly explore the beaches of Gili Trawangan. However, if you have the time, we’d suggest taking things slower. We spent nearly two weeks on the island and still found ourselves discovering new spots while cycling around.
Final Thoughts on the Best Beaches in Gili Trawangan
The best thing about Gili Trawangan’s beaches is that there isn’t one single beach that does everything perfectly.
The west coast has the best sunsets, the north has the clearest water and best snorkelling, the east has the most atmosphere, and the south offers a quieter escape away from the crowds.
After spending nearly two weeks on the island, our favourite memories weren’t just from one beach; they were from cycling around Gili T, stopping whenever somewhere caught our eye and enjoying how different each side of the island felt.
It’s exactly that relaxed island atmosphere that made us extend our stay far longer than planned, and it’s why Gili Trawangan remains one of our favourite places we visited during our two months in Bali.
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