The short answer: watching the MotoGP Indonesian Grand Prix at the Mandalika Circuit is a very doable trip, even from overseas. You may have to change planes, but getting there is not the real obstacle. What causes trouble year after year is the competition for rooms and tickets during race week. Accommodation near the circuit is already filling up by the time the dates are announced and people start booking, and the closer you get to the race, the fewer rooms there are and the worse the prices become. Put the other way round, once you have your accommodation and transport sorted early, all that is left is to enjoy the race and the south of the island.
This guide is for anyone starting to plan a trip to the Mandalika Circuit. It covers, in order, the basics of the circuit, when the race tends to be held, how to think about ticket types, getting there from the airport, securing a room for race week, and what to do besides the racing. Race dates and ticket prices change from year to year, so this article deliberately gives no specific figures. Before you book anything, always check the latest information on the official MotoGP website (motogp.com) and from the organisers.
What is the Mandalika Circuit
The Mandalika Circuit (Pertamina Mandalika International Street Circuit) is an international-standard racetrack built in the Mandalika area in the south of Lombok, Indonesia. Its setting by the sea is its defining feature, and it is sometimes described as an unusual circuit where you can see the ocean from parts of the track. Besides MotoGP it hosts several international series, including World Superbike (WSBK), and it has become one of the centres of motorcycle racing in Southeast Asia.
Figure: Where the airport, Kuta and the circuit are
Mandalika is also one of the areas covered by the Indonesian government’s “New Bali” tourism development plan, and resort development is spreading around the circuit. A facility big enough for international racing was built in a place that used to be simple fishing villages and beautiful beaches, so the infrastructure around the circuit changes year by year. When planning a trip, assume that what is true now may have changed by next year, and check for the latest information.
The key point about location is that the circuit is not an isolated facility cut off from the tourist areas. Directly to its north is Kuta Lombok (Mandalika), one of Lombok’s main beach resort areas, where most of the hotels, restaurants and cafés are. The circuit and the centre of Kuta are only about 10–20 minutes apart by car. The usual pattern is to stay on the Kuta side and travel to the circuit from there.
The gateway to the island is Lombok International Airport (LOP). From the airport you head south to Mandalika and Kuta, which is relatively close compared with other parts of the island. The short distance between the airport and the circuit is one of the few things that make getting around easy for race-goers in this area. If you do not yet have a picture of how the island is laid out and where the circuit and Kuta are, look at a map of the whole island and the positions of the airport and ports first; the rest of your planning will be much easier.
When the race is held
The MotoGP Indonesian Grand Prix is one round of the season calendar and tends to fall at roughly the same time each year, but it is not unusual for the month and dates to move from one year to the next. The timing shifts for several reasons: scheduling with other venues, weather, changes to the season as a whole, and the organisers’ own circumstances. If you book flights or accommodation on the assumption that “it was at this time last year, so it will be the same this year”, you risk ending up out of step with the actual dates.
Because the dates move from year to year, this article gives no fixed dates (see the beginning of the article for where to check the latest information). What you should do before the official announcement is not guess the dates but prepare: make a shortlist of places to stay and gather information, as explained in the following sections. Once the dates are officially announced, moving as quickly as possible is the best way to secure both a room and tickets.
Ticket types: the general categories
Motorsport tickets fall into broad categories that are common to many circuits. The official ticket types, seating areas, prices and on-sale dates for the Mandalika Circuit are announced by the organisers each year, so this section only sets out the general way to choose. When you actually buy, always follow the instructions on the official ticketing website.
| Category | General characteristics |
|---|---|
| Grandstand | Reserved seats where you watch sitting down. Often positioned to overlook a particular part of the track (the main straight, near a particular corner and so on). Whether there is a roof makes a big difference to how well you cope with heat and rain |
| General admission (festival) | Mainly standing or watching freely from grass areas. Cheaper, but you are exposed to sun and rain, and getting a good spot usually means arriving early to claim it |
| Premium and paddock | Higher-grade experiences such as the paddock club. Often include food and drink, rest areas or cool indoor spaces, and prices tend to be higher accordingly |
For a first visit, a sensible approach is to start with reserved grandstand seats and then, depending on your tolerance for heat and sun and on your budget, consider combining them with general admission. Whether there is a roof, and which part of the track you can see (a corner, the main straight, how far you are from the big screen and so on), changes the experience a great deal, so study the seating plan and area descriptions on the official website before you buy. The most popular areas and grades tend to sell out first, so the safe course is to buy early, as soon as tickets go on sale after the dates are announced.
A word on where to buy. As a rule, buy tickets through the organisers’ or official agents’ sales channels. Some travel companies put together package tours combining race tickets with flights and accommodation, and for anyone watching a race abroad for the first time and unsure how things work locally, such a package is one option. On the other hand, avoid resale between individuals of unknown origin and unofficial websites, as they can lead to problems such as being refused entry on the day.
Getting there (from the airport to the circuit)
For many international travellers, the trip involves a connection, typically via Bali (Denpasar) or Jakarta, into Lombok International Airport (LOP). For the different ways of reaching the island from Bali, see our guide to every route from Bali to Lombok; checking it in advance makes it easier to plan both the outward and return journeys.
From Lombok International Airport to the Mandalika Circuit, or to Kuta Lombok where you are likely to stay, you travel by road after landing. The options include a pre-booked transfer, an airport taxi or a ride-hailing app. The distance is short compared with other parts of the island, but expect much heavier traffic than usual around both the airport and the circuit during race week. We have a guide to getting around Lombok that covers the options from the airport and around the island; reading it beforehand will save you time on the ground.
It is safest to treat getting to the circuit on race day as a completely different matter from normal travel. On days when spectators arrive from all over the world, roads around the circuit may be subject to traffic restrictions, and car parks and drop-off points may be different from usual. Allow more time than the normal journey from your accommodation to the circuit, and plan to leave with time to spare, working back from the start time of the programme or the main race.
- Decide in advance how you will get from the airport to your accommodation (in the Kuta Lombok area or elsewhere)
- On race day, leave earlier than usual to allow for traffic restrictions and congestion around the circuit
- Whether ride-hailing apps work varies by area, so check with your accommodation or local sources beforehand
- Expect congestion on the way back (circuit to airport) as well, and allow plenty of time, working back from your flight time
Accommodation during race week
When planning to watch at the Mandalika Circuit, the hardest part in practice is finding somewhere to stay. During the MotoGP weekend, room rates across the south of Lombok, especially in the Kuta Lombok area near the circuit, rise sharply above normal, and rooms themselves fill up early. If you start looking in a hurry after the dates are officially announced, you will often find that hardly anything sensibly priced and well located is left. This pattern repeats almost every year, and “I’ll think about it later” is the choice most likely to cost you.
The most effective step is not to wait for the official dates, but to shortlist places to stay fairly early, based on the usual timing, so that you are ready to book the moment the dates are confirmed. We cover the basics of choosing hotels and villas on Lombok (price ranges, differences between areas and so on) in our guide to choosing a hotel or villa on Lombok; reading it before you start searching will help you narrow down your options quickly.
The other approach is not to limit yourself to the Kuta Lombok area. Kuta is the closest to the circuit, but during race week it is the first area to sell out and the first to rise in price. Staying a little further away elsewhere on the island, and accepting a longer journey on race days only, is a realistic alternative worth considering. How you balance travel time against the cost of accommodation is best decided with Lombok’s weather and best seasons in mind, so that the days you are not at the track are comfortable too. How pleasant it is also depends on whether the race falls in the dry or rainy season, so once the dates are announced, check the usual weather for that time of year as well.
If you only start looking for a room after the dates are announced, you are usually too late. At the very least, make your shortlist and check how you would book, early.
Beyond the racing
One of the attractions of the Mandalika Circuit is that your trip does not have to end with the race. The south of Lombok, where the circuit is, is an area of beautiful beaches centred on Kuta Lombok, with many surf spots known around the world. After the excitement of the main race, you can sit and look at the sea on a quiet southern beach or actually try surfing; there is plenty of room in the schedule for things other than motorsport.
The south ranges from breaks popular with surfers to calm beaches with few visitors, so you can choose according to your experience and taste. Practice and qualifying days often leave more free time, and using those gaps to visit nearby beaches works well. Alternatively, extending your stay for a few days after the main race and relaxing in a quieter area once the race crowds have gone is a pattern that tends to make for a very satisfying trip.
Beyond the beaches, Lombok offers many experiences completely different from racing, such as traditional village life, simple local food and the islands you can reach by boat (the Gili Islands). If you have the days, do not limit yourself to the area around the circuit; going further afield on the island lets you enjoy both the racing and an island holiday.
Our feeling is that rather than rushing in and out just for the race tickets, a trip with a few extra days before and after the race, including time to relax on a quiet beach, usually ends up being the more satisfying one. Do find room in your plans for the calm seaside time of the island’s south, a complete contrast to the excitement of the circuit.
Frequently asked questions
Is it realistic to travel from overseas to watch MotoGP at the Mandalika Circuit?
Yes. Even if you have to connect, typically via Bali or Jakarta, once you land at Lombok International Airport, the circuit and the Kuta area are relatively close by road. The hard part is not the travel itself but securing accommodation for race week and buying tickets early. If you act early on those two things, the trip itself is not especially difficult.
Where can I check the race dates and ticket prices?
Race dates and ticket types and prices change from year to year, so this article deliberately gives no specific figures. Always check the calendar and ticket information on the official MotoGP website (motogp.com) and the official announcements from the organisers. It is safest to avoid unofficial resale sites and sources of uncertain origin.
Can I stay somewhere other than Kuta Lombok?
Yes. The Kuta Lombok area is the closest to the circuit, but during race week it is the first to sell out and rise in price. If you can accept the travel time, staying elsewhere on the island and travelling only on race days is a perfectly realistic option. When looking for a room, weigh up price, location and travel time to the circuit together.
Summary
Watching MotoGP at the Mandalika Circuit is a very achievable trip, even from overseas. To sum up: race dates change from year to year, so always check the latest information on the official website. For tickets, understand the broad categories such as grandstand and general admission, then choose using the official seating information. To get there, fly into Lombok International Airport, usually with a connection; from the airport, the circuit and Kuta are relatively close. Above all, start working on accommodation well before race week, ideally before the dates are even announced.
The journey itself is not a major obstacle. Once your accommodation and transport are settled early, all that is left is the excitement of the race and the calm beaches of the island’s south. For the days before and after the race, a quiet seaside stay. If you would like to spend some time away from the crowds, see our complete guide to Sekotong, and for help choosing where to stay, our guide to choosing a hotel or villa on Lombok.
SEMELAR BEACH VILLAGE
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About 1 hour 10 minutes by car from Lombok International Airport. We offer a stay programme of 3 nights/4 days or more, with island trips by local boat and sunsets at SAKURA CAFE. The villas are due to be completed in stages from 2027.
