The Three Main cities in Lombok - Ampenan, Mataram and Cakranegara - have expanded over the year and now marge together to create what is, for Lombok, an urban sprawl of shops, administrative  centres and residential areas.

a visit to the cities makes an interesting day trip, exploring the numerous small shops selling everything imaginable at low price. There are numerous pearl shop in Ampenan  selling unset pearls and pearls  jewellery aat cheap orices, These are genuine pearls from the pearls farms on  Lombok and Sumbawa and if you  bargain the pricem are a good deal, gold shops are also popular in both  Ampenan and Cakra, with 24kt gold being sold by the gram,regargless of the designs.

For cheap and interesting food choice, explore the many restaurants,warung and food stalls in the cities. Or just wander the streets to soak up the atmosphere and discover fascinating  insight into Lombok city life.

Ampenan was the original old port in Lombok during Dutch colonial times and some of the old architecture is  still visible around the town,particularly toward the beach to the west. This area becomes a market at night,filled with warungs and kaki lima ( food carts ) for cheap, tasty food and local flavour, with its numerous shps,cheap hotels and it's Arab quarter,
Ampenan is a colourful