The Gili Islands are a tiny Indonesian archipelago made up of three islands—Gili Trawangan (or ‘Gili T’), Gili Meno, and Gili Air. Each island has its own vibe and specialises in providing a different experience, so it can be tricky deciding which is the best Gili Island to stay on.

You can’t really go wrong with any of the Gilis—they’re all paradisiacal islands with sparkling turquoise waters and white-sand beaches lined with coconut trees. However, your preferences, budget, and who makes up your group will all impact which island or islands appeal to you the most. So let’s get stuck in—which Gili island is best?

Gili Trawangan?

This is the largest of the three islands and without a doubt the island with the most hustle and bustle. You’ll probably hear this island referred to as ‘Gili T’ more often than its full name, as tourists sometimes struggle with the pronunciation of ‘Trawangan’.

Gili T sees hundreds of tourists arriving daily—mostly young people looking to drink, take mushrooms, and party. There’s no shortage of late-night bars on the main strip of this island and the nighttime atmosphere is electric. There are also a number of excellent dive schools here, tonnes of amazing local and Western restaurants, loads of accommodation for varying budgets, and a mostly good path around the island for cycling.

Gili Trawangan is ideal for solo travellers that are looking to meet other backpackers. If you’re a light sleeper or are coming as a family, Gili T may not be the island for you as it’s not uncommon to be kept awake by music and party revellers loudly returning to their accommodation.

Gili Meno?

You can think of Gili Meno as the opposite of Gili T. It’s the smallest and quietest of the three islands. Sometimes Gili Meno feels like a deserted island. Meno could be the island for you if you’re looking to spend quality time with your partner or family and are ok mostly entertaining yourselves.

There are a couple of dive centres here and just a smattering of restaurants serving mostly local cuisine. Gili Meno boasts an underwater sculpture called ‘The Nest’. It’s a circle of 48 life-sized stone figures, each locked in an embrace with a partner. The sculpture provides an ethereal backdrop for incredible underwater photography.

Gili Meno is all about rest and relaxation, certainly not partying or fine dining. By about 9 pm (or earlier) you’ll find most of the island is asleep, so if late-night dining and drinking is something you’re looking for, look again.

Another factor to consider is the accommodation on the island. There’s a couple dozen choices of accommodation options in Gili Meno but the majority are mini resorts and higher-end hotels. Budget accommodation isn’t as easy to find as on Trawangan or Air.

If you’re not easily bored and are content with reading and relaxing on a hammock all day, Gili Meno might be the one. If you’re looking for a quiet and relaxing island getaway but you don’t want to be completely left to your own devices, Gili Air is probably a better option (and remember, you can always do day trips to the other islands).

Gili Air?

When it comes to the debate of ‘which one is the best Gili?’, there’s a widely agreed-upon consensus that Gili Air is the perfect blend of the other two Gilis. It has a healthy dose of everything that makes Gili T and Meno special, all rolled into one island.

It has the amenities that make Trawangan a big draw for tourists, but you can also enjoy that Meno-esque private island vibe from time to time too. There’s several good diving centres, and you can also try other watersports here such as stand-up paddleboarding. You can find better quality dining on Air than you can on Meno, and there’s a good mix of local and Western restaurants—there are currently more than five Italian restaurants on this tiny island!

The island has a healthy nightlife scene. Bars and restaurants don’t close super early like on Meno, and there’s often special parties that go on until the early hours at some venues like Cheeky Monkey and Lucky’s Bar. Gili Air usually has the biggest full moon party of the three islands. If late-night partying isn’t your thing, there are plenty of more chilled live music and cocktail spots to be found too.

The accommodation on Gili Air is a good mix between cheap and cheerful homestays, international-standard hotels, and bougie mini resorts—there’s something to be found for all preferences and budgets.

Head to the western side of the island if you want to find quiet, unspoiled white-sand beaches and take some pictures for the ‘gram on the iconic ocean swings. Interested in what else there is to do on Gili Air? Read our article on the top 17 things to do on Gili Air.

Which island do I choose?

Are you looking to party every night, or can you sleep through thumping bass until 3 am? Then Gili Trawangan is the island for you. Do you want to spend quality time with your loved one(s) on an almost untouched island, and can you tolerate limited options for dining, drinking, and accommodation? Then, pick Gili Meno.

The last choice—Gili Air—might be for you if you’re looking for more of an authentic island experience than can be found on Gili T, but you still want to enjoy a variety of restaurant and hotel options. 

FAQs

Which Gili Island is best for families?

While this depends on your personal preferences, Gili Air is generally thought to be the best for families. Kids won’t be kept up by loud music as they would on Gili T, and there are more activities and kid-friendly restaurants on Air than on Meno.

How many Gili Islands are there?

There are three Gili Islands: Gili Trawangan (or ‘Gili T’), Gili Meno, and Gili Air.

Can I do day trips to the other islands?

Yes. Don’t feel too stressed out about picking one island out of the Gili trio since you can always board the ‘island hopping’ shuttle boat to explore the others.

How many days Gili Islands-based is best?

At least two nights is recommended since the first day you’re likely to be tired from waking up early to catch the boat. If you want to experience all three Gili Islands, then at least three days is best. Lots of travelers arrive in the Gilis expecting to stay only a few days but realize they have no desire to leave and end up staying for a week or longer!