Labuan Bajo used to be a dusty fishing town at the western tip of Flores. It is still dusty in places, but the harbour now has dive shops, rooftop bars, tour offices, and more boat traffic than the old streets were built to handle. This is the gateway to Komodo National Park, and almost everyone passing through is here for dragons, reefs, or a few nights on a liveaboard.
The town itself is not beautiful in a conventional way. It climbs steeply from the harbour, with traffic squeezed along the waterfront and construction pushing uphill. But the setting is terrific: dry green-brown islands scattered across the bay, sunsets from Puncak Waringin, and fishing boats returning as the sky turns pink.
Do not skip the land around town. Batu Cermin Cave is close enough for a spare morning, Rangko Cave has a blue tidal pool worth the rough road and boat transfer, and Cunca Wulang gives you a taste of inland Flores' canyons and forest. For an easy sunset, Bukit Cinta is the classic hill above the bay.
Labuan Bajo works best when you treat it as a base, not the destination. Spend one day sorting permits, boats, and gear; one day seeing the nearby caves and viewpoints; then get out onto the water.