Most travellers pass through Mataram quickly on their way to the beaches and volcanoes of Lombok, but the city rewards a half-day of exploration. The main cultural sights are concentrated in Cakranegara — the Pura Meru, Lombok's largest Hindu temple, and the water palace at Taman Narmada — while Ampenan's old port neighbourhood has a more layered atmosphere than the administrative districts.
The museum is the other worthwhile stop: the West Nusa Tenggara State Museum gives good context for Lombok's Sasak, Balinese Hindu, and Islamic cultural mix before you head out into the island.