What are the best beaches in Bali?

Bali is one of the most famous destinations in the world for its paradisiacal white sand beaches bathed by turquoise blue waters and surrounded by vegetation. Every year thousands of tourists choose this island as a vacation destination to relax or practice water sports such as surfing. Between the beaches of Bali you will find from great tourist beaches with all type of facilities, to small coves of complicated access. The best thing is that all of them are different and have their own charm.

In this post we will tell you which are the best beaches on the island and help you organize a travel itinerary so you don’t miss any of them. We also give you some tips on the best way to move between the beaches and the best times of day to go there. The sunsets at the beaches of Bali are an indispensable thing to do on your trip to Indonesia. If you still don’t know where to spend your vacations, take a look at this post and let yourself fall in love with this wonderful island.

1. Kuta, the beach of the party

In Bali we find some of the most spectacular beaches of Indonesia, for example, Kuta. This beach, located to the south of the island, is known as the beach of the party due to its animated atmosphere. Along this kilometer-long beach you will find stores, surf schools, spas and numerous bars where you can satisfy your appetite and thirst. You can also rent hammocks and sun loungers. Whether you are looking for a beach to relax, practice water sports or party, Kuta is your beach.

Travel Tip: To organize your trip we recommend using Passporter totally free. You can be inspired by the experiences of other travelers, choose the places that interest you most, create the travel route with a geolocated map, upload all important documents such as reservations and invite your friends so that everyone can participate in the organization of the trip.

2. Seminyak, a beach with a lot of atmosphere

Seminyak beach, located in the south of the island, is probably one of the best equipped beaches on the island. In its surroundings there are hotels, restaurants, rental of sunbeds and umbrellas, and numerous beach bars. It is a quite touristy beach and with a lot of life once the sun goes down. It is a very pleasant beach, although it may not be the most beautiful of the island. For that reason we recommend it for the lovers of the party and not those that look for peace. The place is also ideal for beginners in surfing as the waves are not very high.

3. White Beach Sand

As its name suggests, this beach is famous for its fine white sand that contrasts with the turquoise waters of the sea and the vegetation that surrounds it. White Beach Sand is an authentic postcard paradise beach. The beach is free to access and although there is no parking area, you can park well on the edge of the road. On the beach itself there are also beach bars where you can cool off.

4. Dreamland, the beach with crystal clear waters

This beach is famous for its privileged location, surrounded by limestone cliffs. In addition, it is the beach with the cleanest and crystalline water of Bali, which is not exactly famous for its transparent waters. For that it is better to go to other nearby archipelagos like the Gili Islands.

To access the beach is necessary to pay a symbolic entrance fee between 1000 and 2000 IDR. From the entrance some buses will take you to the coast. Dreamland beach is beautiful at low tide, however, it may not be the best place to relax. Being such a touristy place, it tends to be crowded with people and hawkers.

5. Padang Padang, one of the best beaches in Bali

This beach is one of the most impressive in all of Indonesia because of its incredible location. It is located 3km from Pura Uluwatu, where you can see some of Bali’s most famous temples. The access is free, but in the entrance there is a boat where to leave donations for its maintenance. From the parking lot it is necessary to lower 175 steps to arrive to the beach, which is perfectly equipped with parasols and hammocks, and the best thing is that usually there are not many people. It is a good place to get started in surfing because the waves are not very big.

6. Pemuteran, the best beach in Bali for snorkeling

Pemuteran is not a well-known beach on the island as it is not particularly beautiful to the naked eye. To be able to appreciate the true beauty of this island it is necessary to go under the water, where you will find the biggest set of reefs of Bali. It is an authentic spectacle of color with a great biodiversity. Pemuteran beach is the perfect place to practice scuba diving or snorkeling. It is very common to find manta rays or marine turtles there, and if you are lucky, even with some sharks.

7. Lovina Beach, the best place to see dolphins

Lovina beach is west of the city of Singaraja, from where excursions are organized to snorkel, see dolphins, or visit the Marine Park of the Menjangan Islands. The beach is also famous for its fine black sand and calm waters, which make it the perfect place to swim and spend time with the family. That’s why we also can tell you that this beach is not the best place for surfing.

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8. Canggu, the best surfing beach in Bali

Canggu was a very little known beach until recently. However, little by little it is becoming a more touristy area without becoming as saturated as others in Bali. The beach is well equipped and has good services and attractions for tourists. It is a very animated place, with international vibe and full of restaurants and bars. In addition, the color of the sand and the clean waters make the beach a magical place, ideal for diving and surfing. For that reason Canggu is one of the favorite places of the surfers who come to Bali.

9. Balangan Beach

This beach is only 20km from Kuta Beach, so on the same day you can visit both. By car it takes about 40 minutes to get there. The best thing about this beach, besides the views, is that it has an easy access. The parking, which is free, is a few meters from the sand. This beach is very famous among surfers for its magnificent waves. But it is also perfect for relaxing and sunbathing in one of its hammocks.

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10. Uluwatu, the beach of expert surfers

Uluwatu is a magical beach in Bali. It is very hidden and the access is not exactly easy as it is surrounded by rocks where steps have been carved to go down to the water. There are also caves at sea level where the waves break strongly, so it is not recommended to go with children. However, if you are an expert surfer you will surely enjoy as never before in this beautiful enclave where many couples decide to take their wedding photos because the views are stunning. In the surroundings you will also find quieter smaller coves and the temple of Uluwatu.

11. Sanur, the beach for diving lovers

This beach is ideal for family travel. It is a very quiet place, surrounded by palm trees and bathed by calm waters. It is also very well connected and in the surroundings there are many options for accommodation. However, the main attraction of the beach is underwater due to the large number of coral reefs where many marine species live.

To enjoy the marine life you can opt for snorkeling or diving, or you can also take a ride on a boat with a glass bottom. Another interesting activity to do with the family is the Kite Festival in Bali, which is celebrated from May to September.

Itinerary of trip by the beaches of Bali

In Bali, besides having an infinity of beaches and coves, there are numerous points of interest like towns, trekking routes or temples. However, in this post we focus only on the beaches, either to rest and to enjoy the landscape or to practice surfing. The island takes about a week to cover, but this also depends on the excursions you want to do in the surroundings. That is why it is interesting to plan the travel itinerary in advance to take advantage of the transfers and make stops along the way.

If you’re looking for waves, the best beaches to include in the itinerary are:

• Uluwatu
• Medewi
• Canggu
• Keramas

If on the other hand you are traveling with children, or you just want to relax on beautiful beaches in Bali, then we recommend:

•  Lovina
• Amed
• Padang Padang
• Balangan

And if you are a diving lover, the best thing to do is to organize diving or snorkeling excursions in:

• Lipah Bay
• Jemeluk Bay
• Tulamben

What should I consider before traveling to Bali

• The official currency of Indonesia is the Indonesian Rupiah.
• It is recommended to carry cash for small stores.
• Cards are accepted at most tourist sites.
• The best time to visit Indonesian beaches is May, June and September when it’s not raining so much and still rainy.
• It is not recommended to rent a car to get around the country. Traffic there is very different from European traffic.
• It is best not to drink the tap water, although if it is boiled it can be used for cooking.
• The official language of the country is Bahasa Indonesia, but in the more touristy areas you will be able to communicate in English without problems.
• Be covered for possible medical emergencies: travel insured.
• Indonesia is a safe country, but just in case be careful with your belongings, especially in the most touristy places.

How to prepare what to see on your trip to the beaches of Bali

Register on the website or download the free Passporter App and discover all its possibilities.

• Get inspired by other travelers’ experiences
• Create your own itinerary and add the app’s suggestions into it.
• Add the stops you are most interested in, as well as the restaurants and bars where you want to eat (you can use the points of interest we indicate in this post as a reference).
• Organize your itinerary by route days according to their location on the map (you can be inspired by the routes we present in the post).
• Check the travel budget that the app calculates for you based on your travel stops, restaurants, and leisure activities.
• Make any modifications you need and you’ll be all set for your trip.
• Share your experience. Upload photos of the places you visited on your trip to the app and recommend to other travelers the beaches in Bali.

If you have doubts about how to do it, you can check our post: How to create your travel itinerary with Passporter. 

Frequently asked questions about a trip to Bali