Planning your first trip to the Island of the Gods, but can’t decide which Bali beach to visit? We can’t blame you! With the island’s many spectacular beaches, it’s tough to pick the best one worth spending time in. To make it easier, think about what you wanna do during your Bali holiday since each beach offers something different.
If you’d like some ideas on how to go about travelling to Bali, you can check out this four-day itinerary. But if you’d rather go your own pace, we’ve narrowed down a list of the nicest beaches in Bali to help you decide where to go:
- Kuta - best for all-around activities
- Seminyak - best for stylish stays and sunset hangouts
- Nusa Dua - best for families
- Blue Lagoon - best for snorkelling
- Jimbaran - best for foodies
- Sanur - best for quiet strolls and magnificent sunrises
- Amed - best for diving
- Padang Padang - best for pro surfers
- Bingin - best for crowd-free surfing and sunbathing
- Balangan - best for beach bummers
1. Kuta beach - best for all-around activities
Swim, surf, or just lounge around—you’ll never run out of things to do at Kuta beach. Credits: @clauds_sox on Instagram
Ask anyone which Bali beach they know, and they’ll most likely answer Kuta. The birthplace of Bali tourism, Kuta is a popular destination because it offers the perfect combo of sun, sand, and surf. Its shoreline is bustling with activity, from hawkers selling food and souvenirs to restaurants and bars that offer front row seats to the island’s legendary sunsets. Surfing is one of the highlight activities here because of the beach’s reliable breaks which attract surfers who waiting to catch a good wave.
Fret not if you’re a beginner who would like to try out the sport; Klook has just the thing for you! You can book beginner surfing lessons by 27 Surf Bali, which promises that you’ll be able to stand confidently on your board in just one or two sessions!
2. Seminyak - best for stylish stays and sunset hangouts
If you’re looking for lavish stays, a vibrant party scene, or just a cool sunset hangout, Seminyak is the place to be. Credits: @chelseadorricott on Instagram
Venture further up north of Kuta, and you’ll find yourself in Seminyak. Its five-kilometre stretch of cream-coloured sand is lined with some of the island’s most luxurious hotels and restaurants. Seminyak is also home to plenty of exclusive villas that offer five-star services (such as having a private chef!)—making it the perfect destination for those looking for a lavish retreat.
If non-stop partying is more your vibe, you’ll do right to stay at this Bali beach, with its throng of world-famous beach bars and clubs. There are also a couple of surfing schools here if you’d like to learn how to surf. Or, if you just wanna chill, grab yourself a beanbag at one of the bars and soak in the magnificent sunset with a cocktail in hand and cool Ibiza beats thumping in the background.
3. Nusa Dua - best for families
Nusa Dua is the mecca of luxury resorts, offering activities that all family members can enjoy. Credits: @yupiestagram on Instagram
On the southeastern part of Bali, you will find the powdery-white sands and azure waters of Nusa Dua. This region is the mecca of luxury beach resorts, with its immaculate coastline fringed by more than twenty of the most exclusive hotels on the island.
Nusa Dua is notably more serene than other Bali beaches, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t much to do here. You can pamper yourself at the numerous spas, enjoy a round of golf at the compound’s 18-hole course, or go shopping at The Bali Collection—a large complex filled with restaurants and upscale shops. Or better yet, just lounge around Nusa Dua’s quiet shores and enjoy a dip in the clean ocean waters. The waves are relatively calmer at this beach, making it a popular choice for families with small children.
4. Blue Lagoon - best for snorkelling
Blue Lagoon is a haven for untouched coral reefs and exotic underwater life, making it a famous snorkelling destination. Credits: @alditude on Instagram
Blue Lagoon is a gorgeous little cove located on Bali’s eastern coast. This 60-metre long beach is a bit off the beaten path, but its lush knolls framing crystal clear waters lure hordes of travellers eager to take the perfect beach photo for social media. What’s more, Blue Lagoon is home to a vast network of coral reefs teeming with underwater wildlife: the perfect spot for snorkelling and diving.
Klook has the perfect offer for those keen to encounter Blue Lagoon’s exotic aquatic creatures: a snorkelling tour that will provide you with all the equipment you need. Plus, you can rent a GoPro camera to capture this one-of-a-kind underwater experience!
5. Jimbaran - best for foodies
Enjoy a delicious seafood feast while watching the glorious Bali sunset. Credits: @uiland.kr on Instagram
If your idea of the perfect beach holiday is a massive seafood feast along the shore, you better head to Jimbaran. This Bali beach comes alive at sundown when some of the island’s best seafood restaurants pull tables out on the sand and offer a wide variety of fresh seafood for grilling. You can chow down on delectable fish and sip a cold Bintang while marvelling at a glorious sunset. Does that not sound like a dream?
There are a couple of exclusive resorts here, too, so you can easily roll over to your bed after eating to your heart’s content.
6. Sanur - best for quiet strolls and magnificent sunrises
Gentle waves, crowd-free shores, and amazing sunrises are what define Sanur. Credits: @molo.silaban on Instagram
If quiet beachside strolls and laid-back days are what you’re after, you might consider a stay at Sanurbeach. Its curved shoreline is five kilometres long and is well-known for its paved beachfront promenade—perfect for fresh morning walks and jogs. This coastal town is remarkably calm and crowd-free, with a mix of upscale hotels and more modest resorts lining the ocean path. Due to offshore reefs breaking the rough waves, the waters here are exceptionally calm, heightening the beach’s appeal to families.
Klook tip: Sanur is famous for its spectacular sunrises, so try to get an early start to your day to catch it.
7. Amed - best for diving
Amed is Bali’s premier dive town. Credits: @mama_dive_amed on Instagram
Amed beach is characteristically unique compared to other Bali beaches, with its black sands and picturesque views of the smouldering Agung volcano. But apart from panoramic views, what brings tourists to this northeastern coast is its vibrant coral reefs and exciting diving attractions.
If you’re a diving enthusiast, you’ll definitely want to a tour of the USAT Liberty shipwreck—a transport ship struck by a Japanese torpedo during WWII—to your list. And if snorkelling is more your thing, a swim with schools of the famous reef buffalo is something you should add to your bucket list.
And if you’d like to explore more of the island’s lesser-known but must-visit attractions, such as Amed beach, check out Bali’s hidden gems.
8. Padang Padang - best for pro surfers
Eat, pray, love and surf at this picturesque beach. Credits: @caiogebaravaz on Instagram
Located on Bali's southern coast, some 10 minutes north of Uluwatu, Padang Padang is a beautiful bay of azure waters and bright white sands surrounded by impressive limestone cliffs. This beach rose to Hollywood fame after being featured as the spot where Julia Roberts’ character falls head over heels for her Brazilian beau inEat, Pray, Love.
But apart from its cinematic fame, Padang Padang is known as a surfer’s paradise. Droves of pro surfers head to this beach for its legendary reef break called the Bali pipeline: the term coined for the reef’s long, hollow tubes.
9. Bingin - best for crowd-free surfing and sunbathing
This cliff-based beach is a haven for surfers and sun soakers who want to chill away from the crowds. Credits: @rhirhi_annon on Instagram
A visit to Bingin is a treat for those with a more adventurous spirit. It’s a secluded cliff-based beach with uneven, rocky steps from the top which lead to the coast. But the challenging trek is certainly worth the effort, as you’re welcomed by golden sands and pristine waters. This area is a boho hideaway frequented by Bali’s cool surfer crowds, and you’ll find plenty of no-frills places to chill and soak in some rays.
If you’d like to stay here longer than a day trip, there are a couple of places to stay from different price points.
10. Balangan - best for beach bums
Balangan is the perfect place for relaxed and uncomplicated tropical hangouts. Credits: @molo.silaban on Instagram
Located on the Bukit Peninsula in the south of Bali, Balangan is a long strip of sand at the base of rocky cliffs. This area is relatively underdeveloped compared to other Bali beach hangs, with just a couple of small restaurants serving home-cooked Indonesian food.
But the allure of crystal clear waters and beautiful waves is difficult to ignore for surfers and sunbathers alike. If you’re in the mood for a completely relaxed tropical vacation, Balangan might just be the perfect place for you.
