The Best Beaches in Uluwatu, Bali: Complete 2024 Guide
Welcome to Uluwatu!
With crystal blue waters, towering limestone cliffs, and breathtaking sunsets, Southern Bali is home to some of the most stunning beaches. But these beaches do not come easy—you will definitely know what I mean if you have been to them. Some require quite a trek, but the effort is always worth it.
After spending over four months in Uluwatu, I have compiled a travel guide to the best beaches to visit on your next trip, along with a handful of runner-ups. Let’s dive in!
This list is in no particular order.
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The Uluwatu Beaches Travel Guide
Note: If you are looking for general information on where to stay in Uluwatu, how to get around, and more, scroll to the bottom for details on this!
BEACH PRO TIPS:
A bathing suit! — DUH, you can swim at the beaches in Uluwatu.
I always recommend bringing a refillable water bottle everywhere you go and the beach is no different. Some beaches have services, whereas others do not. It is always best to have water with you in case there is none available on the beach for purchase.
Sunscreen!! (Reef safe if you can) – The sun is super intense in Uluwatu, so be sure to protect your skin.
Bring a towel or beach chair to avoid paying for some of the overpriced beach amenities. The prices are everchanging– if you do intend to use them, bring some cash with you.
All the beaches have a small entrance fee/parking fee, usually less than 12,000 IDR (0.75 USD), some even as low as 2,000 IDR. You will need cash to pay for this.
Monkeys!- If you are driving a motorbike, make sure to secure any belongings you leave behind, as monkeys love to jump around on the bikes and steal anything they can get their little hands on. This is especially important for visiting Padang Padang.
Be safe driving your motorbike and please, wear a helmet. It is not cool to take a chance on your life by riding helmet-free. Accidents happen, especially with the increase in traffic buildup. The roads to the beaches can sometimes be steep or rocky, so go slow and be as safe as you possibly can.
Take your trash with you! – Help keep Ulu clean by picking up after yourself and using as little plastic as possible if you can :)
#1: Dreamland Beach
A Tourist Haven – Although busy, this insanely beautiful aqua blue-water beach is still one of my absolute favorite beaches to lay out and relax on. The color of the water is like nothing I have seen before. Sadly, this beach has become bombarded with tourists and many people trying to sell you massages and bracelets more recently. It has become a little less peaceful but is still enjoyable in the early hours of the morning. I find the far right side of the beach (when facing the water) is the best area for seclusion.
Beach chairs now cover much of the left side of the beach, with prices starting at 150,000 IDR (10 USD). If you are on a budget and 10 USD for a few hours of sun is a bit high for you, I recommend bringing a towel and finding a quiet corner to lay out and take in the blue. There is plenty of soft sand space to pick from. Again, I recommend heading all the way to the right when you enter Dreamland for the best spots.
There is a Warung at the top for food and drinks.
Note: The waves here can get HUGE. So be careful swimming and watch out for the surf spots.
#2: Nunggalan Beach & Nyang Nyang
This long beach is accessible by two points, the East side (Nunggalan) and the west side (Nyang Nyang).
East Side: Nunggalan is the iconic beach with a graffitied bit of a shipwreck, adding a unique touch to the experience. The stretch of sand is quite long, offering plenty of sand for all kinds of activities like sunbathing, sports, or walking. It is bordered by green hills, steep cliffs, and a rocky shoreline, so water shoes are recommended if you plan to swim. Shell-hunting is a popular activity here, thanks to the variety of colors and shapes found along the shore.
To get here, you can find free parking in front of a hotel, followed by a 15- to 30-minute hike down rocky steps—so be sure to wear sturdy footwear. The hike feels like descending through a jungle to reach the beach. If you choose this route, I recommend going in the morning to avoid the midday heat. There are a couple of warungs along the hike, where you can grab water and snacks. Keep in mind, that there are not many services on the beach itself, so pack plenty of water and everything you will need for the day. You will find a few small shops on the way down, but none directly on the beach.
Sustainability Note: Taking too many shells from the beach can harm small ocean creatures like snails and hermit crabs. The shells are their homes.
West Side: The Nyang Nyang side requires biking down a long, steep road from the top of the cliffs to sea level. Scooters are the only option since cars are not allowed down the path. I do not recommend walking, especially in the heat. Alternatively, some of the locals offer motorbike rides down to the beach for 25,000 IDR each way.
Parking here is usually quite cheap, around 5,000-10,000 IDR. There is a tiny warung on the beach selling some food and beverages. I prefer this side of the beach for sunsets.
#3: Green Bowl Beach
A Temporary Secluded Paradise - Much like the title infers, Green Bowl’s waters are a beautiful blue-green color, perfect for swimming and surfing. But if you are not a strong swimmer or surfer, then do not venture too far—there can be powerful currents that will take you out to sea.
The beach is framed by the same limestone cliffs found at many nearby beaches and is surrounded by lush greenery. It has plenty of shady areas for when you want to escape the heat from the sun and a breathtaking sunset to take in.
Pro Tips:
I do not remember seeing any small warungs on this beach, so be sure to bring your own food and beverages.
Again, be super careful with the currents—they can be extremely powerful.
This beach is only visible during low tide. During any other time, the beach is non-existent as the water comes right up to the cliffs.
#4: Melasti Beach
The Underrated Gem - Melasti Beach might just take the top spot for me. It is located a bit further south, outside of Uluwatu, which is probably why it tends to be less crowded (sometimes). And even when it is busy, the beach is massive, so it feels less noticeable.
The water here is magical, especially at low tide, shifting from crystal-clear to light blue as it flows over the rocks farther out. A long stretch of some of the softest sand in Uluwatu provides plenty of space to relax. The water feels refreshing, with the perfect temperature for cooling down. It is great for shallow swimming at any tide, as the rocky areas are visible and easy to avoid.
Massive cliffs surround the beach on all sides, adding to its dramatic beauty.
There is also a beach club, White Rock, though I prefer heading to the right of the beach (facing the water) for a bit more seclusion.
#5: Balangan Beach
A Surfers Paradise – Think yellow/white sand, darker blue-green waters, and the perfect waves for surfing. Balangan is one of the top beaches for surfers due to the wide range of wave heights throughout the year. Although Balagan is known as a hot spot for more advanced surfers, many of my friends, who only had a couple of months of surf lessons under their belt, loved heading to this beach to continue their progress. If you are looking to level up or looking for some help catching larger waves, many surf schools are lining the beach.
Balangan is still a great spot to watch surfers ride waves while you sunbathe if you are not a surfer. Swimming is best during high tide. There are also some warungs serving food and beverages throughout the day.
This beach has a donation-based entrance fee.
Pro Tip: Balangan Viewpoint is a must-see sunset spot for your itinerary.
#6: Thomas Beach
A Smaller Underrated Beach - Think lush hills, soft white sand, and ombre blue waters. Thomas Beach was always quite empty when I visited, which I assume is because most people flock to the beaches on either side– Padang Padang to the north and Uluwatu Beach to the south.
This is the best beach to visit if you want to be away from the crowds on a secluded long stretch of sand. Thomas Beach has no entrance fees and has some steeper rocky stairs to climb down to access the beach. There are umbrellas and chairs to rent and fewer vendors around (although this is changing as construction and development is progressing).
#6: Suluban Beach
The Most Unique Beach - This unique small cove-like beach is a Uluwatu one-of-a-kind. You are surrounded by towering rock cliffs, with a small opening between them leading to the ocean.
To get to Suluban Beach, you will go on a mini adventure after parking on top of the cliffs, where you will climb down a few flights of stairs, passing through some shops and restaurants, until you descend one last flight of stairs. You will follow this final flight of stairs between towering limestone cliffs, giving the feeling of entering a cave. As you continue between the massive cliffs, some rocks jut out further than others, and soon you will notice vines and lush greenery hanging down, adding to the natural beauty of the surroundings.
Eventually, you will open up into a section of the cliffs that reaches the beautiful clear blue waters. You can set your stuff down and take in the jungle feel of this beach or continue to venture around the rocks to find more little openings to other sections.
Parking here is around 5,000 IDR.
Note: This beach sits beside Uluwatu Beach. Watch the tides—I recommend going during low tide to have plenty of time to relax without worrying about your stuff floating away.
THE RUNNER-UPS:
The Mini Surfer’s Paradise – Imagine a smaller rocky beach dotted with surfers, photographers, cozy restaurants, and cafes. The blue waters rest against the shore, while tall cliffs, lined with boutique resorts and hotels, surround you. To reach this hidden spot, you will navigate narrow alleyways and descend several sets of stairs before finally stepping onto the sand. Along your descent, you will find restaurants and cafes clinging to the cliffs, with some even setting up tables right on the beach.
This is another surfer’s hotspot with incredible waves for the more advanced to shred while photographers dot the beach capturing photos. You do not have to worry about carrying your surfboard down with the number of surf shacks available.
For the non-surfers, there are small sections of the beach to cool off in, but you will have to pass over some rocks to get to the water. This is not the most ideal swim spot, but it works for a quick cool down.
I recommend this beach in the late evening to enjoy cooler temperatures, the sunset, and some food or a beer. If you enjoy healthier cafes, I suggest checking out Kelly’s Warung!
High-End Family Fun– Many families line this beach, along with 5-star Resorts and some more expensive food and shopping options. Nusa Dua is a beautiful beach to lay on, with plenty of space to declare your own. However, this is not one of my favorite Southern Bali beaches because it feels more like a resort. The food options are also far too overpriced for me.
However, venture down near Pura Nusa Dharma Nusa Dua and explore this area in the evening before the sun goes down— you might find an insanely beautiful sunset to watch for a few hours as the colors in the sky continuously change before you.
Eat, Pray, Love – This is the famous beach featured in Eat, Pray, Love with Julia Roberts. Many people love this small beach, and it is of course, still very beautiful. But, when it comes to picking my top suggestions, I would choose other beaches over this one. The swimming area is small and often crowded and the surf area is full of newbies (including me at one point) learning to surf making it feel chaotic.
To enter this beach, you will adventure downstairs and between caverns until you open up into the beach, which is quite a unique experience. There are some of the best coconuts being sold on the beach, alongside surf stalls, lessons, beachy items, and monkeys sometimes sneaking around.
Down on the beach, you have tall cliffs surrounding you and some very busy water with lots of different levels of surfers out to the right and some vacation-dwellers closer to shore sharing the same small swim area.
To get out to the surf, you have to swim around 100 meters to the right to enter the lineup. It is still an incredible beach, as you cannot really go wrong with picking beaches to visit and explore around Southern Bali.
Pro Tip: This beach can get busy, so get there early!
A Sunset Palette - This smaller beach is surrounded by limestone cliffs, giving you the feeling of being on the edge of the world. While you can enjoy a secluded day here, I recommend visiting during sunset. The colors are breathtaking, and you can capture some incredible photos to take home with you.
Note: This is not a complete list of the beaches throughout Southern Bali, but it highlights many of them. There are still so many other beaches and small, beautiful “secret” beaches to explore while you are there.
General Information: Uluwatu
BEST TIME TO VISIT:
Rainy Season: November - March | Dry Season: April - October
The best time to visit Uluwatu is during the dry season from April to October. The weather will be sunnier with clear skies and less chance of rain. Temperature averages around 28°C to 32°C (80°F to 90°F). HOWEVER, I was in Uluwatu in March and only experienced one day of rainfall. I have also spent time in Uluwatu during the rainy season, and it goes through periods with rainfall, followed by weeks without rainfall. It rarely rained all day while I was there, and only had shorter showers.
I have also found September until early November to be an enjoyable time in Uluwatu because the early mornings and evenings offer cooler temperatures, making the weather more bearable.
HOW TO GET TO Uluwatu:
Flying: The only airport in Bali is located 19.3 KM (12 Miles) from Uluwatu, in the city of Denpasar: Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS). You will need to order a taxi or rent a motorbike to reach Uluwatu from the airport.
The drive can be as short as 45 minutes if you leave before 8:00 AM or after 7:00 PM and as long as 2.5 hours. Motorbike tends to be faster than cars because they can weave around traffic.
Taxi: You can order a local taxi, Grab (rideshare app), or GoJek (rideshare app) from nearly anywhere else in Bali to Uluwatu.
Local taxis can be ordered right from the airport or through an accommodation.
Grab is better than GoJek for longer distances (from my experience). I have had GoJek drivers in the past arrive to pick me up, and ask for more money, and when I said no, they have turned around and driven away.
For either app, you can choose to ride in a car or on the back of a motorbike. The motorbike is the cheaper option by far. If you have more bags or are uncomfortable being on the back of a bike weaving through cars for longer hot hours, I do not recommend taking the back seat of a motorbike. You will also have to hold your bags unless they are small enough to fit in the front of the bike.
A car is a more comfortable option, but it will take longer with traffic. Car prices vary a lot depending on the time of day and demand.
Motorbike: Motorbike rental businesses are everywhere in Bali for you to choose from. I will say, some are extremely overpriced and untrustworthy so be sure to read reviews. For my last rental, I used Bali Best Motorcycle. They also do bike delivery and pick-up! You can arrange a rental through WhatsApp before you arrive.
Be aware that the roads leading to Uluwatu are not in the best condition—the infrastructure in Bali is not great overall. You should be a confident driver, especially during high-traffic times when you will be navigating around cars and other obstacles. If you have bags, you will either need to wear them or place them near your feet while riding.
Always wear your helmet and have your international driver’s license with you in case you are pulled over or stopped by local police.
MODE OF TRANSPORT IN Uluwatu:
The best form of transport in Uluwatu is by motorbike. The sidewalks are only available in some areas and even then, motorbikes are prone to using them to maneuver around cars. Daily motorbike rentals are usually around 80,000/90,000 IDR (per day) for a small motorbike or scoopy. The larger the bike, the more expensive it will be. You will find better deals for longer-term rentals versus daily. Be sure to negotiate pricing, as some places will just throw out a more expensive price to see if you will take it.
There are local taxis around, which you can usually hire from your accommodation or through Grab/Gojek.
Motorbike Driving Tip:
Uluwatu is quickly becoming more and more popular. With the increase in traffic, tourists, and lack of sidewalks throughout southern Bali, I recommend renting a motorbike to get around faster.
Motorbike rentals will hike up their prices if they think you are willing to pay anything… so make sure to go in knowing what you should be paying for it. I always paid around 85,000 IDR per day for a bike, and many of my friends got deals for around 1-1.5 million IDR per month for their bikes.
Always check the bike is working and take photos of any previous damage made to avoid any arguments with the rental places.
Keep in mind the traffic can be a bit chaotic, and sporadic, and some of the roads are overwhelming or unpaved. So if you are not confident in your motorbike abilities, then hopping on the back of a bike via Grab or Gojek may be a better option.
I do not recommend hopping in a car as it can be timely and take hours to get only a few miles away. Plus there is no better way to take in the views of Bali than by bike with nothing blocking your view around you.
Always wear your helmet—so many people do not wear their helmets in Uluwatu, which blows my mind. Wearing your helmet could save your life.
WHERE TO STAY:
The best areas to stay in Uluwatu are Bingin, Padang Padang, Pecatu, Ungasan, and Balangan. Generally, you want to stay anywhere along Jimbaran Uluwatu (road) to the West or left. Bingin, Padang Padang, and Pecatu will be closer to the majority of cafes, gyms, shops, and more popular beaches. Ungasan will require a little more travel but may offer better accommodation pricing.
Pro Tip: Finding accommodation in Uluwatu is becoming harder and more expensive every day—due to the amount of expats and people there. Booking as far in advance as possible will give you more options.
Best Accommodation Options For Every Traveler: Uluwatu
Backpacker/Hostel Option: (up to $20 USD)
Naturela (I have stayed in a private double room here and it was a great cheap option. They do bike rentals but require your international driver’s license. This place is near to some yummy food options like Warung Local!)
One Degree Sunset Hill Leisure (the cheapest dorm option in Uluwatu)
Mangga Wangga Living (Ungasan—usually cheaper options in this area)
Best Low-Budget: ($20-40 USD)
Brisk Homestay at Uluwatu RedPartner (Pecatu—I have stayed here a few times and it was sufficient. The owners are lovely and it always seems to be available for last-minute bookings.
The Tempekan Heritage (Pecatu)
The Ulus Klumpu (Close to Uluwatu Temple and Nyang Nyang Beach— a great sunset spot)
Best Mid-Budget: ($40-80 USD)
Bukal Sari Villas Uluwatu (I have stayed here and really liked it!)
Best High-End Budget: ($80-200 USD)
Best Luxury Budget: ($200 +)
Villas:
You can also find hotel deals at Agoda and Hostel World!
ARE THERE VEGAN or Gluten-Free OPTIONS?
Yes, there are so many, and more are being added daily! Here are a few of my favorites:
For gluten-free, you can also order most dishes without soy sauce.
“Wheat” in Indonesian is “gandum.”
“Saya allergie kecap” means you are allergic to soy.
Uluwatu is very expat-friendly, so you should not have any issues finding food options.
IS IT SAFE?
I have always felt safe in Bali, especially in Uluwatu. There are so many expats living here. I recommend staying up to date with your country’s travel advisories. Follow basic rules of safety while traveling including:
Keep an eye on personal belongings and valuable items. Do not leave them in your bike.
Never forget your keys in your motorbike, and never leave anything valuable sitting out. Someone may steal it, especially monkeys.
Always triple-check vaccination requirements and recommendations for countries. Some potential illnesses include Typhoid and Hepatitis A.
Pack mosquito spray to protect yourself from Dengue and Malaria.
Wear your helmet when riding your motorbike. So many people do not wear their helmet and it could quite literally save your life.
DO NOT drink the tap water. Keep your mouth closed in the shower and even use bottled water for toothbrushing, especially if you have a sensitive stomach like me!
Never travel without the right insurance in case of any sickness, injuries, or theft. Safety Wing is by far the best travel medical insurance. It has saved me numerous times by covering hospital visits when I was sick during my travels in Asia.
Get an eSIM—so you do not get lost navigating your way. I always use Airalo for my eSims.
Emergency Contact Number: Police: +62 110 | Fire: +62 113 | Ambulance: +62 118 or +62 119
You can find a complete list of Bali Emergency #’s here.
