10 Best Beaches in Bali: A Guide to Swimming, Surfing and Sunbathing

Paradise is a word that often gets tossed around when describing Bali, and for good reason. This famous island in Indonesia is known for its vibrant culture, stunning landscapes, and vast selection of beaches. In this guide, well take a closer look at the best beaches in Bali.

While Bali may look small on the map, this unassuming island packs a lot in and its definitely one of the top places to visit in the country. In addition to its many excellent beaches, the island also has volcanoes, lakes, hot springs, forests, waterfalls, and more. With a few days here, you can take in a little bit of everything.

surfing beach in bali

Bali is one of those places in Indonesia (and the world) that has a tendency to suck people in. I can speak from experience at the magnetic power this place has.

After visiting twice for a few weeks each time, I decided to apply for a program to live there for a year while learning the language and culture. It was one of the best decisions I ever made and Ill always have a special place in my heart for Bali.

If youre ready to start planning your own dream trip to the Island of the Gods, read on to find the right Bali beach (or five) for you!

Goats On The Road note to readers: regardless of whether a beach is supposed to be good for swimming in Bali, tidal changes, storms, and currents can arise, making the sea dangerous. For your safety, always seek local advice, check the flag status before jumping in the water, and be aware of changes in the tides.

1. Seminyak Beach

  • Good beach for swimming, boogie-boarding, or beginner/intermediate surfing

Were kicking off our list of the best beaches in Bali with one of my personal favorites Seminyak. Also known as Double Six, this is one of the most happening spots on the island.

Theres a lot to love about this trendy Bali beach town. Theres plenty of space here to just lay your towel down in the sand, and its not hard to find sun loungers and umbrellas if you want a bit more comfort.

Seminyak Beach has waves, but theyre not huge. This makes it a fine spot for swimming, boogie-boarding, or beginner-intermediate level surfing. There are plenty of places that rent surfboards and even a few surf schools if you need some guidance.

seminyak beach

Another reason to love the Seminyak area is the abundance of great restaurants, accommodation options and beach clubs. Grab a colorful beanbag at the beachside La Plancha or head up to the Double 6 Rooftop for some incredible views. Theres nothing quite like a sunset cocktail and seafood dinner on Seminyak Beach.

If youre planning to spend New Years Eve in Bali, Seminyak is an excellent choice. Your options here range from a NYE gala party at places like Cocoon Beach Club to just making your own party on the beach with a cheap bottle of rum and coconut. I went with the latter and we had an absolute blast watching the fireworks with a huge crowd of revelers.

This stretch of beach is located about a 30-minute drive from the airport, just north of the busier Kuta/Legian area. Click here for directions to Double Six, and Seminyak Beach is just north of there. Technically, Seminyak beach stretches all the way up to the super trendy Ku De Ta club. If youre hoping to snap a photo enjoying a tropical cocktail in an infinity pool on a Bali beach, this is the place to go! Click here to get directions.

2. Uluwatu Beach (one of the best beaches in Bali for surfing)

  • Known for great surfing

Bali has long been a top destination for surfers thanks to places like Uluwatu Beach. Located at the far southern end of the island on the Bukit peninsula, this is a legendary surfing spot. It should be noted that while many know it as Uluwatu Beach, its technically called Suluban.

This area of Bukit is called Uluwatu in reference to the famous cliffside temple. Visiting Uluwatu Temple and seeing the kecak performance there at sunset is an absolute must in Bali just watch out for those cheeky monkeys who love to snatch sunglasses and phones!

People come from all over the world to ride the waves at this surfing mecca. Youll have to work hard for them, though! In order to access Uluwatu and many other beaches on the peninsula, you have to walk down a long and steep staircase. This is definitely not the best Bali beach for those with mobility issues or people traveling with young children.

uluwatu beach bali

For surfers, its definitely well worth the effort to get down to Uluwatu Beach. Seeing as how I cant surf to save my life, Im going to send you to this excellent and detailed post from Surf Indonesia about all the waves you can ride here.

Those who are not surfing should plan to visit Uluwatu Beach at low tide. Its not exactly the best place for sunbathing, but its a beautiful spot to explore when the waves arent crashing. Be sure to check the tide chart before heading down here so you can time your visit accordingly.

There are quite a few restaurants and bars perched along the cliffside here. Take a seat and enjoy the views of surfers carving up waves down below, perhaps while sipping a cold Bintang or getting a massage. Single Fin is one of the top spots in Bali to watch the sunset, and its also one of the best parties on the island every Sunday night! Click here for directions to Uluwatu Beach.

3. Virgin Beach

  • One of the best beaches in Bali for swimming

This next one takes a while to reach, but its worth the effort. Pasir Putih is located on the northeast coast and is definitely one of the best beaches in Bali to visit.

Also known as the Virgin Beach, this gorgeous stretch of white sand is rare in this part of the island. Most of the beaches in East Bali are black, volcanic sand and arent exactly the best for lounging on.

Theres not a whole lot going on here, but thats the beauty of the place. There are a few simple warung (local restaurants) on the beach that will let you use their chairs if you order something. These places may not look like much, but they cook up some amazing grilled fish and they are super friendly.

Pasir Putih virgin beach bali

This part of the island doesnt get waves, so this isnt the place for boogie-boarding or surfing. It is, however, a great spot to do a bit of snorkeling. You can bring your own or rent one from one of the restaurants.

The closest town with tourist facilities to the Virgin Beach is Candidasa. From here its only about a 20-minute drive. If youre travelling to Virgin Beach from towns in the south or Ubud, it will take a few hours. Its worth it to make the trek, especially if you combine a stop here with a visit to one of the water palaces. Click here to get directions to this awesome Bali beach.

4. Nusa Lembongan Beach

  • A good place for snorkelling, scuba diving, and surfing and swimming

For the next Bali beach on our list, were actually traveling off the main island. You see, there are three smaller islands just off the southwest coast that are still considered part of Bali!

These are known as the Nusa Islands (Lembongan, Ceningan, and Penida) and they are easily visited on a day trip. On Nusa Lembongan, youll find quite a few beaches to choose from. The main beach is Jungutbatu, which is where youll find a wide range of accommodation, restaurants, and bars.

Actually, the Nusa Islands are known for excellent snorkeling, diving, and surfing. You can actually base yourself in Candidasa and go on dive excursions from there. Check out our article here to learn about diving around the Nusa Islands from Candidasa.

nusa lembongan bali beach

Nusa Lembongan is home to several dive shops and surfing schools to get you set up. The surf breaks here are better suited for more experienced riders, as they all break over coral reefs.

There are many other beautiful beaches worth exploring on Lembongan. With a rented scooter, you can easily visit Mushroom Beach, Sandy Bay, Dream Beach, Coconut Beach (which is one of the best beaches in Bali for families), and more. Theres enough to see and do here to warrant spending a few nights on the island, and its far more enjoyable once all the day-trippers have left anyways!

5. Canggu Beach

  • A good beach for surfing, watching sunset and having a drink

Another Bali beach thats wildly popular with surfers is Canggu. Its located north of Seminyak and is also easily reached from the airport. This area has been developing rapidly over the past few years and Canggu is now a hot spot for digital nomads and yogis.

Canggu is actually home to a few different beaches. From south to north, theres Berawa, Neyelan, Batu Bolong, Echo Beach, and finally Pererenan. Each beach has its own unique vibe and offers different things.

The beaches here have dark grey or black sand and these arent the best beaches in Bali for swimming, as the waves can be really rough. As such, youll find the Canggu beaches far less crowded than the ones further south.

Berawa has a few restaurants and bars, and you can also rent boards and loungers here for a reasonable price. This is a great beach to go to if you just want to enjoy some surfing or boogie-boarding without the crowds and touts.

canggu beach bali

When you look up Canggu Beach on Google Maps, it takes you to Batu Bolong. Theres a lot more action here, thanks in large part to Old Mans. This is one of the coolest bars in all of Bali and the perfect place to party after a big day out on the water.

Just to be clear, you dont have to be a surfer to enjoy Canggu. I cant stand on a surfboard to save my life and I always have a good time hitting Canggu Beach. Its especially fun to visit around sunset to watch the surfers riding their last waves as the sun dips behind the horizon. A day at the beach followed by dinner and drinks in Canggu is a great addition to any Bali itinerary.

Take a video tour of Canggu in our Streets, Beats & Eats show.

6. Bingin Beach

Next on our list of the best beaches in Bali is Bingin. This is another beach located below the towering cliffs of the Bukit peninsula.Once again, youll need to put forth a decent amount of effort to reach this stunning Bali beach!

Bingin truly is a hidden gem, in that its honestly a bit hard to find. You zig-zag your way down a maze of narrow alleyways passing several different guesthouses and warung before you finally find the motorbike parking area. Cars cant make it back here, so youre either on two wheels or on foot.

Eventually, you finally reach the winding staircase that takes you down to the beach. The fact that its so hard to reach turns off a lot of people, which is great for those looking to experience a Bali beach without hordes of hard-partying tourists.

Even though its tiny and tough to get to, Bingin is still home to quite a few guesthouses, restaurants, and surf shops. They definitely cater to surfers, as the challenging waves here are what spurred the development of a tourism industry in the first place. For more advanced surfers looking for a more traditional option for a Bali beach, Bingin is an excellent choice.

bingin beach bali

So is it worth the effort to reach Bingin if youre not a surfer? Absolutely! When you come here at low tide its really beautiful to walk around and take photos. Be sure to stick around for the postcard-worthy sunset. Then sit down for some grilled seafood and a drink with your toes in the sand before making your way back up. Or just go ahead and stay here! This is definitely a cool home base to have for a few nights in Bali. Find Bingin on the map here.

7. Sanur Beach

  • Good beach for swimming, relaxing, walking

This next Bali beach holds a special place in my heart. Sanur is a sleepy fishing town on the southeast coast of Bali and its where I lived for most of my year on the island.

Despite having a very substantial tourism scene, Sanur remains at its heart a traditional Balinese village. Traffic comes to a standstill here quite often when processions go through the streets, and theres a massive performance and parade for the Balinese New Year.

Every summer, the town hosts a traditional kite festival. If it is real Bali that you seek (whatever that means), Sanur is a great choice.

While many decry Sanur as being too boring its nickname is actually Snore I find that to be far from the truth. Sure, there are no gnarly waves or rowdy beach clubs here, but thats precisely why I and many others love it.

The beaches here are nice, the water is calm, and there are several places with sun loungers and umbrellas available. Theres a long path along the beach that makes for the perfect place to go for a leisurely stroll in the morning or evening. Its one of the few places in Bali where you can enjoy a walk without fear of being run over by a motorbike.

sanur best beaches for swimmingi n bali

While surfing isnt really possible over here, you can still go jet-skiing, SUPing, snorkeling, or diving from Sanur beach. There are also a few excellent yoga studios on the beachfront.

One of the best ways to experience Sanur is on a bike tour. The folks at Sanur Cycle Tours are good friends of mine and they run some amazing bike trips around the area. I took quite a few and my personal favorite was their Jurassic Park tour that visits an abandoned amusement park.

There are actually a few different beaches in town. Sanur Beach is the most central (click here for directions), and other beaches in the area include Sindhu, Karang, and Mertasari. There are tons of options for places to stay, shop, eat, and drink here, making Sanur a very convenient base.

8. Jimbaran Beach

  • A good beach for swimming and dining

This next Bali beach is definitely the easiest one to reach from the airport. In fact, Jimbaran Beach starts just south of the runway. You can be chilling on the beach with a cold one in hand in no time!

This beach is part of the narrow isthmus that connects the mainland to the Bukit peninsula. As such, its a very convenient place to base yourself for exploration of South Bali. With a scooter, you can be in either Kuta or Nusa Dua in under half an hour.

Most of the access points for the various beaches in Bukit can be reached in under an hour, but you still get the amenities of the mainland. There are plenty of options in Jimbaran for accommodation, dining, shopping, and nightlife.

Jimbaran Beach is a pretty mellow place in terms of both the ocean and the vibes. There arent big waves here at all, so this definitely isnt high on the radar of surfers. If youre a total beginner, though, this is a good place to try it out. Most people are content with just lounging on the beach here, so its one of the more laid back places on this list.

jimbaran bali beach

The highlight of Jimbaran is definitely the nightly seafood market here. There are several excellent restaurants right on the beach, where you can take your pick from a variety of fresh seafood and have it cooked up to your liking. Wandering bands stroll the beach and take requests, making this one of the best beaches in Bali for a romantic dinner.

9. Lovina Beach

If you really want to escape the crowds, one of the best beaches in Bali to visit is Lovina. Its located on the far north coast of the island, which feels worlds apart from the chaos of the south.

The name Lovina actually refers to a stretch of seven different villages along the northern coast of Bali. Beaches here are generally black sand and the water is very calm this isnt the Bali beach for you if youre chasing waves. There is, however, some quality snorkeling and diving on tap up here.

Lovinas biggest claim to fame is the dolphins that inhabit the waters around town. Theres even a statue of the aquatic mammals on the main beach. Basically everyone in Lovina can set you up on an early morning tour in search of dolphins.

lovina beach bali

From the airport, its about a 2.5-3-hour drive to reach Lovina Beach. If you end up renting a scooter/car or just hiring a driver, its worth it to add stops at the Jatiluwih rice terraces, Ulun Danu Beratan temple, and maybe even the Aling-Aling waterfall on your way.

Since its such a long trip, I dont really recommend coming all the way here just for the afternoon. Lovina Beach is actually a great place to spend a few nights. There are plenty of options for accommodation here and the prices are very reasonable. Plus, its nice to experience a more authentic Bali beach town thats devoid of McDonalds and Starbucks.

If you end up staying a few nights in Lovina, I highly recommend taking the short trip inland one afternoon to go to the Banjar hot springs. These pools full of natural hot spring water are a great place to relax for a couple of hours. Its just a 20-30 minute drive from Lovina to get there. Find Lovina on the map here.

10. Nusa Dua Beach

  • One of the best beaches in Bali for swimming

Last but not least is Balis most luxurious beach, Nusa Dua. Located down on the northeast corner of the Bukit peninsula this area is known for its swanky resorts, upmarket shopping, and world-class golf course. In short, this is where the fabulous people stay!

Nusa Dua is very much a tourist enclave, as its actually a gated zone where you have to pass through security. While it may seem very exclusive, most of the beach is still public here. Even if youre not staying at a 5-star hotel, its well worth it to visit Nusa Dua for an afternoon. This is one of the nicest beaches in Bali.

The beach in Nusa Dua is white sand and the water is great for swimming. If your idea of a perfect day at the beach involves a sun lounger, a few adult beverages, and a good book, this is the Bali beach for you.

nusa dua beach in bali

There are a few things to do here. One of the highlights of visiting Nusa Dua is seeing the famous Waterblow. This is a point on the coast where waves crash into a rock formation in dramatic fashion. Its also a very popular spot for photo ops, so you have to pay a small entrance fee to access the path.

Just because youre at the beach doesnt mean you cant get a little culture. Nusa Dua is also home to a very underappreciated museum. The Pasifika Museum is a fantastic art museum thats well worth getting out of the sun for a couple of hours to see. You can find Nusa Dua on the map here.

Ready for the Best Beaches in Bali?

As you can see, Bali is home to several fantastic beaches, each unique in their own way. Before we end this guide to the top beaches in Bali, I should take a moment to mention why one didnt make the cut.

Noticeably missing from my list is Kuta Beach, which is the main tourist hub in Bali. This is far and away the most popular, crowded, and developed beach on the island.

It transformed from a tiny fishing town to a booming tourist destination in under 30 years, and the negative effects of this breakneck development are all too clear. As such, I cant in good conscience recommend visiting Kuta Beach.

First of all, Kuta is plagued by traffic jams, scam artists, and petty crooks. The beach is overcrowded and not that nice, and the touts here are incessant. You are much better off spending your precious vacation days at any of the other Bali beaches on this list. Trust me.

The many other small beach towns on the island can use your support as well, and its much easier to directly support locals once you get out of the Kuta bubble.

My best advice is to rent a scooter or a car, or just hire the amazing local drivers and do a loop of the island to visit as many of the amazing beaches as you can!

Have you been beach hopping in Bali? Which beach was your favorite? Leave a comment below and let us know!

Note: Images in this article are courtesy of Shutterstock.com.

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