Question:
What’s the best area to visit in Bali?
Answer:
We’ve discussed the first 5 areas that are worth visiting in Bali, including Canggu, Nusa Dua, Seminyak, Sanur, and Ubud. If you haven’t read the article click this link to read about those areas.
Now, let’s continue to other parts of the island that are worth your time to visit when you travel to Bali.
Kuta
Let’s start the second part of the article with Kuta. There’s this saying that said, “You’re not visiting Bali yet if you haven’t visited Kuta”. Since 80’s Kuta has become the darlings area for so many people from all around the world. Even though the crowd is now swift to Canggu, and Uluwatu, Kuta will always have a place in everyone’s hearts.
Located a couple of minutes away from Ngurah Rai International Airport, Kuta is a budget-travelers-friendly area. You can easily find hostels, cheap hotels, or simply a guest house (called kos by locals) here. But don’t worry, you can also find 5-star hotels right in front of Kuta Beach.
Kuta is also known for its white sand beach. The wave is relatively calm so that you can swim by the beach with your family, the parental guide is still needed when you’re coming with your kids. You can find bean bags and loungers lining up in front of the beach where you can hang out with a cold beer in your hand. You need to prepare to meet local sellers who offer their souvenirs, or services, like massage and temporary tattoos, in the area at relatively affordable prices compared to hot trendy spa places. It’s nice to buy something or hire their service, but if you don’t feel like it, you can always refuse them politely. They might be going to be a little bit persistent, but after several NOs from you, trust us, they will walk away.
Kuta is also a nice place to start your surfing journey. You can easily find locals who offer their services and classes to teach you how to surf. So, if you’re planning to learn about surfing, this is the perfect place to do it. Kuta beach also has gorgeous sunsets, making this area becomes “the oldie, but always a goodie” to visit!
Uluwatu
Uluwatu is the area where the sacred Pura Luhur Uluwatu is nestled. This area is also known as the Bukit among travelers. It’s packed with high-end accommodations, hype beach clubs, and excellent restaurants, with a calmer environment compared to Canggu. We say Uluwatu’s vibe is quite the same as Canggu, trendy, and stylish, but less hassle and bustle.
This area is mostly packed with surfers because the waves on the beaches here are good for experienced surfers. If you’re a beginner, it’s best for you to hire an instructor to surf here. Because you have no idea how rapidly the strong waves and currents change.
The beaches are usually situated at the bottoms of cliffs, making it challenging to reach but worth your time to visit. Most of the beaches here are completed with white sand and crystal clear blue ocean. Even though the waves are quite strong, at some places you can easily swim or sunbathe by the beach, for example in Padang-Padang Beach (it’s one of Eat, Pray, Love movie sets!), Bingin Beach, and Dreamland Beach.
Surfing and beach hopping are not the only things you can do in Uluwatu. We suggest you to visit Pura Luhur Uluwatu. This more than 1000 years old temple is located on limestone cliffs with gorgeous views. You can also watch Kecak dances, one of the traditional and must-watch events. This dance is performed by the cliff around sunset time, so yeah you can imagine the scene you’ll see at the time. Definitely will give you goosebumps!
It’s easy to find budget villas or opulent hotels and villas in Uluwatu. Most luxury villas are situated on cliffs with the ocean on your balcony. Uluwatu also has world-class beach clubs, like Savaya or White Rock, which make it easy to watch international DJ’s performances here. You can always choose the more laid-back casual beach clubs and bars for a lowkey afternoon here.
Jimbaran
Jimbaran is situated between the north and south Kuta neighborhoods. You can spot it when you head out to Uluwatu from Kuta or Seminyak area. This area is known as a fisherman’s village, so no wonder you can spot the lines of traditional boats on Jimbaran beach.
The main spotlight in Jimbaran is Kedonganan Market, where you can buy fresh seafood and then grill it at local restaurants nearby. At night, some restaurants would lit torches, adding a romantic touch to your dinner by the beach.
Even though it’s a low-key area in Bali, you can still find luxurious accommodations here, like Four Seasons and Intercontinental hotels. The location of the hotel is close to the airport, which gives the best option for big spenders to spend the night before catching the flight. But most of these accommodations are also complete with stunning ocean views, which gives you the opportunity to enjoy the sunset on the white sandy beach.
Nusa Islands
Now let’s check the sister islands of Bali, the Nusa Islands. There are three islands, Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan, and Nusa Ceningan. It takes around 40 minutes by boat to reach Nusa islands from Sanur port. Each island has its attractions.
Nusa Penida is a perfect place for adventure seekers. You probably have seen the T-rex shape cliff, yes it’s in Nusa Penida. The attractions of this island are quite challenging to reach, sometimes you need to climb down steep cliffs to reach the gorgeous beach. The sites are also spread all over the island, making 2 days a minimum stay for you to explore the whole island.
In another hand, Nusa Ceningan and Nusa Lembongan are more chill and relaxing areas. These two islands have easier access to the beach or other attractions. The other plus side is these two islands are connected by the iconic yellow bridge which you can access by scooter!
Finding accommodation is easy in Nusa islands. One thing that you need to remember is to bring enough cash with you. The islands have limited ATMs, and sometimes the ATM is not even working. So, it’s better for you to bring enough cash before visiting the Nusa islands.
Read more about Nusa Islands in this article!
Amed and Tulamben
Located in the northeastern part of Bali, Amed and Tulamben is a paradise for scuba divers. These salt-farming villages are an escape to de-stress from the city atmosphere. Amed and Tulamben offer black sandy and rocky beaches, with mount Agung in the backyard.
Scuba diving, free diving, and snorkeling are the main attraction here. But you can spot completely different ocean habitats in these two places. Amed is offering macro creatures, tiny little creatures under the sea. On the other hand, Tulamben’s main attraction is the USAT Liberty wreck, a wreck of a US cargo ship torpedoed by a Japanese submarine in 1942. The wreck is currently a home for abundant marine life, including turtles, scorpion fish, and many more.
You can find charming hotels and guest houses in these areas. But the options for restaurants and bars are quite limited. The nightlife is a little bit quiet in these areas, almost none. Make it a perfect getaway to dive, eat, and rest!
Okay, it’s getting too long!
Let’s continue our discussion about The Best Area to Visit in Bali (Part 3, the last part).
If you haven’t read the first part, you can click this link and read The Best Areas to Visit in Bali (Part 1).