There’s a beach for everyone in Bali! Whether you’re hunting for long walks on a quiet, secluded beach, sumptuous fresh seafood dinners, ideal waves for surfing, or the perfect picturesque backdrop for your Bali photo album, we’ve made things easy for you with this guide.
Here’s how to find the best beach for your travelling style, plus our top picks for places to stay to maximize your sunny getaway.
The Classics
Seminyak Beach
25 minutes north of Denpasar airport.
Best Hotels: Double Six, The Samaya, The Oberoi
The magical Seminyak beach is the number one choice for many Bali travellers. Its central location, beautiful waters, and an array of things to do makes for an appealing oceanside destination. You’ll find trendy restaurants and bars, luxury shopping, water sports, and comfortable places to simply lounge in style.
Jimbaran Bay
14 minutes south of Denpasar airport.
Best Hotels: Bali at Jimbaran Bay by Four Seasons, Rimba Jimbaran by Ayana, The Ayana Resort & Spa
If splurging on food experiences is on your Bali vacation checklist, Jimbaran Bay is the beach for you. Situated in a small fishing town, Jimbaran Bay is home to spectacular fresh-caught seafood restaurants where you can enjoy a beautiful ocean view.
You’ll also have a chance to take part in classic beachy fun when you’re there, so it’s worth spending a full day at Jimbaran Bay beach to relax, sunbathe, and splash around.
Nusa Dua Beach
22 minutes southeast of Denpasar airport.
Best Hotels: St. Regis Bali Resort, Kayumanis Private Villa & Spa
Nusa Dua Beach is another popular choice because of its picturesque white sandy beaches and prime location. You’ll have access to loads of restaurants and shopping destinations for everyone. Nusa Dua is also a great pick for adrenaline-pumping water fun like snorkelling, banana boats, and wakeboarding.
The Adventure Junkie’s Paradise
Balian Beach
90 minutes northwest of Denpasar airport.
Best Hotels: Plataran Canggu, Como Uma Canggu
The route to Balian Beach is graced with photogenic jungles and rice paddies, and the beach itself is split by a sparkling river with amazing views of a vine-covered cliff. It’s a beautiful place to take it easy, and it’s become a favourite with young independent travellers.
Hang out at Pondok Pitaya yoga studio, enjoy fare from casual boho cafes, watch the surfers, or take a long walk along the sunset facing coast.
Keramas Beach
45 minutes northeast of Denpasar airport.
Best Hotels: Capella Ubud, The Royal Pita Maha, Alila Ubud
This beautiful black sand beach is a fabulous surfing destination, but not ideal for swimming. Serious adventurers and surfing enthusiasts flock to Keramas during the rainy season to catch impressive waves. But during Bali’s dry season (April to September) this is a fabulous beach for walking and jogging, or perhaps trying your hand at surfing the season’s tamer waves.
Blue Lagoon
75 minutes northeast of Denpasar airport.
Best Hotels: Four Seasons Resort at Sayan, Komaneka at Ubud
Blue Lagoon is arguably Bali’s prime spot for family-friendly snorkelling for two main reasons. First, the sheer abundance of friendly underwater wildlife. You’re very likely to get some stunning underwater pictures if you bring a waterproof camera. And secondly, the coral reef is quite near the shore, so adults and kids alike will feel very safe not having to swim out away from the shore to get great encounters.
The Hidden Gems
Medewi Beach
125 minutes northwest of Denpasar airport.
Best Hotels: Six Senses Uluwatu, Alila Villas Uluwatu
You’ll have to go a bit out of your way, but a day at this secluded beach will be worth it if you’ve rented a car for your trip.
Medewi Beach is ideal for long, romantic walks in a very low-traffic coast. Plan the trip here if you’re looking for an authentic experience surrounded only by nature (and keen surfers in the distance).
Pack a romantic beachside picnic- the nearest restaurants are a short drive out from the beach.
Padang Padang Beach
35 minutes southwest of Denpasar airport.
Best Hotels: Bali at Jimbaran Bay by Four Seasons, Rimba Jimbaran by Ayana, The Ayana Resort & Spa
There’s a reason Padang Padang beach was featured in the Eat, Pray, Love film- it’s gorgeous! One of the best destinations for shutterbugs, this is a great stop for a photo shoot. If you’re planning on taking a dip, bring a pair of swimming shoes, since the waters here can be on the rocky side.
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