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written by Rough Guides Editors
updated 7.03.2023
From dramatically rugged coastline scenery to great sweeps of golden sand and lovely white coves, Bali’s beaches have long drawn visitors to its shores. The beaches here tick all boxes, whether you’re after world-class waves to surf, crystal clear waters for diving, or simply days digging your toes into fine sand. We've put together this list of the best beaches in Bali so you know where to direct your beach towel and snorkel gear.
The information in this article is inspired by The Rough Guide to Bali & Lombok, your essential guide for visiting Bali.
Bali's Beaches and Temples
Experience Bali's brilliant beaches and temples with this stunning trip. Marvel at ancient temples like Tanah Lot and Pura Besakih, soak in stunning sunsets, stroll bare-footed along the best beaches in Bali and haggle at local markets – experience all of this, and much more, with this unique trip!
customize ⤍Rest and Relaxation in Bali and Lombok
This unique trip will take you to some of Bali and Lombok's most traditional places. Look forward to driving through tropical landscapes and spending time in villages nestled in scenic spots of traditional luxury with infinity pools and stunning vistas over the ocean.
customize ⤍Royal Bali - Culture & Beaches
Enjoy a luxurious stay in Bali, with hand-picked 5 Star Hotels. This trip includes privately guided tours as well as leisure time, ideal for families with kids. Highlights include sea temple Tanah Lot, Jatiluwih rice terraces and Uluwatu temple with its famous Kecak dance.
customize ⤍The Best of Bali
This trip will take you from the modern-day Bali to the traditional one. Bali has many adventures to offer, tour the countryside with a Vespa or glide through the hidden canyons. You will also be able to enjoy visits to enchanting villages, where you can take in the local way of life.
customize ⤍Java and Lombok - culture and beaches
Start your trip in Yogyakarta (also called Jogja) with its rich cultural past such as the Borobudur temple. From there continue to hike Mount Bromo and explore more of East Java in Malang and Surabaya. End your trip on the dreamy beaches of Kuta/Lombok, dubbed 'the next Bali'.
customize ⤍Singapore & Bali - A Unique Exploration
Combine Southeast Asia's smallest country Singapore with its largest country: Indonesia. Spend a few days exploring the metropolis before flying to the magical island of Bali. Temples, volcanoes and ceremonies are part of your itinerary, as are the gorgeous beaches of Nusa Lembongan.
customize ⤍Culture, volcanoes and dragons - Bali, Flores & Komodo
Combine several islands on one trip - start in Bali's cultural capital Ubud before heading to the rice fields in Sidemen. A short flight to Flores allows you to explore volcanoes and local villages before hopping on a cruise around Komodo and other islands close to Labuan Bajo. Dragons included!
customize ⤍Love trip to Bali
Celebrate your love union on this magical island. Included are couples massages at relaxing spas, a blessing ceremony by a Balinese priest, an authentic cooking class and of course - a beautiful white sandy beach on Nusa Lembongan to relax towards the end of your trip.
customize ⤍Bali Yoga Retreat
Discover a new you with this rejuvenating Bali-based yoga retreat. Enjoy personalised yoga and meditation classes, together with revitalising Ayurvedic treatments, all in idyllic surroundings. The cuisine is a treat for all the senses; you will also have the chance to explore the temples of Bali.
customize ⤍Unknown Java and Bali - an overland adventure
A fast-paced itinerary packing plenty of highlights: discover the temples of Prambanan and Borobudur and sunrises at Mount Bromo and Mount Ijen before heading to Bali: a beautiful underwater world and the landscapes of Ubud and Sidemen await.
customize ⤍Halfway down the shoreline, the land blossoms out into two little clumps, or “islands” (Nusa Dua means “Two Islands”), with a temple standing on each one.
Experience this stunning tailor-made trip to Bali's Beaches and Temples. Marvel at ancient temples like Tanah Lot and Pura Besakih, soak in stunning sunsets, stroll bare-footed along the best beaches in Bali and haggle at local markets – experience all of this, and much more, with this unique trip!
It’s at its best around 6–7 am, but stays open all day – the stallholders are used to sightseers. Even if you don’t see it, you can taste the day’s catch when it is served at the plethora of beach warung and cafés that specialize in grilled seafood along, what's locally called, Muaya Beach.
The island of Bali is one of the most attractive destinations in Indonesia. To find equally wonderful options for your holiday read our guide to unforgettable Indonesian islands.
There’s good snorkelling here, too, and a shrine on an offshore islet. That said, currents in the bay can be fierce in certain tide states.
From your base on Bali's renowned beaches, you'll island-hop your way around glorious Hindu temples and heritage sites. See komodo dragons, partake in a traditional Balinese ceremony, meet with a Hindu High Priest and visit local villages: this tailor-made trip to Indonesia ticks all the tropical getaway boxes.
It’s also the venue for the much-lauded Kuta sunsets; at their blood-red best in April, but streaky-pink at any time of year and the stuff sundowners are made of – whether you choose cocktails in a hip bar or just a cold Bintang on plastic seats.
Looking for some unusual holiday destinations in Indonesia? You may find some useful ideas in our guide to Indonesia beyond Bali: 7 places off the tourist trail.
The currents make the sea too dangerous for swimming, but it’s a dramatic scene, punctuated by huge rocks, and the beach stretches for miles in both directions.
This tailor-made trip to the best of Bali will take you from modern-day Bali to the traditional one. Bali has many adventures to offer, tour the countryside with a Vespa or glide through the hidden canyons. You will also be able to enjoy visits to enchanting villages, where you can take in the local way of life.
However, its fame – and the reason for all the restaurants and guesthouses – is the eponymous surf break, one of the most exciting waves in Indonesia, not least because of a kink in the final section. This is one of the best places to visit for beach surfers. And not far off, at Pantai Suluban, lie the legendary Uluwatu waves.
Discover Indonesia's diversity beyond the beaches with our guide to the best things to do in Indonesia.
Celebrate your love union on this magical tailor-made love trip to Bali. Included are couples massages at relaxing spas, a blessing ceremony by a Balinese priest, an authentic cooking class and of course - a beautiful white sandy beach on Nusa Lembongan to relax towards the end of your trip.
There’s no hustle, no tourist shops, just low-key accommodation, a few warungs and a beach bar, and the sense of a shared secret. Get here soon – the building is on the up. The caveat to all this is that a vicious rip inshore makes; heed local advice or be content to paddle at low tide.
To better prepare for your dream trip to Bali, study our list of Bali travel tips.
The beach may be no great shakes for swimming but it looks gorgeous: a strip of white sand that arcs before an aqua sea filled with wooden boats and rectangular seaweed plots. It’s an ideal place for sunset drinks or just for losing days gazing out to Bali’s Gunung Agung on the northwestern horizon.
Enjoy a luxurious stay in Bali, with hand-picked 5 Star Hotels. This tailor-made trip to Royal Bali includes privately guided tours as well as leisure time, ideal for families with kids. Highlights include the sea temple Tanah Lot, Jatiluwih rice terraces and Uluwatu temple with its famous Kecak dance.
More than a dozen reefs are within easy reach of the shore – Pemuteran has the largest shallow-reef area in Bali – and the seas are calm so there’s a site to suit all abilities. The marine life is varied, too. From turtles, giant clams and manta rays, to the very occasional whale shark, making this ideal even amongst the best beaches in Bali.
To find out how to get to the beach, ask the locals for directions, but note that they call it "Perasi Beach" as it is located in Perasi Village. Public transport does not go directly to the beach, so it is worth considering renting a vehicle.
Above the beach are some ramshackle surfer warung and a cluster of guesthouses, with new accommodation opening all the time in the hills around. The shallow reef offshore powers a speedy left-hand break at high tide but can make swimming dicey; depending on the swell direction, the far southern end of the beach usually provides most shelter.
Visitors are drawn by the region’s impressive offshore reefs, which offer great snorkelling and diving, and facilities are mushrooming, with accommodation now available in every village bay. Stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) is now a popular pastime and progressive beach outlets rent them. If a more relaxing holiday is what you're after you'll find an abundance of yoga classes.
Discover a new you with this rejuvenating Bali-based tailor-made yoga retreat. Enjoy personalised yoga and meditation classes, together with revitalising Ayurvedic treatments, all in idyllic surroundings. The cuisine is a treat for all the senses; you will also have the chance to explore the temples of Bali.
The beach is particularly beautiful during sunset when the romantic landscape is coloured crimson. The coast is also very popular for snorkelling, the local sea life is not afraid of people so you can see the underwater world even without a mask.
The main feature of Seminyak Beach is its restless waves, which attract the young people who make up the majority of beach visitors. The combination of golden sand and perfect waves makes it one of the best beaches in Bali for surfing.
The empty stretch just south of Batu Jimbar is the quietest. Wherever you end up, the views are great: on a clear day, Gunung Agung's profile soars northeast while out to sea you might just make out Nusa Penida's cliffs.
If you’re not up for getting wet, you can sometimes spot them from Kelingking Beach, where a rock bearing a close resemblance to a T-Rex breaches the sea and Broken Beach with its wrap-around arch eroded over eons. From Broken Beach, you can walk to Angel’s Billabong for a dip in a calm tide pool. Do stick close to the shore when swimming or snorkelling and be aware that there are strong currents further out.
With its golden coastline and azure waves, Bali is perfect for a family trip. Looking for more inspiring family holiday ideas? Find some inspiration in our guide to the best places to go with kids.
Ready for a trip to Bali? Check out the snapshot of The Rough Guide to Bali & Lombok. If you travel further in Indonesia, read more about the best time to go and the best places to visit in Indonesia. For inspiration use the itineraries from our local travel experts. A bit more hands-on, learn about getting there, getting around the country and where to stay once you are there.
If you prefer to plan and book your trip to Bali without any effort and hassle, use the expertise of our local travel experts to make sure your trip will be just like you dream it to be.
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written by Rough Guides Editors
updated 7.03.2023
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