8 Best Beaches In Bali | Where to Spend Your Beach Day or Night
Bali is home to over 50 beaches, and you’ll have a very different experience depending on which one you visit. I’ve put together a guide so you can decide which beach to visit based on what brings you to the beach, from sunset, to snorkeling and swimming.
- Swimming: Nusa Dua Beach
- Sunset: Seminyak Beach
- Incredible Views: KelingKing Beach, Nusa Penida
- Surf Spot: Suluban Beach
- Snorkeling: Gili Trawangan
- Beach Nightlife: Seminyak Beach
- Scuba Diving: Crystal Bay Nusa Penida
- Sunrise: Sanur Beach
Best Beaches in Bali for Swimming: Gili Trawangan
Gili Trawangan is one of the three Gili Islands which are off the coast of the Bali mainland, and one of the best beaches in Bali for swimming. Gili Trawangan is the most built up of the islands, while at Gili Air and Gili Meno you’ll practically have the beaches to yourself.
Of the three islands, Gili Trawangan also has the best beaches for swimming, because it’s safer with more people around and you’ll have all the conveniences you need like places to rent snorkel equipment or an umbrella, eateries and more.
Honorable Mention: Sanur Beach
Sanur Beach on the East Coast of Bali is another beautiful beach for swimming, which typically features calm water and is great for both adults and kids. There’s also plenty of sun loungers and umbrellas to rent, to make your beach day even better.
Best for A Bali Sunset: Double Six Beach in Seminyak
The West Coast of Bali has tons of great sunset spots, but Double Six Beach in Seminyak has got to be the best. Part of the reason for this is the hundreds of beautiful colorful umbrellas and bean bags that are on the beach, creating a beautiful palate of color, especially when combined with a sunset. This is also the perfect spot to plop down and watch a Bali sunset.
Honorable Mention: Dreamland Beach
Dreamland Beach in the Uluwatu area is another fantastic Bali sunset spot, where you can watch from Dreamland Cliff, a popular spot for locals to watch the sun go down. You can also grab a spot at one of the Warungs (eateries) with some food and drinks.
Best Beaches In Bali for Incredible Views: KelingKing Beach on Nusa Penida Island
Aside from the Gili Islands, there are a few other amazing islands near Bali which are named the Nusa Islands. Nusa Lembongan, Nusa Ceningan and Nusa Penida. While all are beautiful, you don’t want to miss Nusa Penida, which is home to the breathtaking KelingKing beach.
You’ve probably seen this popular Bali beach spot on Instagram before if you’re a frequent traveller. KelingKeling Beach is the famous dinosaur shaped island and beach in Bali, and one of the most beautiful places in the whole world! Although getting down to the beach is possible via long, rugged and steep steps, the tides can be wild and people have died here trying to swim and then getting swept away, so I prefer this beach for the views.
Getting to KelingKeling is easiest with a tour, as the roads are super rugged and hard to navigate. You can sign up for a tour through GetYourGuide, for example this Nusa Penida Private Car & Driver tour.
Honorable Mention: Suluban Beach / Uluwatu Beach / Blue Point Beach
Suluban Beach, also known as Uluwatu Beach or Blue Point Beach, features beautiful views as well – both from the beach caves or the cliffs above it. You can also watch big wave surfers do their thing while hanging out at the cliffside Warungs. Read my guide to Suluban Beach to find out everything you need to know to explore it yourself!
Best Bali Surf Spot: Uluwatu Beach / Suluban Beach / Blue Point Beach
The real highlight at Suluban Beach (or Uluwatu Beach or Blue Point Beach, all the same place) is that it’s home to Bali’s best surf break and biggest wave, making it a surfer’s dream. There are five surf breaks here.
You do have to swim through the Suluban Beach cave to get to the wave, which there can be a really intense pull. Because of this, only advanced surfers should try surfing here!
Honorable Mention: Canggu Beaches
The beaches of Canggu present the second best opportunity for surfing in Bali, and should not to be missed as a surfer! Showing up early before 9:00am is your best bet.
Best Snorkeling In Bali: Gili Trawangan
The Gili Islands are one of the best beaches to snorkel at in all of Bali. You can snorkel right off the beach in a lot of locations in Gili Trawangan, wading right into the snorkeling areas by using rented equipment from one of the shacks on the beach. My favorite spot was Turtle Point, where I saw multiple turtles!
You can also take a snorkeling excursion like this Gili Islands Private or Shared Snorkeling Boat Trip. With a snorkeling excursion you will usually get to see sites like the Nest statue. I found I actually liked the snorkeling off the shore better, but that can of course just be a coincidence depending on the amount of sea creatures were there on any given day.
Honorable Mention: Amed
The next best place to snorkel in Bali is Amed Beach, which is on the Eastern Shore of the island. Directly off the Amed beach you can snorkel over shallow hard coral reefs, or off the shore there is a shipwreck that you can snorkel at. Get ready to see all sorts of ocean wildlife!
Best Beach For Nightlife In Bali: Seminyak Beach
If you like nightlife and the beach like I do, Bali is a destination you don’t want to miss because there are several beaches with really great nightlife where there’s a party every night of the week. The best beach for nightlife in Bali is Seminyak, where you’ll find the famous Finns nightclub along with dozens of others, both on and off the beach.
Honorable Mention: Batu Bolong Beach, Canggu
Canggu is also an amazing spot for beach nightlife in Bali. Old Man Bar is now closed, which used to be a crazy fun beach club and hangout spot, but thankfully Sandbar is still open which offers a DJ-fueled party on the beach every night until 4:00am.
Best Beach For Scuba Diving In Bali: Crystal Bay, Nusa Penida
Bali is one of the most popular scuba diving destinations in the world, and Crystal Bay in Nusa Penida is the best beach in Bali to experience it. Here you’ll find the massive Mola Mola fish which can be up to ten feet tall, and parts that are great for both beginners and advanced scuba divers. Make sure to check for ocean conditions and the current before you go, as the downward current can be quite strong.
If you’re in need of some instruction or guidance, Reeflex Divers is a great place that will be able to help you out, located right near Crystal Bay.
Honorable Mention: Padang Bai
Padang Bai is on Bali’s East Coast, and the highlights are hundreds of ocean wildlife species with a high chance of seeing sharks. The current is typical not too strong, so this is a great option for beginners.
Best Beach For A Bali Sunrise: Sanur Beach
Most people aren’t necessarily willing to wake up at the crack of dawn for sunrise, but when you do it’s so great! This is one of my favorite times to be on the beach, since you often have it to yourself and it’s a great time for some self reflection.
Sanur Beach is on Bali’s east coast, making it a perfect spot to sit on the beach and watch the sun rise. Grab yourself a spot on the beach and watch the magic happen!
Honorable Mention: Gili Trawangan
Gili Trawangan’s East Coast offers some amazing sunrises. During this sunrise below the whole island was glowing in pink light and it truly looked magical. Any east coast beach on the Gili Islands is the next best besides Sanur Beach, with an added bonus of having the mountains of Lombok adding more beauty to the scene.
Now that you know what Bali’s best beaches are, you can visit the ones that fit your personality best. If you’re a beach lover like me, Suluban Beach is an absolute must-see in Uluwatu Bali, and you can read my full Suluban Beach guide to learn more and plan your excursion.
Lauren Kessel
Lauren Kessel is the author of this blog and the creator of the Inspired Backpacker Blog. She is a passionate digital nomad, with the mission to make slow travel a more accessible way of life for everyone. Lauren believes travel is an important means of education and more importantly, a way for people of different cultures to come together and understand each other better. She has a BS in Tourism and has planned countless domestic and international trips for herself, her family and friends, having visited over 12 countries and 30 states so far.
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