Candidasa Beach

Everything you need to know about Candidasa Beach

Located 85 km north-east of the airport, on the east coast, Candidasa offers a good base for exploring east Bali. A low key, laid back place close to cultural treasures like Pura Besakih (Bali's Mother Temple) and Tenganan Village - a unique village belonging to the original surviving Bali Aga aboriginal communities. It has lots of rustic charm.

Where to stay in Candidasa Beach

Elevated above the beach are the exclusive Amankila Villas.
Recommended hotels Alila Manggis.

See all Candidasa Beach Hotels.

The Beach

The beach is not one of Bali's best and not suitable for swimming, but nevertheless the tranquility of the place has attracted a number of exclusive hotels like the Amankila and The Chedi.

What to do in Candidasa Beach

Enjoy the beach. Jimbaran has a rustic feel with local restaurants and shops.

Diving: About a 30 minute drive along the coast, lies Amed - a top dive destination. Nearby Tulamben also has good dive sites, particularly the wreck of the Liberty, a 1915 U.S. cargo ship. This submerged ship is probably the most popular dive site in Bali.

Jimbaran Beach

Everything you need to know about Jimbaran Beach

Located on Bali's west coast - Jimbaran offers a small secluded beach area, where tranquility and peace are the perfect antidote to a stressful world. The land gently slopes away from the beach revealing exclusive celebrity haunts hidden under a canopy of leafy tropical forest.

Where to stay in Jimbaran Beach

Luxury five star hotels like The Intercontinental and Four Seasons Resort consistently rank in the top 100 best hotels in annual readers polls conducted by the prestigious travel companies. On the hillside overlooking the sea the awesome Ritz-Carlton. Coming in 2006..... the five star plus Bvlgari.

See all Hotels in Jimbaran

The Beach

Gentle tides, dramatic sunsets, fine seafood restaurants. No watersports available on the beach although some may be arranged with the hotels who provide equipment and boats for snorkeling trips and sea canoe excursions.

What to do in Jimbaran Beach

Envelope yourself in five star luxury. Gorgeous Spas, fantastic views, ocean breezes, friendly impeccable service. You rarely need to leave the hotel - but if you do, local fishermen will be glad to take you sightseeing along the coast!

Jimbaran's other premier attraction is the local seafood market at the end of the beach. Walk along the beach to reach the market and the excellent local seafood restaurants that line the seafront. Popular with both locals and visitors, it can get very busy at mealtimes!

Tanjung Benoa

Everything you need to know about Tanjung Benoa

Tanjung Benoa, or the Benoa peninsula just north of Nusa Dua, is a scenic 5 kilometres of coconut palms and fine sand. The area is the almost exclusive home of luxury hotels, private villas, fine restaurants, open air cafes and water sports facilities.

The resort has become busier over recent years with with more hotels like The Conrad Bali Resort and Spa joining impressive resorts like the Aston Bali.

Where to Stay in Tanjung Benoa

Excellent hotels include the Novotel Benoa Bali Resort , Conrad Bali , Grand Mirage, Club Bali Mirage, Ramada Resort.

The Beach

The shape of the beach, also makes Tanung Benoa perfect for watersports with no shortage of shops catering to marine sports enthusiasts.

What to Do in Tanjung Benoa

Right at the tip of the peninsula is the quiet port of Tanjung Benoa, with its village like alleyways and rows of traditional fishing boats and yachts. Offshore "Turtle Island" is the site of a sacred sea temple.

Tanjung Benoa has something for everyone - especially if you're a watersports fan. Snorkeling, diving, windsurfing, water-ski-ing, power boats, banana boats and reef fishing (The reef is just 200 metres from the shoreline at the north-eastern tip).

Nusa Dua Beach

Everything you need to know about Nusa Dua Beach

Bali's most prestigious resort area, Nusa Dua is where you'll find international world - class luxury hotels elegantly lining beautiful white sands.

Quiet and exclusive with superb facilities... you really don't have to venture far from your luxurious hotel room... but if you do, the rest of Bali's attractions are within easy access. Located on the Bukit peninsula, in the southern part of Bali, approximately 10 km from the international airport.

Where to Stay in Nusa Dua

Spectacular luxury resorts are the norm in Nusa Dua, with many incorporating contemporary Balinese style buildings and beautifully landscaped gardens, ponds and pool areas. Deluxe ocean view suites and stunning architecture like the Javanese Imperial Palace style at the Aston Bali are quite breathtaking.

Deluxe beachfront hotels include Bali Hilton International, The Grand Hyatt, Nikko Bali, Sheraton Laguna, Westin, Putri Bali, Melia Bali Sol and the Nusa Dua Beach. As well as spas (the elegant Grand Mirage Resort & Spa has a thalassotherapy spa specialising in saltwater treatments) many have convention facilities; swimming pools; excellent sports facilities and a selection of restaurants, night clubs or discotheques. There are also smaller cottage style hotels.

The Beach

The white sand and shallow water at Nusa Dua beach is an ideal safe place for children to play in the sea, lifeguards are usually on duty.

Nusa Dua means two islands, at low tide the seabed is exposed so that two islands are joined to the mainland - great for exploring.

What to Do in Nusa Dua

Nusa Dua is really about taking it easy and relaxing in total luxury. As most of the hotels are 5 star, every comfort is at your disposal as well as a gorgeous white sand beach.

The kind of activities on offer gives a flavour of Nusa Dua.... The Bali Golf and Country Club, an immaculately landscaped 18 hole ocean view course. The Bali International Lawn Tennis & Lawn Bowls Club next to the Galleria Nusa Dua a spacious shopping mall with boutiques and upmarket restaurants.

Close by the Chandra Koka Amphitheatre provides a venue for traditional entertainment including arts festivals like the Nusa Dua Arts and Culture Festival. Stroll to the northern end of Nusa Dua for parasailing, jetskis, snorkelling/diving trips or better still, head for Tanjung Benoa.

Dining & Restaurants in Nusa Dua

Nusa Dua has a huge selection of restaurants with excellent five star dining.

Popular restaurants include the Watercourt (voted locally the Best Balinese) at the Grand Hyatt, Maguro at Nusa Dua Beach Hotel (voted Best Quick and Casual Japanese Bite) Eight Degrees South - (Best Mediterranean Seafood of the Year).

Seminyak Beach

Everything you need to know about Seminyak Beach

A few miles north of Kuta is Seminyak which is the hippest part of southern Bali. More upmarket than Kuta and home to Bali's best bars, clubs and restaurants with new places opening almost weekly. Creative energy is the phrase that best sums up Seminyak, energy which also extends to the fashion boutiques.

Cool comes at a price, featuring strongly are world class hotels and resorts located next to the beach. Expect prices to be a little higher than Kuta.

Where to Stay in Seminyak Beach

Seminyak has some excellent boutique and five star resorts with lovely gardens, Asian style and Balinese features. Recommended: The Pelangi Bali, The Oberoi, The Legian, The Villas Bali, Sofitel Seminyak.

See all Seminyak Hotels

The Beach

Limited road access to the beach means that it's less busy here than Kuta. Conditions are monitored less here than in other places so be very careful when swimming.

Seminyak Beach Nightlife

Lots of trendy restaurants, cafes and stylish bars are to be found in Seminyak which attract a cool crowd of locals and hotel guests from nearby boutique hotels.

It's still part of the Kuta area - but the trendy sophisticated end.

What to do in Seminyak Beach

Seminyak over the last few years has quietly established itself as a centre for excellent shopping and fine dining.

Seminyak is a great place to go shopping. A walk along the main road can take much longer than planned because there are so many interesting individual shops to browse. Unlike many resorts where you will find the same goods sold in every shop, here you'll find so many different designs, styles and unusual items, reflecting Bali's unique culture. From jewellry to local designer clothing to lifestyle items.

Legian Beach

Everything you need to know about Legian Beach

A few years ago Legian was a small village situated a short distance from Kuta, which has spread out so much that Legian is now part of the greater Kuta area.

Legian is a quieter alternative and with a more sophisticated nightlife scene focusing on dining-out and socialising rather than full-on partying.

Where to Stay in Legian Beach

Legian has seen extensive development over the last few years, with boutique and first class hotels like the Bali Padma and Jayakarta adding to local family-owned guest houses and hotels like the Paradiso and White Roses Hotel.

See all Legian Hotels

What to do in Legian Beach

On the beach... Legian and Seminyak have a more laid back beach style - less hustle, fewer vendors, but good facilities. You can rent surfboards, play volleyball, or just relax and take in the scene. All on the beach.

Close to the action but far enough for some down time, Legian still retains something of its village atmosphere and is easy to walk around. Good shopping, restaurants and, while nightlife is not so frantic, Legian does have its own entertainment scene around Jalan Gado-Gado.

Kuta Beach

Everything you need to know about Kuta Beach

Kuta Beach bustles with tourists vendors and locals. It's the most popular beach in Bali and the island's number one party zone.

Rapid development and an influx of visitors hasn't kept the surfers away and Kuta still remains one of Bali's best surfing beaches and a great place to enjoy the beach life.

While the surfers are still part of the Kuta scene, it's the shopping, nightlife and party vibes that attracts thousands of visitors. There's a huge choice of accommodation, restaurants and entertainment; so if you want to be within walking distance of a cool beach lifestyle by day and party by night - this is place.

Where to Stay in Kuta Beach

Over the years Kuta development has spread out - almost absorbing the neighbouring villages of Legian and Tuban which now provide a quieter alternative to Kuta central.

New hotel developments, guest houses and resorts fill every available space, yet almost all amenities are within walking distance or a short taxi ride. Seminyak, once a quiet local village, on the fringes of Kuta, has now become the smart sophisticated end, with fine dining and numerous local lifestyle shops. (See the list of Hotels)

The Beach

Relax.. on Bali's longest public beach. Hang out, sunbathe, eat, drink, play a game of volleyball or a challenge beach football match. Meet locals and other visitors and watch a stunning sunset over a perfect sundowner. Kuta basically offers 5 kilometres of hotels, bars, Internet cafes, juice bars, surf shops, restaurants, travel agencies and mini-marts. It can be (depending on the time of day and which end of the beach you prefer) busy and vibrant or totally chilled out.

What to do in Kuta Beach

Around the end of Jalan Double Six, about 15 minutes from Kuta centre is Dreamland Beach. Lots of afternoon action and ball games, with plenty of drinks stands to make new (girl) friends. No shortage of bars and places to eat with some excellent places to chill and drink like Zanzibar and Blue Ocean.

Surfing! Bring your own board or rent one from the guys on the beach. Prices vary but average around 30,000rp per hour. If you haven't surfed before its the perfect place to learn. You can get a boat ride out to the outer reef breaks of Tuban or surf mellow beach breaks in front of the Hard Rock Hotel. (More on Bali Surfing)

Kuta Beach Nightlife

Kuta's nightlife now extends about 7 kilometres (4 miles) north from the original village of Kuta and includes Legian, Seminyak stretching to Basangkasa. Kuta is entertainment central which means music clubs, open-air pubs, karaoke bars, very noisy discos and drag shows. It's a lively party scene to say the least and the kind of place where being single and alone - male or female is no problem whatsoever.

Kuta has a huge selection of restaurants serving both local and a wide variety of foreign cuisines.

Shopping in Kuta

Shopping! Forget your Gucci's and Prada. Bali has its own designers producing one-off pieces for fashion clothing and lifestyle goods. Lots of individuality here at often reasonable prices. You'll end up with a treasure trove of interesting, fascinating and irresistible buys. Excellent for unusual clothes, jewellry, household and lifestyle items. Kuta's main street has renowned shopping, in mostly small locally owned shops. Individual styles, excellent craftsmanship and low prices. (More on Bali Shopping)