Canggu was once a quiet surf town, but now it’s a hub for holidays and digital nomads. We lived here on and off for 2 years, and although it’s now busy (more than we’d like), there’s still something that keeps bringing us back. There are oceanfront restaurants, top-notch coffee & food spots, health and fitness studios, and a certain creative energy. It’s definitely our favorite place in Bali to stay for longer and connect with other travelers.
Things to do in Canggu
1. La Brisa Farmers Market
La Brisa Market really is one of our favorite spots on the island; it’s a Sunday event hosted by La Brisa Beach Club that supports local farmers and businesses. The aesthetics are so good here – like you’re in a big treehouse!
Also read: Experience local life of Bali at a Homestay
Over the years, we’ve bought some of our most-used clothing items here, many of which were cheaper than you’d find at the brand’s store. You’ll find stalls selling:
- Organic products
- Handmade clothing
- Freshly baked bread and pastries
- Coffee (grab a takeaway!)
Opening Times: The market is open from 10 AM – 4 PM every Sunday. After you’ve finished shopping, use La Brisa’s pool and sunbeds.
2. Temples near Canggu
Bali is known as the ‘Island of the Gods’, and this profound sense of spirituality is one of the most special parts of Bali for us. We always try to visit a temple or sacred site, and there are plenty of beautiful locations to choose from. Both the temples below are a 30-45 minute drive from Canggu:
Pura Tanah Lot: Sacred site atop a beautiful rock formation overlooking the Indian Ocean. Although it’s a popular tourist spot, locals still come here to worship the Bali Sea Gods. Sunset is our favorite time to visit. Entrance Fee: 75,000 IDR (4.50 USD or Book a guided tour).
Taman Ayun Temple: Stunning Hindu temple complex surrounded by water. This place is about 30 min from Canggu and far less busy than the other nearby temples.
Entrance fee: 50,000 IDR (3 USD). They provide you with a sarong to cover your legs on arrival.
3. Nusa Clay Club
We booked an experience at Nusa Clay Club; it’s a creative pottery school run by Susan (an Ubud local). It’s the perfect rainy-day activity for monsoon days, or simply if you just want to learn the basics of handling clay and using a potter’s wheel.
- Low-key beach shacks: more budget-friendly options between Pererenan and Mejan. A sunbed and umbrella cost 50,000 IDR (3.30 USD) for the whole day.
- Mid-range: Our favorite spot is Times Beach Warung, where you can just grab a beanbag and chill out on the beach watching the surfers. They also have great movie nights and a strict no-plastic policy, which we love!
- Bigger beach clubs: La Brisa (eco-friendly beach club with 2 pools), The Lawn (infinity pool and infamous parties), or Sol Rooftop (best views and cocktails!).
Tip: On Thursdays, you’ll see the locals wear their beautiful traditional outfits. Keep an eye out for it!
5. Surfing in Canggu
Canggu is home to some of the best surf spots in Bali! The black sand beaches are not the most beautiful on the island, but the waves more than make up for it.
- Waves suitable for both beginner and advanced surfers.
- Best time: April-October is dry/surf season. We recommend an early start (like the pros!) to avoid the crowds and enjoy the sunrise from the water.
You can book a surf lesson like this one in Canggu, or for something really unique, join a surf camp like La Point, where you learn to surf over several days. It’s also a great way to meet new people!
Our favorite spots: Echo Beach (intermediate), Berawa Beach (slightly quieter), Batu Balong Beach (at Old Man’s – best for beginners), or Pererenan Beach.
6. The Beaches of Canggu
You won’t find white sand and turquoise water like in Uluwatu, Amed, and the islands of Nusa Penida or Nusa Lembongan. But the black-sand beaches of Canggu have their own charm. They are good for surfing, and at sunset, go to one of the beach shacks, order a fresh kelapa muda (young coconut) for two hours of people and dog watching – our ideal sunset 🥹!
- Batu Bolong Beach
- Echo Beach
- Pererenan Gajah Mina Statue (we love walking in the morning from Pererenan to Berawa Beach)
- Berewa Beach
- Mejan Beach (our favorite place to watch the sunset!)
If you arrive by motorbike, expect to pay a parking fee of 5.000 IDR (“lima ribu” in Indonesian).
Bali, unfortunately, has a serious plastic problem, and trash often washes up on the beach, especially during the rainy season. The situation has improved significantly in recent years, but we can all do our bit to help the locals by joining organized beach cleanups, such as those hosted by TrashHero.
Read our list of the Best Beaches in Bali for more recommendations.
- Leave early for less traffic
- Our favorite area is between Jalan Pantai Pererenan and Jalan Raya Seseh
- Another nice area is here, Uma Desa Canggu. Only motorbikes can drive here, and you’ll find people enjoying a morning walk here.
- If you have time to go further afield, we recommend Ubud, Sidemen, and the Tegalalang Rice Terraces
- Don’t want to rent a motorbike? Book a combi day tour leaving from Canggu
8. Party in Canggu
The party scene in Canggu is buzzing, particularly on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. Some of the best spots are:
- Luigi’s – Monday
- The Shady Pig – Tuesday
- Old Man’s – Wed & Sat
- The Lawn – Friday
- La Brisa – most Saturdays
- DEUS – Sunday
- Sand Bar – every night
9. Shopping in Canggu
Canggu has an eclectic mix of shops, from designer labels and concept stores to vintage shops, surf outlets, and vintage treasures. We love the health food stores Bokashi and Samadi Supermarket, contemporary street art at The Medium, and Bamboo Blonde for clothing, also see Love Anchor Bazaar.
10. Gyms in Canggu
Canggu has a booming health and wellness scene. Some of our favorite spots to visit while we’re in town are:
We always organise these experiences with our friend Yande on a fantastic guided tour.
Best Cafes and Restaurants in Canggu
We lived in Canggu (on and off) for two years and still haven’t managed to try all the amazing restaurants. The food scene is hands down the best in Bali! Our favorites:
- L’osteria (Berawa) – The Cacio e Pepe is to die for!
- Ruko (Berawa)
- Woods (Pererenan) – Incredibly good vibes, the Burrata starter is our fav!
- Arte (Pererenan) – Good pizza and live music evenings!
- Bokashi (Pererenan)
- Milk & Madu (Batu Bolong) – Try their Gnocchi!
- Warung Sika (Batu Bolong) – Cheap local food!
- Shady Shack (Batu Bolong) – Our go-to veggie spot!
- Times Beach Warung (Batu Bolong Beach)
- Warung Bu Mi (Batu Bolong)
- Gigi Susu (Batu Bolong) – Great cakes and pastries
- Copenhagen (Lingjong) – Good for breakfast, but the seating is a bit too busy.
Oh, and here is a friendly reminder to wear a top out of respect when you’re not on the beach anymore. 🤗
Tip: We try to avoid Bali Belly by always checking recent Google Maps reviews and choosing restaurants with a rating of 4.2 or higher. This doesn’t always work (Hannah recently had Bali Belly from a takeaway), but it definitely helps!
Where to Stay in Canggu
While we used to find Canggu very peaceful, these days it’s more about bustling bars, great surf, and fantastic shopping than quiet relaxation. That said, it still draws us back every time; the atmosphere here is like no other, and it’s a great place to meet people. We usually stay in these areas:
- Berawa and Batu Bolong – beach clubs, bars, clubbing, good shopping, lots of accommodation options; center of Canggu, so busiest.
- Linjong – slightly less crowded, close to beach clubs like La Brisa.
- Pererenan – little more relaxed and out of the way, still restaurants around, but 10 min by motorbike from Canggu center.
From Canggu, you can still get out into nature and explore the nearby rice fields, but for a quieter experience, choose a destination like Amed or Uluwatu.
How Many Days in Canggu?
Two or three days is the ideal amount of time to tick off the things to do in Canggu. If you want to explore further afield or connect with the digi nomad scene, stay longer.
How to Visit Canggu
Canggu is well located on the island and only a 45-90-minute drive from the international airport, depending on traffic.
Note: You’ll need a visa to visit Bali. Most people can obtain a 30-day VOA (Visa on Arrival) online in advance. It’s best to apply in advance to avoid queues at the airport.
Motorcycle
Rent a motorbike to get around. This is the easiest way, but you need to be comfortable riding one (when driving, use the motorbike route rather than the car route on Google Maps).
Price: We stayed for 4 weeks recently, and paid 2.800.000 IDR (145 EUR). You should expect to pay 65,000 – 100,000 IDR per day.
Tip: You can also use the app Grab or Gojek to hire a ‘motorbike taxi’ to get around. The helmets you get from rentals or Grab/Gojek will never be clean, so wear a cap before you put your helmet on. ;-)
Taxi
If you want to avoid motorbikes, book a Grab or Gojek Taxi. But know that cars take much longer to get from A to B due to traffic and narrow roads.
By Private Car
You can book a private driver through our friend Yande (great for groups or for daily trips from your hotel!).
How Much Does Canggu Cost?
By Bali standards, Canggu and Uluwatu are the most expensive areas. You can save money by sticking to local Indonesian restaurants and choosing accommodation a little farther from the beachside.
Best Time to Visit Canggu
Most of our visits to Bali (and Canggu) are in December and January, which is officially the rainy season in Bali. But the rain brings the most lush green landscapes of the year, and the showers usually last only an hour or two per day.
- April – October: The best time to visit Bali! Almost guaranteed dry weather and great visibility for watersports and sightseeing.
- June – August: the busiest period and the most expensive
Canggu doesn’t have a lot of things to do and see when comparing it to Ubud. In our opinion it is mainly great for the beach, the cafes and to use as a base to explore the rest of Bali.
In Canggu, Batu Bolong, Berawa, Lingjong, and Pererenan are the best areas to stay in Canggu.
It depends on your way of traveling. Canggu has a bit more the laid-back vibe and feels younger. Seminyak, has more upscale beach clubs, shopping, and luxury villas which is better for families.
The restaurants in Canggu are truly exceptional – we’ve lived in that area for 2 years and haven’t even been able to try half them. Here you find our favorite places to in eat in Canggu.
Canggu is a coastal town located in the southwest coast of Bali. It’s located next to Seminyak and about 45-90 minutes from the airport (depending on traffic).
Canggu is about 45-90 minutes from Ngurah Rai International Airport.
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Whoa! The spirit of Canggu, Bali, is aptly captured in this piece. Every suggestion seems like a novel adventure just waiting to be discovered. There’s something for everyone, from enjoying delectable local cuisine to surfing at Echo Beach. I can’t wait to go and cross these amazing things off my bucket list!