Uluwatu is a relaxed, trendy, and off-the-beaten-path destination in Bali. The hilly peninsula on the southern tip of the island offers world-class surf breaks, azure blue waters, white sand, and limestone cliffs like Nusa Penida. Because of this, it’s easily said that Uluwatu owns the most beautiful beaches in Bali. Find out about all the things to do in Uluwatu in this complete guide.
Uluwatu, Bali
Uluwatu Temple
One of Bali’s most scenic temples, built atop a 70-meter-high cliff, is Uluwatu Temple. Tucked between the lush greenery and with incredible views, it’s easily one of our favorite temples we’ve visited on the island.
Not as famous as Tanah Lot at Canggu, however, during sunset time the Kecak Dance performance attracts a lot of visitors (see number 9). Good to know: No drones allowed. The entrance fee to the Uluwatu Temple is 50.000 IDR (3 USD).
Kecak Fire Dance
The Kecak Fire Dance is an iconic dance performance in Bali. A group of 65+ human vocals acts as instruments that strengthen a story told in the form of dance. All of this happens during sunset time on a clifftop amphitheater inside the Uluwatu Temple complex.
The show was so impressive, and we think your 3-week Bali Route isn’t complete without this experience. It runs at 5:45 PM and 7 PM every day and costs 150.000 IDR (10 USD) per person.
Tip: Make sure to buy a ticket around 5 PM since it usually sells out.
Beautiful Beaches
Uluwatu has some pretty epic beaches, but remember they’re all at the bottom of the cliffs, so it will always be a bit of a walk down and back up (!).
Nyang-Nyang Beach
Nyang-Nyang Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches in Bali: a 1.5-kilometer pristine white sand beach along the limestone cliffs. Because it’s a bit more difficult to reach, Nyang-Nyang has almost no visitors.
Also read: Most Beautiful Beach on Nusa Penida, Bali
Padang-Padang Beach
This small sandy bay gained its popularity because of its feature in the movie ‘Eat, Pray, Love’. Now, you’ll find a lot of umbrellas dotted over the sand for sunbathing and relaxing.
It is an easy walk down where you will come across a lot of monkeys (don’t worry, they are not interested in you). The entrance to visit Padang-Padang beach is 10.000 IDR (0.75 USD).
Suluban Beach
Suluban Beach is on everyone’s list of things to do in Uluwatu. The actual beach has a shipwreck on it and is only accessible via a small entrance way between the rocks. The surfing point, named Blue Point, is incredibly popular with surfers and can be entered via a cove.
Balangan Beach
We love this beach; it’s always super nice to chill here, and it’s never too busy. The only problem is that it’s too rough to swim, so if you’re looking for somewhere to cool down, it’s not the best. Although it’s popular with surfers!
At sunset, we head to the incredible viewpoint at the northern tip of Balangan Beach, which offers panoramic views over the 200-meter-wide beach.
Enjoy a Private Beach at Thomas Beach
Thomas Beach is a beautiful white-sand beach tucked away and, therefore, quite unknown. It has a handful of small beach bars that sell coconuts and rent surf or paddleboards. When entering the beach via the stairs from the top, the beach really looks like a gem, shimmering down below. In Uluwatu, this was our personal favorite beach to relax on.
Must read: 3-week Indonesia route
Dreamland Beach
Dreamland beach is popular with beginner surfers and sunbathers. There are a lot of shops and small beach clubs located near the beach to grab a drink or eat. We personally found this our least favorite beach in the area, just because it’s a little busy. However, it’s a great spot to catch some calmer waves and mingle with others.
Our Favorite Sunset Spots
Single Fin: Single Fin is the most popular cliffside bar in Uluwatu. It’s located on the walk down towards Suluban Beach and great for a drink, snack, relaxing vibes, and a beautiful sunset.
Balangan Viewpoint: Beautiful panoramic sea views – at the northern tip of Balangan Beach. Note: At sunset, there may be a lot of wedding photographers.
Malini Restaurant: A restaurant next to Uluwatu Temple, right on the cliffs! We made a reservation a few days in advance, and got given seats that weren’t for the faint hearted (literally sat right on the edge). The fence is decorated nicely with rocks and old corals, and it was a nice atmosphere at sunset. The food (indonesian) is ok, and it feels like a bit of a tourist attraction, but definitely worth it if you get a table on the edge.
Jaran Hill: Very nice spot for sunset, surfer spotting, and great view. It’s not too crowded with tourists, and the cliffs are incredibly beautiful. When we visited, it was still ‘free’ and no parking fees (we parked near the lighthouse).
Karang Boma Cliff (Uluwatu Cliff): Unfortunately, the area is now privately owned and you cannot get the same views anymore. It’s lost its soul a bit, and turned into an ‘okay’ sunset spot with an entrance fee (10,000 IDR) including a fake replica of the original Uluwatu Temple Kecak Dance.
Best Beachclubs
Uluwatu beachclubs are ideal for a day of relaxing or just a sunset drink. Some of them feel more ‘luxury’ than others, and there might be a payment / minimum spend, so check in advance.
Single Fin: The most low key (not on the beach but a view from the cliffs). It’s the most popular in Uluwatu, probably because it also has a pool. Sundays are usually the busiest when they organize parties with live DJ sets.
Ulu cliffhouse: Beach club close to Thomas Beach on the cliff side overlooking the ocean. It has super comfy beds to relax on and a big pool. They also have the Ocean Deck, accessible via a wooden staircase down to the ocean that weaves along the cliff side.
Sundays Beachclub: A real beachclub on the beach with beds and bean bags and an elevator that takes you down. We booked in advance and paid 800,000 IDR (300k entrance and 500k credit F&B). There’s no pool but you have the lovely sea!
Oneeighty: Great for a few hours OR a whole day. Not a luxury feeling; just natural tones and amazing views. There’s a pool but the end of that pool is a photo zone (which is understandable but a bit akward). 700,000 IDR min spend (Entrance fee 100k, credit 600k)
El Kabron: Nearby Dreamland beach, pool, live music, but very pricey drinks. It has a more luxury feel, so it wasn’t our favorite for that reason.
Paragliding
See the spectacular coastline of Uluwatu from high up in the sky during sunset time. Daily flights take off from the cliff at Nyang-Nyang Beach. You’ll touch down at the beach after, where you can grab a drink. Just a reminder: wearing flip-flops is not allowed :-)
Visit GWK Cultural Park
GWK Cultural Park is a huge park used for music events, exhibitions, and conferences. In September 2018, a 121-meter tall bronze statue of Lord Vishnu was revealed inside the park. Due to political issues, it took 30 years to finish the statue!
Surf in Uluwatu
Uluwatu is surfing. Surfers from all over the world come to surf on world-class surf breaks. These are all breaks for experienced surfers, but you can find easier waves at Dreamland or Padang Padang Beach.
Best Restaurants in Uluwatu
Uluwatu is very trendy, with loads of beach clubs and delicious restaurants. We have many favorites in this corner of the island but some of them are:
- Suka Espresso (best food & coffee!)
- Bukit Cafe (tasty healthy meals)
- La Baracca (Italian)
- Drifter Cafe (breakfast & coffee)
- Mango Tree (Mexican)
- Land’s End Cafe (best vegan)
Where to Stay in Uluwatu
It is best to find accommodation in the Pecatu area. From there, all major things to do in Uluwatu are within a 20-minute motorbike ride. Another popular and even quieter area is all the way down south in Ungasan, which hosts Omnia Dayclub, Sundays Beach Club, and The Edge. The surf vibe is more in the area of Uluwatu Temple and Single Fins.
Also read: Best Places to stay in Bali
How to Visit Uluwatu
Uluwatu is located about 45 minutes from the airport and 1.5 hours from the popular areas of Kuta, Seminyak & Canggu.
The best way to get to Ubud is by traveling in a taxi or Grab. Contact our Balinese friend Yande below for easy transport!
Getting Around
The best way to get around Uluwatu is by motorbike. You can rent a motorbike for 60.000 IDR (3,50 USD) per day and explore the entire area. Uluwatu is quiet compared to other areas in Bali, so it shouldn’t be too hard to drive around. We’ve always thought it to be quite peaceful here!
Other options are Grab, Gojek, Taxi, or hiring a driver in Bali. A driver can get you to a lot of highlights in just one day. Our friend Yande is the best for this! :-)
Best Time to Visit Uluwatu
The best time to visit Uluwatu is between April and October. Expect a little more rain in the month’s March and November. Read here about the best time to visit Bali, Indonesia.
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Hello, your travel blogs are great. They have become our number 1 place to start from whenever we plan a trip!
Next up is Indonesia where we plan to stay approx 7 weeks. I was wondering whether we should do both Canggu and Uluwatu or just pick one? Uluwatu looks more interesting then Canggu. How about Seminyak? We are not much of beach goers but still like to feel the vibe and our 20 year old daughter wants to learn how to surf…
Thank you!
Tanja
Hi Tanja, thank you for your comment, that’s incredible to hear! We think Canggu and Uluwatu each have their charm and make great places to go surfing. The biggest difference is that Uluwatu sees waves that are typically more for intermediate/experienced surfers. Perhaps, for that reason, the lively Canggu or Seminyak might be a better option. Seminyak has prettier beaches and is a more sophisticated resort-style location, whereas Canggu has an incredible hipster feel with tons of cafes and trendy beach clubs. I hope that helps a bit! Wishing you a really great trip.