Uluwatu is a surf haven and trendy beach town located in southern Bali on the Bukit Peninsula. Gorgeous cliffside beaches with white sand and blue water frame Uluwatu, and the streets are lined with surf shops and healthy cafés. If I were to live anywhere in Bali, it would be here. The slow-paced lifestyle and relaxing atmosphere of Uluwatu make it an essential addition to any complete Bali itinerary. Here is my Ultimate Travel Guide to Uluwatu, Bali!
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Best Things to Do
go beach-hopping
Of course, one of the best things to do in Uluwatu is check out the beaches. There’s no shortage to choose from, but here are a few of my favorites:
DREAMLAND
This scenic beach features bright white sand, crystal blue water, and caves. When you first arrive to Dreamland, you’ll see a ton of bars, restaurants, and chairs + umbrellas available for rent. It gets pretty busy in this area, so I highly recommend venturing to the right to explore more of the scenic and less crowded areas of the beach (pictured above). Dreamland is quite a bit larger than some of the other popular beaches in Uluwatu so there’s plenty to explore!
BINGIN
Bingin has a pretty small stretch of shoreline with multitude of beach bars carved into the side of the cliffs. There’s umbrellas available for rent if you want a break from the sun. I highly recommend making a stop at Kelly’s Warung for some smoothies and snacks! It’s got a great view out over the water so you can watch the waves (and the surfers). Bingin isn’t the easiest beach to get to – you’ll have to park in a lot and hike down a bunch of narrow alleyways to reach the beach. It’s a fairly short walk though, and you’ll be rewarded with a less crowded beach.
PADANG PADANG
This beach was made famous by the movie “Eat Pray Love” and while it’s fairly small, it has a lot of character. The sand is lined with stands selling coconuts, Bintang, and snacks. There’s no beach chairs for rent here – but I think that adds to the charm. We laid down a towel and relaxed while we watched the surfers ride the waves and sun set on the horizon.
NYANG NYANG
Nyang Nyang is the longest beach in Uluwatu, stretching about 1.5km long. Since the beach is so long, you’ll get a variety of terrain here. Some areas of the beach feature smooth white sand and others are a bit rockier. One of the best parts about Nyang Nyang is how secluded it is. There’s no billboard signs to get there and its a bit of a walk to reach the beach, but its well worth it to get a large stretch of sand all to yourself. There’s also a shipwreck down the beach for exploring!
Read Next: 9 BEST BEACHES IN BALI: MY MUST-VISIT LIST!
Catch some Waves
Uluwatu is famous for surfing. In fact, world class surfers travel here just to take their shot at some of the most notorious waves on the island! Bingin and Padang Padang are both famous for their surf breaks (the left break at Padang Padang is nicknamed “The Balinese Pipeline”). These waves are best for intermediate – advanced surfers, but you can still find beginner surf spots elsewhere on the island!
New to surfing? There’s quite a few ways to learn here! Bali actually has surf camps or surf schools that you can sign up for. Padang Padang Surf Camp is a popular dedicated surf resort. You can sign up for surf camp, where you spend a week in their accommodation and take surf lessons every day! If this is too much of a commitment for you, you can also sign up for individual lessons as well.
Check Out the Beach Clubs
If you’re looking to relax on a daybed with a cocktail in your hand, Uluwatu has you covered. There are plenty of beach clubs to choose from, but here are my favorites:
Palmilla
Palmilla is a gorgeous beach club on Melasti Beach offering stunning views of the water with a limestone cliff backdrop. This was my favorite beach club in Bali! The drinks, food, and atmosphere were amazing. Take a dip in their infinity pool, or head down to the beach for a swim in the ocean! You cannot make reservations here and everything is first come, first served so arrive early if you want a front row spot! The entrance fee is 100k IDR per person, and daybed rentals require a minimum spend based on daybed type and location.
Oneeighty Dayclub
This luxurious cliffside day club offers unbeatable views over the Indian Ocean. It’s located at The Edge, a five star resort on the very southern edge of Bali. The infinity pool is the star of the show here – it literally hangs over the side of the cliff. Reservations are required, and there are a variety of package types offered. I definitely recommend booking a VIP spot, as you’ll get a front row daybed and a few other perks as well! Our VIP pass was 550k IDR per person with a 400k food and beverage credit.
Sundays Beach Club
Sundays is a relaxing beach club located at the Ungasan Clifftop Resort. This beach is one of the calmest in Uluwatu, so its a great pick if you’re looking to go for a relaxing swim. The beach loungers are first come, first served, but you can book a VIP deck 30 days in advance if you are interested!
watch the kecak fire dance
If you’re looking to get a taste of Balinese culture, I highly recommend visiting the Uluwatu Temple and getting tickets to the sunset fire dance. The acapella performance features a group of about 75 men singing vocals and acting out Asia’s most famous epic about Ramayana. There are two showings – one at 6pm and one at 7pm. We went to the 6pm show and watching the sun set behind the performers was magical! Tickets were 150k IDR per person.
TRY all the healthy restaurants
Uluwatu’s foodie scene is quite impressive – healthy cafés and organic restaurants line the streets with their beautiful decor and inviting concepts. There’s a ton of places to get a bite to eat, but here’s my recommendations:
Suka Espresso
My favorite café in Uluwatu. The food is delicious, the coffee menu is extensive, and the open-air layout is gorgeous. This is one of the most popular cafés in Uluwatu so it gets pretty busy, but I think its worth the wait!
ORDER | The Chili Benedict
Cashew Tree
A healthy food spot serving up fresh bowls, breakfast, and smoothies. We went for dinner and it was one of our favorite meals we had in Uluwatu! All the ingredients were so fresh and the flavor was incredible. The open-air restaurant was built around actual trees that still stand in the restaurant today.
ORDER | The teriyaki bowl
Mason
A more luxurious restaurant with a gorgeous aesthetic and great food. They serve up fresh food with incredible flavors from their wood fired grill. We thoroughly enjoyed our food here, and the service was fantastic!
ORDER | The 48hr slow cooked short rib (seriously please order it)
Bull's Coffee
This cute little café was a short motorbike ride from our resort, so we popped in one day. It ended up being the best coffee we had during our time in Uluwatu and the outdoor seating area is adorable! The food menu is fairly small, but their bagels are incredible. Highly, highly recommend making a stop here!
Gooseberry
Yes – it’s the same company as the lingerie and swim label! This gorgeous restaurant features a pool, delicious food, and of course – a store. It’s a bit pricier than others on this list, but it’s perfect if you’re looking for a more romantic and luxurious dinner spot!
Ours
A trendy and aesthetic spot offering a wide range of food – burgers, pasta, fresh plates, steak – you name it! This meal was so tasty and we almost visited a second time before deciding we show try something different instead. They offer weekly specials too so check those out before you go!
Where to Stay
Uluwatu is a pretty small region, so you really can’t go wrong anywhere you stay! We stayed at Onaya Resort, located in the center of the southwest side of the Bukit Peninsula. We were a max 15 minute scooter ride from every single thing we did!
Onaya Resort
This gorgeous resort features nature all around, and even named the villas based on the elements. Each villa is thoughtfully designed with traditional Balinese architecture in mind, and feature a beautiful canopy bed, outdoor shower, and air conditioning.
The resort features a stunning pool complete with loungers on the deck and floating chaises in the water. It’s the perfect way to spend an afternoon relaxing after enjoying the bustle of Uluwatu town.
The on-site restaurant offers complimentary breakfast each morning. You can choose from a traditional breakfast with eggs and meat, a smoothie bowl, or pancakes. You also get an entire plate of fresh fruit which was delicious! The restaurant also offers lunch and dinner, although we didn’t have the chance to try it during our time here.
We were quite impressed with the service we received here! the concierge was so helpful and kind. Upon checkin, we were connected on WhatsApp so we could send any requests directly to the concierge. This was so convenient for us! Onaya also offers a free chauffeur service for getting around the area, which is wonderful for those who don’t feel comfortable on a motorbike.