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A tropical oasis of white sands lined with coconut palms, coastal cliffs, and some truly breathtaking natural vistas and Hindu temples, Bali is a destination that promises an island paradise for unwinding on some of the world’s best beaches.
From the renowned Kuta to the deserted stretches of shoreline at Nyang Nyang, there are plenty of coastal gems to go around, and each offers its own unique sets of experiences and appeals.
Having extensively explored the island’s coastal havens, I have comprised this list of the ten best beaches in Bali.
When to Go:
Is Bali Safe in 2023 (Safety Concerns)
Where to Stay:
What to Do:
The Best Things to do in Bali (2023 Guide)
The 10 Best Beaches in Bali
1. Kuta Beach
Kick back and relax or learn to surf at Bali’s most famous beach.
Website • Google Map • Where to Stay: The Mahata
Spanning 2.5 km along the island’s southern coast, Kuta Beach is where Bali’s tourism industry began, and it continues to attract millions of international visitors to its idyllic shores each year.
As the most popular and famous beach in Bali, Kuta has undergone a series of development over the past decades and today boasts something for everybody. Besides being one of the best beaches in Bali for surfing, popular beach activities at Kuta include other water sports such as sailing, paragliding, and snorkeling.
But of course, where Kuta excels far above any other beach in Bali is its availability of bars and beach clubs. Visitors can sip a nice cold Bintang beer or sample a refreshing specialty cocktail while floating along a private pool or enjoying some of the island’s sunsets.
Additionally, Kuta Beach is also home to the very best beach parties on the island, with several live music venues featuring international bands and celebrities. The best beach bars in Kuta include Azul Beach Club and the Cocoon Beach Club.
2. Seminyak Beach
Enjoy a cocktail at a laid-back beach club at Bali’s social beach.
Website • Google Map • Where to Stay: The Oberoi Beach Resort
Seminyak is Bali’s fashion and dining epicenter, and the region’s classy reputation spans the entire 5 km of its golden sand beach. Located just north of Kuta Beach, Seminyak Beach is Bali’s second most famous stretch of coastline and offers several beach bars and clubs within its sands.
However, since it offers less road access than Kuta Beach, Seminyak Beach is often much less crowded than its more popular counterpart. For this reason, Seminyak is one of the best beaches in Bali for enjoying a relaxing cocktail while taking in the soothing quiet vibes of the Indian Ocean.
Travelers should visit social hotspots Ku De Ta, the Potato Head Beach Club, and Café del Mar for a truly elevated beach-going experience.
Where Seminyak fails in comparison to other nearby beaches is that its waters are often much rougher than at Kuta. While this means some fantastic swells for surfers, a casual swim isn’t quite as relaxing.
Alternatively, visitors can take to the fashion boutiques and shopping centers lining the beach’s tropical palms. These shops can include modern centers, boutique designers, wholesale emporiums, and even traditional markets.
3. Nusa Dua Beach
Enjoy the sprawling white sands of one of Bali’s most picturesque coastal hot spots.
Website • Google Map • Where to Stay: The St. Regis Bali Resort
Located in the most exclusive neighborhood in Bali, Nusa Dua Beach is where you go if you are looking for comfort and luxury.
Home to massive upmarket shopping complexes, beautifully manicured gardens, and a luxury 18-hole golf course, there is a myriad of things to do in the area, not to mention the simple elegance of a traditional beach day at one of Bali’s most beautiful beaches.
Surrounded by all-inclusive resorts, Nusa Dua promises a fully-catered immersion into Bali’s tranquil island vibes and romance and is one of the best beaches in Bali for honeymoons and couples seeking a romantic getaway.
Nusa Dua Beach is broken up into several different regions, with the most popular being Geger Beach which offers traditional coastal views complete with Geger Temple perched on its spot on the nearby limestone cliffs.
What’s even better is that thanks to the region’s exclusivity, Nusa Dua Beach is usually uncrowded, meaning you can experience your own tropical corner of paradise virtually free of other tourists.
4. Blue Point Beach
Hike to a hidden beach and live your tropical island dreams.
Website • Google Maps • Where to Stay: Impossible Incense Beach
Tucked between the limestone cliff formations of Pecatu, Blue Point Beach is a hidden gem and offers one of the most romanticized isolated tropical beach experiences in Bali.
Also known as Suluban Beach, Blue Point Beach is located near Uluwatu and requires visitors to trek along log ramps and slim slits in the rocks to access.
However, the added challenge of reaching the coast also means that Blue Point Beach is often completely empty of other visitors and is reserved only for those brave enough to make the journey.
Along with sunbathing on its quiet white sands, Blue Point Beach is also a fantastic spot for surfing. Although its rough waters and world-class swells are not suited for a casual swim.
Other nearby attractions include Melasti Beach, Padang Padang, and Balangan Beach. Uluwatu Temple is also located nearby and is a fantastic addition to your beach day, offering a serene tour of one of Bali’s most picturesque temples.
Because of Blue Point Beach’s quiet and relatively deserted setting, the beach has become a popular spot for enjoying a sunset bonfire and even camping along the island’s surreal shores.
5. Lovina Beach
Spot dolphins from the comforts of Bali’s famous volcanic black sand beach.
Website • Google Maps • Where to Stay: Ju’Blu Hotel
Nestled along Bali’s northern shores, Lovina is about as removed from the Kuta and Seminyak tourist centers as you can get on the island. As a result, it is a fantastic option for escaping the region’s tourist crowds to explore Bali’s aquatic environments and marine life.
Unlike the white sand beaches found along the island’s southern shores, Lovina Beach consists of black volcanic sand, providing a unique coastal setting rich with vibrant sea life just waiting to be explored along a snorkeling or diving adventure.
Boasting numerous beachfront resorts and restaurants, Lovina Beach is famous for the abundant bottle-nosed dolphins that frequently frolic in the waters just off the black sand shores.
While these wondrous aquatic mammals can often be spotted from shore, visitors can get up close and personal with the species by booking a dolphin-watching tour.
6. Balangan Beach
Visit Bali’s big wave haven for some world-class surfing.
Website • Google Maps • Where to Stay: White Palm Hotel Bali
Spanning only half a kilometer along the western shores of the Bukit Peninsula, Balangan Beach is smaller than many of Bali’s other coastal getaways. Nevertheless, this hidden away oasis offers some of the most pristine white sands, scenic sunset vistas, and massive swells, making it one of the best beaches in Bali for surfing.
Located in an area renowned for its surf, Balangan Beach has become popular with big wave riders and boasts numerous breaks for the experienced surfer. Additionally, Balangan Beach is only about a 45-minute drive from Kuta, with several buses connecting the two hotspots.
While Balangan Beach has become famous for its surf, the coastal gem is also a fantastic spot for admiring some of the best tropical beach sunsets. The beach even features a beachfront restaurant from which to admire the evening sky.
Only about 15 kilometers from the famous Uluwatu Temple, this eBiking tour is a fantastic way to explore both the exotic shores of Balangan Beach and the celebrated water temple.
7. Sanur Beach
Enjoy water sports at Bali’s most family-friendly beach.
Website • Google Maps • Where to stay: Aquarius Beach Hotel
Located on Bali’s eastern shores, Sanur Beach offers visitors a quiet coastal destination near the resorts, shopping centers, and restaurants of the island’s tourism hub, providing one of the best beaches in Bali for families seeking a soothing coastal retreat.
Surrounded by a string of offshore reefs, Sanur Beach offers a series of calm shallow, warm water lagoons, perfect for family-friendly swimming, snorkeling through vibrant sea life, or even engaging in a wide array of beach sports.
And while the protected lagoons offer safe swimming conditions for the family, some of the island’s top waves can be found just on the other sides of the reef wall, making Sanur Beach popular amongst both families and surfers.
Another aspect that makes Sanur Beach one of the best beaches in Bali is that this coastal retreat is home to one of the island’s two eastern docks. So along with offering picturesque white sands for sunbathing, the beach also provides visitors access to nearby dive sights and islands such as Nusa Penida, Nusa Ceningan, and the Gili Islands.
Check out this eBike Tour of Sanur Beach for a full exploration of the region and its numerous historic hotels, cultural temples, and hidden beach spots.
8. Nyang Nyang Beach
Live your island castaway fantasies at Bali’s exclusive hidden beach.
Website • Google Maps • Where to stay: Bubble Hotel Nyang Nyang
Located on the southern shores of the Bukit Peninsula and surrounded by breathtaking coastal cliffs, Nyang Nyang Beach is one of the most remote and isolated beaches in Bali and provides an idyllic tropical retreat virtually all to yourself.
Contributing to the region’s pristine beauty is the fact that the beach is not the most accessible piece of Bali’s coast, and either requires visitors to stay or eat at the restaurant of the Nyang Nyang Hotel or trek down an unkempt side road full of potholes, rocks, and overgrowth.
Still, those willing to make the venture are rewarded with one of the most exclusive, clean, and beautiful beaches in Bali, complete with soft white sands, breathtaking coastal cliff vistas, and crystal clear water, perfect for snorkeling, surfing, and other water activities.
For an even more enhanced sense of the tropical castaway experience, be sure to plan your visit to Nyang Nyang in the early morning so that you can have the beach to yourself for a couple of hours before the tourist crowds begin to come in.
9. Blue Lagoon Beach
Explore vibrant sea life in the coral reefs in a protected lagoon.
Website • Google Maps • Where to stay: Padangbai Beach Inn
Occupying a 1.5 km stretch of coastline along Bali’s eastern shores, Blue Lagoon Beach is a lesser-known white sand oasis that promises some of the best snorkeling and diving experiences on the island.
Surrounded by foliage-covered rocky hills, the lagoon offers an isolated tropical setting for living your castaway fantasies while embracing the quiet ambiance for a soothing retreat to its crystal-clear waters.
Located just off the beach’s idyllic white-sanded shores is a collection of vibrant coral reefs perfect for exploring the region’s exotic aquatic life in the confines of the protected lagoon. Popular species that call this enclave home include blue ribbon eels, reef sharks, octopuses, and cuttlefish.
Whether looking for a spot to get up close with Bali’s underwater environments or simply seeking a quiet tropical retreat away from Bali’s more popular beaches, Blue Lagoon Beach offers a surreal isolated setting for embracing the natural ambiance of the island’s natural coastal charms.
Check out this snorkeling tour to fully explore Blue Lagoon Beach’s most vibrant aquatic habitats.
10. Amed Beach
Dive and snorkel through vibrant ecosystems and the wreckage of a WWII Japanese patrol ship.
Website • Google Maps • Where to stay: Amed Beach Resort
Like the Blue Lagoon, Amed Beach is a lesser-known coastal destination along Bali’s eastern shores and is known for its exotic sea life, making it another of the best beaches in Bali for snorkeling and diving.
Located only 25 km south of the more popular diving center of Tulamben, Amed Beach promises a lesser trafficked haven for aquatic explorations, with diving sites including a WWII Japanese patrol shipwreck about 15 meters from the shore and the much more famous US Liberty shipwreck in Tulamben.
Along with providing access to two shipwrecks, Amed Beach is surrounded by some of the region’s most extensive coral reefs, ripe for exploration. The notable inhabitants of these aquatic ecosystems include various tropical fish, reef tip sharks, sea turtles, rays, and several coral gardens.
This Amed Beach snorkeling tour is the best way to explore everything these coastal waters offer. It includes a guided exploration of several nearby coral reefs and the WWII Japanese shipwreck.
FAQs About Beaches in Bali
What is the prettiest beach in Bali?
Breathtaking beaches can be found across the island. However, Bali’s prettiest beaches tend to be those coastal gems untouched by the region’s tourism industry and include such hidden-away oases as Nusa Dua Beach, Nyang Nyang Beach, and Blue Point Beach.
What are the best beaches in Bali for surfing?
Kuta and Seminyak are the best beaches for inexperienced surfers, with both featuring soft sands and surf schools perfect for beginners. However, surfers seeking more of a challenge will find the best surfing at Balangan Beach or Nyang Nyang Beach.
What part of Bali has the best beaches?
While Bali is lined with dozens of fantastic tropical beaches, the most picturesque and comfortable of these coastal getaways are all found in the Bukit Peninsula, which boasts the white sand gems of Nyang Nyang, Blue Point Beach, and Balangan Beach.
Where are the best family beaches in Bali?
Offering diverse experiences, some of the best beaches in Bali for families include Sanur Beach, Jimbaran Beach, and Lovina Beach. All of these coastal getaways offer exciting water sports, tropical settings, and safe swimming conditions the whole family can enjoy.
Which Bali beach is best for snorkeling?
The waters surrounding Bali teem with aquatic life, which can be explored from just about any beach lining the island shores. Still, Amed Beach and Blue Lagoon are some of the best beaches for snorkeling and offer access to vibrant coral reefs near the water’s surface.
Which beach has the clearest water in Bali?
The clarity of the waters at Bali’s beaches varies throughout the year, depending on the weather. Still, Balangan Beach, Jimbaran Beach, and Nusa Dua tend to boast some of the clearest waters on the island year-round.
Are there any white sand beaches in Bali?
There are many white sand beaches lining Bali’s idyllic tropical coastline. The most famous of these sprawling expanses of romanticized white sand hot spots include Nusa Dua Beach, Jimbaran Beach, and Nyang Nyang Beach.
