13 Best beaches in Uluwatu, Bali

There are so many lovely beaches in Uluwatu but I’ve narrowed it down to the 13 best beaches in Uluwatu! These are not to be missed while you are here! At the end I’ve also included the best places to eat in Uluwatu after a long day at the beach.

1. Green Bowl Beach

This is my ABSOLUTE favourite beach in Uluwatu! Hence why it is number 1 on the best beaches in Uluwatu list, if you go to no other beaches in Uluwatu, you have to go to this one! This beach is located on the southernmost tip of Bali. To get here you drive down one long road from the main road – Uluwatu Street. It is a nice easy beach to get to until you arrive at the top of the steps that lead down to the beach. Be prepared with enough drinks and water here, as the stairs down are only half as bad as the climb back up. There is a long winding staircase here with some uneven steps so be careful as you make your way down.

As you reach the bottom of the steps, at high tide the water will come right up to the steps and there will be no beach. At low tide, the water will be out so far that you won’t be able to swim. However, if you come right between the tides, it will be perfect! This little oval shaped beach has perfect white sand and beautiful colour sea. It is a great place to swim or just sit in the water as long as the waves aren’t too big. The only downside of Green Bowl beach is the ladies selling Bintang and sarongs. You may get hassled a few times while you are trying to relax, so you will just have to get in the sea to escape!

Is it good for surfing?

I don’t surf myself but whenever I have been here there are always lots of surfers arriving about an hour after high tide. The waves are quite big and it seems to be a popular spot.

Top Tips

• Don’t come at high tide as there will be no beach
• Do take plenty to drink for the walk up and down
• Take some money in case you would like a fresh coconut on the beach

How much does it cost?

It is free! The parking is right at the top of the steps and there a few shops here too with drinks and food. There are also ladies by the car park selling bracelets.

Read more: The Ultimate Guide on Where to eat in Bali!

2. Dreamland Beach

This is my second favourite beach in Uluwatu and definitely deserves to be number 2 of the best beaches in Uluwatu! It is also one of the easiest beaches to get to, as it involves no steps down! Also from Uluwatu Street, if you pass a massive golf ball statue, turn down this road and it is one straight long road right down to the beach. It was our local beach this time in Uluwatu and I couldn’t be happier! It can be hard to decide where to go in Bali but these beaches are the perfect start!

As you walk down to the beach there are a few shops with clothes and drinks. Then you arrive at the main beach where there are lots of sun loungers. However, if you would like a more secluded area, just walk a bit further along. Here you will find no sun loungers and plenty of space. During the day the beach is quite empty here, and in the evening the Indonesians also like this spot to sit in the sea and relax.

Is it good for surfing?

I saw a LOT of surfers here so it is clearly a popular spot!

Top Tips

• Don’t swim out too far when the waves are big, the current is really strong here
• Don’t leave your belongings too close to the sea as the tide comes in, the waves will take them!
• Rent a surfboard or a body board here!

How much does it cost?

The parking here costs 5,000 IDR/ £0.27/ $0.36. There is actually quite a bit of shade here too so you won’t burn your bum when you come back after a day at the beach.

Read more: Best waterfalls in Bali!

3. Padang Padang Beach

This is my favourite beach for sunrise! We got here just before the sunrise and it was beautiful to see it pop over the cliffs and all the amazing light rays onto the beach. To get to this beach you have to actually walk through the rock. It is a very small beach, so can get crowded during the day but at sunrise it was perfect.

How much does it cost?

During the day, there will be a small ticket office to pay before you enter. The admission is 10k and it ‘opens’ at 7am. Then for an umbrella, we paid 100k between us for an umbrella and no sunbed. There are also people selling drinks here with massive buckets of ice to keep them cool!

Is it a good surf spot?

I saw a few surfers here, but not as many as in other beaches.

Top Tips

– Check the tide before you come, and if you drive a bit past the beach, from the bridge here you can see whether the tide is right for a beach chill!

4. Nyang Nyang Beach

This is one of the longest stretches of beach in Uluwatu. I was also surprised that it wasn’t busy at all when we went! This may be due to the very long path down to the beach. You will inevitably be doing this walk in the boiling sun and wonder why I have recommended this beach. It is so nice to go to a beach where you don’t get hassled at all to buy a sun lounger or a sarong.

It is also such a nice beach walk! We walked down the entire length of this beach and it was lovely. Another reason people come here is the ship wrecks. Unfortunately, these were on a separate section of Padang Padang beach so make sure you to the the part on the left as you arrive here. However, if you’re not bothered about ship wrecks then head to the part down the long path for a peaceful undisturbed beach day!

How much does it cost?

We didn’t pay to park here. There is a small restaurant by the parking, you may need a cold drink once you’ve climbed back up here!

5. Thomas Beach

This is another longer stretch of beach. Again, there is a section with sun loungers, umbrellas and small huts with food and drinks. Once you walk past all of these and decline politely while you can all the sunbeds, then you can chill hassle free. Make sure to come before low tide, as it is really rocky here where the beach ends. As usual it is a sweaty walk down to the beach here and a strenuous walk back up to the car park! Also the road to the car park from the main road is super bumpy so be careful on a scooter!

Top Tips

– The rocks are SUPER slippery here when the tide goes out so be careful!

How much does it cost?

The sun loungers are advertised as 100k for two, but if you buy drinks and food then you don’t have to pay the extra for the loungers. I think we maybe paid 50k extra as we didn’t get any food. However, it is free to park.

6. Suluban Beach/ Uluwatu Beach

This is a tiny beach and one of the best beaches in Uluwatu for surfing. To get here, you walk down and even right through the rocks. It is also a popular sunrise spot due to the light rays coming through. However, keep an eye on any tourist buses. We came once just as a load of tourists were dropped off and it was chaos on this tiny beach! There is also a very popular beach club at the top of this cliff called Single Fin.

How much does it cost?

It is free to park here if you take the route just before the bridge. If you drive down past the restaurants, its a much easier walk but you will have to pay a small fee, usually under 50 cents.

7. Nusa Dua Beach

This is the beach on the East of the island. It is a very long stretch of beach so it really depends at which section of it you end up! The part we went to was family calm and there was nice white sand so the water colour was amazing!

How much does it cost?

You may be asked to pay a small fee to park here.

8. Pantai Tegal Wangi

This is another very popular sunset spot and one of the most popular beaches in Uluwatu! When I say popular, it was super busy when I went. The parking area was jam packed but I don’t think we had to pay! It is also a very popular sunset spot for locals. When the tide goes out lots of small rock pools are revealed and some people like to sit in them and watch the sunset! There is also a small cave here that is popular for photos but I haven’t actually made it there yet!

How much does it cost?

It is free!

9. Bingin Beach

I loved this beach! It is another small beach but a popular surf spot. There is a small alleyway you walk down here until you reach the steps down to the beach. As you walk down you will pass lots of small guesthouses as it is a popular place to stay by the beach. There is also a very cool mural down here on the wall! There are also a few surf schools here, so if you would like to learn, this may be a good spot.

How much does it cost?

We parked just up the road in a back garden it seemed like. There is no designated parking so I think people have just set up their own! It was a few thousand rupiah to park here.

10. Balangan Beach

There is a viewpoint here just above the beach that is very popular for photos. Once you walk down to the beach, there are lots of sun loungers and it’s a popular place to swim and surf.

How much does it cost?

You may have to pay a small fee for the parking here.

11. Karma Beach

This beach is part of Karma Kandara and is located nearby to Green Bowl beach in the South of Uluwatu. It is a beach club which was recently renovated. There are a number of sun loungers here and you can have drinks and food. There is also Di mare restaurant for food here, which has a very ‘Mykonos’ vibe! It is a lovely place to spend the day even if you aren’t staying at the resort. It is also a great place to watch the sunset! Another great part about this beach is that there is no walking necessary! There is a small elevator that takes you up and down to the beach. It is one of the best beaches in Uluwatu to watch the sunset for sure.

Head here to see prices and availability for Karma Kandara Resort

How much does it cost?

At the time of writing in December 2019, the cost was 650,000 IDR/ $46/ £35

12. Melasti Beach

This is one of the beaches it is actually easy to get down to! There is a road that has been carved out of the rock so you can drive right down to the beach without a sweaty walk! This is another lovely white sand beach.

How much does it cost?

It is free to get onto Melasti beach, then you pay for a sunlounger separately. 

13. Pantai Gunung Payung

This is a lovely white sand beach in the East of Uluwatu. There is a serious walk down so be prepared, especially if you take a wrong turn which I think we did! There is one path through a hole in the rock and one to the left of this. If you take the one to the left then it is a very long walk down.

How much does it cost?

This was the only place they charged us for two people rather than one bike so we paid 16k between us.

Top Tip for a private beach!

If you walk the way we did, down the path to the left then you can find yourself on your own beach! I wouldn’t recommend going at high tide, as the bit of sand we walked along was actually gone by the time we walked back. We walked through against the waves and managed but it wasn’t ideal! However, all you are joined by is a few fisherman boats, no fishermen and perfect white sand.

How to get around Uluwatu?

The best way to get around is by renting a scooter. Depending on where you stay, there will most likely be scooters for rent. If not then just ask, as there are always scooters around to rent!

Cost: We paid 800k for a whole month this time / 57 USD / 43 GBP

Prices we have seen are around 100k for a day so it is definitely worth getting it for a whole month

Cost of fuel: 10k for an ABSOLUT vodka bottle full of fuel – this is how they come, just at the side of the road and you say how many bottles you’d like. We are driving for around 30 minutes/ 1 hour a day and need to buy fuel around every 3 days.

Best breakfast in Uluwatu?

The best place for breakfast in Uluwatu I would say is Rolling Fork! They have great poached eggs on toast and pancakes. Otherwise head to Suka Espresso, the pancakes come with caramelised banana and are the BEST pancakes in Uluwatu for sure.

Best Lunch in Uluwatu?

The Loft has some great vegetarian and vegan options, as well as all day breakfast options.

Where to eat dinner in Uluwatu?

My absolute favourite place is Casa Asia. I absolutely love Italian food and the pasta is better than what I ate in Italy. The pizza is better in Naples but its also divine here!

Read more: Where to eat in Uluwatu – The Ultimate Guide

What else to do while you’re in Bali?

Head to Canggu to cafe hop!

Canggu is a digital nomad heaven. There are lots of beaches and beach bars. There are more cafes than you can imagine and some seriously cool villas and hotels! I would recommend Lemon Guesthouse, we have stayed there twice now and it’s a great base to have.

Explore Ubud

Head to my Guide on Ubud to see all the amazing waterfalls that there are to see in Ubud. Make sure not to miss the rice terraces and Ubud is also a great place to try a cooking class. I would recommend staying at The Udaya in Ubud for a treat. While you’re there, why not get their beautiful flower bath and a massage?

Venture up North!

Munduk is a must see in Bali. This town in the North of Bali is surrounded by some of the most incredible waterfalls in Bali. Spend at least two nights here to wander around all the waterfalls. I would recommend staying at Munduk Moding Plantation Hotel for the most luxurious stay. There are also some beaches in the North, including one black sand beach but the best beaches are in Uluwatu.

I hope you enjoyed this post on the best beaches in Uluwatu! There are so many beaches to choose from, so work your way down from the top of this list. The top three really are my favourites here so don’t miss Green Bowl Beach, Dreamland Beach and Padang Padang beach. If you surf, then even better as you will love the beaches here! If you don’t know, head to Bingin beach to one of the surf schools here and take some lessons. 

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