Home > Inspiration > Best Beaches in Bali

When you think of Bali, you might transport yourself to a paradise beach, coconut trees and colourful fish under crystalline water. Bali is an island surrounded by water, which means that there is a beach in every corner! That is why we want to help you visit the best beaches in Bali so you can have a smooth holiday under the Balinese sun!

Bali is not a small island at 145km long, and doesn’t have the best infrastructure, which means it takes a few hours to go from the north to the south, so we recommend you organize your trip in advance depending on how much time you have. If you are visiting for just a few days you won’t be able to see the whole of Bali, so it’s better to focus on a smaller area and have a relaxed holiday than trying to see everything running around, as the mobility is not as easy as it is in Europe.

To get to Bali there’s a good choice of flights, connecting in Singapore, Dubai, or Doha, which takes around 17-18 hours. Alternatively we can build a stay in Bali into a long haul holiday exploring more of Indonesia. The best time of year to visit Bali is between April and September, which is the island’s dry season. May is usually the hottest month, when temperatures average around 28 degrees, then June to September it is usually around 27 degrees (average weather).

Every region of the island is totally different, and you can find beaches for all tastes, here is a summary so you don’t miss anything on your holiday.

Sunset at Jimbaran Beach, Bali
Sunset at Jimbaran Beach, Bali
Romantic Dinner at Jimbaran Beach

Jimbaran is a beautiful beach located just a few kilometres from the airport, which makes it very accessible. The water is calm, so it is a good option if you are traveling with kids, however, the best time to go to Jimbaran is during the sunset as it is when the beach comes alive. All the beach restaurants start bringing out the tables, right on the sand, lighting candles, and warming up the grill, because that is the dinner speciality at Jimbaran beach, grilled fish right by the ocean. At the entrance of the restaurants, you can see all the fish caught that day and you can just point your favourite one and they will grill it on the BBQ for you. Beach dinner under the stars of Bali, not a bad plan!

Lipah Beach in Amed, the Little Mermaid Dream

In the north of Bali, you can find Amed, which is well known for having the most beautiful reefs in the island, a hidden treasure for snorkelling and diving lovers. The area is quiet, with a few villages around and not much going on, and that is what makes it a magical place, perfect for disconnection and slowing down. The beaches of the area are mostly black sand as they are close to Mount Agung, an active volcano located several kilometres away. Our favourite beach in the area is Pasir Lipah, maybe from outside of the water it is not the most impressive beach, however, if you rent a pair of goggles to swim underwater, you will be amazed by the varied sea life. Just swimming from the beach, you can observe beautiful reefs, turtles, colourful fish, and even starfish if you are lucky! The water is usually calm and safe, with barely any waves.

Tropical Vibes in White Sand Beach

Another unspoiled beach in Bali, located one hour drive south from Amed, on the East Coast is White Sand Beach. As the name states, it is a white sand beach surrounded by coconut trees that could make you realise you are in paradise! It is not very popular as the access is quite complicated – to get there you should either rent a scooter or ask the locals on the village nearby called Candidasa for a taxi. There are a few beach bars in White Sand Beach so getting hungry is the perfect excuse to try their tropical juices, and fish dishes straight from the ocean.

Surfing at Kuta Beach, Bali
Kuta Beach – The Social Beach

You will always find people in Kuta, being the perfect beach to meet people, have fun and even try to surf! Kuta Beach has become one of the most popular spots in Bali, welcoming tourists for many years, with all types of accommodation from luxury hotels like the Sheraton, to small beach cottages and surf houses. It is located only a few miles away from the airport, just one reason why it has become so touristy, as it is an easy option for people who are coming for a short break. The beach is 5 km long, which means that there is space for everyone. It is a safe sandy beach perfect for starting to surf as the waves are usually small and there are lifeguards during the day. At sunset you will see many Indonesian families hanging out at the beach, playing football, swimming, or just relaxing. At night you can walk just a few metres from the beach to find an endless offer of bars, restaurants, and nightclubs. Here you can find one of the most popular clubs in the whole of Bali, Sky Garden, which has a rooftop terrace and has both a restaurant and disco with popular all-you-can-eat offers, and different styles of music through the night.

Bingin Beach, Bali
Bingin – Hippy Beach Vibes By the Cliff

This was an easy selection as one of the best beaches in Bali, and possibly my favourite beach on the whole island. Located in the south of Bali, you might need to walk down some narrow paths until you get to the bottom of the cliff, but it’s totally worth it! Bingin Beach is so stunning that you will never want to leave, and there are even a few beach houses right on the cliff so you can actually spend a night at the beach! The colour of the sand is super white because of the reef that surrounds the coast, which is maybe the only problem in Bingin, swimming is not as fun as you can get hurt with the reef if you do not know where you are going. In the other hand, it is a paradise for surfers, offering one of the best left-handed waves of the island, there are some currents, so this beach isn’t recommended for beginner surfers. A few kilometres away from Bingin you can find Padang Padang Beach, also with a breath-taking landscape, so beautiful that has served as scenery in movies such as Eat, Pray Love.

Statue at Uluwatu, Bali
Statue at Uluwatu, Bali
Uluwatu – The Surfer’s Favourite Spot

Another must-see place in Bali is Uluwatu located at the south end of the island where you can find the famous Balinese temple with the same name Pura Uluwatu. The view of the temple standing at the top of the cliff is just spectacular and a few minutes away you can reach the beach, which is more a cave than a beach, but it is worthy to visit. The small beach cave is the entrance to the surf spot which is also one of the best waves of the island where you can find surfers from all around the world. At the top of the cliff, you can enjoy amazing views of the ocean and the surfers far away. Single Fin is a bar located right at the cliff with a great atmosphere and stunning views, a perfect place for enjoying a sunset beer after a surfing session!

Plan & Book Your Trip

These are my choices for the best beaches in Bali, and if you would like help planning and booking your holiday please do not hesitate to contact the Oxwich Travel team.