Amlapura is the home of the royal family and the royal palace of the Karangasem Regency Seat. It’s an odd town because it had to be rebuilt after an eruption of Mount Agung but there’s plenty to see and do there and the local resorts are very good value for money.
Our guide to Amlapura will help you decide whether you want to spend some time in this interesting Balinese city.
Where Is Amlapura Bali?
Amlapura, Bali is in the Karangasem Regency in East Bali. It’s not far from Manggis, Sidemen, Candi Dasa, etc.
How To Get To Amlapura Bali From Ngurah Rai International Airport?
You can easily take a Grab or Gokek to this area but if you want to explore properly we’d go with a private car and driver.
You can easily hire a private car (including driver and fuel) for 500,000 IDR a day (that’s about $35 USD or $50 AUD).
When Is The Best Time To Visit Amlapura Bali?
There’s no bad time of year to visit this part of Bali. Amlapura is great all year round.
Is There An Entrance Fee At Amlapura Bali?
No, there’s no entrance fee to Amlapura, though there may be entrance fees at individual attractions in the city.
What To Expect In Amlapura Bali
Amlapura is an important transportation hub. It was previously named Karangasem as it was the regency seat but the name was changed after an eruption of Mount Agung in 1963 damaged much of Bali and the town and its several beautiful palaces.
After reconstruction, it was felt that a name change might help the local people get a refreshing start on life in this part of Bali.
It’s a multi-cultural melting pot and there is a mixture of Balinese Hinduism, Indonesian Buddhism, Islam and even Chinese mercantile cultures here.
Because it’s relatively new, it’s not always the prettiest town but it is one of the cleanest not just in Bali but in the whole of Indonesia (it’s won awards for cleanliness).
What To Do In Amlapura Bali
Taman Ujung – one of the most beautiful palaces in Indonesia. You can easily spend a couple of hours here. This water palace has onsite parking and some surprisingly good souvenir shops but the star of the show is the water features and the views out over the gardens and rice fields. This is a must-see
Pantai Jasri – this is a beautiful beach area but there’s no sand, just a rock beach, you can sit on the wall here at sunset and watch the light break over the waves. Bring a few cold beers with you and it’s quite lovely. Sadly, there’s no water sports indulging at this spot.
Puri Agung Karangasem – this former royal palace is still home to the royal family. If you do bump into the royal family, they’ll be happy to chat and share the history of the royal palace. It’s a living museum and it’s only 30,000 IDR to go inside. It’s a bit easy to get lost inside, however, and there’s no map or guidebook.
Museum Pustaka Lontar Desa Wisata Dukuh Penaban – a “pustaka lontar” is a book made from palm leaves. In this wonderful museum, they walk you through how the books are made and how they are preserved. It’s very informative and the staff are incredibly knowledgeable and helpful. We think that this place by a beautiful valley is one of the best museums in Bali.
Bukit Cinta – it’s hard to find a more startling scenery than the beautiful sight of Mount Agung appearing above the hill line at this viewing spot in East Bali. We recommend getting off the main road here and climbing a bit to get different perspectives on this view. It’s worth the effort.
Vihara Buddha Ratana – a tranquil Buddhist temple that provides a great place for some quiet meditation. It’s not the prettiest temple on the island but it is one of the few purely Buddhist places (rather than Hindu) and the local people here are friendly and welcoming.
Patung Salak – this is an attractive statue perched above a crossroads. It’s not worth a special trip on its own, but as you’re passing through Amlapura, it’s worth a few minutes of your time.
Water sports – indulging your inner dolphin is easy in this area, there are plenty of schools for water sports and you can easily hire the equipment to enjoy yourself in the ocean in a myriad of ways.
white water rafting – many rivers flow around this area and you can enjoy white water rafting and water sports inland from Amlapura as well as on the coast.
Where To Stay In Amlapura
There are plenty of places to stay in this part of Bali including:
Jasri Bay Hideaway – a lovely 4-star hotel right on the beach with the only background noise being the sound of the waves breaking on the shore. There are some excellent bungalows for rent here too. However, it’s quite isolated and if you don’t have transport, your only real option for food is the hotel’s serviceable restaurant.
Villa Campuhan – this is a gorgeous oceanfront resort with a beautiful bamboo villa complex that’s far away from any crowds or noise. It’s very reasonably priced and each villa has its own private pool. It’s not far from the local water sports schools and areas for scuba diving.
Mama’s Guest House – this is a very basic guest house a long walk from the shore. The big benefit of staying here is how cheap it is.
Jasri Dalem Surf Retreat – this is how surf resorts used to be in Bali, it’s a chilled-out place with very basic facilities. If you want a place to surf in relative peace and don’t need any major comforts, it should tick all the right boxes for you.
Pondok Diana – this is a lovely homestay and Diana is your host. He can offer incredible insights into the local area and if you want a place to rest your head that really feels like a home, you can do much worse than this place.
Where To Eat In Amlapura
Whether you want to sample local cuisines or eat something more Western, you can find it in Amlapura. Some of our favourites include:
Warung Lesehan Mina Carik – this is one of the most popular places to eat in the area and while it’s not in the water side area, it does have the best seafood in town. The staff are super friendly and helpful and the grilled fish is amazing. It has great views of the local countryside too.
Warung Batas Kota – if you want an interesting blend of Korean and Indonesian food served in a no-frills warung, this is where to go. The food is very tasty and the Bintang is cold. Most of all, it’s very cheap.
Warung Uma Pesagi – is a nice family-run warung that serves a decent mix of local and international cuisines and the food is exceptional. We loved the fried fish with sambal and the nasi goreng here.
Zodiac Coffee & Co. Karangasem – if you’re in the mood for coffee, rice bowls and pastries, you will find them here. Zodiac coffee is in a lovely space and it’s the ideal spot for a little afternoon’s chilling.
Warung Belayag “Dek Ani” – if you want to try traditional Balayag Karangasem cuisine, this is the place to be and it’s absolutely fabulous. Go with the tipat and you’ll be so glad you did!
KFC – yes, it’s the ubiquitous fast food chain and the only fast food you will find in town. We’re not sure if that’s a good thing or a bad thing, mind you.
What To Do Near Amlapura
There are plenty of things to do in the surrounding area too:
Tirta Gangga – Bali’s most famous water palace and one of the most dramatic places on the island. It’s one of the big attractions of a vacation in this area.
Bugbug Village – a lovely traditional village and you’re welcome to, after paying a small entrance fee, go anywhere in the town including into people’s homes!
Tenganan Pegerinsingan Village – this is a more commercial traditional village built around community arts projects. You don’t have to buy, but you may feel under a little pressure to do so as you wander around.
Pancoran Pegelukatan Sapta Gangga – this is a lovely water palace out in the fields and if you want to bathe in the holy water, you’ll need a sarong.
Bendungun Kastala – this is a great place for trekking out in the rice fields and you can organize a local tour here too if you want to get the most out of a hike.
Pasir Putih – a white sand beach with very few visitors and some of the best beach masseurs that we’ve ever encountered.
Pantai Gerembeng – a difficult to get to beach with a few rock pools along a stony shore. It’s pretty enough, but it’s not for sunbathing, swimming, etc.
Pantai Bugbug – a simple black sand beach with no sunbeds and it’s definitely not for swimming as the ocean waves here are very strong. It’s quite nice at sunset.
FAQs
Is Amlapura Worth Visiting?
Yes! Amlapura, previously named Karangasem, is a great place to visit and the city of Amlapura and the surrounding areas have plenty to hold your attention.
How Many Days In Amlapura?
If you visit Amlapura, you probably only need 1-2 days to see the city of Amlapura and do the best things in the surrounding areas. However, you might want to stay in the region for longer if you want to do a lot of diving or are hoping to chill out at one of the resorts in town.
How To Book A Holiday To See Amlapura?
If you want to visit Amlapura and enjoy the local water sports, submarine safaris, white water rafting, etc. then you should contact the Bali Res Centre.
That’s a local travel service specializing in Balinese travel and they can arrange competitively priced flights, hotels, etc.
Final Thoughts On Amlapura, Bali
Amlapura is a bit off the beaten path which means fewer tourists and you can do the best things in town without feeling crowded.
The region is attractive and has several beautiful palaces that are very much worth seeing. If you’re in the mood for a change of pace from Bali’s beach towns, Amlapura is a good place to go.
