Berawa Beach is our favourite beach in Bali. This black sand wonder is our home and one of the best places on Earth to enjoy a sunset from. It’s also a great location for surfers, and the surf breaks are ideal for beginners and intermediates alike.
The sand is also ideal for an early morning walk, with or without a canine companion in tow, and for a romantic walk in the early evening. The area around the beach has plenty of restaurants, bars, hotels and shops to ensure that you have everything you need on hand, too.
So, let’s take a look at Berawa Beach in a bit more detail.
Where Is Berawa Beach, Bali?
The beach sits at the end of Jalan Pantai Berawa (literally “Berawa beach road”) in Canggu. Jalan Pantai Berawa is the second busiest beach road in the area after Jalan Pantai Batu Bolong, but unlike the busier road, it’s calm enough that you can easily walk between the beach and the local accommodation options, restaurants, etc.
Jalan Pantai Berawa is ideal for a spot to relax and grab some breakfast, lunch or dinner, and it’s fine for families as well as solo travellers, couples, etc. to enjoy.
The infamous Canggu shortcut begins on a turn-off from Jalan Pantai Berawa too.
How To Get To Berawa Beach
It really depends on where you’re coming from on the island, but for most people, Grab or Gojek is going to be the best option.
These are the local ride-share services, and they’re very convenient for short to medium distances.
As Berawa is in one of the busiest parts of the island, Canggu, you don’t need to worry about the availability of rides out of the area; there are always drivers around (with the possible exception of New Year’s Eve).
However, if you’re coming from a long way away, you might consider using a private car and driver (this is cheap in Bali and shouldn’t cost more than 500,000 IDR – about $35 USD or $50 AUD – for 8 hours including driver, car and gas).
You could also look at riding a scooter, but we don’t recommend it. It’s hard to be road-legal here, and if you’re not legal, your insurance is invalid, and yes, accidents are very common in Bali.
When’s The Best Time To Visit Berawa Beach?
Bali has just two seasons, and they’re both great times to visit Berawa Beach and the surrounding area.
In the rainy season, we still get an average of 8 hours a day of sunshine, and it’s a bit hotter and more humid. But that’s fine when you’re spending some time on the sand, right?
We’d note that surfers sometimes prefer this season as they can get bigger waves off the beach break and test their skills. The surf schools in the area are open all year round, though.
In the dry season, you get a little more sun, and it tends to be cooler with less humidity. However, it’s often much busier than in the wet season, and you’ll need to book a day bed at FINNS Beach Club in advance.
Is There An Entrance Fee For Berawa Beach?
No, there is no entrance fee for Berawa Beach. You may have to pay a fee if you want to use the beach car parking service (though if you’re going to the beach club, then a parking service is available there at no additional charge), but access to the sand is completely free.
What To Expect At Berawa Beach, Bali
Berawa Beach is a black sand beach. Which means the sand comes from rocks that have been ejected from Bali’s active volcanoes and then been crushed up into sand in the water.
It’s one of the easiest beaches in Bali to access, and you can walk straight onto the beach at the end of Jalan Pantai Berawa down a short flight of stairs.
We should warn you that black sand gets hot in the sunlight and at lower tides, when there’s no water cooling the sand, it can get very hot, indeed. So, please make sure to wear something on your feet during the day, don’t risk burning the soles of your feet.
The beach has several surf schools operating out of it, and it’s very popular with surfers all day long. You can also find people walking their dogs in the early part of the day and later on in the day, couples and families taking walks in the sand by the waves.
What To Do At Berawa Beach
Berawa Beach has a lot to offer visitors, and this includes:
FINNS Beach Club – the world’s best beach club is the biggest draw to the area. One in six international visitors to Bali visit FINNS and many of them come more than once. If you want to watch the sunset in luxury, sipping cocktails in an infinity pool, enjoy amazing food and party to the best entertainment on the island, you have to spend some time at FINNS. FINNS even has free WiFi so that you can grab some awesome shots of your time there and share them with your friends.
Surfing – Canggu is a popular spot with surfers, and the local surf schools give regular lessons here.
Visit the lagoon – there is a natural lagoon at the Southern end of the beach where you can spot various marine creatures.
Sunset watching – the sunset over the ocean in this spot in Bali is famously one of the most beautiful on Earth. The light over the sea and wet sand is absolutely spectacular.
Sunbathing – beaches are made for sunbathing, and there are a couple of businesses renting out deckchair space on the sand.
Where To Stay Near Berawa Beach
The upcoming FINNS Resort Bali will be THE place to stay in this area when it opens in 2026, but until then, you might consider:
Zin Berawa Villas & Bungalows – a very attractive villa complex for extremely reasonable rates. The pool area is great.
Citadines Berawa Beach Bali – with tastefully designed rooms, this beachfront oasis is a great choice for a stay in Canggu.
Swarga Suites Bali Berawa – a swanky 5-star beachfront resort which will suit the well-heeled to the ground.
Amor Villas – not far from Berawa, these pleasant villas are in a rice field complex within easy walking distance of many amenities.
The Prime Canggu Bali by Kanaya Hospitality – a very pleasant boutique hotel with an enjoyable blend of Balinese charm and modern convenience.
Where To Eat Near Berawa Beach
This area is home to some excellent dining options, too, and you might want to check out:
Monsoon – the party restaurant at FINNS offers a huge range of amazing international cuisines, excellent cocktails and the best entertainment on the island.
Ruko Cafe – this charming cafe makes an excellent cup of coffee, and it’s one of our go-to spots for breakfast and lunch. It’s definitely a cut above the average cafe.
One-Eyed Jack – an excellent upmarket Japanese restaurant with a chef who once worked at Nobu! Their Japanese whiskey-based cocktails are legendary.
Lusa By/Suka – an elegant European-inspired bistro offering an all-day menu and a fresh choice in the evenings. Their poke bowls are very popular.
Nude – a very nice cafe that has great deals in the early evening,s and they can cater to plant-based and gluten-free diners too.
Other Beaches In Canggu Bali
Nelayan Beach
Nelayan is probably the quietest and least visited beach in Canggu. It’s got a nice old-school vibe about it, and if you want to get away from the tourist crowds, it’s definitely the beach to visit.
Echo Beach
It’s not the beach from the Marth and the Muffins song (in fact, no beach is, according to the singer), but this black sand wonder is a big draw for advanced surfers with some of the most challenging breaks in Bali.
Batu Bolong Beach
The most popular beach in Canggu, Batu Bolong, can get very crowded, but the area around it has a lot to see and do, including the ever-popular Love Anchor Market, which is great for fashionistas and those looking for souvenirs too.
Pererenan Bech
Pererenan is becoming much more popular, and what was once a quiet beach is now quite busy in its own right. If you’re staying in the neighbourhood, it’s worth a look, but otherwise, Berawa, Echo, and Batu Bolong beaches probably hold more appeal.
FAQs
Can You Swim At Berawa Beach?
In theory, you can swim at Berawa Beach. In practice, we don’t recommend swimming at any of Canggu’s beaches. There are no friendly staff acting as lifeguards in this area, and the current is unpredictable and can sometimes be strong enough to drag even the best swimmers out into the deep ocean.
While surfers will appreciate the waves, swimmers in this part of Indonesia would be better off sticking to their hotel pool or enjoying the pools at FINNS. It’s best to avoid hazards when you can in Bali.
Is Berawa In Seminyak?
No, Berawa Beach is in Canggu, not in Seminyak. It’s not far from Seminyak, though, you’ll spend no more than 20-30 minutes in a taxi, typically, to get between the two areas, maybe a little more if you’re travelling during the peak hours in the peak season (Christmas to New Year).
Berawa is also very close to Kuta, which is the next town down from Seminyak, it’s also within a reasonable driving distance of Jimbaran, Legian, Ubud and Uluwatu and even, depending on traffic, Sanur.
Is Canggu Beach Swimmable?
There is no “Canggu Beach”, the Canggu area is home to 5 different black sand beaches, and while they are all attractive locations and a lot of fun for their surf, none of them are recommended for swimming.
While the waves are exciting in this part of Bali, Indonesia, as they produce excellent surf, the current under the surface is very much unpredictable, and given that there are no lifeguard services on these beaches, you shouldn’t risk being pulled out to sea.
The forces of nature can be very unpredictable, and as almost all hotels in this part of Bali have a swimming pool, it’s best to swim in the pool there or head to FINNS for their awesome infinity pools.
What Is The Best Neighbourhood In Canggu? What Is The Best Part Of Canggu To Stay In?
There are no bad neighbourhoods in Canggu, but if we had to pick, we’d stay in Berawa in preference to the areas around Batu Bolong Beach or Echo Beach.
That’s because it’s not too busy in Berawa, but there are still plenty of awesome facilities on the street running up to the beach. That means you can enjoy a mellow day in the local spas, eat amazing food at the restaurants and bars in the area, and party hard at FINNS, without having to travel too far.
In the dry season, there is a little onshore wind, which helps to keep this area cool and pleasant too.
Final Thoughts On Berawa Beach, Canggu, Bali
We think Berawa Beach is one of the best beaches in Bali, it is why we built FINNS Beach Club here. The sunset is incredible, it’s awesome for surfing, and there’s a lot to do in the streets around the area too.
If you’re in Canggu and you haven’t visited Berawa, what are you waiting for?
Related blogs:
Echo Beach Bali: Canggu Popular Sunset & Surfing Destination
