Bali is the beach vacation destination for a reason – dozens of beautiful beaches you can only dream of are just a short ride from your hotel. But not all are equally beautiful or easy to access.
If you are in Bali even for a week, hit multiple beaches to see how diverse the landscape is: limestone cliffs, palms, volcanic sand or white sand beaches – this tropical paradise has something for everyone, from an amateur surfer to an experienced beach bum.
After years of living in Bali and exploring the island from South to North, these are the best beaches in Bali you absolutely have to visit!
Our Best Beaches In Bali Ranking Upfront
If you just landed and need a quick guide on the Bali beaches to visit, grab this list. If you are still planning and need more details, keep reading!
- Best beaches in Bali for swimming: Sanur beach, Nusa Dua beach, Blue Lagoon, Crystal Bay
- Best beaches in Bali for surfing: Canggu and Seminyak beach (beginners), Medewi, Balian, Uluwatu beach, Balangan, Padang Padang (advanced).
- Best beaches in Bali for sunset: Canggu Beach, Jimbaran Beach, Uluwatu Beach, and Crystal Bay.
- Best Bali beaches for nightlife: Canggu Beach, Kuta Beach (older crowd).
- Best beaches in Bali for families: Nusa Dua Beach, Benoa (water sports), Sanur Beach, Melasti Beach.
- Best beaches in Bali for snorkelling or diving: Amed Beach, Virgin Beach, Blue Lagoon, Crystal Bay, Telumben Beach, Gerokgak White Sand Beach (Menjengan).
Our Favourite Beaches In Bali: South, Bukit Peninsula, East Coast & North Bali
Berawa Beach (Canggu Beach)
Berawa Beach is one of the most popular beaches in Bali for two simple reasons.
First, it is home to the world’s best beach club – FINNS Beach Club with amazing food, entertainment, and unbeatable sunset views in South Bali. It is also the epicentre of nightlife with parties and DJ sets pretty much every night.
And second, it is one of the friendliest surf breaks if you’re a complete beginner.
Also, it is one of the cleanest beaches in Bali since FINNS does regular clean-ups (and you can even participate!) to keep Bali’s natural beauty shining.
Entrance fee: no entry fee, only 2,000 – 5,000 IDR (0.2-0.5 AUD) for parking. However, if you’re coming to FINNS, you can use their parking for free.
Where Is It? Jl. Pantai Berawa, Tibubeneng, Kec. Kuta Utara, Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361, Indonesia
Dreamland Beach
This beach has it all: great surfing conditions, soft white sand, clean ocean, and towering cliffs backing it up with lush greenery.
A very popular beach in Bukit Peninsula, with lots of tourists, both foreign and domestic, thanks to easy access – unlike many other beaches in Uluwatu, there are no steps to get up and down.
Not great for swimming, but experienced surfers will have a blast here! Lots of cheap eats, too, for a local lunch.
Entrance fee: 2,000 – 5,000 IDR (0.2-0.5 AUD) for parking, but as there are two access points to this beach, some tourists unfortunately were charged an additional 5,000 to 12,000 IDR (0.5 to 1.2 AUD) to enter the beach.
Where Is It? Jl. Pantai Cemongkak, Pecatu, Kec. Kuta Sel., Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361, Indonesia
Padang Padang Beach
Made famous thanks to surfers and Eat Pray Love, Padang Padang is one of the most stunning beaches in Bali.
Iconic views, dramatic cliffs, cheeky monkeys, and, of course, white sand and pristine turquoise waters once you reach the beach.
The walk down the beach is well worth it! The only downside is that this beach is rather small and can get pretty crowded.
Entrance fee: about 50,000 IDR (5 AUD)
Where Is It? Pecatu, South Kuta, Badung Regency, Bali, Indonesia
Pantai Gunung Payung
A secret beach between Uluwatu and Nusa Dua with warm white sand, transparent blue waters, and caves.
It will be great for photos and a romantic escape, and you can also snorkel here! Very few tourists ever reach this beach, but to be fair, you will need to get down a few stairs.
It is also a paragliding spot, in case you love extreme sports!
Entrance fee: shuttle from the parking lot is 25,000 IDR (2.5 AUD), plus parking, but you can skip it and walk.
Where Is It? Kutuh, South Kuta, Badung Regency, Bali, Indonesia
Melasti Beach
Similar to Pandawa beach, Melasti beach is guarded by tall white limestone cliffs and is much more popular among locals and foreigners than Pandawa beach.
It is a 2-kilometre stretch, great for sunbathing and sunset photos, but waves are pretty strong here for swimming, and the rocky coral reefs are not great for that either.
You can be in the water here till late afternoon, and at 7 PM you can witness the Balinese traditional Kecak Dance show.
The beach is great for families with kids of any age. Plan on renting a sunbed with a parasol as the sun is very strong.
Entrance fee: 10,000 IDR (1 AUD).
Where Is It? Jl. Melasti Ungasan, Ungasan, Kec. Kuta Sel., Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361, Indonesia
Nusa Dua Beach
For those who love luxurious hotels and an all-inclusive vibe, Nusa Dua Beach, aka Mengiat Beach, is the best.
It is a long stretch of white sand beach hugged by clear water on one side and palm trees and greenery on the other.
High tide is great for swimming, with a few small waves, while low tide will expose lots of rocks that kids love exploring. Plenty of sun loungers are available, as well as restaurants with a view.
Entrance fee: 2,000 – 5,000 IDR for parking (0.2 – 0.5 AUD), day bed rental is 50,000-100,000 IDR (5-10 AUD).
Where Is It? Benoa, South Kuta, Badung Regency, Bali, Indonesia
Tanjung Benoa Beach
Benoa is another beautiful beach with calm waters and is a popular beach among tourists, especially with kids, as they have tons of water sports available.
You can even take an ocean walk, enjoying the company of tropical fish and marine life. Be prepared for higher prices for all activities as it is a tourist spot.
If you are not into water sports, the beach is still good to visit. It is long enough for walking, good swimming, plus a few cafes for a cold coconut and a snack.
Entrance fee: no fee.
Where Is It? Jl. Segara Kidul No.3x, Benoa, Kec. Kuta Sel., Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361, Indonesia
Sanur Beach
Sanur beach is well-known and loved by locals and expats, especially families. What we call Sanur Beach is actually three connected beaches, Mentasari, Sanur, and Sindhu.
The long stretch of this sandy beach is the perfect place to watch sunrise, have a long morning stroll with kids, jog or cycle, or even do yoga.
Gentle waves and shallow waters are swimming-friendly and good for canoeing and paddle boarding, too, and you will find many cafes along the beach for a quick snack.
Entrance fee: only pay for parking, around 2,000 IDR (0.2 AUD) for bikes.
Where Is It? 77V7+8CQ, Jl. Setapak, Sanur, Denpasar Selatan, Bali, Indonesia
Medewi Beach
Longboard surfing dream beach with the longest ride in Bali. It is remote, so only very passionate surfers make it there, but it has beachfront resorts, cafes, and a tight surfing community.
One of the most stunning beaches on the West Coast, without a doubt: black sandy beach, rocky ocean bottom, untouched palm trees and landscape.
Entrance fee: No fee.
Where Is It? Jl. Pantai Medewi, Medewi, Kec. Pekutatan, Kabupaten Jembrana, Bali, Indonesia
Pasut Beach
A true hidden gem of the West coast – a beach with no beach bars or cafes, just shiny black volcanic sand, towering decades-old palm trees and uninterrupted views for as far as you can see. Probably, the calmest beach you will find in Bali!
Some tour agents organise ATV and bike rides on the beach, too.
Note that locals absolutely love this beach, and coming during weekends and sunset time, you will find the most crowds and harder times to park.
Entrance fee: No fee.
Where Is It? Jalan Raya Pasut, Tibubiu, Kec. Kerambitan, Kabupaten Tabanan, Bali, Indonesia
Gerokgak White Sand Beach
Located near Bali National Park, Gerokgak is a hidden gem of North Bali – very few people know about it!
It has soft white sand, a shallow entrance into the ocean and super calm waters due to its location. And the views! The beach itself is hidden amongst the trees and you can see the National Park and Menjengan island right across of you.
Perfect spot for snorkelling for complete beginners.
Entrance fee: No fee.
Where Is It? VH77+9HX, Bali 81155, Indonesia
Amed Beach
To be fair, there are two beaches in Amed we like: Lipah Beach and Jemeluk Bay Beach, both are quite close to each other.
Amed is well-known for snorkelling right from the shore, chill vibes, and diving activities. In the evening, beaches transform with local warungs serving beers and seafood, and setting up live music (mostly reggae).
Entrance fee: No fee.
Where Is It? Amed St, Bunutan, Abang, Karangasem Regency, Bali 80852, Indonesia
Best Beaches In Bali: Nusa Islands
Bali is technically the name of the province, including several islands: Bali, being the main tourist destination, and small Nusa Islands (Nusa Lembongan, Nusa Ceningan, and Nusa Penida), which have beautiful beaches worth checking out.
Pantai Pasir Putih (White Sand Beach), Nusa Lembongan
Our absolute favourite beach on Nusa Islands (forgive us it is not Kelingking beach!) for sunset hours. The sandy beach is so soft and warm, the water is like milk and shallow, and there are so many stunning shells!
This is also a great place to see Bali from a different angle, as you will see the silhouette of the East coast and Mt Agung when the sky is clear.
Be careful getting in the water; the coral reefs can be pretty sharp.
Entrance fee: no fee.
Where Is It? Tj. Ental, Jungutbatu, Nusa Penida, Klungkung Regency, Bali 80771, Indonesia
Kelingking Beach, Nusa Penida
Nusa Penida truly has a few beaches that are worth visiting, like Atuh beach, Diamond beach, Crystal bay, and, of course, the iconic Kelingking beach with world-famous T-Rex formation.
Dramatic cliffs, crystal clear waters and surrounding lush green nature are what make Nusa Penida beaches so special.
Although Kelingking Beach is on the list, we recommend enjoying it from the top. Going down the stairs is pretty dangerous, as well as the extremely strong currents.
We have to say that there is also currently a large construction project going on to bring an elevator to the cliff to make it easier to access the beach.
Entrance fee: only parking fee about 5,000 IDR (0.5 AUD).
Where Is It? Bunga Mekar, Nusa Penida, Klungkung Regency, Bali, Indonesia
Crystal Bay, Nusa Penida
No snorkelling or diving trip to Penida will be complete without visiting Crystal Bay. It is a gorgeous secluded bay, where you can lounge on the sand soaking in all the sun, or snorkel right from the shore.
Nusa islands have fantastic marine life and corals, with some very rare species like Mola Mola or big manta rays that you can spot.
The road down to the beach is drivable, but not great; however, you’re rewarded by a nice drive through a palm tree grove.
There are a few simple sun beds and warungs here, so you can enjoy a coconut or local food at affordable prices. It is also a great spot for sunset, unlike other beaches in Nusa Penida as Crystal Bay is facing west.
Entrance fee: only parking fee about 5,000 IDR (0.5 AUD).
Where Is It? Unnamed Road, Sakti, Kec. Nusa Penida, Kabupaten Klungkung, Bali 80771, Indonesia
FAQs
What Is The Nicest Beach In Bali?
That’s a tough call, but Uluwatu often takes the lead with its dreamy cliffs and surf scene, and especially sunset views framed by those cliffs and waves!
The nicest beach for families would be Sanur or Nusa Dua beach, though, as the water is calm enough for swimming and the beaches have everything for a laid-back beach day.
For a younger crowd, Canggu Beach and its immediate proximity to FINNS Beach Club is the nicest way to spend a vacation: you can walk on the beach, get in the pool, sip on cocktails, and dance all night.
Which Bali Beach Has The Clearest Water?
Beaches from Nusa Dua to Uluwatu usually have the clearest water due to how currents work. Blue waters, no trash washed ashore, and clean white sandy beaches are what you can expect in Uluwatu, Ungasan, Nusa Dua, Benoa, and Sanur.
Where Are The White Sandy Beaches In Bali?
Bukit Peninsula (Uluwatu, Jimbaran, Ungasan) and South East Bali (Nusa Dua to Sanur), as well as Nusa Islands, have stunning white sand beaches.
In South Bali, Seminyak Beach, Kuta Beach, Canggu and Echo Beach have sand colour closest to white.
When Is The Best Time To Visit Bali Beaches?
The best time to visit the best beaches in Bali is during the dry season from May to September, with sunny days, calm waters and top conditions for swimming or surfing.
East coast spots like Sanur and Nusa Dua are perfect in the mornings with light offshore winds, while the west coast offers the best surfing conditions and tallest waves.
Avoid staying at the beach between noon and 4 PM as the ruthless Bali sun will burn your skin or even cause heat stroke.
Final Thoughts On The Best Bali Beaches
Bali and its surrounding islands are a perfect destination for a romantic getaway or family vacation if you want to enjoy sun, warm ocean waters, surfing, and water sports.
From Uluwatu beaches all the way to the northern coast, each beach has its own charm and things to do, so you can do beach hopping every day!
