Uluwatu on the Bukit Peninsula is super popular with beachgoers and that’s because it has some of the finest beaches in Bali.
Our guide will introduce you to the 17 best beaches in Uluwatu and help you decide where you want to visit on the Bukit Peninsula when you come to Bali.
Our 17 Favorite Beaches In Uluwatu, Bali
There are a lot of South Bali beaches and they’re not all beaches in Uluwatu, however, we have found the best beaches that are in Uluwatu and they’re listed in no particular order of preference below.
Suluban Beach or Blue Point Beach (Pantai Suluban)
Suluban Beach is definitely the most popular of the beaches in Uluwatu and some argue that this pristine beach is also the most attractive beach in the area.
It’s high up on the list of places to surf in Bali as this surfing hotspot has world-class waves and a left-hand break that adds a ton of challenge to a day on a board.
There is a reasonable fee for using the parking area (5,000 IDR if you’re on a bike/scooter and 15,000 IDR for a car) and then you need to follow some stairs down the cliff to the beach itself.
It’s about a 10-minute walk and it’s not too strenuous but it does take a bit longer on the way back up from the soft sand below.
As it’s one of the busiest beaches in Uluwatu, it can get absolutely packed around sunset and though it’s a gorgeous beach, you might want to go somewhere else in Uluwatu if you want to enjoy a sandy beach and spectacular sunset in relative privacy.
Padang Padang Beach (Pantai Padang Padang)
Padang Padang Beach is famous because it appears in the movie adaption of the novel, “Eat, Pray, Love” and everyone wants to emulate Julia Roberts when they come to this white sand beach in Uluwatu.
It’s not the biggest of the beaches in Uluwatu though and because it’s popular, we’d recommend getting there early in the day if you want to enjoy the sandy shore in relative peace.
As with many of the best beaches in Uluwatu, there’s an entrance fee at Padang Padang Beach and you’ll need to stop at the ticket office and cough up 10,000 IDR.
Then, it’s down the staircase (which is quite narrow in parts) and down through a cave onto the sands below.
Surfers will love the surf break at this beach because it hosts a left-hand barrel which is absolutely thrilling when you get it right.
Thomas Beach (Pantai Thomas)
Thomas Beach doesn’t get anywhere near as much love and attention as it deserves. It’s one of the best beaches in Uluwatu from an aesthetic sense by a barnyard mile.
If you want silky white sand, turquoise water in the Indian Ocean, and a place where you can sit out in the sun all day long and enjoy a proper beach day, Thomas Beach is the place for you.
There’s no entrance fee and no parking charges as this beach which is really nice. It’s not particularly popular with surfers which tends to keep the crowds down but you can get some excellent swell at Thomas Beach and equipment rental from the surf shack here is dirt cheap.
When it’s low tide, you can wander around the area to find a nice secluded spot and some mini-beaches that spring up from nowhere.
Just make sure you check the tide times at Thomas Beach because you don’t want to get stranded at high tide.
Bingin Beach (Pantai Bingin)
Bingin Beach is one of the biggest surfing destinations in Bali and it’s also a very attractive beach that brings regular beachgoers in their droves.
You’ll need to ditch your transport at the clifftop parking above Bingin Beach when you arrive as there’s no direct beach access and then it’s down some stairs on the cliff face.
If you want to rent surf equipment, you’ll find a bunch of shacks on Bingin Beach happy to oblige, they can also sort out some cold beers and snacks.
You can also get surf lessons on Binging Beach and it’s one of the most cost-effective beaches in Uluwatu for surfing lessons.
It’s worth exploring Bingin Beach, particularly at low tide, head south and you’ll find some smaller beaches and a bunch of old, empty shacks too.
Balangan Beach (Pantai Balangan)
Balangan Beach is one of the best beaches in Uluwatu for photographers and it’s an absolutely stunning location that looks amazing, particularly when looking down from the cliffs onto the cool rock formations below.
There’s a fee for parking (5,000 IDR as we go to press) but no entrance fee for this beach and the viewpoint for your Instagram shots is the first thing you encounter on the trail down from the car park to the beach.
Then, follow the stairs (concrete and robust) all the way down to the sandy beach below.
Balangan Beach is one of our favourite beaches in Uluwatu for exploring and there are caves and temples along the headland here.
We can also recommend the cold coconuts served by the guys renting out umbrellas for shade, a fresh coconut on Balangan Beach is the ideal way to feel good in the hot sun of Bali.
Tegal Wangi Beach (Pantai Tegal Wangi)
Tegal Wangi Beach is one of the best beaches in Uluwatu for sunset spotters, and the dramatic cliffs above the beach offer some really incredible views over the Indian Ocean.
When you arrive at this small beach, park up and then head down the stairs onto the beach, it’s a nice spot for photography as there are some lovely rock pools and a cave with a wide entranceway for framing your subject (just make sure to visit at low tide rather than high tide).
However, it’s worth noting that access to this beach has currently been closed off to the public and it’s not known when or if it will be reopened.
Dreamland Beach or South Kuta Beach (Pantai Dreamland)
Dreamland Beach in Uluwatu used to be a secret beach that was hard to reach and getting to Dreamland Beach was something of an achievement.
Now, this large beach has been opened up fully to the public and its status as one of the best beaches in Uluwatu has been confirmed by many thousands of visitors each month.
You’ll have unforgettable memories of sitting on the sandy shore at Dreamland Beach looking up at the limestone cliffs around you.
We’d recommend avoiding the lunch hour at this beach in Uluwatu, however, as there tends to be a huge outflux of guests from the nearby hotels onto the beach at this time.
Otherwise, it’s a great place to enjoy all day long and the water is ideal for a refreshing dip though as with most beaches on these Southern shores, you need to keep a close eye on the warning signs.
Melasti Beach (Pantai Melasti)
We love Melasti Beach and that’s because Melasti Beach is the kind of Uluwatu Beach that people dream of seeing when they’re sat at their desks in the real world waiting for their Bali holiday.
Melasti Beach has unspoiled white sands and wonderfully clear, blue waters. It’s also one of the cleanest beaches in Uluwatu and Bali as a whole.
With over 2 kilometres (more than a mile) of sand, there’s plenty of room for everyone on Melasti Beach and it always looks amazing in photographs.
The entrance gate is really cool and worth stopping to get a shot for your Instagram feed as there’s nothing quite like at the other beaches in Uluwatu.
This is also a great beach for public facilities with changing rooms, toilets, showers, stores, warungs and more available on the edge of the beach.
This beach also incorporates Karma Beach which is dominated by a local hotel’s facilities.
Gunung Payung Beach (Pantai Gunung Payung)
Gunung Payung is often called GP’s Beach by the locals and surfers that hang out in this part of Uluwatu.
There is a decent car parking area at the top of the cliff and some stairs that lead down to the beach.
It’s one of the less visited beaches in Uluwatu and that means it’s often almost deserted – however, the downside of that means you need to bring your own snacks and drinks as there are no local warungs on the sands.
If you want a beach where the sand is nice and clean and where you can go swimming safely at high tide, then this is the place to go.
Green Bowl Beach (Pantai Green Bowl)
Green Bowl Beach is regularly considered to be one of the finest beaches in Bali, not just Uluwatu. You’ll find Green Bowl Beach in a secluded part of the east coast of the Bukit Peninsula.
The sand at Green Bowl Beach is among the whitest and brightest on the island and the waters here are turquoise and shelter a lovely coral reef.
It’s not hard to get to this beach, just follow the steps down on to the sands. You will find Green Bowl Beach rarely gets busy and there may just be a couple of surfers there when you visit.
Swimming at Green Bowl Beach is a real pleasure and the water is so clean and clear that you will find snorkeling to be an absolute delight.
At low tide, we’d recommend that you take a walk down the beach and enjoy the rock pools full of sea creatures.
Nyang Nyang Beach (Pantai Nyang Nyang)
Go to Nyang Nyang Beach using the Western entrance as it’s recently been renovated and the road here is way better quality than at the other end.
You will need to pay a small, 5,000 IDR, entrance fee to get to this beach but that does include the parking charge.
It can get pretty hot on this beach in the middle of the day and we’d recommend getting there early or going in the late afternoon for sunset.
There are beach vendors here where you can easily grab some cold drinks and snacks, but if you want anything more substantial, there aren’t too many restaurants nearby.
Nunggalan Beach (Pantai Nunggalan)
This beach is right next to Nyang Nyang Beach and with a bit of careful planning, you can easily visit both beaches in a single trip, though you must be aware that there’s a different entrance way to this beach.
The entrance is in front of a hotel which will let you park in their car park for free and then, you need to head down some very steep stairs to reach the beach. We’d recommend you wear something other than thongs to make this climb.
One of the best things about this beach is the half-buried shipwreck which makes for a great place to take some photos/
Karang Boma Beach (Pantai Karang Boma)
We love standing on the cliffs above Karang Boma for sunset and getting some spectacular ocean views – but we have to stress, the cliff edge is not well maintained and it’s best not to get too close to it.
You can also see Uluwatu Temple sitting on the cliffs in the distance and it makes for a really cool photograph.
If you want to head down to the sands, you’ll need to pay 10,000 IDR at the ticket booth.
Pandawa Beach (Pantai Pandawa)
Pandawa Beach is a lovely place with golden sands and soft blue waters that make you feel like you’re in paradise. It’s 15,000 IDR for beach access though.
There are umbrellas lining the beach and they’re available for rent cheaply. You can also rent surfing gear from the surf shacks here.
There are restaurants, bars, a spa, convenience stores and more at this location, so it’s a great place to come with a family, you’ll want for nothing.
Jaran Hill Beach (Pantai Jaran Hill)
This is a bit of a secret spot and the viewpoint above the beach is rarely busy but it offers amazing views out onto the surf break and beach below.
Park near the Uluwatu Lighthouse and then follow the trail all the way down to the beach.
Take some cold beers and head this way at sunset, you’ll have the place all to yourself and it’s absolutely gorgeous.
Labuan Sait Beach (Pantai Labuan Sait)
This is a small but often crowded beach that plays host to a troop or two of monkeys (thankfully, they’ve not learned thievery from the monkeys at Uluwatu Temple, yet).
It’s a good spot to learn to surf as the waves are quite mild compared to other spots in Uluwatu.
However, it’s impossible to ignore the fact that this beach is often quite dirty and can be covered in plastic waste at times.
Pemutih Beach (Pantai Pemutih)
This is a very lovely beach, but be warned the waters are full of sharp rocks and corals and you need water shoes to even think about swimming here.
You can walk from here to some of the other beaches in Uluwatu by following the sand along and it’s a very relaxing spot that doesn’t see as many visitors as it, perhaps, deserves.
What Is The Nicest Beach In Uluwatu?
Almost all of the Uluwatu Beaches are lovely and the best beaches above are great to spend time on.
However, if you have to pick just one beach most people would agree that Suluban Beach is the nicest beach and that’s why it’s the most popular of the beaches in Uluwatu.
Having said that, we’d argue that Thomas Beach is every bit as nice as Suluban Beach and it gets far fewer visitors than Suluban Beach does.
Can You Swim At Uluwatu Beaches?
Yes, you can swim at Uluwatu Beaches but most of the beaches in Uluwatu aren’t much fun to swim at. The surf breaks tend to ensure the water current is very strong and there’s often a lot of broken coral and rocks on the shoreline too.
The best beaches in Uluwatu tend to be more of a surfing hotspot or a place for sunbathing in luxury in the Bali sun, rather than for swimming.
What Is The Prettiest Beach In Bali?
This is, of course, highly subjective but most people would agree that Nusa Dua Beach is the nicest of Bali’s beaches and it’s not far from the best beaches in Uluwatu if you want to visit for a day.
Which Is The Best Beach In Uluwatu?
Again, this is highly subjective but we’d vote Melasti Beach as the best beach in Uluwatu. That’s because it’s always very clean, it’s quite easy to get to and there are plenty of places nearby to eat and drink at, so you can enjoy the sun and a cold beer whenever you want to.
It’s an Uluwatu Beach that reminds us how much of a tropical paradise Bali is and it’s one of the most picturesque beaches on the island with breathtaking ocean views in a great location.
What Is The Number One Beach In Bali?
The most popular beach in Bali is probably Nusa Dua Beach though its location on the Bukit Peninsula can mean that visitors to Kuta, Canggu, Seminyak and Legian don’t visit.
It’s also one of the most expensive areas to stay in Bali and that can deter people from visiting Nusa Dua, though we should point out – the beach is free to access for everyone. It’s not a private beach, even if the high-end resorts that line its shores wish that it was.
Why Is Uluwatu Famous?
Uluwatu is famous for its beautiful beaches, reef breaks, beach bars and the Uluwatu Temple which sits on dramatic cliffs above a great beach below.
It’s an area of outstanding natural beauty and experienced surfers, in particular, can’t get enough of the beaches in Uluwatu.
Which Beach Is Best For Beginner Surfers In Uluwatu?
The right-hand break at Padang Padang Beach (“Baby Padang”) is known to be one of the best places for beginner surfers hoping to enjoy catching some waves in Uluwatu.
The majority of Uluwatu beaches are really for experienced surfers, however, and it’s very easy to get into trouble at sea if you’re not a strong surfer in this area.
There are no bad beaches for families in Uluwatu and all of the best beaches in Uluwatu are open to children.
However, we’d suggest that Bingin Beach, Padang Padang Beach and Dreamland Beach have the right combination of accessibility and facilities to make them especially welcoming to families.
Which Part Of Uluwatu Is Best?
Most people seem to prefer to stay near Bingin Beach or Padang Padang Beach when they first visit Uluwatu. This isn’t a bad idea as you will find the area is very attractive and there are plenty of local warungs and amenities to enjoy.
Uluwatu is, however, quite spread out and if you want to see every hidden gem and unique beach in the area, you’re going to want to invest in some transport.
How To Book A Holiday In Bali To See The Best Beaches In Uluwatu
If you want to see all of the best beaches in Uluwatu and on the Bukit Peninsula, we recommend that you book your holiday through the Bali Res Centre.
They can ensure that you get great prices on hotel rooms, flights, day trips and much more by the Uluwatu Beach of your dreams.
Final Thoughts On The Best Beaches In Uluwatu
Uluwatu beaches are famed as some of the best beaches in Bali and there’s an Uluwatu Beaches for everyone to enjoy.
From Bingin Beach to Pandawa Beach all of these beaches are beautiful places and most of them offer incredible experiences for surfers and beachgoers alike.
If you’re looking for the best beach in Uluwatu, you’re bound to find it on our list of the best beaches in Uluwatu, Bali.
