Bingin Beach is one of the up-and-coming destinations in Bali and it’s already a huge hit with surfers and hipsters.
Our guide will tell you why you might want to consider Bingin Beach as a destination for your next holiday.
Where Is Bingin Beach, Bali?
Bingin Beach is on the West Side of the Bukit Peninsula near the town of Uluwatu in South Bali.
It’s halfway between the beaches of Padang Padang and Balangan.
Address: Jalan Pantai Bingin, Uluwatu, Bali, Indonesia
How To Get To Bingin Beach, Bali?
If you’re in Uluwatu then you’re best off using Grab or Gojek to get you to the beach. It’s cheap and efficient and means you don’t have to worry about the parking fee.
If you’re travelling from further afield, you might consider a private car and driver who can get you from A to B and stop along the way whenever you want them to.
This service is a little more expensive than using a ride-sharing app but it is more convenient and we think it’s the best option for longer journeys.
You could also ride a scooter and leave it in the car park, but we never recommend driving a scooter in Bali.
It’s hard to get road-legal and if you’re not road-legal and get into an accident, you will swiftly discover your insurance is worthless.
And it’s all too easy to get into accidents on the roads of Bali which are poorly maintained and the local drivers don’t really obey any known rules of the road.
We think it’s better to spend just a little more on transport and save yourself an expensive trip to the hospital.
When Is The Best Time To Be Visiting Bingin Beach?
We don’t think there is ever a bad time to visit Bali. It doesn’t rain that much in the rainy season and there’s plenty of sunshine most days.
The advantage of coming at that time of year is that you get cheaper flights and hotel rooms and there are fewer crowds on the beach and at the Bingin Beach restaurants.
However, if you’re coming to the Bukit Peninsula to surf, then you may prefer to come in the dry season when there’s less rain and more sun. It’s also a little cooler and less humid.
However, you will have to pay more of a premium for your hotel rooms and flights.
Is There An Entrance Fee For Bingin Beach?
There is no entrance fee for this beach, however, if you bring a car or scooter, you will need to pay to use the car park at the top of Bingin Cliff.
That’s not a big expense, mind you, and a few hours of parking is just 5,000 IDR.
If anybody should approach you about other fees in this area, you can politely decline to pay or just walk away.
What To Expect At Bingin Beach (Pantai Bingin)?
At the parking area, look for the narrow path that leads you past a row of hilltop accommodations and onto a flight of stairs.
You just follow the stairs all the way down to Bingin Beach. However, about halfway down, you come across a sort of intersection which then has several paths and stairways that go in a few different directions down to the beach.
You can take any of these paths, they all get you down to the sand without any problems.
Please Note: These stairs aren’t always kept in the best repair and there’s no way that you should tackle them unless you have full mobility. There is absolutely no suitable access to Bingin Beach, right now, for wheelchair users or those on crutches, etc.
Bali and Southeast Asia as a whole are starting to consider the needs of travellers with disabilities but there isn’t a huge budget for this and many places have other pressures on their budgets too.
Things To Do At Bingin Beach, Bali
Bingin Beach is primarily a surfing destination and the activities here reflect that but surfing is not the only thing to do at Bingin Beach, either.
Rent A Surfboard
If you want to tackle the Bingin surf, then you may need to stop at the surfboard rental shacks on the beach.
It shouldn’t cost much more than 50,000 IDR to rent a board for two hours and as long as you don’t break it in the Bingin Surf, then there’s no need for a damage deposit.
Take A Surfing Lesson
If you’re not sure whether you’re ready to tackle the Bingin surf, we’d recommend that you stop and ask for some lessons.
There are plenty of folks on Bingin Beach that can provide you with some first-rate surfing instruction and for a very reasonable price.
About The Bingin Beach Surf
The break at Bingin Beach creates a fast left-handed barrel that you can surf at any time of day.
It’s definitely an easier proposition to tackle during the dry season when the wind direction is from the East and the swell heads Southwest.
If you want to know what the local weather conditions and waves are like on any given day, there is a “surf cam ” where you can watch things unfold live.
Watch The Sunset
We’re big fans of the Balinese sunset. The light breaks delightfully over the horizon and bathes the world in red, orange and yellow tones that truly take your breath away.
There are loads of wonderful places to see the sunset in Bali but we think Bingin Beach is as good a place as any.
Go Swimming In The Indian Ocean
It’s best to swim at low tide on this beach, but it’s a nice place to swim as long as you make certain to keep an eye on the conditions and obey any instructions from the lifeguards present.
Just make sure you’re over the reef before the tide comes back in.
Fish BBQ On The Beach
One of the nicest things about being in Bali is the amount of fresh catch of the day there is to choose from and Bingin Beach is a great place to grab a fish BBQ in the evening.
Just walk around the local warungs and restaurants and see what catches your eye, there’s bound to be something tasty waiting for you.
Low Tide Beach Walk
Why not just enjoy a stroll down the beach and find the abandoned beach shacks and shells in the sand? It’s a very pleasant walk as long as it’s done at low tide.
Where To Stay In Bingin Beach/Uluwatu Area
Sal Secret Spot
This boutique resort offers a wonderful swimming pool area and while it’s not directly on Bingin Beach some of the rooms have beach access of their own.
Where Is It? Gg. Mertasari, Pecatu, Kec. Kuta Sel., Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361, Indonesia
Morabito Art Cliff
With just 6 lofts consisting of 2 bedrooms each, this is a great place for upmarket pampering without breaking the bank.
Their Morabito Sunset Bar is a great place for cocktails too.
Where Is It? Jl. Pantai Bingin, Pecatu, Bingin, Bukit, Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361, Indonesia
The Temple Lodge
The stunning views at this gorgeous hotel are absolutely phenomenal and it’s just a short walk from both Bingin Beach and Dreamlands.
Where Is It? Jalan Pantai Bingin, Pecatu, Kuta Selatan, Pecatu, Kuta Selatan, Pecatu, South Kuta, Badung Regency, Bali 80361, Indonesia
Where To Eat At Bingin Beach/Uluwatu, Bali
There are some decent Bingin Beach restaurants including:
Kelly’s Warung
This simple beachside warung is our idea of a good time. Get cold beers and local food at Kelly’s Warung and you can’t go wrong.
In fact, Kelly’s Warung has become something of an icon among the local surfers.
Where Is It? Kelly’s Warung, 54V7+RFX, Pecatu, South Kuta, Badung Regency, Bali 80361, Indonesia
Lucky Fish Lounge
This beachside restaurant is the perfect place for cold cocktails while watching the sun go down.
The Bingin Surf community swears by Lucky Fish. We can see why. The fresh fish here is awesome too.
Where Is It? Lucky Fish Lounge, Jl. Pantai Bingin, Pecatu, Kec. Kuta Sel., Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361, Indonesia
The Cashew Tree Collective
If you’re feeling like going a bit more upmarket at Bingin Beach, then the Cashew Tree is another local favourite.
We like the menu at The Cashew Tree and they have some awesome vegan options too.
Where Is It? The Cashew Tree Collective, Jl. Pantai Bingin No.9, Pecatu, Kec. Kuta Sel., Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361, Indonesia
Other Amazing Uluwatu Beaches
Dreamland Beach
A hidden beach with white sands surrounded by limestone cliffs and making the best use of the rugged coastline.
Balangan Beach
A fabulous beach of white sand with over 200 meters of panoramic ocean views to offer you. The surf is pretty good too.
Padang Padang Beach
Another world-class surf spot and it’s clean and beautiful all year round.
Suluban Beach
It’s not the best beach around for sunbathing because it’s shaded by the local cliff face but it has fabulous breaks as the waves come round the reef.
Nyang Nyang Beach
An absolutely pristine strip of white sand that runs for nearly 1.5 kilometres and it barely sees any crowds! It’s one of our favourite spots on the island.
Thomas Beach
Some call this the “real Padang Padang” and it’s true that this is the nicer spot with white sands and blue waters and far fewer crowds.
Other Nearby Attractions To Uluwatu Bingin Beach
Uluwatu Temple
This wonderful temple is one of the most important religious and cultural destinations on the island.
Not only does it offer spectacular views over the Indian Ocean at sunset thanks to its clifftop position, but it’s also home to some of the world’s most unique monkeys (though sadly, this isn’t always a good thing for visitors).
Balangan Viewpoint
If you want an amazing Instagram location this viewpoint above the neighbouring Balangan Beach is the perfect place to go.
The only downside is that at certain times, you might need to wait a while for a shot as wedding photographers love this place and often bring a crowd with them.
Kecak Fire Dance
This Balinese dance performance is absolutely breathtaking anywhere but it gains even more majesty when held on a clifftop at sunset. Don’t miss the chance to see a Kecak Dance.
GWK Cultural Park
With the world’s tallest Garuda statue and the tallest statue in Indonesia, there’s a lot to like about GWK Cultural Park. You can also watch some lovely dance performances here and sample some excellent street food at the stalls in the park.
FAQs
What Is Bingin Beach Like In Bali?
It’s one of the major hotspots for surfing and the beach has a surfer’s vibe to it.
Once you reach the parking area, you’ll already see people wandering about with boards and the like.
However, it’s a genuinely pleasant area and in the late afternoon when the best restaurants in the area are having a BBQ out on the beach, it’s the ideal place for a cocktail and to watch the sunset.
The Bukit Peninsula is only going to become more and more popular in the years to come, so the best time to visit Bingin Beach is right now.
Is Bingin Beach Safe To Swim?
Yes, but we’d recommend that you swim at low tide. This provides you with some shelter as the waves drop in intensity and creates some small coves where you can escape the main power of the water.
But at other times of day, please be careful, if the water starts to really swell it can be hard to get out of the water and onto the shallow reef by the beach as the coral underneath (at the shallow reef) becomes very slippery underfoot.
How Do You Get Down To Bingin Beach?
You get to the car park and then go down the stairs. These stairs aren’t always in the best of condition and we wouldn’t recommend that anyone with motion impairment try to tackle them.
There is certainly no wheelchair access at this beach or indeed many of the other beaches in Bali.
Is Bingin Beach Good For Beginner Surfers?
Mostly, no. It’s really for advanced surfers or intermediate surfers looking to really improve their surfing game.
However, beginner surfers can grab a bit of the mid-section of the waves off the break at high tide and until then, they can enjoy a cold beer on one of the most beautiful beaches in Bali.
If you’re a total newbie, go and talk to one of the local surf schools (just follow the line of surfboard racks) at this awesome surf spot and they will help you tick all the boxes you need to tick in order to be ready to face the waves.
Does Bingin Beach Have A World Class Surf Break On The Indian Ocean?
Yes, people come for the sun. Surf is what they stay for. Bingin Surf Break is famous across the world and you get some amazing waves, particularly at mid-tide to high tide.
It’s easy to get surfboard rental and surf lessons here too. It’s one of every surfer’s favorite beaches because of the perfect waves you can catch here.
What Is The Nicest Beach In Bali?
“Nicest” is a pretty vague term and a lot depends on what you want from a beach. We guarantee that we could find a few surfers in Bali who think Bingin Beach is the best place on the island, for example.
However, we think if we surveyed enough people who have been all over Bali, Nusa Dua Beach would emerge as the favourite.
That’s because it has soft white sands, it’s great for water sports, it is surrounded by some of the best brand-name resorts in the world and the area around it was, quite literally, built with tourism in mind.
Is Bingin Beach Crowded?
It very much depends on when you visit. If you arrive in the high season and when people are in town for some of the major surfing events, then you can be certain that Bingin Beach will be busy.
At other times, it can be much calmer.
One thing’s for certain though, by the time the sunset hours have arrived Bingin Beach and the Bingin Beach restaurants will be packed out.
How To Book A Holiday Near Bingin Beach?
If you want to spend time at Bingin Beach, Bali or anywhere else that beach lovers want to be in Bali, we recommend that you get in touch with the Bali Res Centre.
The Bali Res Centre is a locally owned and operated travel agency that specializes in Balinese travel. They really do know their Bukit Peninsula from their Bedugul.
Their local contacts ensure that when you book through them that you get competitive prices and everything else you want from an incredible sunset to an infinity pool.
Best of all, when you use their services, you’re ensuring that you keep your holiday money in Bali’s economy and aren’t sending it overseas to line the pockets of a multinational corporation.
Final Thoughts On Whether To Visit Bingin Beach (Pantai Bingin)
If you love a white sand beach then you’re going to love Bingin Beach and if you love surfing, Bingin is a brilliant place to surf.
The Bingin Surf Break is one of the best anywhere in Bali with truly world-class waves.
The area itself is beautiful and there are other beaches and things to see when you’re ready to do something else.
You’re also not that far from Canggu, so you can easily take a day trip (or weekend trip) to enjoy time at FINNS, the world’s best beach club.
