Sanur is on the Southeast Coast of Bali and it’s becoming an increasingly popular destination for tourists looking to get away from the crowds and explore Bali a little.
But before you book your stay in Sanur, you’ll want to read our complete guide to everything you need to know about Sanur and what’s there.
Where Is Sanur, Bali?
Sanur is a small part of the Southeast Corner of Bali. It’s opposite Denpasar City which is the biggest city on the island.
Sanur, pronounced “Sah-noor” is made up, mainly, of Sanur Beach and Jalan Danau Tamblingan which is the main street running through the city.
Tourism tends to be in the areas east of the main bypass in the area, which contains most of the attractions, resorts, etc.
We’d expect to see more growth to the West of the bypass over time but for now, apart from a few nice restaurants, there’s not much out that way to bring visitors in.
How Do I Get To Sanur?
You’ll need to fly to Bali (or come on a cruise ship) and then get a taxi or hotel transfer to Sanur itself.
Sanur is very close to the airport and it’s only going to take 15-20 minutes door-to-door.
What Is The Best Time To Visit Sanur?
The busiest time of the year is the Christmas to New Year week when every hotel is packed out.
After that, the peak season is during the dry season and mid-June to mid-September is when you’ll find most people visit Sanur.
However, the wet season (November to March) isn’t that wet. And you may find that it’s cheaper and there are fewer crowds around to come at that time of the year.
In the end, there are no bad times to visit Sanur, Bali. You should visit when you want to.
What’s Sanur Like?
Sanur is quiet and laid back and it’s nowhere near as busy as the areas of Bali that attract the most tourists like Kuta, Legian and Seminyak.
However, that doesn’t mean that there’s nothing to do in Sanur or that it’s not a lovely place to stay. It just means there are fewer attractions than in some of the busier places.
Is Sanur Family-Friendly?
Yes! Very much so. In fact, young families tend to love the budget-friendly atmosphere and appreciate the quieter beaches because it’s easier to keep an eye on your little ones in that kind of environment.
Is Sanur Safe?
Yes, Sanur is very safe and is considered to be one of the safest parts of the island.
Your biggest concern should be to prevent petty crime by always keeping an eye on your possessions and not flaunting large amounts of cash in public view.
We’d also advise that if you’re walking around late at night, it’s better to use a ride sharing app and get a taxi than to walk.
How Do I Get Around Sanur?
For most tourists, if they’re based on Sanur Beach or the Danau Tamblingan you can pretty much walk everywhere you’d want to go in Sanur itself.
Just make sure to cross the road safely. You step out into Bali traffic with a hand raised in a sort of “stop!” manner, and then you walk slowly and confidently forward (never backward and don’t stop) and the traffic flows around you.
Taxis
If you want to use a taxi, we recommend that you use the Grab or Gojek apps which ensure you get a fixed price for your ride. Ride-hailing apps also mean you can pay by card if you register your card with the app.
However, you may find you get a bit of angry static from local taxi drivers if you’re seen using one, so be discrete.
If you have to hail a taxi, we recommend Blue Bird Taxis as they have the best reputation and are least likely to scam you.
Scooter Or Car
You can rent a scooter or private car easily enough in Bali and, in fact, in the case of a car, it’s nearly as cheap to rent a driver too and then you don’t have to deal with the local traffic.
If you opt for a scooter, we strongly encourage you to make sure you have an international driver’s permit which has a motorcycle endorsement, some previous experience riding a bike and always wear your helmet.
Bali is a bad place to learn to drive a scooter and accidents are very common. Failure to make yourself legal to drive will also mean any insurance you have is invalid.
If you get into an accident, costs can escalate and it’s not unknown to have to raise tens of thousands of dollars for medical bills.
What Are Some Hotels & Resorts In Sanur?
You have easy access to some lovely affordable places in Sanur as well as some more luxurious hotels. Sanur is usually much cheaper than neighbouring islands and the more popular areas of Bali, in any case.
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Hyatt Regency, Bali
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Andaz Bali
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Maya Sanur Resort & Spa
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Puri Santrian
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Griya Santrian
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Klumpu Bali Resort
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Sudamala Suites & Villas
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Intercontinental Bali Sanur Resort
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Prama Sanur Beach Bali
Can You Rent A Private Villa In Sanur?
Yes, in fact, it’s very easy to rent a private villa here and some of the villas are ridiculously upscale. Tandjung Sari has welcomed guests such as Mick Jagger and David Bowie, for example!
Tandjung Sari
Beachfront Estate Sanur – Seven Kejora
Villa Seriska Satu Sanur
The Zen Villas
Villa Apanya Sanur
Villa Selaras
Sanur Residence
Villa Deh Simba
Tropical Oasis
Natah Balie Villas
About Sanur Beach & Sanur’s Beaches
Sanur might not be the most famous beach resort in Bali but it has some gorgeous beaches for you to enjoy.
Sanur Beach is the largest and most famous. There are rarely any crowds on this beach (unlike say, Kuta Beach) and no beach clubs, either.
The beach is more about diving near the reef and relaxing on the sands. The annual Bali Kite Festival takes place on Sanur Beach. (Kites are a big deal in Bali).
There are also a few other beaches close by:
Cemara Beach – while technically in Denpasar, this beach is not far away and it’s a lovely, serene place. The red coral offshore is very appealing to scuba divers. There are plenty of beach shacks to enjoy a cheap meal and a cold Bintang at, there are no real beach clubs here, either.
Taman Inspirasi Mertasari – This family-orientated beach has its own theme park. Despite this, it’s never all that busy and it’s one of the very few places in Bali where you can get a camel ride on the beach!
Padang Galak Beach – This beach is also often a host to the Bali Kite Festival events and it offers some lovely views over the nearby islands.
Pandawa Beach – This beach in Sanur is about halfway to Nusa Dua and it’s by some epic cliffs. If you love water sports, seclusion and awesome beach shack restaurants, you will love this beach.
Sawangan Beach/Nikko Beach – This beach is probably closer to Nusa Dua than Sanur but it’s the best place for a full camel-led Bali safari on the beach in Bali! Many of Bali’s most appealing glass-bottomed boat tours leave from this beach too.
Things To Do In Sanur
Watch The Sunrise On Sanur Beach
Sunrise over Sanur Beach is one of the most dramatic natural light displays in Bali.
Watch the fishermen hard at work reeling in the catch of the day, listen to the bird song and bathe in the glorious red light. It’s awesome.
You might also want to go for a swim as Sanur Beach has relatively calm waters. The beach in Sanur is quite lovely and we think it’s sadly underrated for a nice place to chill out.
Walk Sanur Beach Boardwalk
There’s a wooden boardwalk that follows nearly the entire length of Sanur Beach and it’s a lovely walk (or bicycle ride – you can hire a bike nearby for very little money).
There are also, occasionally, some free yoga classes at Pantai Karang you just need to bring a mat and towel to participate.
In peak season, the boardwalk can get pretty busy, but mostly it’s a charming part of town.
Catch A Festival In Sanur
Sanur hosts several of Bali’s more popular festivals and these include:
Kite Flying Festival – This annual event is usually held in July or August and it sees some amazing kites and displays of kite-flying skill
Sanur Village Festival – This event showcases the local culture and creativity. It has a nice boat show as part of the proceedings too.
Bali Arts Festival – This annual festival has been going on since 1979 and it’s a wonderful showcase of local artistic talent. The opening day parade is awesome.
Scare Yourself At Taman Festival
Taman Festival is near the Jalan Pandaggalak Beach Road to the north of Sanur.
It’s not, despite its name, actually a festival, it’s an abandoned theme park and it’s pretty spooky.
They spent $100 million on building this place and then, for various reasons, the park never opened its doors to the public.
Balinese people won’t go inside this site, they consider it to be haunted and call it a ghost town.
You can wander in, however, and take some awesome Instagram shots, and ignore anyone trying to collect an entry fee, they’re con men, not guards.
Release Some Sea Turtles
Turtle conservation is a big deal in Bali and if you are in Sanur during the hatching season, you can join a sea turtle release.
You can contact the Turtle Conservation Centre (TCEC) to find out more about this.
You might also want to visit Turtle Island while you’re in Sanur, which is a very popular destination to see turtles in the wild.
Check Out Le Mayeur Museum
The Museum Le Mayeur is an unusual place that is dedicated to the Belgian Painter, Adrien Jean Le Mayeur De, and his Balinese wife.
It’s not very well-maintained which is a shame because the paintings are very good.
However, we’d still say it was one of the best ways to learn about the bygone days of Bali.
Bali Bird Park
OK, it might be stretching it to say Bali Bird Park was in Sanur, but it’s not far away and it’s a great place to visit when you’re visiting Sanur.
It covers an area of 2,000 square meters and it’s home to over 1,300 birds, from more than 250 species, in a fully enclosed aviary.
Explore The Rice Fields
It’s best to take a bicycle or scooter for this, but the rice fields near Sanur are some of the most unspoiled and beautiful in Bali.
Amazingly, most tourists are blissfully unaware of this and you can explore them and enjoy them pretty much to yourself!
Sindhu Night Market
Head to North Sanur, Bali and you will find this lovely little night market where you will find some street food stalls selling amazing Indonesian food for very little money.
You can also stock up on fresh fruit and vegetables here for your room. It’s open from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. officially but is often open much later.
Get Into Watersports
Sanur Beach is a great place to learn about various watersports. It may not look like the usual white sand beaches of Bali but that’s a big advantage when it comes to getting cheap lessons.
You can learn to dive, kitesurf, windsurf, jet skiing, parasail, banana boat driving and more.
One thing you might enjoy that’s a very traditional Bali Beach experience is to rent one of the local traditional fishing boats and the fisherman who uses it and go out fishing.
Go Souvenir Shopping
Head to Sanur Beach or Tamblingan Street for rows of small Balinese shops selling cheap souvenirs.
Haggling is very much expected and some of the products are really nice, much better than the tourist tat in some of the busier parts of the island.
Explore Pura Blanjong Temple
In the South Sanur Beach area, you will find the Pura Blanjong Temple. It’s not the most spectacular temple in Bali, but it is very pleasant and there aren’t many crowds here.
The stone pillar at this site is considered to be one of the oldest religious artefacts in Bali and it’s a tribute to Sri Kesari Warmadewa (a famous Balinese king) and his military prowess.
Get A Pool Day Pass
If you’re staying in Sanur on a tight budget, you might not have an awesome pool at your guest house, that’s OK – you can buy a resort pool pass, instead.
These tend to run 50,000-100,000 IDR for a day and are sold by most of the big brand hotels in the area.
They usually give you access to the pool, towels and changing facilities as well as some sort of discount on food & drink.
Get Sweet With Pod Chocolate
Pod Chocolate is a local brand that makes a sort of Nutella-like product among its chocolate offerings.
We like the Pod Chocolate shop in Sanur because it has free tastings before you buy.
Visit Bali Zoo
The Bali Zoo is about half an hour’s ride from Sanur proper but if you love to see tropical birds and interesting wildlife, it’s worth the taxi journey.
It’s not the biggest zoo in history, but that’s fine by us. It gets hot in Bali, and nobody needs to be walking around a zoo all day long.
We like that there are plenty of animal interaction encounters here and you can be sure that the animals are well cared for and well looked after.
See The Bajra Sandhi Monument In Denpasar City
This interesting monument towers over the landscape and is a tribute to the courage and grit of the Balinese people and all the struggles they have overcome over the centuries.
It’s a very Instagram-worthy place.
Where To Go For Coffee In Sanur?
Sanur is as good as any other place in Bali to get a great cup of coffee and it has plenty of nice cafes to choose from including:
Canvas Cafe
The Porch Cafe
Kopitoko
Luhtu’s Coffee Shop
Gecke Coffee Houses
The Bare Bottle Sanur
Bread Basket Bakery
Simply Brew
BARISTA Coffee House
Goddess Bakery Patisserie & Cafe
What Are The Best Places To Eat In Sanur?
Many people stick to the beach restaurants in Sanur for their holiday dining in this location. They’re cheap and the food is good and often draws on the local catch of the day.
However, if you want something a bit different, there are plenty of decent spots to eat including:
Jalapeno
Soul on the Beach
Naughty Nuri’s
Fisherman’s Club
Pescado Bali
Cork Bistro & Wine Bar
Izzy Izakaya Street
Sala Bistro
Pier Eight
Lilla Pantai
Where To Shop In Sanur?
Sanur is nothing like Seminyak and if you’re hoping to spend a ton of money in boutiques and big brand stores, it’s probably not the right area to be in.
But there are pleasant shopping opportunities for tourists here and you should look out for:
Jalan Danau Tamblingan Shopping Street – This 2.5-kilometer (1.5 miles) long street is lined with local boutiques and art shops. Most stores are open to haggling on Jalan Danau Tamblingan but “fixed price” stores are not.
Sindhu Beach Art Market – This collection of art and souvenir shops is on Jalan Segara Ayu and Jalan Panti Sundhu.
Hardy’s Supermarket – If you need groceries in Sanur, this is the place to come. You can also find most other daily needs here such as books, clothes, etc.
Nogo Bali Ikat Center – If you want to buy local textiles, you can’t find a nicer place to do it than at Nogo Bali Ikat.
How To Deal With Sanur Beach Vendors
Beach sellers in Sanur Beach are way nicer than the beach sellers in other parts of Bali.
They’re all locals and they’re just trying to make a living. Feel free to buy from them and always haggle a little.
You don’t have to interact with vendors if you don’t want to, just say “no, thank you” and then keep walking.
The same is true if you’re walking down Jalan Danau Tamblingan and vendors or taxi touts start hassling you.
What About Spas And Pampering?
Yes, while Sanur’s not quite as overwhelmed by spas as Seminyak and Ubud, there are still plenty to enjoy. Try:
The Nest Beachside Spa
Maya Sanur
The Beach Spa & Cafe
Chantara Wellness & Spa
Sanda Spa Sanur
Does Sanur Have Any Nightlife?
Sanur is not really a clubbing destination but it does have some nightlife including:
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Sector Bar & Restaurant @ Bali Beach Golf Course
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Casablanca
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Beatles Cavern Bar
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Arena Pub @ Restaurant
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TKS Bar
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Man Shed Bali
Potential Day Trips From Sanur
Sanur is a great place to take a few day trips from and we’d recommend you consider:
FINNS Beach Club
There is no better beach club in the world than FINNS. It would be a real shame to come to Bali and not sample its delights, at least, once. Come to Canggu and find out for yourself.
Swimming With Manta Rays
Off the coast of Sanur, Bali near the Nusa islands you can swim with manta rays! This is a completely safe experience that everyone loves.
Camel Safari
Visit Nusa Dua and enjoy a safari of Bali from the back of a camel. It’s a truly unique experience.
FAQs
Is Sanur Worth Visiting?
Sanur is a great place to visit in Bali. It’s very close to the Ngurah Rai International Airport and that means no spending time in the traffic jams of Bali on your way to your resort.
It also has a port and is a great staging point for a trip to Nusa Penida or Nusa Lembongan or the Gili Islands.
Finally, it’s a quiet place with some lovely beaches and a much more relaxed vibe than other parts of Bali.
Is It Better To Stay In Sanur Or Seminyak?
It depends. If you want all-night parties, fine dining and high-end resorts then Seminyak will be your preferred destination. But it’s not for everyone and it is quite pricey.
Sanur, on the other hand, is a great place to enjoy Balinese culture, chill out on the beach and lead a more modest but still fun holiday in Bali.
Is There Much To Do In Sanur, Bali?
There are plenty of things to do in and around Sanur and when you include things you can do as a day trip, you could easily spend a long time in the area without getting bored.
Can You Swim In The Sea At Sanur?
Yes, swimming in the sea in Sanur around North Sanur Beach, Sindhu Beach, Keramas Beach, or any of the other several beaches in the area is fine. In fact, the main beach is very popular for swimming because it’s much less crowded than other Balinese beaches.
You can also learn many different water sports on Sanur Beach, though we should note, that Sanur, Bali is not the best destination for surfing.
Is Sanur or Ubud Better?
Sanur and Ubud are very different places. Ubud is cooler than Sanur due to being centrally located and higher up above sea level. It has no beaches and is often a place people visit for rest and relaxation and to explore their spiritual side.
Sanur is a popular beach destination ideal for a morning walk in the sunshine and affordable hotels that will suit more modest budgets.
Is Nusa Dua or Nusa Penida Near Sanur?
Yes, the Nusa Islands are not far from Sanur and Nusa Penida and Nusa Lembongan are only 40 minutes away by boat from the harbour.
Nusa Dua is also not far away and it’s a popular place for a short trip out of Sanur.
Is The Grand Inna Bali Beach Closed?
Yes. This previously popular hotel was bought by a new group and will reopen as the Meru Sanur in the future. However, we don’t have a time and date as to when that will happen.
How Should I Book My Holiday In Sanur?
We always recommend booking a holiday in Bali through the awesome people at The Bali Res Centre.
As a local agency, they can secure highly competitive prices for their guests and always have the most up-to-date information on what’s going on in any given area too.
Final Thoughts On Sanur And The Sanur Beach Area
Sanur might have a reputation for being sleepy, but it’s actually a lovely place to stay and it’s much more affordable than some of the more popular parts of the island.
We like its location too and find it super easy to explore other parts of Bali from Sanur.
