Is Kuta Worth Visiting In 2025?

It very much depends on the kind of holiday that you want to have. You can tick off all the things to do in Kuta in 2-3 days and spend time enjoying live music in the bars and clubs too.

However, if you like to spend your vacation in one place, you could easily spend a week or two in this part of the island without getting bored. Though you might find it a little frustrating to get around by taxi or on foot after a week or so.

Almost everyone we know has been glad that they spent some time in Kuta, but the majority would opt to take a day trip to explore the area and stay in one of the more upmarket areas of the island if they can.

Is It Better To Stay In Kuta Or Canggu?

We think Canggu is a better place to stay than Kuta. Not only is it home to FINNS Beach Club (the best of the beach clubs on the island and, in fact, the world’s best beach club) but it also has a better mix of tourism activities and local culture.

There are still rice fields and temples in Canggu, whereas these are long gone from the Kuta area, to be replaced by shopping malls, resorts, restaurants and the other trappings of a vacation destination.

That doesn’t mean that Kuta’s a bad place to stay in Bali, Indonesia but it does leave it feeling a bit over-built and given that it’s a pretty easy spot to get to from Jimbaran, Legian, Seminyak, Canggu, Ubud, etc. you might prefer to stay in Canggu and then take a day trip or two to Kuta.

Is It Better To Stay In Kuta Or Ubud?

Kuta and Ubud are very different destinations. Kuta is a cheap resort town with Kuta Beach making up the main draw for the town.

Ubud is, on the other hand, inland and considered to be the spiritual heart of the nation. There’s no golden sand or sand of any kind in Ubud, it’s too far from the ocean to have a beach.

But it does have rice paddies, temples, jungle, a monkey forest and much more to grab your attention.

We’d recommend Kuta to fun seekers and budget travelers, Ubud to those seeking a more cultural break and to those with higher budgets seeking a little luxury in their lives.

Why Is Kuta So Popular?

Kuta was once the most popular destination in Bali and it was popular because it was the first area to be developed and because Kuta Beach is a very attractive beach.

It’s not as popular as it once was, partly because there is much more choice of destination than when Kuta was in its heyday – Seminyak, Canggu, Jimbaran, Uluwatu, Nusa Dua, Ungasan, Ubud, etc. are all competing for the affections of visitors to the island now.

But also because it’s looking a little shabby around the edges and many people feel that it’s been overdeveloped.

However, Kuta isn’t “over” and it has become a top choice of travellers on a budget as it’s become the cheapest beach town in South Bali and the pubs, bars and clubs in this area are among the most affordable on the island.

This, in turn, has led to another problem – crime. The area around the bars and clubs in this town is notorious for petty crime. Bag snatching, pickpocketing, etc. are very common in Kuta compared to other parts of the island.

That doesn’t mean a trip to Kuta is dangerous, but it does mean you should have a taxi waiting for you at the end of your night out and you should use common sense when out and about in the town.

Is It Easy To Get Around Kuta, Bali?

Sort of. You can walk around Kuta, but as with many parts of the island, the sidewalks are not well kept and you may find yourself in the road with the hectic traffic or worse, the motorbikes at busy times may end up on the pavement with you.

You can use ride-shares or rent a scooter or car (or even use a private driver and their car), but the traffic in Kuta is some of the worst on the island and you may find you spend more time in a vehicle not moving than you do getting somewhere.

However, Kuta Beach and the strip running parallel to it are very pedestrian-friendly and there are malls, restaurants, and coffee shops, etc. on this strip.

Is Kuta Safe?

Kuta is not a dangerous place. However, there’s no doubt that for Bali it’s a more dangerous area than most.

This is mainly related to the nightlife and the tourists who visit Kuta Beach in droves every day.

The nightlife sees both pretty crime such as bag snatching and pickpocketing, as well as violent crime with tourists often getting into brawls with each other and local folks.

Worse, there are often fake drug dealers in this area offering foolish tourists drugs. We should note that you’re not likely to get any actual drugs if you do decide to partake in this, but you are likely to get arrested by the police in a country where drugs can lead to a death sentence. We strongly urge you to avoid drugs or their suggestion during the time you are in Indonesia.

There are also minor risks of tropical diseases in Bali, but they are at a minimum in built-up areas like Kuta (though dog bites can still spread rabies – try to avoid street dogs).

Kuta is also a long way from the island’s main active volcanoes and you’re not likely to be involved in a natural disaster but an eruption elsewhere on the island might delay your flights.

Overall, Kuta is no more dangerous than most Western towns and as long as you use your common sense, your visit to the area should pass without any incidents.

Do You Need Cash In Kuta, Bali?