Thinking of a trip to Bali and wondering whether you should plan a visit to Legian or even book a hotel in the area? Well, we’ve put together a very handy guide to help you make up your mind.
Here’s everything you need to know about Legian including the good, the bad and the ugly in 2025.
The Truth About Legian In 2025
There are plenty of nice places to stay in Bali and Legian is one of them. A short trip from the airport, it’s popular for its pleasant beach and great choices of hotels, villas, resorts, etc. that are good value for money.
It’s not the showiest neighbourhood in Bali but that’s part of its charm. If you’re in the mood for a beach break and want access to the best nightlife on the island without being surrounded by that nightlife, Legian is likely to tick boxes for you.
TL:DR Answer: Is Legian Worth Visiting?
Yes, while we’ve put together plenty of facts below to help you decide whether you want to visit Legian or not, the short answer is “Yes, Legian is worth visiting in 2025”.
It’s a great spot to find a good value hotel room, with easy access to shops, restaurants, etc. and it’s not far from most of the popular spots on the island too – so you can be certain that you won’t be bored on your vacation.
The Original Legian Appeal
Legian was a small fishing village on the coast. It had access to a beautiful beach and decent waves for the surfers who used to be Bali’s main tourists.
There were local shops, restaurants and a few guesthouses and palm trees to shade yourself under as you watched the sunset over the ocean.
How Legian Has Changed And Why It Matters
Legian has been transformed from a small beachside fishing village into one of the most prosperous towns in Bali.
There are hotels, restaurants, bars, cafes, etc. galore and there’s not a lot left of the original village. This isn’t a spot for those seeking Balinese culture, arts, and rice fields. It’s a popular tourist destination for sunseekers looking to ensure they’re within a short drive of nearly everything that the island has to offer.
The Attractions Of Legian
There’s no doubt that this part of Bali has plenty of attractions and they include:
Proximity To Cheap Nightlife
Legian doesn’t have that much in the way of nightlife of its own, but it’s right next door to Kuta with the island’s cheapest nightlife and that means you can party until dawn there and come back and enjoy a proper night’s sleep without hearing the nightlift at your hotel.
Beautiful Beaches
The beach in Legian is lovely and unlike Kuta, right next door, it doesn’t see huge numbers of visitors or the levels of trash on the sand that Kuta gets too.
It’s a very accessible strip of sand and you’ll be very happy that you opted to spend some time in this area if you love laying on the beach in the sun.
Things To Do
While Legian isn’t home to a huge number of attractions it borders Kuta and Jimbaran and is within a short drive of Canggu, Seminyak, Uluwatu, Ubud and Nusa Dua.
So, you can find a lot to do around Legian and there’s absolutely no need to be bored if you stay in this area.
Proximity To Ngurah Rai International Airport
Legian is practically on top of the airport and that means you’re not going to need to spend hours in traffic after a long flight before you can relax in your hotel.
Don’t worry though, there’s not much in the way of flight noise in the area, planes land from the sea side of the airport rather than the land side.
The Downsides Of Legian
There are downsides to Legian as well as upsides and the two main concerns people have about this part of Bali are:
Traffic
There’s no doubt that Legian suffers from some fairly hectic traffic and even that short drive from Ngurah Rai International Airport can take 20 minutes when the distance suggests it should take 5.
However, the whole island suffers from traffic issues and while it might be slightly worse in South Bali, it’s not enough worse to put you off any specific destination.
Just be aware that you need to order a taxi early if you have a specific appointment if you want to be on time.
Overdevelopment
This part of Bali was among the first to be developed for the needs of tourists and there’s no doubt that the coast here has seen, perhaps, a little too much development.
It’s a good thing if you like lots of facilities on your doorstep and the modern bustling side of life, but if you’re searching for authentic Bali, temples, rice fields, etc. then you won’t find them in Legian and you might be better off in Canggu or Ubud.
What Sort Of People Think Legian Is Worth Visiting In 2025
Legian appeals to a very broad range of people and most will have fun in this part of Bali. However, the area is particularly likely to appeal to:
Budget Travelers
Legian isn’t quite as cheap as Kuta when it comes to partying, but the accomodation in this area is excellent value for money.
The bars and restaurants in Legian are also excellent if you want mid-range food options without any frills for reasonable prices.
Legian is very understated as a whole and it’s a good place to relax with friends in comfort without any of the harder edge of the other beach towns.
Party Goers Who Want A Break From The Party At The End Of The Day
Legian is not a party destination, but Kuta, Canggu and Seminyak very much are and you’re only a short drive from the best bars and nightlife on the island.
But once you drive home at the end of the night, the party’s over, you won’t hear the sounds of late-night karaoke or the thumping bass from a club, because you’re in Legian and not in the party hotspots.
This makes Legian a great destination for those people who love to party, but also know that all good things must come to an end and find life better after a good night’s rest.
Day Trippers
While there’s not that much to do in Legian itself you’re within a short drive of most of the popular spots on the island and that means you can play a day trip or three to keep your time in Bali exciting and interesting without breaking the bank.
To explore the area around Legian won’t be expensive, but you may find that the traffic turns some journeys into much longer trips than you were banking on, unfortunately, this is true for everywhere in Bali, now, not just Legian.
Shoppers
There are plenty of shops in Legian and Canggu, Kuta and Seminyak have even more shops to offer. If you love to go shopping then spending some time in this part of Bali is almost mandatory.
Whether you’re seeking a special piece from a local designer or leather craftsman or something from big international brand names in the malls, you won’t have to travel too far to find it in Legian.
Is Legian Worth Visiting As A Family?
Yes! In fact, Legian is a great place for families visiting Bali as there’s a great mix of hotels and resorts that cater to children.
You’re also on the doorstep of Canggu, Seminyak and Kuta where you’ll find plenty of child-friendly activities to ensure they are still entertained once playing on the beach loses its shine.
It’s also possible to learn to surf or ride a horse down the beach, both of which are likely to be very appealing to older kids.
Is Legian Worth Visiting As A Couple?
Yes, Legian is worth visiting as a couple, though – of course – it depends on what exactly you want from your holiday in Bali.
If you want to be within walking distance of an attractive beach for romantic walks, within a stone’s throw of Canggu, Kuta and Seminyak or Uluwatu Temple and have plenty of shops, cafes, restaurants and bars on hand, you’ll be very happy in Legian.
However, if you were hoping to spend some time in a villa in the rice fields watching the sunset or sunrise over Mount Batur or Mount Agung, this isn’t going to be the right place for you.
When Is The Best Time To Visit Legian, Bali
We always say that there’s no bad time to visit Bali. Even during the rainy season, it doesn’t rain all day long and the wet season sees, on average, 8 hours of sunshine each day!
It’s also cheaper to come to Bali in the wet season because flights, villas and hotels are discounted and many restaurants and bars are running promos to win your business.
Then, there’s the advantage of finding shorter queues at the big attractions on the island.
However, there’s no denying that your holiday will be warmer and more humid at this time of year than it would be in the dry season.
The dry season is cooler, and it’s less humid, but flights cost more, hotels are more expensive and queues at attractions can get ridiculous at times.
But no matter what time of year, you time your trip for, you can always find somewhere to relax and and enjoy some fun.
FAQs
Is It Better To Stay In Legian Or Seminyak?
Legian and Seminyak are very different areas. Legian is a quieter and more laid-back area, even though it’s right next to Kuta which is one of the most busy and party-oriented neighbourhoods in Bali.
Thus, Legian tends to appeal to families seeking a balance between fun nights out and more laid-back days on the beach.
Seminyak, on the other hand, tends to appear to youthful upwardly mobile individuals who want to spend some time seeing and being seen on Seminyak Beach before partaking in fine dining, high-end resorts and upmarket nightlife.
Seminyak is the more expensive of the two areas of Bali and budget-conscious travellers are likely to prefer Legian.
Is It Worth Staying In Legian?
Yes, we think Legian, Bali is often overlooked for Kuta and Seminyak but we quiet like the quiet nature of this area and the proximity to busier parts of the island.
The restaurants, cafes and bars in this area tend to be focused on value for money, with fewer fine dining spots than some of the more popular parts of the island.
The beach is very attractive and you can walk to many of the attractions in the area without too much hassle. Legian is a popular area in Bali but it’s a bit of an unsung hero on this part of the coast.
How Long Should I Stay In Legian?
It very much depends on what kind of holiday you’re looking for. Tourists who are trying to squeeze as much of Bali in as possible might spend 2 or 3 days here, including side trips to Canggu, Kuta and Seminyak before moving on.
But it’s quite easy to spend a week or more in this part of Bali on your holiday too, you can surf, go swimming, walk around the area, go shopping in the local shops, enjoy the cafes, bars and restaurants, etc. and have a very pleasant time of things.
Heck, some expats and digital nomads choose to live in Legian and stay in the area for much longer periods of time thanks to all the conveniences available to them.
Is It Better To Stay In Legian Or Canggu?
We think Canggu is the best spot to stay on the island. It has the best balance between local culture and amenities for tourists. You can still find rice fields and temples, rubbing shoulders with the beach clubs (including FINNS Beach Club), villas, resorts, etc.
However, Legian is not a bad area to stay in and many tourists have excellent holidays in this part of Bali.
Is It Better To Stay In Legian Or Ubud?
Ubud and Legian are very different destinations. Legian is a beach town where you can enjoy one of the best sunset views on the island and go swimming in the ocean.
Ubud, on the other hand, is not on the coast and is an inland spiritual haven surrounded by rice fields, temples, jungles, etc.
Many people will opt for a two-centre holiday if they want to see both Ubud and one of the beach towns as they each have plenty to offer travellers and Bali traffic makes getting back and forth between the two on a day trip rather more involved than it might be.
Why Is Legian So Popular?
Legian is very popular thanks to the beach and the proximity to Canggu, Kuta and Seminyak. It’s not as popular as the other areas are, but this means it’s a bit quieter and the restaurants, bars and cafes are a little more understated in some of the other beach towns.
Is It Easy To Get Around Legian?
You can walk around Legian (and it’s easy to walk down the beach and the strip running parallel to the beach) relatively easily, though as with all streets in Bali – the traffic can be a real pain at busy times and pavements are not as safe as they could be.
You can also use a private driver, ride-share, or scooter to get around though, once again, the traffic can make journeys much longer than they need to be.
Is Legian Safe?
Yes, Legian is safe. However, thanks to its proximity to Kuta (it’s within walking distance along the beach), you may find areas around Jalan Legian attract the occasional unsavoury sort seeking opportunities for bag snatching or pickpocketing
However, this popular destination tends to see very little crime overall and the most risk comes from your fellow tourists when alcohol is involved.
There is a risk of tropical diseases and the stray dogs of Legian have a reputation for occasionally being vectors of rabies. We’d strongly recommend that you have travel insurance, as rabies shots are not great value for money in Bali and if you’re bitten, they’re not optional – rabies is fatal without treatment in 100% of cases.
Overall, though there’s not a huge risk of tropical diseases in built-up areas and almost none at all in the compound of a luxury hotel after being ferried by private car from the airport to this part of South Bali.
Legian is also a long way from Bali’s active volcanoes, so you don’t need to worry about being trapped in lava flows, etc.
We should note that in the event of a volcanic eruption, there may be some disruption to flight schedules (another good reason to have travel insurance).
Overall, Legian and the Legian Beach area are safe destinations that are, at least, as safe as most Western destinations.
Do You Need Cash In Legian, Bali?
You will almost certainly need some cash in Legian. Whether it’s to hire a private driver to take you down Sunset Road and beyond to explore the island or pay for beachside parking or for access to a temple.
We’d recommend that you carry around 1 million IDR (that’s about $60 USD or $100 AUD) in cash with you and that, at least, some of it is in small denomination bills (or you may find that there’s no change available in certain situations).
However, you can pay by card in most circumstances (hotels, bars, restaurants, etc.) and you shouldn’t need to visit an ATM very often in this part of town.
Is Legian Expensive?
Legian is certainly more expensive than it once was, in a post-Covid world, inflation has hit Bali fairly hard and nothing is as cheap as it used to be.
However, when compared to Western destinations Legian is a cheap-ish destination and this spot by the Indian Ocean is great value for money.
If you love swimming, scuba diving, local culture, renting surf boards, going for a walk on the beach, taking the occasional day trip (why not see the Uluwatu Temple while you’re here or head to Canggu, Kuta and Seminyak for a bit of shopping?), etc. then you’re not going to find Legian expensive.
The restaurants, shops and bars in town all tend to be good value too and food, drinks, etc. are not going to break the bank (well, unless you have dinner in a fine dining establishment, anyway).
The location near Denpasar Airport will also keep your taxi and ride-share costs to a minimum.
Is Legian A Party Place?
No, Legian is not a party place. However, its next-door neighbour Kuta is very much a party place, as is the Seminyak Beach area a bit further up the coast and Canggu which is also not very far away.
So, many people stay in Legian to take advantage of the beautiful beaches and cheaper luxury hotel accommodations and then head up Sunset Road in a taxi/ride-share to find a party in the evening.
Final Thoughts On Whether To Visit Legian In 2025
Legian is very much worth visiting and the easy access it provides to Canggu, Kuta and Seminyak also mean that you might want to spend some time staying in the area too.
There are shops, restaurants, bars, cafes, etc. and the beach is quite lovely with better access and maintenance than some of the other beaches on the island.
Read more:
Is Bali Worth Visiting? The Honest Truth Before You Visit Bali
Is Canggu Worth Visiting? The Unvarnished Truth Before You Visit Bali
Is Seminyak Worth Visiting: Everything You Need To Know About The Seminyak Beach Area Before You Fly
