If you’re looking to stay in South Bali, you may be asking whether you should choose Legian or Kuta?
Our guide offers a head-to-head comparison of the most important things people tend to consider on holiday between the two beach towns.
That way, when you book your holiday in Bali, you can book with confidence.
What’s It Like In Kuta?
Kuta has long been the most popular holiday destination in Bali, particularly for Australian tourists. However, Canggu has now claimed the “most popular destination in Bali” crown and Kuta is changing.
There are still plenty of beach bars, hotels, and surfers on the beaches but Kuta has been slowing down over the last few years. It’s calmer than it once was and its legendary nightlife is starting to look a little past its prime.
However, with two of Bali’s best shopping malls and some of its biggest brand names, the Kuta Beach area is going to remain a big draw for expats, locals and tourists alike.
What’s It Like In Legian?
Legian is right next door to Kuta in Bali and at a quick glance, it’s hard to tell the two apart, though Legian Beach tends to be quieter than Kuta Beach because it’s not on the entrance road to a huge shopping complex.
There are many hotels and restaurants in Legian and you can find plenty of shops too. However, it has a more relaxed vibe than Kuta and it’s not quite as trendy and hip as its neighbour on the other side, Seminyak.
It’s a very popular spot for tourists who want access to the bright lights of Kuta and Seminyak but would prefer a more relaxed vibe on a day-to-day basis.
Kuta Vs Legian: Head-To-Head Comparison
In order to decide which town is better, we’ve put together a head-to-head comparison where we look at many factors that might influence your decision for a holiday.
We do more than compare prices because cost isn’t the only factor in most people’s holidays (though we love cheap prices as much as the next person does).
Which Is The Best For Accommodation?
Kuta has a bountiful supply of family-friendly resorts with relatively cheap prices for Bali. There’s also a good mix of guest houses, hostels and everything through to some high-end resorts.
However, it’s fair to say that the majority of accommodation in Kuta tends to be pitched firmly at the mid-market for Australians (mainly, though other groups do visit and stay in Kuta) seeking a relatively cheap beach holiday with their families.
Legian is very similar. There’s a little less choice in Legian than in Kuta, but that’s because the Legian area is a little smaller than Kuta.
Overall, there’s not much in this and even when you compare prices, you won’t find massive differences between the two areas. We’re going to call this one a draw.
Which Has The Best Nightlife?
Kuta has the most famous, or perhaps infamous, nightlife in Bali. One of the reasons that people choose this location by the sea is that after sunset, they can go out to eat some great food in the local restaurants before they party until dawn.
It is true that some of the venues are starting to look a little shabby, but after a few beers, the good people enjoying a beach holiday in the town don’t seem to mind too much.
Legian, on the other hand, is a little removed from the nightlife. Given that you can walk from Legian or jump in a cheap taxi to the nightlife in Kuta, that doesn’t seem to be a major issue if you like to party.
However, it does mean that the streets of Legian are more about restaurants for dinner, or a range of shops rather than focused on drinking.
Thus, Kuta wins for nightlife and it’s often Kuta’s biggest selling point – a party at low prices for Bali.
Which Is The Best Shopping Destination?
You will find more shops and, in particular, malls in Kuta than in Legian. This is partly down to the size of the two areas and partly because Kuta was the first major beach destination in Bali for families and thus, it’s been a focus for retailers.
Again, this isn’t really a big deal, you can walk from Legian Beach to the Beachwalk Mall or any of the other stores in the neighbouring town or jump in a Grab (the local ride-share) and be there in a few minutes (it might take longer to drive sometimes, mind you, in the Bali traffic than it does to walk).
Both areas have plenty of little shops selling surf gear, beachwear, etc. but neither has the array of designer boutiques that you will find in Seminyak and to a lesser extent Canggu.
So, Kuta wins again, but it’s something of a hollow victory. You won’t be deprived of shopping opportunities if you stay near Legian Beach.
In fact, this is true of most Kuta/Legian debates – the two towns overlap so much that you can enjoy the best of each, no matter which one you stay in.
Which Has The Best Dining Scene?
Kuta has more restaurants than Legian but that’s not really a deciding factor when it comes to food, is it? In fact, they both have more than enough places to eat and those places serve a wide range of food.
There might be a little more emphasis on international fare in Kuta and local food in Legian but you won’t struggle to find a burger or a plate of satay in either.
You will also find plenty of mid-range and cheap eats in both towns with just a light sprinkling of fine dining on top. In short, you can have a great family dinner in both towns.
There’s no Kuta/Legian divide here – this is a tie.
Legian Beach Vs Kuta Beach
Beaches are the main reason that people come to these two towns and Kuta Beach is one of the most famous beaches in the world.
It’s a nice white sand beach with excellent surf and you will find plenty of surf schools and board rental places along the shores.
This beach is also, perhaps, the busiest beach on the island and you may have to share your patch of sand with many others. It can also get a little dirty at times, particularly before the cleanup crew has arrived for the day to collect rubbish washed up from the ocean.
Legian Beach is also very nice. However, it’s a bit quieter than Kuta Beach (not least because there’s no parking on the beach, so you have to walk on to the beach) and more relaxed.
There’s not a huge amount in this, but if we were going to have to pick a single beach between these two destinations, we’d pick Legian.
Which Is The Most Aesthetically Pleasing?
There’s almost nothing in this. If you weren’t looking at a map you wouldn’t know when you left one town and moved into the other.
They both have that tourist town vibe with an attractive hotel or two sprinkled in between classic shop buildings and Balinese homes and temples. (There are temples everywhere in Bali and not all of them are open to the public).
Neither town is drop-dead gorgeous and both have areas that are pleasant to look at and others that feel just like the urban areas in any other town or city in developing nations across Asia.
Thus, the question of aesthetics is a tie. The best thing about both towns is the beaches and the hotels that you choose to stay in. Sunset over the sea makes it very easy to enjoy being in either place.
Again, this may be a facet of size and which town was developed first but Kuta has far more things to do than Legian.
In fact, Kuta is one of the best spots for family entertainment on the island and only Canggu and, perhaps, Ubud can rival how many activities you can enjoy in a place.
Where Would Expats Be The Happiest?
This is a tricky question. In our opinion, most expats seem to be happiest outside of these two beach towns due to the volume of tourists that they attract, but if they had to live in one or the other, they might choose Legian because it’s not quite so synonymous with nightlife and the issues that bring to local living.
There’s very little difference between the quality of life in these two beach towns from an expat living perspective, it’s easy to get all the services you need, all the major shopping is within easy reach, there are some lovely beaches and plenty of restaurants for great food.
We’ll award this Kuta/Legian question to Legian but we really don’t think that there’s very much in it.
Which Area Is Best For Digital Nomads?
So, while neither town is as popular with digital nomads as Canggu or Ubud (these are the two top destinations for nomads on the island and this is reflected by the number of Wi-Fi-friendly cafes and co-working spaces they can provide), there’s a clear winner in this respect between or two beach towns.
Kuta has a few coworking spaces and cafes, and Legian has cafes but no coworking.
So, Kuta/Legian? Which Is The Best Town To Visit?
There really isn’t much in this and while Kuta edges this comparison with wins in nightlife, digital nomad living and most things to do, Legian wins expat living and the best beach, the line between these two towns is ultra-fine.
You can appreciate everything that both towns have to offer whether you stay in Legian or Kuta and you can also easily get to Canggu, Seminyak, Umalas and Ubud from either.
They’re both a short drive from Denpasar Airport and you won’t be bored in either place. In the end, when you ask “Which is better?”, it will come down to personal preference nothing more.
FAQs
Is It Better To Stay In Legian or Kuta?
The two towns are right next door to each other and it’s hard to distinguish where one starts and the other ends. You can walk from most parts of one town to the other and from beach to beach too.
Thus, “better” becomes a matter of which appeals to you more. There’s really very little to separate the two.
Is Legian Cheaper Than Seminyak?
Yes, Legian is cheaper than Seminyak, though there’s not a massive cost differential. Seminyak has more upscale hotels and fine dining which commands a premium over Legian’s more mid-market family-friendly offerings.
Are Legian And Seminyak The Same?
No, though as Legian is between Kuta and Seminyak, there is a blurring of the boundaries between the three places and we can understand why at times, it might feel like they were the same.
Where To Book A Holiday In Legian Or Kuta?
If you want to book a beach holiday in Bali, we strongly recommend booking through the Bali Res Centre.
The beach towns of Kuta and Legian welcome thousands of tourists every day of the year and while they may have past their glory days, they remain popular for good reason.
They have low-cost entertainment, nice hotels, pleasant beaches and surf, and are within easy reach of most amenities on the island.
Of course, if you want the best Southern beach town, we recommend that you come to Canggu, the home of FINNS, the world’s best beach club, but you can easily visit us on a day out from Legian or Kuta too.
