Legian Beach is a great beach destination in Bali and it’s one of the most popular choices for a holiday.
Our guide to the Legian Beach area will tell you what to expect when you’re there, where to eat, where to stay and more!
Where Is Legian Beach?
Legian Beach is to the North of Kuta Beach and to the South of Double Six Beach in Seminyak. It’s on the South Coast of the island.
Address: Jalan Pantai Legian, Legian, Badung, Bali, Indonesia
How To Get To Legian Beach?
If you’re coming from the main beach towns Canggu, Kuta, Seminyak or Uluwatu or from Ubud, you’ll be fine with a Grab or Gojek.
It’s very easy to get a Grab or Gojek home from Legian, there’s no need to ask the driver to wait around for you.
If you’re coming from further afield and need to return, you might consider hiring a private car and driver as this can be the cheapest way to travel long distances.
When Is The Best Time To Visit Legian Beach?
There is never a bad time to visit Legian Beach, though it will be slightly cooler and less humid during the dry season.
However, even in the wet season, we get around 8 hours of sun a day and it almost never rains all day long. You will also find that your hotel room and flights are cheaper during the rainy season.
Is There An Entrance Fee At Legian Beach
No, there is no entrance fee for Legian Beach. You can walk onto the beach from the road and no one will attempt to charge you any kind of ticket/entry fee.
You can’t park at the beach, so there’s no parking fee, either.
What To Expect At Legian Beach
The beach has a much narrower road dividing it from the commercial area running alongside it, and that means you can only access Legian Beach on foot.
This makes it less busy than the other beaches in the area which offer parking.
Surfing
There are several surf schools on this site and you can arrange a quick lesson at any time of the year.
This is a good beach for surfing as there is a strong onshore wave pattern that drives great waves.
Shopping
The boardwalk at this beach is covered in art stores and you can find several other shopping streets within a short walk including Poppies Lane, Garlic Lane and the Mertanadi Art Market which is on Jalan Melasti.
Beach Massage
Beach massages are never as good as the massage you get in a dedicated spa, but they’re not bad here on Legian Beach.
However, they’re not free and if you don’t want to end up overpaying for your massage, it’s a good idea to negotiate a price before you opt for a massage.
Beach Yoga
There is often a group of yoga practitioners on this beach at sunset as the conditions are peaceful enough to make yoga possible.
You will usually be welcome to join in, though there may be a small fee to do so.
Henna Tattooing
We don’t recommend getting involved with temporary tattoos, while they’re usually fine, sometimes people have severe allergic reactions to henna.
Worse, we’ve heard that sometimes, people can use fake henna which can leave you with burns on the skin.
Where To Stay Near Legian Beach
There are a lot of very pleasant hotels in the area and some of our favourites include:
Padma Resort Legian – billing itself as a “five-star art sanctuary” this resort is certainly luxurious and has all the creature comforts that you could ask for. The garden at this site is spectacular too.
Bali Mandira Beach Resort & Spa – this resort is opposite the beach and has one of the best kids clubs in the area. Their adults-only rooftop pool is a delight too and the jacuzzi has a view directly over the ocean!
The Bandha Hotel & Suites – a wonderful place on the beachfront that’s just a short walk from the local lifestyle shops. Their staff are the personification of the legendary Balinese hospitality.
Pullman Bali Legian Beach – this luxury resort has been certified as fully sustainable by Green Globe and it’s just a short walk from both the Art Market and the Beachwalk Shopping Centre.
Away Bali Legian Camakila – a lovely contemporary resort with two decent onsite restaurants and an excellent spa and fitness centre.
What About The Legian Beach Hotel?
The Legian Beach Hotel, ironically, isn’t on Legian Beach or even Jalan Legian but it’s in a location near Kuta Beach and Double Six Beach.
It’s a lovely property, but it’s firmly in Seminyak rather than on or around Legian Beach. You can, however, easily visit Legian from the Legian Beach Hotel property, it’s a short drive away.
Where To Eat Near Legian Beach
There are some great spots to eat in Legian and all of these places are only a short walk from the sand:
Holy Guacamole – yup, it’s a Tex-Mex with a hefty Asian influence, the food is very good and the portions are generous, and it’s not too expensive, either.
Sheppy’s Bar & Restaurant – priding itself on delivering great Aussie and Balinese food at a sensible price, this is always a good place to go in Legian.
Uncle Norm’s Bar & Restaurant – is another excellent place for a pub environment and Indonesian and Asian eats.
Our’s Bar & Restaurant – a convivial sports bar that does great deals on international cuisine and has the coldest Bintang in the area.
Rosemary Restaurant & Bar – the live band makes this one of the coolest spots around Legian Beach. They play everything from rock to Beatles’ covers nights!
Asian Spice Restaurant – this Asian and Indonesian place does some of the best Japanese and Thai food around. The wine list is amazing and good value.
FAQs
Is Seminyak Or Legian Better?
It very much depends on what you’re looking for out of a holiday on the island. Seminyak is better if you’re in search of upmarket hotels , fine-dining restaurants and high-end retail shops.
It’s a destination that appeals to young people, in the main, there’s not much in the way of the original local culture left in Seminyak but it has excellent amenities and would be high on our list of places to find an excellent massage too.
Legian, on the other hand, is a bit more relaxed. You can spend your free time in the bars and restaurants of the area without spending a fortune.
The hotels are nice but there are fewer very high-end places and more mid-market affordable locations.
It’s a place that calls more to families and older tourists seeking access to Canggu, Kuta and Seminyak and a nice beach, without having to pay out top dollar for it.
Can You Swim At Legian? Can You Swim At Legian Beach Bali?
Yes, you can swim at Legian Beach, however, it’s worth noting that the break here is very open and directly onto the beach.
That means it’s popular for surfing as the waves can be a bit bigger than you might appreciate when swimming.
If you do go for a swim, it’s best to stay close to the shore at this beach location as you don’t want to be pulled out to sea by a strong current.
What Is The Prettiest Beach In Bali?
We would argue that Canggu Beach, home of FINNS, the world’s best beach club, looks pretty spectacular in the sunset hours particularly when you’re sat on a lounger with a cocktail in hand wondering what to eat from our top-rated restaurants.
However, it’s fair to say that Nusa Dua Beach tends to get the most plaudits as it’s a white sand beach in a very popular resort town.
You might also want to look at Green Bowl Beach in Ungasan which is a very pleasant secluded white sand beach with soft sands and some of the most beautiful shades of ocean water around.
Others might argue for Double Six Beach, Kuta Beach, Jimbaran Beach, Uluwatu Beach, etc. There are a lot of pretty beaches here on the island.
The South Coast of Bali has the best beaches. This includes Canggu Beach, Seminyak Beach, Kuta Beach, Legian Beach, Green Bowl Beach, Double Six Beach, Jimbaran Beach, etc.
That’s why it’s the most popular part of the island with tourists. That’s not to say that the rest of the island has bad beaches, it doesn’t and the fact that they see fewer visitors is often a good reason to visit the other coasts.
Is Legian A Good Place To Stay In Bali?
Yes! We like Legian very much, it has much of the same amenities as Kuta, but it’s not quite as hectic and you get excellent value for money in this area.
If you’re looking for a holiday that includes surfing, low-priced massage, etc. you’ll be very happy in this pleasant beach town.
Final Thought On Legian Beach
Legian Beach is a great place to spend some time on your holiday in Bali and we’d recommend that you visit the area even if you don’t stay in it.
If you like surfing, it’s bound to be on your list already, but there’s more to this area than first meets the eye and a stroll down Jalan Legian will help you see why this has become one of the most popular tourist areas on the island.
