Are you trying to decide between Sanur or Seminyak in Bali? These two beach towns are extremely different places and you will want to read our detailed head-to-head comparison of the two places before you book your hotels.
You may even conclude that you want to spend time in both towns given that they provide such distinct experiences!
What’s It Like In Sanur?
Sanur is often referred to as “sleepy Sanur” by Bali’s expats but that’s not really fair, the area is fast undergoing development and while it’s never likely to become a party destination, there’s plenty to do.
The biggest attraction in town is the long stretch of white sand beaches connected by a pleasant boardwalk which means you can walk, cycle, skate, jog, etc. without fear of being run over. The waters here are ideal for most water sports and swimming.
As we go to press, Sanur is preparing for its first shopping mall to open and there’s going to be plenty more future developments in the area too.
The only thing missing, now, is nightlife and while there are a few beach bars there’s not much else in Sanur, Bali to keep you up late.
What’s It Like In Seminyak?
Seminyak is one of the major beach town destinations in Bali, it’s right next door to Canggu (home of the best of the world’s beach clubs, FINNS Beach Club) and Legian, two of the other big beach towns and a stone’s throw from Kuta too.
It’s well known for luxury hotels and luxury villas, art galleries, high-end shopping and fine dining. Seminyak caters mainly to the younger crowd (and upwardly mobile) but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy its vibrant nightlife at any age.
As with many beaches on this side of the island, it’s something of a surfers paradise (though not in the same league as Uluwatu) though not great for scuba diving or swimming.
Seminyak is, however, a long way from a traditional Balinese experience and the tourist developments here have removed most traces of local culture in favour of something new.
Sanur Vs Seminyak: Head-To-Head Comparison
We thought it would help if we didn’t just declare a winner in the Sanur or Seminyak contest but instead, offered a head-to-head analysis of the things you’re likely to take into account when you visit Bali and choose an area to stay in.
Which Is The Best For Accommodation?
Where would we prefer to stay Sanur or Seminyak? That’s a great question and we think it’s important to recognize the cost factor at play here.
Sanur, Bali is still an up-and-coming destination. There is a great mix of accommodations from guest houses, to mid-market hotels to a smattering of luxury resorts with big brand names attached.
Seminyak, on the other hand, is all about luxury and there aren’t many hostels, guest houses or even mid-market properties in the area – big brands and large villas are very much the order of the day.
It’s a tough call but we’re going to give Sanur the edge here for affordability and range of accommodation options, but we concede that Seminyak has the most upmarket options.
Which Has The Best Nightlife?
There are many categories in which Sanur and Seminyak are nearly equal but this isn’t one of them.
There is no doubt that Seminyak has great nightlife and, as long as you’re willing to pay for it, you can drink signature cocktails and champagne all night long to the sounds of live DJs.
Sanur, on the other hand, isn’t geared up for nightlife. It’s one of the reasons it’s such a popular resort with young families. Once the sun goes down, there are some bars and restaurants that open late but the overall atmosphere winds down.
This is an easy win for Seminyak even if we take into account that there are people who don’t need nightlife as part of their holiday in Bali.
Which Is The Best Shopping Destination?
Sanur just got a new shopping mall and that may change the overall feel of this category but it’s too early to tell for now.
The more long-established shopping scene in this town is some basic beachwear, water sports equipment, and local souvenirs. There’s a pleasant market too.
Seminyak, however, is considered to be the island’s premier shoping destination with an endless array of high-end boutique stores selling island and international fashion.
On this criteria between Sanur and Seminyak, as we go to press, Seminyak wins but it’s possible that in the coming years, Sanur will greatly improve its shopping experiences.
Which Has The Best Dining Scene?
Sanur and Seminyak offer very different dining scenes. Sanur is all about pleasant local eateries that provide tasty food at a reasonable price.
Seminyak is all about designer cafes with chic Instagram worthy designs, fine dining and upscale bars and restaurants.
You can have a great meal within a short walk of all the beaches in both towns, they just cater to very different audiences.
However, we’re going to give Sanur this category, on the grounds that most people see fine dining as an occasional treat rather than as a nightly staple on their holidays and Sanur is more wallet-friendly.
Sanur Beach Vs Seminyak Beach
Sanur Beach is surrounded by pleasant beach bars and some of the best restaurants offering good food for a fair price in Bali, Indonesia.
It’s a haven for water sports and is one of the most family-friendly places for a holiday thanks to the calm water which means even the smallest children can learn to swim on this beach without fear for their safety.
Seminyak Beach, on the other hand, is flanked by some of the best resorts on the island and has endless arrays of sunloungers for those who love to see and be seen to grab a tan.
It has some of the best restaurants for fine dining in the area and great nightlife too with live music a regular feature in this part of Bali.
Thus, it’s a tough call to play off these two white sand beaches against each other and because they’re so different – we’re going to give Sanur and Seminyak a tie here.
Which Is The Most Aesthetically Pleasing?
Sanur is a slice of local Balinese life. Sanur Beach is a long stretch of attractive sand in front of a pleasant town/village with nice family resorts and restaurants selling local food.
It’s a place to discover local markets and to enjoy the calm waters by the beach in a relaxed environment and it looks like you’d expect a beach town to look. When you visit Sanur, you’re enjoying island life.
Seminyak, on the other hand, is all lively nightlife and upmarket accommodation options and while these places are family friendly and on beautiful beaches, they do tend to pull in the crowds which can make it all seem very touristy.
Walking along the beach and watching people kite surfing in the big waves of Seminyak is fun and impressive and the sunsets are incredible, however.
Overall, this is a difficult category to judge, Sanur and Seminyak are such different places, but we think Sanur has a slight edge, though Seminyak offers plenty of beauty too.
Which Has The Most Things To Do?
The peaceful atmosphere of Sanur Beach doesn’t mean that there’s nothing to do in the area, even if there’s not much in the way of beach clubs and nightlife.
It’s one of the best locations on the island for water sports and you can explore the local markets, and stores and take day trips to some of the less explored parts of Bali.
However, Seminyak Beach and the surrounding area are much busier and offer plenty of outdoor activities of their own as well as all the nightlife that you can shake a stick at.
Seminyak is also nestled between Kuta and Canggu and that means you don’t need day trips to massively expand the potential range of things to do, too.
Overall both Sanur and Seminyak have plenty to do, but we think Seminyak has the most to do.
Where Would Expats Be The Happiest?
This may not be a very fair competition at the moment. While both Sanur and Seminyak have plenty of expats, Seminyak currently is home to many of those who loved Bali enough to move here long-term.
That’s because, for many years now, the stretch from Kuta to Canggu which includes Seminyak has had the most accommodation options, amenities, etc. compared to the rest of the island.
Sanur is currently catching up, but it’s going to take a while before it does. Certainly, there are more expats and, particularly, retirees moving to Sanur now than there were ten years ago.
However, for now, at least, there’s no doubt that Seminyak attracts the most expats and we have to assume that they’re happy in Seminyak or they wouldn’t be there, they’d be in another beach town.
Which Area Is Best For Digital Nomads?
Sanur and Seminyak are not major digital nomad destinations in Bali.
Most digital nomads will go with either Canggu because of the huge amounts of coworking and surfing options by the beach or Ubud which is famous for its more spiritual nature.
However, there are coworking spaces in both Sanur and Seminyak and much of the choice for digital nomads between these two destinations is going to boil down to whether they really want to be in the thick of things or prefer a little calm. Either Seminyak or Sanur can provide a great beach.
We think that the deciding factor though is likely to be cheap accommodation options and that’s something that you won’t find Seminyak offer.
Whereas, for now, Sanur is going to provide you with far more opportunities to grab a bargain-priced room. So, for us, Sanur just edges out Seminyak for digital nomads. However we acknowledge that they will probably have explored other parts of Bali first before they opt for either.
So, Sanur or Seminyak? Which Is The Best Town To Visit?
Well, we find ourselves in a quandry here. We rated Sanur the best for accommodation options, for having the dining scene, for being the prettiest of the two towns and for being the top digital nomad pick.
On the other hand, we rated Seminyak as the place to go for nightlife, for shopping, for things to do and as the expats pick.
And we though the two beach towns in Bali, Indonesia tied for having the nicest beaches. That means overall we think Sanur or Seminyak is a dead heat!
So, we’d stress that the choice between the two comes out of what you really value in a holiday – take a look at each category and weigh up the pros and cons before you decide where to book.
Or you could just book a two centre holiday and experience these two very different beach towns a few days apart.
FAQs
Is It Better To Stay In Seminyak Or Sanur?
It really depends on you. Most people visit Sanur because it has a peaceful atmosphere and a family-friendly environment that is focused on beach life.
Seminyak offers vibrant nightlife, upmarket hotels, and fine dining for a, mainly, younger crowd. Which part of Bali, Indonesia you prefer is likely to depend on what you want from a holiday.
Is It Worth Going To Sanur?
Yes! It’s worth going to Sanur, Bali. The area has an amazing white sand beach and a lovely boardwalk running alongside it. The water is calm and beautiful.
It’s where we go when we want to relax and enjoy ourselves without spending a fortune.
What Is The Nicest Part Of Bali?
We’d say it’s Canggu, because that’s why we built FINNS Beach Club there. The area has a good mix of culture and tourist amenities and some natural beauty.
However, we have to concede that many would argue that it’s Nusa Dua, the upmarket resort town with a long white sand beach running beside it.
Which Beach Is Better Sanur Or Nusa Dua?
Both Nusa Dua and Sanur are lovely. However, Sanur is more of a budget-friendly destination in Bali whereas Nusa Dua is an upmarket resort town where almost all the properties are 5-star international brand names.
Final Thoughts On Sanur Vs Seminyak
Sanur and Seminyak are so different that, in the end, we couldn’t find a reason that one was “better” than the other.
You go to Seminyak to party and enjoy an upmarket resort town vibe, you go Sanur to relax and unwind on the beach and to catch up on sleep after a busy year at work.
Of course, if you really can’t decide between Sanur and Seminyak, you could always come and stay in Canggu instead, home of FINNS, the best of the world’s beach clubs, and plenty of lively nightlife to enjoy.
