Looking for the best white sand beaches in Bali? We’ve got you covered with the 27 finest beaches where you can enjoy soft white sand and the amazing tropical weather of the island.
First, we’ve also got a quick explanation of what makes white sand white and what it’s made of before we introduce you to all the best white sand options for a beach in Bali.
How Do Beaches Get To Be White Sand Beaches?
The sand on any given beach is made up of rock that has been ground up in the waves, plus any coral and shell fragments that emerge from the sea when the sand is washed up.
The whitest sand comes from crushed granite or sandstone rocks that deliver small, almost “frosted”, fine grains of quartz-like sand.
When the sand contains impurities such as shell and coral fragments, it will be “white” but not as white as it is when it’s made of pure rock. Thus. some white sand beaches can be golden, tan or camel coloured.
White sand is known as silica or quartz sand and it’s made up mainly of just a single chemical – silicon dioxide (SiO2).
That’s good news for beach lovers because it means that the sand they lounge around on is chemically inert and won’t interact with the chemicals of our bodies or the sun creams that we use.
Our Favourite 27 Best White Sand Beaches In Bali
Pasir Putih Beach
If you want a hidden gem in Bali, then look no further than Pasir Putih Beach. It’s further up the coast than most tourists venture near the village of Maggus and it’s just lovely.
There’s a 20,000 IDR entrance fee for this beach (it’s a semi-private beach which means it’s very well-maintained and clean) and the water is generally quite calm.
It’s a nice place to go snorkeling and there’s plenty of interesting marine life to admire in the area.
You will find there are some beach vendors and masseurs, but unlike in Kuta or Seminyak, a simple “no, thank you” will see them move on.
Our kids love building sandcastles on this family-friendly beach and we think you’re sure to have a good time at Pasir Putih Beach if you’re willing to put in the effort to get there.
Nyang-Nyang Beach (Nunggalan Beach)
A lot of beaches here in Bali have more than one name, sometimes that’s due to the beach being renamed.
Sometimes, it’s down to the name evolving over time as with Nyang-Nyang which is very similar to Nungagalan.
There is a donation-based entrance fee to this beach and it’s fine to leave 5,000-10,000 IDR (particularly if you’re parking a car or scooter in the car park).
At low tide, you will find that this beach sees a natural rock pool form that can be used for splashing around in and examining some of the local marine life.
Nyang-Nyang is on the Bukit Peninsula not far from Uluwatu but it’s much less busy than the main surfing beaches.
Bias Tugel Beach
This absolutely wonderful beach is between the village of Candidasa and the harbour at Padangbai.
There’s no actual beach entrance fee, but if you want to enter the area, then you must pay a 10,000 IDR toll fee for maintenance of the roadway. This toll is levied on both locals and tourists, so it may be the fairest fee in Bali.
The beach is right on top of the port at Padang Bai but thanks to a headland jutting out by the edge of the port, you can’t see the ships coming in and the water is quite calm and tranquil.
Bias Tugel Beach is thus something of a paradise beach and given its location, it doesn’t get anywhere near as many visitors as some of the other beautiful beaches here.
There are some charming warungs along the road behind the beach and everything here is reasonably priced. Bias Tugel Beach is somewhere that should be on everyone’s “must-visit” list.
Pura Geger Beach
This lovely beach in Nusa Dua charges a 5,000 IDR per person to get in and there’s a fee to use the car parking facility!
To be fair, that’s less than $0.35 USD or $0.50 AUD, so it’s still good value and it’s a very well-maintained and clean beach in exchange for the fee.
They have just 20 steps to climb down from the road to the sand and it’s an ideal place for a family vacation day on the beach.
The towering cliffs above the beach look wonderful and seclude the beach from prying eyes.
If you’re in Nusa Dua and want somewhere pleasant to sunbathe and swim away from the crowds, Pura Geger Beach is a good choice.
Blue Lagoon Beach
The Blue Lagoon Beach is every bit as nice as the name suggests and it’s in a popular area surrounded by villas for those who want a sea view of the Blue Lagoon Beach from their bedrooms.
There’s no entrance fee but you will need to pay 10,000 IDR to park which is perfectly reasonable.
The Blue Lagoon Beach is one of Bali’s premier snorkelling destinations and you can hire your gear nearby for around 100,000-150,000 IDR if you don’t bring your own.
Just be aware that there’s a fairly powerful onshore current and you might need to hold your own against that.
The monkeys that hang around this beach are fully wild and should not be approached. On the bright side, unlike the monkeys at Uluwatu Temple, they’re unlikely to steal things from you.
Thomas Beach
This is a fully public beach with no entrance fee or parking fee and it may be one of the most underrated spots on the island.
It’s 200 meters of soft white sand and you’ll find that the water is beautiful here.
At high tide, there’s not much beach as the sand disappears under the waves but otherwise, it’s an ideal sunbathing spot.
The local warungs will be happy to sell you a cold beer or a cocktail to enjoy this spot even more.
The only downside is that the beach requires climbing down (and then back up) some fairly steep steps from the roadside.
Tegal Wangi Beach
There is absolutely no entrance fee to this beach, but Tegal Wangi Beach’s parking isn’t always open, but if it is, then it’s only 2,000 IDR to park all day long.
Don’t worry, if the gates on the car park are closed, you can park anywhere around them and your vehicle will be safe while you’re at the beach (though don’t leave anything valuable with it, just in case).
The viewpoint above this beach is wonderful and gives you an amazing view of the Indian Ocean.
But the best feature of this charming beach is the natural rock pools which are amazing for photographers bent on getting a unique beach shot while on the island.
There are also two small caves along this beach where you can get some cool snaps.
Kelingking Beach @ Nusa Penida
The famous T-Rex Beach is one of Nusa Penida’s most beloved beaches and that’s as much due to the unusual rock formation (when you look down on the beach from the cliffs above, it’s kind of like a Tyrannosaurus Rex in shape) as the white sand.
You will need to pay 10,000 IDR per person to go down to Kelingking Beach from the cliffs and a parking fee of 5,000 IDR if you have a vehicle.
We would recommend staying overnight in Nusa Penida and getting to this beach either in the early morning or at sunset once all the tourists are going home to the mainland as it can get quite crowded otherwise.
There’s a coconut vendor at the top of the stairs down the cliff and these provide instant refreshment after a fairly decent hike.
Be warned the current on Kelingking Beach can be very strong and you should only swim if you are an advanced level swimmer.
Balangan Beach
Balangan Beach is an excellent beach that is super popular with the surfing community.
We’ve found Balangan Beach to be one of the cleanest beaches on the island and it’s very laidback and not at all crowded.
You can rent a sunbed for just 100,000 IDR all day long and there’s no entrance fee to the beach, so it’s a real bargain!
It’s not quite a hidden gem as the surf schools lining the shore will testify but it’s a lovely place to spend some time.
We recommend coming to Balangan Beach at sunset when the light over the ocean is spectacular.
Green Bowl Beach
This tiny hidden beach is, perhaps, the most secluded beach in mainland Bali and it’s just 30 meters long from end to end.
Don’t worry though, it’s never crowded as it’s a long, hard walk down the cliff to get to the beach itself and that tends to put off the crowds.
There is a small entrance fee of 5,000 IDR and an additional 2,000 IDR is required to park a vehicle.
Do watch out for the monkeys in the car park here as they can be a nuisance and won’t hesitate to steal things out of your hands if they can.
It’s very much worth the effort to get down to Green Bowl Beach, mind you, it’s absolutely gorgeous, the sort of thing you only see in movies at home.
Diamond Beach @ Nusa Penida
Diamond Beach is on the island of Nusa Penida which is just off the coast of mainland Bali, which means it’s a bit harder to get to than some of the other beaches on our list.
If you do visit, you will need to pay 10,000 IDR per person for entry plus an additional 5,000 IDR to park a vehicle.
The beach is breathtakingly wonderful but it’s down some very steep steps and you should make sure your footwear grips well if it’s rained recently as they can get slippery. It’s not a hidden beach but it feels like it when you’ve finally negotiated the stairs.
Don’t swim on this beach as the waves can get very rough but do take a ton of amazing Instagram shots and enjoy walking on the soft sand.
This beach is one of the few beaches in Bali that is busier in the mornings rather than the evenings.
Bingin Beach
Bingin Beach is a fabulous beach and you won’t need to pay an entrance fee to enjoy Bingin Beach, there is a car parking fee, but it’s a very reasonable 5,000 IDR.
The bad news is that it’s quite a walk down from the car park and you will be quite tired when you get to the sand.
The good news is that the walk puts off a lot of repeat visitors and Bingin Beach is rarely as busy as it ought to be.
There are some decent warungs in the area where you can get a bite to eat and something cold to drink.
This beach can get quite dirty at certain times of the day, mind you, and the clean up crew works very hard to keep it well maintained.
Crystal Bay @ Nusa Penida
Crystal Bay is, of course, named for its crystal clear waters and it’s one of the few places that you can swim with manta rays in Bali.
Manta rays are gentle giants and are not stingrays, so don’t worry, it’s perfectly safe to put your snorkeling gear on and go out and greet them.
Divers, on the other hand, might want to get a boat out onto the bay from this beach and see if they can see the Mola Mola (Giant Sunfish) which resides at much deeper parts of the ocean than the manta rays.
This beach is very lovely, but also one of the busiest places on Nusa Penida and it’s more a spot to stop and take a few photographs or go swimming rather than for sunbathing (though you can rent a sunlounger).
You won’t need to pay an entrance fee for this beach, but car parking is around 5,000 IDR per vehicle. All other services on the beach are chargeable and there are a lot of things to choose from.
Melasti Beach
Melasti Beach has a small entrance fee of just 10,000 IDR and this is one of the most scenic beaches on the island.
You can tell that by the endless processsion of photographers bringing wedding parties and other groups to the beach for their photos.
We’d recommedn that you get to Melasti Beach early and avoid these groups and just enjoy the beautiful light over the ocean from the viewpoint.
It’s a very clean beach and it’s also amazing for swimming. We’d recommend that you head out to the coral reef with some snorkeling gear and admire the local marine life.
The only downside of this beach is that there’s almost no natural shade and if you’re going to stick around, renting an umbrella is highly recommended.
Kubu Beach @ AYANA Resort
Bali doesn’t have any private beaches and this is true of Kubu Beach but given that the access to the beach (the elevator) is within the AYANA resort, it puts some people off visiting.
Don’t, you can go around the side of the resort and use the stairs down to Kubu Beach (there are only 197 of them) and you won’t have to stay at AYANA or pay to enter the beach.
Because it feels like a private beach, this place is kept spotlessly clean and has a lovely vibe about it.
The palm trees around the beach provide some natural shade and there’s a great view at sunset.
However, if you want to eat or drink here, the only place to buy stuff is the AYANA Resort, which is lovely, if a little pricey.
Dream Beach @ Nusa Lembongan
Dream Beach is exactly as it sounds, most people’s vision of a dream beach looks like Dream Beach.
It’s set in a sandy cover with the Indian Ocean splashing against the shore of Nusa Lembongan island.
It’s not the best beach for swimming because the tides can be a bit rugh here but it’s very lovely to look at.
We wouldn’t hit this beach at sunset, mind you, because the cliff that overhangs the edge of the beach blocks much of the light at that time.
Good news! There’s no entrance fee to this beach and in the early morning, you can have it pretty much all to yourself too.
Pandawa Beach
Pandawa Beach used to be relatively unknown because it was super hard to get to. Then, recently the local authorities opened up the cliffs and built an access way to Pandawa Beach.
Now, Pandawa Beach is one of the most bustling places on the island and it deserves to be.
The access way itself is gorgeous with giant carvings of figures from local myth.
The entrance fee is a little steep at 15,000 IDR per person (that’s $1 USD to $1.50 AUD) but won’t break the bank.
This area is now undergoing massive levels of development and we’d recommend that you see Pandawa Beach before it disappears under the weight of visitors.
Gunung Payung
This is a relatively unknown beach among the white sand beaches in Bali and it’s a proper surfer’s paradise.
Amazingly, it’s just along the South Coast of Bali and not far from the clifftop temple Pura Dhang Kahyangan Gunung Payung, which overlooks the beach.
It’s usually veyr clean and it’s very cheap. Renting sunbeds here for two people will cost less than a single sunbed at most beaches.
You can get food and drinks here with ease and the water is cool and inviting.
The beach is 20,000 IDR per adult, and 10,000 IDR per child to get access but it’s worth every penny.
Virgin Beach
Virgin Beach has a reasonable 10,000 IDR entrance fee and the road is excellent on the way to Virgin Beach.
The sand is everything you’d hope from a place called Virgin Beach and there are a load of local warungs, cafes, and bars where you can get a beer or something to eat.
The sun loungers are not expensive at Virgin Beach and it’s a fantastic place to sit out all day in the Bali sun.
There is a little plastic waste on the beach in the morning but the local stend to have it cleared quickly.
We’ve rarely found it to be crowded at Virgin Beach which is incredible given how nice this spot is and how close to the main beach towns it is.
Tanah Barak Beach
This lovely beach outside of Kutah Village is awesome. You will follow a cutaway through limestone cliffs to get to the beach which will blow your mind with how amazing it looks.
Then, you can swim around the shore and see the marine life thriving amongst the corals here.
It’s just 8,000 IDR per adult and 3,000 IDR per child to use the beach and there’s a 2,000 IDR parking charge for scooters and 5,000 IDR for cars.
We’d combine a visit to this one of white sand beaches in Bali with avisit to Nusa Dua which is not far away.
Sanur Beach
Sanur Beach is famous for its long boardwalk along the line of the beach which is ideal for walking, jogging, cycling, skating, etc.
There’s no entrance fee at Sanur Beach and you can walk onto the beach at any point along the shoreline without any hassle.
The area is famous for being “sleepy” but we’d suggest that’s changing at the moment and Sanur is becoming much more developed.
One thing you should be aware of is that Sanur Beach is famous for its spectacular sunrise, not its sunset and you will want to be up early to get the most out of it.
We also think Sanur Beach is one of the best places to swim on the island thanks to the calm waves produced by the offshore reef defending the beach.
Seminyak Beach
Seminyak Beach is one of the most popular spots on the island and its sands aren’t as white as on some of the other stunning beaches on our list.
However, the area has a huge amount of high-end resorts, fine dining and some of the best nightlife (and most expensive nightlife) on the island.
Much of the vibe of Seminyak Beach is people who have come to see and be seen and it’s very popular with younger visitors who are upwardly mobile and looking to let it all hang out on holiday.
We’d recommend renting some lounger space early in the day as the majority of loungers on Seminyak’s beach belong to the hotel chains and are only available to resort guests
.Jimbaran Beach
Jimbaran Beach is world-famous for its seafood BBQs. This is where the majority of the fresh catch of the day is landed in Bali and there’s an amazing seafood market nearby which you can visit to either buy fish to cook yourself or to hand to a local warung to cook for you.
The beach itself is white with some gentle waves lapping the shoreline most of the time.
It’s less crowded than other beaches in this stretch (which runs through Kuta and on to Canggu) and there are some excellent resorts around Jimbaran Beach.
If you want a quiet time on a beach where you can grab a lounger with ease and then read all day long, you will love this beach.
Alternatively, come at sunset and get stuck into the freshest (and often cheapest) seafood on the island.
Nusa Dua Beach
Nusa Dua Beach is part of the most luxurious resort destination in Bali and it’s where families go to spend time in 5-star international brand hotels barely moving from the pool except at meal times.
The area is a bit cut off from the rest of the island given its odd position on the Bukit Peninsula and many tourists stay in Nusa Dua throughout their stay.
However, Nusa Dua Beach is open to everyone and you don’t need a room at a posh hotel to enjoy the white sands here.
Just pay the entrance fee of 5,000 IDR and you can rub shoulders with the rich and famous who often holiday in this area.
It’s a great place for swimming and water sports too and if you love scuba diving, you’re going to be just fine in Nusa Dua.
Dreamland Beach or New Kuta Beach
Dreamland Beach has recently been renamed as New Kuta Beach and it’s a “white sand” beach only by stretching the definition of white quite a long way.
The sands here are very much golden rather than white but that shouldn’t put you off visiting, the beach is quite lovely.
It’s become very popular with surfers in recent years as access to the beach was opened up and it’s likely to be even more popular when the nearby hotel development is finished.
We’d recommend that you visit now if you want to enjoy the beach before the crowds finally arrive and it turns into a “New Kuta”.
There is no entrance fee at this beach, but you will be asked for 5,000 IDR to park a scooter here and 10,000 IDR to park a car.
Suluban Beach or Blue Point Beach
This beach has a unique coastline that is secluded from view by natural limestone features.
You reach the sand via steps and log ramps that are placed strategically through the cliffs at Suluban Beach.
For some reason, most locals call this Blue Point Beach rather than Suluban Beach so if you get lost on the way, you might want to ask for the beach by its nickname.
There are some excellent cafes on the cliff above this beach where you can enjoy cold drinks at sundown.
Just be warned the tides here are extremely strong and this is not a good beach to go swimming if you’re not an experienced swimmer.
There is no entrance fee to this beach, which is a surprise when you consider how well-maintained the access to it is.
White Sand Beach or Gerogkgak Beach
Yes, there’s a beach called “White Sand Beach” here in Bali, it’s also known as Gergokgak Beach.
It’s a very beautiful place with really calm waters, however, be warned the water here sometimes has small (and stinging) jellyfish hanging out in it.
To get here, you’ll need to walk quite a long way from the main road, which means you should have it to yourself when you arrive.
You can rent a canoe or a boat on the sands if you want to explore the area around the bay in more detail.
It’s only 10,000 IDR (that’s $0.66 USD or $1 AUD) to get onto this beach and it represents excellent value for money.
Does Bali Have Any White Sand Beaches? Are There Any White Beaches In Bali?
Yes! Bali has more than 27 white sand beaches. We’ve listed all of the white sand beaches that we think are worth visiting above in this article.
Bali also has black sand beaches which are made up of volcanic rock residue that is ejected from the local volcanoes (there are two active volcanoes in Bali and dozens more on the other islands of Indonesia) and then smashed up in the sea.
Many people prefer the aesthetics of white sand but in truth, both types of sand are fine for sunbathing and walking on.
Some black sand beaches look amazing when they are slightly wet as they often reflect the image of the sky above them.
What Is The Prettiest Beach In Bali?
This is a very popular question in Bali. However, it’s entirely subjective and everybody has a different beach that they think is the prettiest.
We like to think that Beraw Beach is pretty amazing, that’s why we situated FINNS Beach Club, the world’s best beach club, there. It’s particularly awesome at sunset when you’re sat on a sun lounger with a cold cocktail in your hand.
However, it’s commonly agreed that the prettiest beach of all is Nusa Dua Beach and that’s why the Nusa Dua area has many of the finest hotels and resorts on the island based there.
We’d argue that while Nusa Dua does have a lovely beach, there are other amazing white sand beaches on the island and would encourage people to check out places like Green Bowl Beach that don’t see as many visitors as Nusa Dua does.
After all, surely you want palm trees and peace and quiet before you indulge in a spot of scuba diving rather than big crowds of people around you?
Is Seminyak A White Beach?
Yes, it is. However, if you want powdery white sand, then you’re not going to find it in Seminyak.
There is a good amount of coral and shells in the sand on this beach and while it is a lovely spot by the Indian Ocean, most people consider the sand at this beach to be a sort of camel colour rather than a pure white.
Despite this, it remains one of the most popular beaches on the island and you can be sure of a pleasant day out here.
Which Beach In Bali Has The Clearest Water?
If you want to stay on mainland Bali then one of our best beaches in Bali, Bias Tugel Beach is the one with the best turquoise waters.
It’s also one of the nicest beaches overall as it’s a bit of a hidden beach and not only does it have crystal clear waters, it has pristine sands.
However, if we include all of Bali, then Crystal Bay Beach is famous for its calm waters and crystal-clear waters, it’s in the name of the beach, after all. It’s on Nusa Penida Island which is one of the three Nusa Islands just offshore from Bali (the other two are Nusa Ceningan and Nusa Lembongan) on the way to the next island province, Lombok.
There are, at least, 27 beaches here that have white sand, you can find those beaches listed above in this article.
However, nobody has an exact count of all the beaches here and some beaches are confusing as they may have more than one name or be renamed every few years.
There are also a few beaches around the coastline and, in particular, in the Nusa Islands, which aren’t accessible at all from the land. We haven’t included any such beaches on our list.
Which Side Of Bali Has The Best Beaches?
There’s a reason that the vast majority of tourists stay in South Bali and it’s the fact that the South side of the island is considered to have the best beaches in Bali.
However, we would note that there are some lovely beaches elsewhere on the island and that beach lovers are going to find that the darker sand beaches in places like Amed and Lovina are much less crowded than the beaches in resort towns like Seminyak and Kuta.
What Is The Cleanest Beach In Bali?
The cleanest beach in Bali is probably either Balangan Beach or Bias Tugel Beach. Both of these beaches see fewer visitors than the big beaches of the Southeastern Coast and Nusa Dua and thus, see less day-to-day littering from tourists.
However, the biggest factor in beach cleanliness here in Bali is out of the control of the local residents and the tourists, it’s plastic waste washing up from the sea and no beach can escape this entirely.
This is why every beach here has a cleanup crew that goes out, at least, once a day to clear up any rubbish from the sand.
So, don’t believe reports that XYZ beach is always filthy, it’s not the case, though it is possible to get to a beach very early in the morning and find it’s not ideal for sunbathing on.
Every now and again, it is possible that so much trash gets washed up that it takes more than a day to move it, but this is a very rare occurrence.
Of the main tourist beaches, Nusa Dua probably has the edge for cleanliness because the high-end resorts there all have teams working around the clock to clean up the sand.
Which Bali Beach Has The Whitest Sand?
Nusa Dua famously has the whitest sand in Bali. However, we’d say that there’s a good case for many of the beaches on our list above to qualify for the whitest sands.
It’s a bit of a subjective measure too as the consistency of sand on a beach can change throughout the year as the tidal patterns change and the matter deposited onshore changes with them.
However, you won’t be disappointed in a trip to Nusa Dua, it’s considered one of the finest beaches in Bali whether or not it has the whitest sands.
What’s The Best Beach Club Of Bali’s Beach Clubs?
That’s easy. FINNS is rated as the best beach club in the world, not just Bali. We’re based here in Canggu and you don’t have to take our word for how awesome we are, the facts speak for themselves.
What’s The Whitest Beach In The World?
According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the whitest beach in the world is Hyams’ Sand which is about 180 kilometres to the South of Sydney, Australia.
How To Book A Bali Holiday At A White Sand Beach?
We always recommend that you book your holiday in Bali through the lovely people at Bali Res Centre. They’re a local travel agency that focus on Balinese travel.
They can find you a lovely hotel anywhere on the island from the Bukit Peninsula to North Bali and ensure you get a great price on your accommodation, flights, tours and more.
There are many beautiful beaches in Bali and whether you’re looking for a popular spot in a major tourist destination or a hidden gem that offers a gentle sea breeze and calm waters, you can find it on the island.
Beach agnostics and beach lovers alike are bound to enjoy a good time on the soft warm sands in the tropical climate of Bali. Just make sure to use plenty of sunscreen as it can get pretty hot out there.
And if you’re looking for the best time of all at a beach, come to FINNS and we’ll see that you get it.
