Bali Beaches Guide: Where to Swim, Surf and Watch the Sunset

Bali's beaches are not interchangeable. Which coast you pick decides whether you'll swim, surf or mostly sit and watch. Here they are by coast.

The west coast: surf and sunsets

From Kuta north through Legian, Seminyak and Canggu, the beach faces the open Indian Ocean. The sand is grey to black, the waves roll in all day, and the currents are strong.

Kuta and Legian are where most surf schools teach, on long, soft beginner waves. Crowded, with persistent sellers, and it's the stretch where wet-season rubbish washes up worst. Fine for a lesson, not for a beach holiday. Seminyak is the same sand lined with beach clubs and bean bags, and Canggu (Batu Bolong, Echo Beach, Berawa) is black sand with surfers from dawn. On this coast, swim only between the red and yellow flags.

The Bukit: coves under the cliffs

The limestone peninsula at the bottom of the island has the white sand and turquoise water from the postcards. Bingin and Padang Padang are small coves at the foot of steep steps, beautiful at low tide, with famous reef breaks for experienced surfers. At high tide the sand nearly disappears. Melasti and Pandawa are wide beaches reached by roads cut through the cliffs, busy with day-trippers. Balangan is longer and quieter. Jimbaran is a calm, curved bay near the airport where seafood grills set up tables on the sand in the evening.

The east: calm water and coral

Nusa Dua has raked sand in front of big resorts and a reef that keeps the water flat, the easiest choice with small children. Sanur is shallow and reef-protected, with a long beachfront path, and faces the sunrise. At low tide it's too shallow for a proper swim. Further up the coast, Amed has black-sand and pebble beaches with coral a few metres out, the best snorkelling from the shore on the main island. Virgin Beach (Pasir Putih) near Candidasa adds a rare stretch of white sand.

Staying safe in the water

Rip currents on the west coast catch visitors every year. A red flag means no swimming, and many beaches have no lifeguards at all. If you can't see flags, stay in the shallows. Wear reef shoes on coral beaches and at low tide on the Bukit.

To sleep near the beach you like best, see our where to stay guide. The cliff temples along the same coast are in our temples guide.