The Uluwatu coastline stretches down the west side of the Bukit peninsula, and offers some of the best swimming and surfing in all of Bali. Dramatic cliffs dot the landscape and drop to the stunning sandy and rocky beaches below. While Uluwatu’s big waves draws surfers from around the world, they also have great swimming beaches and some of the best sunsets you’ll ever see! We’ll breakdown where you can surf, swim, and how to get to all the best beaches in Uluwatu.

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Dreamland Beach

Getting There: Multiple Entries Walk In or Ride Scooter

Ease of Beach Access: Easy

Best For: Swimming & Surfing

Location:

Dreamland beach is one of the most popular in Uluwatu, but actually ended up being our least favorite. The ease of its location means that there is a steady stream of people hitting the beach. However, it isn’t the tourists, but the trash that really bothered us! There’s a river (that might or might not be sewage) which runs right into the ocean. That deterred us from hitting the perfect sized waves that looked great for boogie boarding. Let’s hope the island makes some changes to clean up the beach in the near future. For now you can head to the hill on the left side of the beach and join countless tourists, locals, and food carts for the nightly sunset!

Bingin Beach

Getting There: 15 Minute Hike

Ease of Beach Access: Medium

Best For: Wave Watching & Surfing

Location:



This might not be the best beach for swimming, but it turned out to be our favorite out of all the Uluwatu beaches. Hike 10 minutes down to travel back in time. Simple restaurants and cafes are built into the hillside and span the length of the beach. Almost every place offers “rooms for rent” that you can’t find online and look like they were built 30 years ago. Bingin Beach is the ultimate spot to relax and take in the beautiful Uluwatu coastline. There are a few sandy spots to jump in quick and cool down, but the hard rocks can make it difficult to swim. At night the handful of restaurants bring tables onto the beach and offer fresh grilled fish dinners for sunset!

Padang Padang Beach

Getting There: Quick Walk Down After The Main Road

Ease of Beach Access: Easy

Best For: Swimming & Surfing

Location:



Directly off the main road that cuts through Uluwatu lies Padang Padang Beach. The easy access to get there and quick walk down attracts many to the small sandy cove. You can grab an umbrella or crawl under the natural rock wall that shades part of the beach. This is many travelers favorite beach spend the afternoon floating in the clear blue water, or catching some waves.

Thomas Beach

Getting There: Bumpy Dirt Road & 10 Minute Hike Down

Ease of Beach Access: Medium

Best For: Swimming & Long Walks

Location:



Located down a bumpy road off the main street of Uluwatu, it would be easy to pass Thomas Beach if you weren’t looking for it. The quick hike down is made up of paved concrete steps, and you’ll be rewarded at the bottom with a true paradise. Small restaurants and beach chairs line the start of the beach where the gentle blue water crashes against the sand. This is one of the few beaches in Uluwatu that’s perfect for a relaxing day of sun, sand, and swimming!

Uluwatu Beach/Suluban Cave

Getting There: Paved Road & 10 minute Walk Down the Developed Cliff

Ease of Beach Access: Medium

Best For: Surfing & Surf Watching

Location:



This famous break has drawn surfers to Uluwatu long before Bali became the international destination that it has today. Surfers charge down the developed cliffside where others can pull up a chair and admire the waves from afar. To get out and surf the break you can paddle your way out from the beach. The other option is to cut through a small cave at low tide and make your way from there. Even if you’re not surfing in Uluwatu, Suluban is a fun place to splash around in the water. Just watch out for the dangerous tides!

Nyang Nyang Beach

Getting There: Bumpy Dirt Road & Hike 20 Minutes Down the Mountain

Ease of Beach Access: Hard

Best For: Swimming & Beach Walks

Location:



The view from above Nyang Nyang Beach will literally take your breath away. The massive green mountain rolls down the hillside and transform into a long stretch of perfect white sand. This isn’t a beach that you can make a quick stop at, so you should plan for a full afternoon if you’re going to hike down. The path is old and worn, but below you should (almost) have the beach to yourself. Make sure to pack any water or snacks you need for your beach day!

We recommend at least two days to explore all the beaches in Uluwatu, and even that will feel very rushed! Have any questions about these beautiful beaches or want to share your favorite? Let us know in the comments below!

Safe Travels,

Brigitte & Jake

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Explore More of Indonesia with Us

Bali:

8 Experiences Not to Miss in Canggu Bali

20 Facts About Bali Every Traveler Should Know

Kecak Fire Dance at Uluwatu Temple

The Veggie Warung: Eating Healthy and Cheap in Bali

Gili Islands:

Bali to Gili Islands Ferry Guide

Gili Trawangan: The Party Island

Gili Meno: An Underwater Paradise

Ferry Between the Gili Islands: Schedule & Route

Gili Air: The Best of the Gili Islands

Get Familiar with Indonesia’s Gili Islands

Nusa Islands:

What to Expect in Nusa Penida

Nusa Penida Island: Best Viewpoints, Hikes, and Beaches

Exploring Tembeling Beach and Forest in Nusa Penida

Nusa Lembongan: Dream Beach to Mushroom Bay

Nusa Ceningan: What’s Over the Yellow Bridge?

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Where To Stay In Bali

Ultra Luxury (High End) – Alila Villas Uluwatu – If you have some money to spend and want a taste of luxury near Uluwatu Temple, this is the spot for you! Most villas include private pools and incredible views of the ocean.

Fun Vacation (Mid Range) – PinkCoco Bali – PinkCoco will add a fun twist to your Bali vacation with it’s unique and colorful decor. This hotel is located perfectly near Padang Padang beach, and just a few minutes from the temple.

Travel Couple (Longterm Travel) – Pondok Indah Bungalow Bingin – We stayed here for a few days on our visit to Uluwatu and had a great time. The open air concept with the bathroom and windows was certainly different, but we grew to love it. They also have great food, and the pool is magical!

Hostel Life (Budget) – Pecatu Guest House & Hostel – Located just 10 minutes drive to the Uluwatu Temple, Pecatu is the perfect home base to explore the area. Bunk up and make some friends, or check out one of the private rooms.

For more places to stay in Uluwatu you can explore the latest prices here!

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