The west coast of Bali’s Bukit peninsula is a string of beautiful beaches, most of them within a ten to fifteen minute scooter ride of each other. Some are made for swimming, some for surfing, all of them for sunsets. Here are the best beaches near Uluwatu, and what each one is good for.
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Balangan Beach
A long ribbon of white sand under the cliffs, a fast left-hand reef break, and cliff-top warungs that turn into the best sunset seats on the Bukit. Balangan is low-key, free to enter, and rarely crowded outside golden hour. If you only have time for one, make it this one, and read our complete Balangan Beach guide for everything you need.
Dreamland Beach
The most swimmable beach on this stretch: wide, white and backed by cliffs, with clear turquoise water and gentle waves that make it the friendliest spot for a proper swim or a first surf lesson. It is more developed than its neighbours (there is a resort above and a paid car park), so it draws a crowd by midday. Come early or late and it is glorious.
Bingin Beach
The most atmospheric of the lot. Bingin is a tiny cove reached by a steep staircase, framed by cliffs with warungs and homestays built right into the rock. The wave is a fast, hollow left for intermediate and advanced surfers; the beach almost disappears at high tide and opens up beautifully at low. Stay for a sunset drink at a cliff cafe.
Padang Padang Beach
The famous one, the little cove from Eat, Pray, Love. You reach it through a gap in the rocks, and it is small, pretty and busy in the middle of the day. There is a small entrance fee. The water is good for a swim, and on a small swell the mellow left is one of the better waves near Uluwatu for beginners and longboarders. Go early to have it closer to yourself.
Tips for beach hopping the Bukit
- A scooter is by far the easiest way to move between beaches; there is no public transport.
- Bring cash in small notes for parking, entrance fees, warungs and sunbeds.
- Most beaches involve stairs down the cliff, so wear sandals with grip.
- Save the west-facing beaches (Balangan, Bingin) for sunset.
- Check the tide: high tide is best for swimming, low tide exposes the reef.
Where to stay
The Secret Palms sits right in the middle of all of this, in Balangan, a five-minute ride from the sand. It is a private four-bedroom villa with its own pool and garden, sleeping up to eight, and an easy base for a week of beach hopping around Uluwatu. Check availability.
Photos: Dreamland by Krismartin (public domain) and Arisdp (CC BY 3.0); Balangan sunset by Wokshots and Padang Padang by Rantemario, CC BY-SA 4.0.