The no-BS guide to Uluwatu – why you should go here instead of Kuta

Uluwatu Bali Guide

Why spend most of your time in the Kuta/Seminyak axis when you can head down to Uluwatu Bali? After falling in love with Ubud, we headed down to Uluwatu to stay for 3 days. We were in search of surf. Unfortunately we didn’t get much of it, but Uluwatu Bali did not disappoint. Here is my guide to Uluwatu, and why you should go here instead of Kuta or Seminyak!

Handy to know: although officially known as the Bukit Peninsula, most people call the southern area of Bali Uluwatu, after its famous temple with the same name

Thinking back on it, the Uluwatu area was one of my favorite parts of Bali. It didn’t have the trash and crowds of Seminyak and it wasn’t too hipster like Canggu. It was just right. It’s famous for beaches tucked into the cliffside, and is worth a multi-day stay instead of a day trip to the Uluwatu Temple.

In this Uluwatu guide you’ll find where to stay in Uluwatu, things to do in Uluwatu, if Uluwatu is worth visiting (spoiler alert: it is!), and where to stay in Uluwatu –  there are way more things to do here than things to do in Kuta Bali!

What to do in Uluwatu

 

Looking for more Bali tips? Check out these posts:

• The ultimate seven day Bali itinerary
• Where to stay in Canggu Bali
• Amazing things to do in Ubud, Bali

Bingin Beach, Bali

This was the beach I envisioned when I imagined Bali. While the beaches in the north (Legian, Kuta, Seminyak, Echo) can be a bit dirty, or have black sand, Bingin Beach was just want I thought the beaches there would be like. 

I’m really glad we went there first before the northern beaches actually, because it showed me how great the beaches in Bali can be. Looking for more info on Bali? Don’t miss this guide to backpacking Bali.

We visited Bingin on our first day in Uluwatu, courtesy of our Lonely Planet, of course. Having no idea what to expect, we followed the signs for Bingin Beach until we came across a quasi-parking lot filled with roosters where we could park our scooter. Soon I found out that this was one of the best beaches in Bali, Bingin definitely makes the Uluwatu guide. 

If you go, just follow the signs from the parking area, although it looks a bit shady. Once you walk for a little while following the signs, you’ll come to a (very) steep set of stairs to follow down the cliff. This brings you amongst the small hotels and restaurants perched along the cliff, and eventually to the beach. Don’t forget your sunblock for the beach!

The way back up is much harder than the way down :). If you’re looking for more off the beaten path areas of Bali outside of Uluwatu, check out Amed in the norther of Bali. 

Next time we are in Bali I would love to stay here for a couple days straight just to lay on the beach all day with a book and nothing else…

Bingin Beach was my favorite Uluwatu beach for several reasons:

1. It wasn’t crowded. I assume this is because it can really only be reached by scooter and is not especially family friendly. There are no resorts on the cliff, meaning the only hotels are quite small and humble.
2. The view of the ocean is beautiful, but the view from the ocean looking back at the beach is almost better.
3. THERE IS A DOG WHO PERMANENTLY LIVES THERE!! Bima the Beach Dog is a golden retriever who famously resides on Bingin Beach. Unfortunately I didn’t get a pic with this local celeb, but I did see him, which was pretty exciting for me. He’s a real sweetie who will cuddle up with just about anyone on the beach.
4. I love that there are trees growing out of massive beach boulders there.
5. You can surf here! Just be careful to avoid the reef below – surf only at high tide!

Hungry for more amazing Indonesia beaches? Check out nearby Kuta Lombok, Gili Air, or Gili T

Single Fin Beach Club 

Single Fin is perched on the cliffside over looking Uluwatu Beach. It’s a hotel/bar/chill spot where you can eat, drink and watch the surfers take on the mighty Uluwatu Pipeline from above.

Wander up to Single Fin from the Uluwatu entrance (there’s also a Single Fin scooter entrance) and you’ll be amazed at how all the ramshackle buildings miraculously don’t slip off the cliff down into the ocean.

Grab a spot on the porch over looking the ocean, with a bintang in your hand while a DJ spins in the background, and you’ll really feel like you’re on vacation. No Uluwatu guide could ever be complete without mention of Single Fin, and this is one of the best things to do in Uluwatu. 

Unfortunately when we visited the pipeline wasn’t pumping, but if you’re lucky if you get to see it. If you’re looking to surf, it’s better to leave this one to the pros.

 

 

 

Uluwatu Temple

An obvious must visit in Uluwatu is the temple with the same name. We visited on our first morning in Uluwatu, thinking it would be ideal to cross this one off the list.

You are supposed to go at sunset to witness the kecak dance, but we didn’t. Instead we opted to go when we were sweating our asses off in the midday heat. Anyway, you should probably visit at sundown – but that’s also when all the tour busses arrive.

Unless you are wearing pants or a long skirt already, you’ll get one of these sarongs and look as fashionable as I did 😉 – or just pack a sarong yourself and remember to bring it with you!

Visit Uluwatu – the temple itself is not as beautiful as some of the other temples in Bali, but the views from the cliff over the ocean are pretty spectacular. This is a Bali temple you definitely do not want to miss. 

Curious to learn more about Balinese culture? Check out this post from Time Travel Bee on interesting facts about Balinese culture – must knows before you visit Bali!

View from Uluwatu Temple[/caption]

Watch out for the monkeys who patrol the parking lot. Don’t leave any food near your scooter, or else it’ll be gone!

For more Bali tips, check out my Indonesia Packing List

What to skip in Uluwatu

Dreamlands Beach. I think this should be renamed to nightmare beach. We headed here only because we heard it could be decent for beginner surfers. The beach is pretty depressing. It’s filled with garbage and located next to a deserted resort. It has a sad feeling that it was once developed for tourism, then left to rot. My advice is to avoid it at all costs.

Nusa Dua. Another one that I suggest you skip. Although we did rent surf boards for a day in Nusa Dua, I’d recommend you avoid it unless you are looking for a luxury resort stay in Bali. This is where you’ll find a lot of name brand hotels you are familiar with, to me it felt like I entered Hawaii. I was in Bali for something different, not to feel like I stepped into a Western luxury resort.

The entire area of Nusa Dua is really developed and is only accessible through gates. When you enter by scooter you have to tell the guards you are coming to surf (or whatever you are there for) and go through. It’s a bit of a maze and feels completely different than the west side of the peninsula where Uluwatu, Bingin and Padang Padang are.

Despite how developed it was, the area was so badly maintained. Part of a walkway along the beach had completely collapsed down into the sand and a light pole was laying on the beach. I wish I had taken a photo of it because I can’t find any online…To be honest, I think that a lot of hotels have come here and built up without much regard for the environment. I’m curious to see what happens to this area over the upcoming years.

And… here are a few other things I’d recommend skipping in Bali: please NEVER go dolphin watching in Lovina, and definitely skip that visit to Seminyak

Where to stay in Uluwatu

We stayed at S Resorts Hidden Valley during our 3 day stay in Uluwatu. For us it was an ideal place to stay for many reasons

• It’s affordable. We were traveling for 4 weeks through Indonesia and our threshold for hotels was around $45 per night – and this fit in our budget with no problems!
• It includes breakfast – duh, that is always a plus.
• Scooter rentals were $7 per day – trust me, rent from your hotel, NOT from some one on the street
• You can wake up with yoga. We loved waking up and doing yoga every morning during our stay. Ommm.
• We had the most relaxing massages there. I think we paid around $8 each for an hour of bliss. Do it.
• Location, location, location. S Resorts Hidden Valley is located off the main road, tucked into a quiet valley, but is still close to everything you want to reach in Uluwatu.

There are tons of Uluwatu hotels, but this one is my pick. 

Where to eat in Uluwatu, Indonesia

I might have a small confession to make… we ate at the same restaurant two nights in a row because we loved it so much – and because it was so close to where we stayed!

If you have a chance, and are looking for a break from nasi goreng, then you should definitely check out Bukit Cafe. The food there is delicious and will really help you get your western food fix – plus most items are still pretty healthy. Of course, I found Bukit Cafe in my handy Lonely Planet – where would I ever be without it?!

The restaurant is located between Bingin Beach and Padang Padang, so is pretty central in the Uluwatu area.

I myself indulged in this veggie burger below … twice. 

You can also spend time visiting infamous Padang Padang beach and the bluer than blue Pantai Pendawa, but for me, the places above took the cake!

The Bukit Peninsula in Bali is one of the must visits on any trip to Bali. So skip Kuta/Seminyak and head south!

How to get to Uluwatu Bali

If you are already on the island of Bali, I’d suggest simply taking a taxi down to Uluwatu. This is the easiest way to get to Uluwatu Bali. You can of course rent a scooter and drive yourself, but traffic can be pretty horrendous and you’ll likely have luggage with you. I’d suggest taking a Grab Car (basically like the Asian Uber), because you’ll get the best prices that way!

Still hungry for more Indonesian adventures? Check out these posts:

• The Guide to Nusa Lembongan: A retreat from Bali
• How to trek Mt Rinjani 
• Hang ten! Surf’s up at this amazing surf camp in Kuta Lombok

Did this post help you decide what to do in Uluwatu? Let me know in the comments below!