fbpx

Best Things To Do In Sideman Bali

Bali’s Sidemen (pronounced Si-da-men) is set over the most picturesque valley surrounded by rice terraces with the most magnificent backdrop of Mount Agung. The active volcano is the highest point in all of Bali. In this Sidemen travel guide, we will show you the best things to do in Sidemen village.

Mount Agung Volcano In Bali

You will find the traditional Bali still unspoiled by mass tourism, and allows you to connect with traditional village life. Sidemen is the perfect place to relax and recharge away from everything.

Sidemen is a very traditional area and the locals are a little overwhelmed by the increasing tourists coming to visit this untouched paradise.

The valley has several small villages and you will find the most popular tourist spot with accommodation and restaurants around the village of Tabola.

It’s a cooler climate and you will find it gets chilly at night, this makes for perfect conditions when trekking.


How to Get to Sidemen Bali

Sidemen is located around a 90-minute drive from Ubud and two hours from Sanur. If you are going straight to Sidemen from Bali’s Ngurah airport it will take you around two hours depending on traffic conditions.

The easiest way to get to Sidemen is by car, but you could also hire a motorbike as we did. We hired our bike in Ubud and rode from Ubud to Sidemen.


Sidemen Bali What To Do


Hiking Sidemen Bali Rice Terraces

Ubud is not the only place in Bali to explore rice fields, and in Sidemen, you will find the most gorgeous rice paddies. You don’t have to travel far to experience the rice paddies as you will be surrounded by them everywhere.

While walking through the village there will be plenty of opportunities for the perfect photo. The landscape and surrounding is gorgeous and you will need to pinch yourself to see if it’s real because it’s just picture perfect.

You can book Sidemen trekking tours from all the hotels that offer trekking through the fields and these are great. You will gain a lot of knowledge about the local area and, learn about the crops and farming methods used.

Sidemen Bali rice terraces

Exploring Sidemen Village

One of our highlights was exploring Sidemen valley and watching the locals go about their day. You won’t find any fancy restaurants or boutique shopping.

Strolling along the main street we bought some street food and fresh juices, we then road down to a rice field and had a picnic which was one of the highlights of our entire Bali trip.

When we had our picnic we just watched the locals go about their day. Watching them getting fruit from the trees, as the children in their school uniform walked past on their way home from school. Everyone was so friendly and the atmosphere is very laid back.

Sidemen village bali

Relax at Your Hotel in Sidemen Bali

One of the best things to do in Sidemen, is to just stay in the hotel and enjoy the stunning atmosphere and stunning scenery. We loved our stay at Abian Ayu villa and didn’t want to leave.

Set in the rice fields with Mount Agung as a backdrop, lounging around the infinity pool soaking up the views is pure perfection.

It was such a great experience and if you are looking to relax there is no better place. You can also treat yourself to a traditional Balinese massage that Sai had, and she highly recommends it.

Where to stay in sidemen Bali

Where to Eat in Sidemen Bali

If you are looking for nice Sidemen Bali restaurants there are lots of local warungs to choose from that offer local dishes. We didn’t come across a bad meal at any of them.

Our go-to restaurant for lunch was Warung Ida which serves really nice Balinese food and is set on rice fields off the main road.

Warung Ida Sidemen

Sai’s favorite dish was chicken in the pan, we had this three days in a row it was that good. The best restaurant for dinner we experienced was Joglo D’ Uma the specialty dish is suckling pig which was delicious.

Joglo D' Uma Sidemen Bali

Where to Stay in Sidemen Bali

Most of the hotels are around the village of Tabola, and you’re guaranteed spectacular views in Sidemen. Air-conditioners and fans are rare, but usually not needed in the cooler area of Bali. 

Abian Ayu Villa Sidemen

Abian Ayu Villa – Abian Ayu Villa has the most breathtaking view of Mount Agung which could be the best view you will ever witness.

abian ayu sidemen hotel

They offer a range of comfortable rooms situated around a stunning rice field. We absolutely loved our room it was so big and spacious and it even had its own outside bathroom which was just bliss listening to the sound of the stream running by.

sidemen bali accomodation
Abian Ayu Sidemen

The infinity pool also has an amazing view looking out over the rice fields and Mount Agung. They offered the biggest breakfast we had in all of Bali, and everything was delicious.

Abian Ayu Villa

The place is only around $30USD per night which is a really good value for this place. This was our favorite Sidemen Bali accommodation we stayed in.

Check Rates and Availability: Abian Ayu Villa

Arta Nadi Villa Sidemen Bali

Arta Nadi Villa – Across the road from Abian Ayu we had to stay here because Abian Ayu was booked out for the extra days we wanted. It’s a good budget hotel with a nice pool and big rooms. If we had to choose which one was better we would definitely recommend Abian Ayu.

Check Rates and Availability: Arta Nadi Villa

Why Sidemen Should Be On Your List of Places To Visit In Bali

If you are wanting to experience the traditional Bali that still has the authentic side untouched, then you will want to add Sidemen to your Bali travel Itinerary. Sidemen’s natural breathtaking scenery and easygoing lifestyle will leave you wanting to go back over and over again. It’s still untouched and one of Bali’s secret locations and was definitely our favorite spot in all of Bali.

The Best way to save money on Accommodation in Sidemen is by staying at an Airbnb! Get a FREE $46 Airbnb Coupon by using my code when you book!


READ MORE

Gili Meno Travel Guide

Gili Meno is a small island off Lombok, Indonesia and is the island between Gili Trawangan and Gili Air. There are three islands that make up the Gili Islands and each of them has a totally different vibe. Gili Islands are known for 3 things: Partying, diving, and snorkeling. But there is plenty of other things to do in Gili Meno, and in this Gili Meno travel guide, I will share what we did while on the small Gili Island.

How to get to the Gili Islands

The Gili Islands can easily be reached from Bali or Lombok. If you are coming from Bali taking the speedboat is recommended. It’s best to book this online and it takes around 2 hours to get from Bali to the Gili Islands. You can also book from a local vendor.

How to get from Gili Trawangan to Gili Meno: The ferry from Gili Meno to Gili Trawangan leaves daily and you can go to the port and purchase the tickets directly. It takes 15 minutes and only costs $3.50 USD.

Gili Meno travel guide

THE GILI MENO TRAVEL GUIDE

THE THREE GILI ISLANDS

Chill-out island: Gili Meno
Party island: Gili Trawangan
Romantic, Couples island: Gili Air

We stayed two nights on Gili Meno and it has a relaxing vibe, you will feel detached from the rest of the world. It’s slow-paced and not much is going on around the island. If you are looking for a quiet island this is the one for you, if you like more action and nightlife you would be better off going to Gili Trawangan.

BEST THINGS TO DO IN GILI MENO

Gili Meno Underwater Statues

The Gili Meno statues have quickly become a snorkeling and diving hotspot of the Gili Islands. The 48 life-sized statues that are situated in a circle lay just off the shore of Gili Meno and can be accessed from the shore. The unique sculptures were made from the casts of real people which makes them even more intriguing.

Gili Meno Underwater Statues

Gili Meno Statue location: The Gili Meno statues are located on the west side of the island out front of the BASK resort. From the Gili Meno port, it’s a 15-minute walk to the other side of the island. Look for the big BASK sign and you can swim out from there, it’s only about 100 meters from shore. You can pretty much walk the whole way and then it drops off just before you reach the statues. The water is only around 3-4 meters deep so it’s perfect for both divers and snorkeling.


Visit The Turtle Sanctuary on Gili Meno

At Bolong’s turtle sanctuary the turtle eggs are collected and incubated. The turtles are raised in the pools they have set up before they are released back into the wild. You can leave a donation to support their work, so the turtles don’t become extinct. You can even release a turtle onto the beach yourself for a donation of 100,000 Rupiah.

GILI MENO LAKE

Inside of Gili Island is a mangrove forest and saltwater lake that should be on your itinerary to visit. There is a collection of flora and fauna which is remarkable for such a tiny island. The salt lake is also home to enormous monitor lizards.

TRANSPORT ON GILI MENO ISLAND

There aren’t any cars or scooters on the island. The only transport is horse and carriage and riding a bicycle. We rented a bike while on Gili Trawangan but decided not to do this while here and chose to walk everywhere. The roads are not the best on Gili Meno so if you do rent a bike you will find yourself pushing it along a lot of the time. You can rent bikes all over the island and you will find your hotel should offer that service for around $4USD per day.


WHERE TO STAY IN GILI MENO

Meno Colanta: We stayed in this small private cabin that is 5 minutes walk from the beach. Meno Colanto only costs $9USD per night and comes with breakfast.

Meno Colanto a great budget hotel in Gili Nemo

We spend a lot of time out of the room filming our videos so we don’t spend much on accommodation unless we are wanting to do hotel reviews, or we are having some time off filming and want to book a place with all the luxuries. If you are on a budget this place is perfect, and is the cheapest accommodation in Gili Meno.

Check Rates and Availability: Meno Colanta

Avia Villa Resort – Avia Villa is a beautiful luxury hotel on Gili Meno. It’s located right on the beach complete with a swimming pool and cute wooden style rooms. The place is only around $60USD per night which is a really good value for this place.

Check Rates and Availability: Avia Villa Resort

BEST GILI MENO RESTAURANTS

Pak Man Warung Gili Meno: Located in the middle of the island this local restaurant makes a perfect place to grab a cheap lunch. You can get pre-made food that has already been cooked, or you can order from the menu and have the meal cooked fresh. The owner Pak Man is such a nice guy and makes some great local food.

Eating at Pak Man Warung Gili Meno

Semasa Cafe, Gili Meno When searching for the best restaurants to eat at we found this gem of a place, rated 5 stars on Google. It’s away from the main strip and will take a bit of a walk to get there but that’s all part of the fun. Located right on the beach they have small platforms you can sit on and relax while you take in the beautiful views.

Fresh Seafood at Semasa Cafe Gili Islands

You can choose what fish you would like and they will BBQ it on the coals. The flavors are amazing and this was the best meal we had on the island, and only set us back $20USD.

Semasa Cafe Gili Meno

Best Things To Do In Nusa Penida

A tropical island just a short boat ride from Bali without all the organic cafes, beach clubs, or trendy restaurants, but in this travel guide we will show you the best things to do in Nusa Penida and why you need to visit before it all changes.

Nusa Penida is still a relatively undeveloped island southeast of Bali and is the biggest brother of the three islands of Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan. If you are wanting to visit and explore all the things to do in Nusa Penida it will take 3-4 days. If your time is limited you can still take a day trip from Bali to see the main attractions.


When planning our trip to Bali we knew we wanted to include Nusa Penida on the Itinerary, it’s definitely an island for those into adventures and exploring. With its rough still untouched nature, hidden beaches, friendly locals, and endless coconut trees, it’s easy to see why Nusa Penida is now a go-to destination.

Mass tourism hasn’t hit Nusa Penida yet but we can only imagine in the next few years this will change. In this Nusa Penida travel guide, we will show you the best ways to enjoy this paradise before it’s too late.

Kelingking beach Nusa Penida

How To Get To Nusa Penida

We took a boat from Nusa Lembongan organized through our hotel. If you are coming from Bali then you can catch the fast boats that leave from Sanur.

How to get to Nusa Penida from Bali

You can go directly to the port in Sanur and book tickets there, they have lots of different companies that you can choose from. Prices are pretty much the same whatever one you choose, and the boats are leaving frequently. Booking online before you go is a good idea so you know what time the boat departs and usually included in the ticket will be hotel pickup. A return ticket costs around 550.000 IDR and can be booked online at Maritu Express.


Nusa Penida Transport

The island is big and takes over one hour to go from one end of the island to the other. The roads have improved but the ones leading to the major attractions are horrendous. If your a novice on the scooter this will get interesting for you, the roads are tricky so if you are not confident going in a car you will enjoy it more.

A scooter costs around 70,000 IDR per day and you can rent this when you get off the boat or from the hotel.


What To Do In Nusa Penida

We spent a total of 4 nights and still didn’t have enough time to cover everything. On the first day exploring we covered the attractions on the south of the island and the other days around the north of the island.

Goa Giri Putri Temple

Pura Goa Giri Putri Cave

We almost drove right past this place, and it was lucky we stopped because the Pura Goa Giri Putri Cave was unbelievable. It’s positioned on top of a mountain, accessed by steep steps leading up to the entrance. Before entering you will need to wear a sarong that can be rented for around 50 cents from the shop across the road.

Once we reached the top and entered, we were blessed with water splashed onto our forehead. We entered the entry to the cave by entering through a small crack in the mountain which led us into the cave.

Things To Do In Nusa Penida

Wow once we got inside I wasn’t expecting what I was about to see. The cave opened up and is over 300m long. It’s an eerie feeling walking through and we took in all the sights of the underground temple before squeezing through the tiny hole to get out.

Goa Giri Putri Temple Nusa Penida

Diamond Beach Nusa Penida

Reaching Diamond beach is quite challenging but well worth it once you arrive. There is a stairway that runs along the cliff wall that you can walk down to the beach. It can be pretty challenging to reach the bottom but not too hard, you will get a really good workout in.

The stairs are steep but I thought they were easier than the ones at Kelingking beach. Once you reach the bottom and step onto the untouched sand it’s incredible how beautiful this place is.

Diamond Beach nusa penida

Atuh Beach

Atuh Beach is located on the south of the island and is divided by a cliff that separates Diamond beach from Atuh beach. It’s often overlooked as people tend to make their way down to Diamond beach, but Atuh beach has stunning white sand and incredible cliffs surrounding it.

Atuh Beach Nusa Penida Bali

Teletubbies Hill Viewpoint

This has to be the most perfect spot to watch the sunset, when we arrived it was just us and a few locals enjoying the spot. Teletubbies Hill gets it’s named from the hills that resemble the Teletubbies homes.

Teletubbies Hill Nusa Penida

With the hills on one side of the road and the coastline on the other, it’s just so incredible how diverse the landscape is. We recommend going just before sunset and you won’t be disappointed. I had fun flying the drone here while Sai was working on getting some epic sunset shots.

Kelingking Beach

The most photographed place on the island and the one that everyone visits. From the top of the cliff, you will be overlooking the Indian ocean and the sights when you first see the T-rex will take your breath away.

Things To Do In Nusa Penida

You can hike down the stairs all the way to the beach. We decided to go halfway and walk along the T-rex until the stairs started to go down to the beach. Looking down at the crystal clear water and watching the waves coming crashing in is truly a moment you will never forget.

Kelingking Beach bali indonesia

The hike down onto T-rex didn’t disappoint and you can easily see why this is one of the top things to do on Nusa Penida. Once we reached the top they have lots of restaurants where we stopped for a much-deserved fresh coconut.

Tembeling Beach Natural Pool and Forest

If your looking to get off the beaten track and away from all the main tourist attractions on the island you will enjoy visiting Tembling Beach, natural pools and forest. It will take a crazy motorbike ride to get there but it’s well worth it once you arrive.

TEMBELING FOREST

We actually took the long way and hiked through the forest which took about 45 minutes. I wouldn’t recommend this unless you really enjoy hiking. On our way, a villager on his bike intercepted us and said he would take us there, but he ended up taking us the long way. If you see this sign in the photo below don’t go that way, head to the left down the road which will bring you to the entrance and you can walk down the stairs to the beach.

trekking Tembeling forest

On the way down the stairs to the beach, you can drop into the forest on the right side. You can get some really nice photos in the canyon, we where exhausted from the hike through the forest so didn’t really stop to take in the beauty as we should have.

TEMBELING NATURAL POOLS

Once you have checked out Tembling forest you can make your way down to the Temebling Natural Pools. There are two pools in total, the first one you will pass is the biggest one but we preferred the second one that overlooks the beach and has running water from a bamboo pipe. This is the perfect place to hang out as it’s like a jacuzzi.

You can cliff jump from the first pool there was a couple doing it when we walked passed. The water is crystal clear and you can see everything in the water.

TEMBELING NATURAL POOLS is a perfect place to swim

TEMBELING BEACH

At the bottom of the hill, you will reach Tembeling Beach. We didn’t actually spend much time there as we enjoyed swimming in the natural pools more. It’s not the most spectacular beach compared to others on the island and is a little dangerous as the waves can get quite big.

TEMBELING BEACH is incredible

TEMBELING SECRET BEACH

Before you reach the bottom pool you will find a cave with hundreds of rock formations that have been stacked on top of each other. You can walk through the cave and observe these carefully stacked rocks which then comes out to a secret beach. Surrounded by huge cliffs you can sit on the massive rocks and take it the beauty all around you. It’s so relaxing to be surrounded by these rock formations and listening to the waves come crashing onto the shore.

Tembeling beach rock formations

Broken Beach & Angel’s Billabong

The road leading to Broken beach & Angel’s Billabong is not pretty and gets pretty rough. You can expect dirt roads with a lot of stones and potholes. Once we arrived we took a little walk down to Angel’s Billabong which is a natural infinity pool. You can only enter when it’s low tide.

angel’s billabong nusa penida

Unfortunately, when we went there was no water In Angel’s Billabong at all. But if you come at the right time you will be able to see the crystal clear rock pools. It’s a stunning formation that allows you to see the patterns of the rocks beneath the surface. If you arrive at the right time you will be able to have a little dip and get amazing photos.

Broken Beach Nusa Penida

Broken Beach is an amazing archway that allows water to flow in and out of the cove from the ocean. You cannot swim here as there is no way to get down to the beach but the sight alone is incredible.

Manta Bay Viewpoint

After Angel’s Billabong be sure to walk through the little shop and make your way to the opposite side of Angel’s Billabong. The walk only takes a few minutes and you will get to look of the cliff into the ocean. This is where the tour boats go to do the snorkeling tours to swim with the Mant Rays so if you are lucky enough you will get to see them swim around and surface.

Manta Ray Viewpoint Nusa Penida

Where to stay on Nusa Penida

Save money on Nusa Penida by staying at an Airbnb! Get a FREE $40 Airbnb Coupon by using my code when you book! 

We will recommend three places to stay on Nusa Penida. All of these places are in good locations but slightly different. We stayed close to the port, we had planned to move after one night but ended up staying there the entire time because it was convenient.

La Nusa Homestay – Value: The La Nusa Bungalow is centrally located and you can walk to it from the ferry as we did. The bungalows are a good size and very clean inside, making it great value for money at around $20 per night. Being on the main road it can be a little noisy with cars and bikes passing but the convenience of this location is its bonus.

la nusa homestay nusa penida
la nusa homestay

Semabu Hills Resort – Luxury: If you’re looking for somewhere really nice to stay on Nusa Penida I recommend Semabu Hills. It has an amazing infinity pool that looks out to the ocean and is in a great spot for adventuring around the island. It’s perfect for families and couples wanting the finer experience, and this has it all with luxury rooms and breakfast to die for.

Where To Eat In Nusa Penida

NUSA PENIDA ESPRESSO – Penida espresso has really good coffee and the best smoothie bowls in Nusa Penida. There is nothing like getting on your bike and heading down there in the morning for these specialties. If you like smoothie bowls make sure to try this place out, you won’t be disappointed.

Penida Espresso
Nusa Penida Smoothie Bowl

WARUNG COCONUT – This was our go-to restaurant on the island, we ate here most nights. It’s located right on the main street and has delicious food that is really cheap. The food is all pre-cooked and you can choose everything you want to eat that’s on display.

warung coconut nusa penida

I hope you enjoyed our Nusa Penida Travel Guide if you have been before share your experiences and recommendations below.


Best Things To Do In Nusa Lembongan

Nusa Lembongan is fast becoming the hottest destination for those wanting to explore the islands just off of Bali. A popular surfing spot and chilled beach vibe its easy to see why it has grown in popularity over the last few years. Most people skip past this small island for the better know Nusa Penida for the world-famous T-Rex, but there are also so many things to do in Nusa Penida.


How To Get To Nusa Lembongan

The most common way to get there is from Sanur (east Bali) The ferry leaves multiple times per day or you can opt for a fast boat as we did. If you book your ticket in advance most will include pick up from your hotel. If you want the lowest price guaranteed you can click the link below to reserve your ticket.


Here Are The Best Things To Do In Nusa Lembongan


Nusa Lembongan Mangrove Forest Tour

One of the most popular things to do in Nusa Lembongan is doing the Mangrove Forest tour. We had rented a scooter and made our way to the Mangrove, just before we got there a man on a scooter intercepted us and asked if we are going to do the Mangrove tour.

He led the way and once we arrived took us to his boat and said he can take us for the tour. The tour guide tried to charge us 150,000 each but I had read online that the going rate was 50,000 ($3.54 USD) per person so I offered him that. He accepted so make sure if you do it this way not to overpay as they will always start at a higher price.

The Mangrove tour goes for around 45 minutes and is well worth the money. Our only recommendation is to try and get there early as it does get really crowded once the tourists arrive from the people visiting the island for the day. 

Nusa Lembongan Mangrove Forest Tour

When we arrived we where basically the only one there but by the time we finished, we could see it was getting quite congested. If you are looking to do the mangrove tour on a day trip from Bali you can take a look at the different tours offered here.

best thing to do on Nusa Lembongan

Explore Devil’s Tears

Our favorite thing to do in Nusa Lembongan was exploring Devil’s Tears. It does get a little touristy if you are staying on the island I would recommend you visit early morning or in the afternoon to avoid the crowds. Devils tear is nature at it’s best and gets its name from the large widespread mist that shoots up into the air after the large waves crash into the rocks.

Devil’s Tears Nusa Lembongan

Devil’s Tears is the best thing to do on Nusa Lembongan in my opinion, as I have never seen waves crash into the rocks and shoot up into the air as it does here, it’s truly mesmerizing.

things to do in nusa lembongan

Do be careful as the waves can be huge and it has washed people off the rocks in the past. They have red flags so you don’t get too close, so try not to pass them and you will be fine.


Dream Beach In Nusa Lembongan

Just around the corner from Devil’s Tears is dream beach, a cute little beach with a hotel and restaurants overlooking it’s crystal clear water and powdery white sand. With access to good food and drinks, dream beach is the perfect spot to hang out for the day. Dream Beach is one of the best beaches and most popular things to do in Nusa Lembongan.

dream beach in nusa lembongan

Jungut Batu Beach

Jungut Batu Beach is the main beach on the island and is lined with hotels and restaurants. This is where you will be dropped off when arriving on the island, and the beach is covered with wooden tour boats and fishing vessels. Every night people come here to watch the sunset as it’s the best place on the island for it, the hotel we stayed in had an infinity pool overlooking the beach so we spent most evenings watching the sunset from there. Most nights before sunset you will see the sky filled with kites as the locals fly them every night before the sun goes down. Sunset is a must when looking for the best things to do in Nusa Lembongan.

Jungut Batu Beach

Jungut Batu Beach is the longest strip of beach on the island, and there is a surf break if you are into surfing. The beauty of the beach is that in the background you will have the view of Mt Agung, an active volcano that last erupted in 1963.

Mushroom Bay Nusa Lembongan

Mushroom Bay Nusa Lembongan

Mushroom Bay is an awesome spot to hang out and spend the day lying around the beach and grabbing a bite to eat. The bay has a wide variety of restaurants and has a nice family atmosphere. We come to Mushroom bay as we were leaving the island so we didn’t get to spend the day here but it looked like the perfect place to chill on the beach if that’s your thing.

things to do in nusa lembongan

Where To Stay On Nusa Lembongan

The Best way to save money on the island is by staying at an Airbnb! Get a FREE $46 Airbnb Coupon by using my code when you book! 

These are the places we stayed at and recommend. The three different places are all in good locations but they all offer something different compared to the other. Two budget-friendly picks and one luxury hotel for those who want to take their holiday to the next level.

Lembongan Made Inn – $38.65 this was the first hotel we stayed in on the island, and the major draw point of this place is its location. Based right on Jungut Batu beach you are smack bang right in the best location on the island.

Lembongan Made Inn

You can walk from the pier to the hotel, although you get a free hotel drop off included. The best thing about this hotel is the small infinity pool which overlooks the beach. You can catch the best sunsets from this pool on the island.

Check rates and availability: Lembongan Made Inn

Yogi Beach Bungalow – $38.56 We only stayed here one night but we wish we could have stayed longer. The hotel is located at the end of Jungut Batu Beach so it is much quieter and relaxing.

Yogi Beach Bungalow

The room we had was amazing we were on the first level and had a balcony with the sea view. Breakfast was great and this hotel offers the perfect balance of island life and luxury for a very low cost.

Yogi Beach Bungalow Nusa Lembongan

Check rates and availability: Yogi Beach Bungalow


READ MORE:

Sanur Travel Guide

Sanur is a quiet little seaside town southeast of the island of Bali, in Indonesia. Away from the parties and nightlife culture of the more well known Kuta or Seminyak, Sanur is known for a family-friendly location. The main street Jalan Danau Tamblingan is lined with beautiful restaurants. As well as soft sandy beaches, there is plenty of things to do in Sanur, so if you are wanting a relaxed beach holiday then Sanur in Bali is hard to beat.

What To Do In Sanur Bali?

In this Sanur travel guide, we will show you the best attractions to see, where to eat and stay so you can enjoy the natural beauty of Bali while in Sanur.


Enjoy a Sanur Beach Sunrise

Sanur Beach is the perfect place to catch the best sunrise in Bali. Unlike Seminyak and Kuta where you can watch the sunset Sanur is located on the eastern side of Bali and is the place to be for sunrise.

Sanur beach is protected by a small reef which means the surf is reduced to small waves, making the beach perfect for those who are not strong at swimming. The beach stretches more than 5km and is uncrowded and mostly clean and quiet a lot like the city itself.


Taman Festival Abandoned Theme Park

abandoned theme park

This was definitely the highlight of our trip to Sanur, an abandoned theme park may not seem like an attraction you would want to visit, but Taman Festival is a photographer’s dream.

The park first opened in 1997 as a Disney land style theme park. It boasted the world’s first inverted roller coaster, 3-D movie theatre, Bali’s biggest swimming pool, laser shows, crocodile enclosure, and a volcano in the middle of the park.

On Friday the 13th March 1998 the laser equipment was struck by lightning, and due to the Asian economic crisis insurance wasn’t forthcoming. They borrowed the money and wasn’t able to pay it back as the park was running at a loss. Taman Festival Sanur was close in 2000 and the eight-hectare park has been left abandoned since.

sanur travel guide

We entered through the main entrance and there is a local man collecting an entrance fee 10,000 IDR ($0.71) and made our way through the overgrown parks and deserted buildings. Our favorite building was definitely the 3-D movie theatre, inside was really spooky especially making our way up the staircase to the projector room.

It’s quite easy to spend a couple of hours here walking through the different buildings and trying to make out what amusement it would have been. There are so many opportunities for good photos so don’t forget your camera.

Take a Walk Along The Sanur Beach Promenade

One of the main attractions in Sanur is its coastline which has a paved walkway along it. The promenade is the ideal spot for taking long walks and taking in the beach sights.

One of the most popular things to do on the Sanur Promenade is renting a bicycle and taking a ride down it, along the way you will pass lots of restaurants and people selling street food.

The promenade is popular with families as the paved walkway makes it an easy place to go for a walk with the stroller, and is a safe place for young kids to play.

WHERE TO EAT IN SANUR

Massimo Gelato Sanur

Massimo Gelato Sanur Ice Cream Shop

Located on Jalan Danau Tamblingan, Massimo Gelato Sanur is one of the best Italian restaurants in the area. At the front of the restaurant is the big drawcard, the ice cream shop which people line up for. The line is so big it’s hard to get into the restaurant itself.

This could be the best ice cream I ever had, I have never been to an ice cream shop with so many selections. If you have a sweet tooth this will be your paradise.

The Italian restaurant is known all over the island. We ate here one night and the pizza and pasta was first class. Of course, we tried the ice cream too which was amazing.


Pasar Sindu Night Market

Pasar Sindu Night Market is one of the best places to eat street food in the evening. We found this market on the last night we were in Sanur and wished we had found it earlier.

pasar sindu sanur

The market offers a wide selection of local food, delicious desserts, fresh shakes, juices, and fruit salads. We didn’t really know what we were ordering so we just asked the vendor to make us a plate. We got a selection of everything, Sai said it looks like something you serve up to the dog. There were lots of flavors going on bet everything tasted so good.

pasar sindu night market sanur

The Pasar Sindu Night market is on Jalan Pasar Sindu behind the restaurants and usually gets going once the sunsets. It’s a great place to experience local food and meet fellow travelers. You will most likely be sitting around a small table with other people while you eat.

The Owl Sanur

the owl sanur

The owl cafe in Sanur is a fairly new cafe, it’s a charming place to have breakfast or lunch. The cafe has a superb range of international dishes, fresh juices, and really good coffee.

the owl cafe sanur

We ate here twice and tried their breakfast along with their smoothie bowls. The cafe is well lit with air conditioning and is the perfect place to recharge and enjoy a meal.

sanur the owl cafe

I hope you enjoyed this Sanur travel guide. In total we stayed three days and found these suggestions the best things to do in Sanur.


READ MORE:

Ultimate Seminyak Travel Guide

In this Seminyak travel guide, we will review the best things to do in Seminyak while you are there. Located in the Southern end of Bali this beach resort town is packed with high-end resorts, amazing restaurants, cafes, and high-end shopping.

We arrived in Bali late the night before so wanted to book a hotel that wasn’t too far away from the airport. Seminyak is known for shopping, good restaurants, and wasn’t too far from the airport so it ticked all the boxes.

Seminyak is the perfect location to get your Bali adventure started and staying 1-3 days is sufficient.


Breakfast in Seminyak

We had breakfast in our hotel but stopped in for coffee at Revolver Espresso. The Butik coffee shop is so quirky located down a lane-way, and from the outside, you will never think this is a coffee shop.

You enter through a little wooden door held open by a bouncer, it feels like you are entering a nightclub. Once you get in there are different sections and we made our way through a little hall-way and sat outside in the courtyard.


We had the Coffee and Chocolate Ice cream shakes and they are delicious and refreshing. We will be definitely stopping by again before we leave Seminyak. 

Seminyak Square

Around 30 meters down the street from Revolver espresso is Seminyak Square. Seminyak Square is an open-aired mall with clothes shopping and restaurants. It’s not very big and there is only and handful of street stalls that mainly sell women’s dresses.

Seminyak Village Mall

Located right next to Seminyak Square the village mall is a contemporary mall with many shops over two floors. It’s pretty small so don’t expect to find too much in here. The best shopping in Seminyak is on the streets.

Seminyak Village Mall

Kynd Community Seminyak

By now Sai was ready for lunch and it was time to head to one of the most Instagrammable places in Seminyak called Kynd Community.

Kynd Community in Seminyak is a plant-based cafe that offers an abundance of fresh juices, smoothie bowls, burgers, and salad bowls. We opted for the smoothie bowl and wasn’t disappointed. Seriously you need to try these smoothie bowls if you are in Seminyak. The cafe is open from 6am-10pm daily and is very popular.

Seminyak Beach

Seminyak beach is a wide sandy beach with lounge chairs and umbrellas as far as the eye can see. I have never seen a beach with so much sand it’s incredible. We came down to take a walk along the beach and take in the sights. A popular surf destination, Seminyak beach is very clean and best enjoyed at sunset.

The sandy beach is situated in the north of Legian beach and stretches 3km. Along the shore has some of Bali’s top dining spots where you can watch the sunset while having dinner. We didn’t stay long at Seminyak beach as we wanted to watch the sunset at Potato Head beach club.

Potato Head Beach Club 

Fancy a pool party overlooking the ocean? Potato Head Beach Club has it all if you are looking for the best place to watch the sunset in Seminyak then look no further.

potato head beach club

Located right in the heart of Seminyak the beach club has an expansive emerald lawn where you can spend the day lounging in the sun while taking in the good vibes. The beach club has three restaurants and has the best DJ’s and live music that goes all day long.

potato head beach club seminyak

We chose to eat at Kaum restaurant which offers traditional Indonesian food with a fine dining experience. Perched on a balcony overlooking Potato head beach club it’s possible the best place to watch the sunset while enjoying dinner. We ordered the Barramundi and chicken which were both delicious and very healthy options.

kaum restaurant seminyak

Where To Stay In Seminyak

Seminyak is well known for its amazing resorts and luxury lifestyle with a wide range of hotels to stay at.

arana

We stayed at the Arana suite hotel which is perfectly located with everything close by. Arana Suite is nestled between the hustle and bustle of Seminyak offering a peaceful retreat amidst the tranquil foilage.

Arana suite has modern rooms and is just a short walking distance from a plethora of restaurants and trendy shops that ends at the iconic Double six beach which is a perfect location to take in the sunset.

Arana Suite Seminyak

In the morning breakfast is brought to your room where you can eat in bed or on the balcony like we did. Our favorite was the muesli with yogurt, and I also tried the eggs benedict one day which was equally as good.

Popular Posts

Pin It on Pinterest