Let me guess, you traveled to Bali and went straight to Ubud, right? As many people would say, it’s not a vacation without visiting the beach in Bali.
Unfortunately, there is no beach in Ubud. The nearest beach is 14 miles (23 km) away to the south which is called Sanur beach.
Actually, there are a few beaches that are closer, but they are just not worth visiting. These are the best beaches in Bali listed by proximity from Ubud.
Sanur beach
Sanur is a district located on the eastern side of the city of Denpasar, and it's also the name of a chain of 8 beaches that run alongside each other.
If you're interested in the history of Sanur beach, it's worth to know that it was the first beach in Bali to gain global popularity through a painting in 1937, which helped put Bali on the world map as a popular tourist destination.
Water activities:
kayaking
Jet skiing
Kite surfing
Sea walking favorite
Sanur Beach stretches for over 5 miles (8 km) along the coastline of Sanur, from north to south.
It also serves as a port that connects Bali's main island with three small islands: Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan, and Nusa Ceningan.
Sanur faces the east, so you won't be able to see the sunset here. However, if you wake up early, you can enjoy the beautiful sunrise.
Canggu beach
Canggu is an expat area on the west side of Bali, which neighbors Seminyak and Kuta. There are four beaches in Canggu, but since they are close to each other, people call them all Canggu Beach.
Beaches in Canggu are:
Canggu favorite
Batu Bolong
Berawa
Mengening
The beaches in Canggu are known as perfect places to chill for young people, as there are many bars and beach clubs along the beachline.
Activities in Canggu are mostly about partying or anything closely related to it. Other than that, you may want to get your surfboard ready because the beaches in Canggu are great for surfing.
And let's not forget, the sunsets in Canggu are very beautiful!
If you're on a family vacation with kids, you may want to consider another place to visit.
Seminyak beach
Next on the list is Seminyak! It’s a neighbor to Canggu with just a few miles down to the south. Seminyak is similar to Canggu but there are even more beach clubs and bars here.
There are four favorite beaches in Seminyak which are:
Seminyak favorite
Petitenget
Double Six
Kayu Aya
Just like in Canggu, beaches in Seminyak are full with beach clubs and bars as well. The difference is prices in Seminyak are kind of more expensive than Canggu.
Again, think twice before bringing your family to Seminyak.
Kuta beach
Most people are familiar with Kuta, which used to be the most popular destination in Bali until newer places emerged.
Nowadays, Kuta's beaches aren't typically frequented by those in their twenties or early thirties.
The beaches in Kuta are more popular among the older generation. Many grandparents come to enjoy the peaceful atmosphere without having to listen to blaring beach club music.
As a result, Kuta beach is often considered to be family-friendly.
Kuta is conveniently located close to the airport and has many shopping centers, making it a great place to pick up some souvenirs before heading home.
Nusa Dua beach
Not far from the airport, Nusa Dua is an elite district on the east side of Bali. This area is usually used to hold international forums such as G20.
Nusa Dua is very special and luxurious. Hotels here are the most expensive in Bali. Beaches are clean and very well-maintained. This is what I personally recommend if you’re looking to visit a beach after Ubud.
Sometimes you can hear loud music being played from the nearby hotel’s restaurants, but you can just walk away since there is plenty of space available.
I wouldn’t say beaches in Nusa Dua are kid friendly but since there’s not many tourists visiting this place everyday, you may find a private spot for your family.
Just 10 minutes drive to the north from Nusa Dua, there is a beach called Tanjung Benoa where you can do a ton of water sports activities! They are:
Parasailing
jet ski
Banana boat
Fly fish
Tubing
Fly board
Glass bottom boat
Snorkeling
Turtle park
Traditional boat
Sea walking favorite
Diving
Boat trip
Trolling fishing
Coral fising
Surfing lesson
Kayaking
Stand up paddle
Jimbaran beach
When people arrive in Bali, they usually head north to visit popular places like Kuta, Seminyak, Canggu, Sanur, and Ubud.
Jimbaran, located just a few miles south of the airport, is often overlooked and receives fewer visitors than other destinations.
There are three beautiful white sand beaches in Jimbaran, some of which can be crowded due to local visitors, while others have few visitors.
Beaches in Jimbaran are:
Jimbaran favorite
Muaya
Lanji Batu
Balangan
I don't recommend visiting empty beaches as it can be dangerous. Instead, I recommend visiting Jimbaran beach.
Suluban beach
The last one is Suluban beach! It’s pretty hard to get to this beach. People first have to go through the cave.
This isn’t like a regular beach where people lay on the sand or anything a normal beach has to offer. This beach is unique because when the tide is high there is no sand, and when the tide is low it creates multiple small pools.
Most people come to this beach to surf, it’s very rare to see someone sunbathing, it’s just not the place to do so.
Another beach in Uluwatu is called Nyang Nyang beach. This one is located at the very bottom of Bali island if you look at it on the map.
