Bali is famed for its awe-inspiring landscape of dormant volcanoes, emerald rice fields, and sun-drenched coasts.
Its beautiful beaches, in particular, have long been a draw for travelers looking for their slice of paradise.
Whether you prefer to hang loose in Kuta or sink your toes in the fashionable sands of Seminyak, you’ll find a beach that is perfect just for you on the Island of the Gods.
Nusa Dua Beach
Developed as Bali’s premier resort destination in the 1970s, Nusa Dua is predominantly an enclave of 5-star hotels.
Don’t let this put you off, though. Thanks to the luxury hotels in the area, Nusa Dua Beach is impeccably clean.
The pristine beach, combined with calm waters, makes Nusa Dua Beach a wonderful playground for families with young children.
Just like at Sanur, you’ll find a beachfront promenade that hugs the beach and plenty of dining options for the entire family to indulge in.
And there’s entertainment, too. A top pick at Bali Nusa Dua Theatre is Devdan, a spectacular stage performance that showcases Indonesia’s cultural diversity through acrobatic dance routines.
Amed Beach
The volcanic sands of this black beauty may not be your typical picnic spot, but it’s the base for some of the best dive sites on Bali’s eastern coast.
Hop on a jukung or wooden outrigger canoe and explore the rich underwater world teeming with marine life.
The waters off Amed Beach are great for macro and muck diving and, if you’re lucky, you may be able to spot rare marine species like the ghost pipefish, pygmy seahorse, and mimic octopus.
A must-see is a Japanese Shipwreck, the ruins of a rusting sunken vessel that is now a coral garden teeming with life – a paradise for divers and snorkellers.
Sanur Beach
This 5-kilometer stretch in Bali’s southeast still feels a little like the sleepy fishing village it once was, despite the addition of big-name hotels lining its beachfront.
Adding to the cozy vibe of Sanur Beach is its leafy coastal promenade that curves past hotels, restaurants, and little boutiques, great for romantic strolls or to poke into holes-in-the-wall for beer and bargains.
Art fans will be delighted to know that Sanur has long captured the imagination of artists, including Belgian painter Adrien-Jean Le Mayeur de Merpres, whose former home is now the nearby Museum Le Mayeur.
Famed for its breathtaking sunrises, Sanur is also the jumping-off point to the incredibly scenic Nusa Penida, an island rife with mystique and dotted with spellbinding beaches.
Jimbaran Beach
Facing the Bali Strait on the island’s isthmus, Jimbaran Bay is a sweeping curve from the south of Ngurah Rai International Airport to Bukit Peninsula, Garuda Wisnu Kencana, one of Southeast Asia’s most iconic statues.
Close to fishing villages, the 3-kilometer long Jimbaran Beach is where you can savor fresh catch for your dinner, served up at the many barbeque restaurants along the beach.
Tables are set out on the beach every evening, so all you have to do is pick a restaurant, order your seafood of choice, sink your feet into the sand and enjoy the glorious sunset.
And if you love plane spotting, this is a great place to do it while you indulge in a sumptuous grilled seafood spread.
There’s also plenty of accommodation close by, including the gorgeous Kayumanis Jimbaran Private Estate & Spa, which foodies should have on their list.
Padang Padang Beach
This sandy cove was pretty much a local secret until its alluring beauty was captured on film in the Hollywood blockbuster Eat, Pray, Love.
The cliffs and rock formations of Padang Padang Beach were the backdrops for a particularly tear-jerking scene in the movie where Julia Roberts’s Liz parts ways with Felipe, played by Javier Bardem.
While the beach attracts movie fans on the location trail, Padang Padang is a favorite spot for worldwide surfers.
Known for long, hollow, and steep waves that break over a shallow reef, this surf spot promises plenty of barrelling fun.
The beach is also close to Pura Luhur Uluwatu, one of Bali’s most spiritual sites and the venue of a nightly Kecak performance.
Kuta Beach
Owing to Kuta’s popularity on the backpacker trail, this beach in Bali’s southwest is possibly the island’s most famous stretch.
Close to myriad shopping, dining, and entertainment options, the Kuta strip can get pretty busy, but its strategic location is a big plus.
After a round of shopping, park yourself in a chair on the beach, order a frosty Bintang beer from a seaside peddler and watch the sun go down – it doesn’t get any more authentic than that.
Kuta Beach is also where you can indulge in all manner of watersports, from banana boating to parasailing.
Seminyak Beach
Just north of the hubbub of Kuta is upscale Seminyak, home to a sandy sweep dotted with beach bars and classy restaurants.
Seminyak Beach also boasts gorgeous sunsets, which you can catch with a sundowner in hand at some of Bali’s top beachfront venues, like KU DE TA, WOOBAR at W Bali-Seminyak, and Potato Head Beach Club.
Be sure to bring your A-game to the beach, though – this is the place to see and be seen.
It’s also handy that Pura Petitenget, a centuries-old red brick and sandstone temple, is close by should you find yourself in need of a little morning-after soul cleansing.
Echo Beach
This black sand beach may not be the prettiest, but if you’re a surfer, this is where you want to be.
Located in laidback Canggu – home to several beaches and picturesque rice fields – Echo Beach is one of the island’s top surfing spots.
Featuring lefties, waves that break from right to left, and a rocky reef, this beach is a favorite with intermediate and advanced level surfers who love a challenge.
It’s a good thing, too, that there are several surf schools in the area to help you improve your technique so you can ride the waves like a pro.
The best time to surf is from May to September during the dry season but anytime’s excellent to take in the stunning seascape.