Located at the very south of Bali on the Bukit Peninsula, Uluwatu is close enough that it’s quite simple to get to from Kuta or Bali Airport, but far enough away that it still keeps its charm. And yet there is so much to do around Uluwatu it astonished me that visitors to Bali continually return to places like Kuta or Seminyak without giving it a thought beyond maybe doing a day trip to the temple.

On a recent trip to Bali, my family and I spent 4 nights in Uluwatu and never felt bored or removed from the action. We had a sweet villa with our own pool which was 5 minutes to Uluwatu temple, 5 minutes to some awesome places to eat, and 5-10 minutes from most beaches. This article will go through the things to do in Uluwatu that we did, and how you can spend 3 days in Uluwatu while balancing relaxation, exploration, and the odd indulgence.

Things to do in Uluwatu

As you probably know, Bali is well famed not just for its beaches, but for its surfing beaches. The Bukit Peninsula is no different and boasts several great surfing spots. However, you should also know that “Bukit” means hill, and peninsula, means, well peninsula. This essentially means the place is surrounded by cliffs so whenever you go to the beach you’ll often have to walk down steps to get there. This makes for some pretty impressive photo opportunities though. Here is just about everything we did during our 3 days in Uluwatu

Explore the coast by scooter

The roads around Uluwatu, with the exception of Jalan Raya Uluwatu (the main road through the Bukit Peninsula), are much less congested than the rest of Bali so it’s a pretty decent place to get the hang of scooter riding if you haven’t done it before. Full disclosure, I ride a scooter at home so I was pretty confident on the roads already. Regardless, there are plenty of people who just hire one and pick it up pretty quick (and others who crash due to their inexperience).

Scooter hire is very cheap in Bali; I never paid more than 70,000rp per day (about AUD$7) and I was never required to bring it back with a full tank. Given that taxis are around, but not quite everywhere (like they are in Seminyak, Ubud or Kuta), scooters are the most convenient mode of transportation, especially if you want to make a number of stops throughout the day.

Uluwatu is littered with beaches all around the peninsula and seeing them by scooter makes for a great day out. You can either stick close and see Bingin, Padang Padang, Uluwatu, Suluban, and Balangan Beaches, or venture further afield to Green Bowl Beach, Pandawa Beach, Jimbaran Bay Beach or Nusa Dua.

Sundays Bay Beach Club

Located on the southern edge of the Bukit Peninsula at the Ungasan Resort, Sundays Bay Beach Club is an absolutely magic spot to spend a morning.

The staff walked us down to an inclinator on which we floated down the cliff to the beach, and were welcomed with a cool drink. We then had our pick of the bean bags on the sand that had not already been reserved, presumably by resort guests.

To the right of the club, at the base of the cliff is some rocks waiting to be explored, and the left is another resort, Karma Beach Bali. There are stand up paddle boards, kayaks, and snorkel gear for the adults, and plenty of sand toys for the kids, who are most welcome at the club. There are more bean bags and umbrellas up on the deck and in between is the restaurant and bar serving some pretty incredible food.

The food was admittedly very western, with western prices, but some of the best we’d had on the trip so far. At a place like this, you have to expect that though. I had a barramundi burger with thick moist fillets of barra and homemade tartare sauce. The mango and chia seed smoothie was a perfect side. Sundays was also one of the few places I actually found Stark, Bali’s only craft beer.

Oneeighty at The Edge

The Edge is another luxury resort around Uluwatu and Oneeighty is the name of the Day Club. The Edge was an easy 15-minute ride to the east of our villa through the usual forest and village life. But as soon as you enter the property it’s as if you’re transported to another world.

The selling point of the edge is their ridiculous infinity pool, which dangles over the cliff giving a view through a glass bottom pool floor 500 feet below to the crashing ocean and out to the horizon through a glass pool wall. It’s absolutely stunning. I hate the phrase, but it must be one of the most Instagrammable places in Bali. I know this for a fact because I follow about 10 Bali specific Instagram accounts and it pops up about every day in my feed by one of them.

I actually wish I’d brought goggles to truly appreciate the view but the photos I took were pretty cool. As usual, we had to compete with plenty of others for prime photo-taking spot including one guy who had the longest selfie stick I’ve ever seen. It must have been 2 metres long.

If we weren’t in the pool we were at our deck chairs, reading our books, and drinking a cocktail. The drinks menu was extensive and mine was absolutely delicious, but I did find the food menu a little lacking inspiration. Not that I want hatted chefs running the show, but I actually found it hard to find something I wanted. I ended up with a seafood basket which was a little bit underwhelming, especially for the price. Regardless, the setting was incredible and service hard to fault so I’ll definitely be back when I’m next around.

Pro tip: sunnies don’t help to see clearly through water, bring goggles. 

Uluwatu Temple

Pura Luhur Uluwatu, or just Uluwatu Temple in our lexicon was situated just 5 minutes around the corner from our villa so on our first available evening we zipped around on a scooter with many others, hoping to learn a touch more about Balinese culture and religion. As the sun began it’s decent, we paid our entrance fee, donned a purple sarong, and set off in search of Balinese history.

I’m going to be a touch controversial here. In total honesty, I don’t understand why this temple is such a huge deal to visitors. I understand its significance to the Balinese, both past and present. But the only cool bits of the temple were actually blocked off to visitors, reserved for use by actual worshippers (disappointing as a visitor, but understandably so as it is an active temple).

Don’t get me wrong I understand the need to keep parts sectioned off from tourists, but what’s the main drawcard here? I can see two reasons why thousands of tourists flock here every evening. The surrounding cliffs are pretty cool and it’s a spectacular spot to watch the sunset. And the second is the Kecak dance performed every evening at 6:30.

Having seen one before in Labuan Bajo I wasn’t too disappointed about missing it, as the amphitheatre fills up early, but it is a pretty interesting insight into Balinese culture. We took in the sunset while avoiding attack’s from monkeys and soon were on our way back to the villa.

Karang Boma Cliff

Finding the Karang Boma Cliff was one of those ideas I came across on Instagram. You know when you see a photo on Insta and you’re like “that’s really cool, how can I find it?” Most times you don’t, or it’s too hard, or you find something else to do. But this one, I had a spare 20 minutes so out I went to find it. According to Google Maps, it wasn’t actually far from our villa.

About 500 metres past Uluwatu Temple is a sign on a vacant block of land that says Karang Boma Pucak. I don’t know what pucak means but I took a gamble that it was the right spot. Through the gate and up the rocky gravel road I rode. Thankfully the gravel soon turned paved. Not concrete or bitumen, but brick pavers. It had every hallmark of private property. I passed buildings, some of which looked like small hotels or homestays, some looked like actual homes. But the road kept going and even though I saw a few people and parked bikes, I was stopped by no one. Eventually, the road ended at a gate and it felt like I was close.

I dismounted and started off down the path. The path was rocky but fairly clear. I came across some Europeans near the end who had a local with them for some reason (I mean, it really wasn’t that hard to find). I walked until I ran out of grass and the earth a just dropped away. Just across the way was a beautiful white cliff bulging out into the sky. I don’t know if what I was standing on was ‘Karang Boma Cliff’ or that one was, or both, but it was actually a pretty amazing spot. I almost had the place to myself, and it’d be pretty special at sunset.

Pro tip: Bring someone who you trust to take a good photo of you over on the cliff.

Dinner on the beach at Jimbaran Bay

You could easily spend a night or two in slow-paced Jimbaran Bay, but for those that don’t  (like me) it’s a must-visit spot for dinner. We organised a driver to pick us up and drive us through the heavy traffic to Jimbaran Bay. It took 45 minutes despite being only 15km away.

There are loads of restuarants to choose from and all offer pretty well the same thing so don’t think too long about it. Just pick somewhere where the prices seem best. Though prepare yourself mentally for it to be probably the most expensive dinner of your vacation. But also expect it to be one of the best. The fish and lobster was some of the freshest you will ever taste and the seasoning and sauce was pretty incredible too. And the sunset was the icing on the cake.

Have a spa day

Massages and beauty treatments are so cheap in Bali so it’s the perfect time to make the most of it. What you might pay $80 for at home will probably cost you $15 in Bali. Uluwatu is no exception and there are plenty of places to get your nails done, your hair done, or get a massage.

Relax at your villa

I’m not saying you definitely have to get a villa with your own pool, but it certainly helps. I’m sure there are plenty of adequate cheaper alternatives, but if you’re a little beyond homestays and dorm rooms, then a villa can still be quite reasonable, especially split a few ways. Ours cost about AUD$730 for 4 nights in March and slept 8 people, which, if you filled it up would be $22 per person per night.

Anyway, having our own space was wonderful. We swam in the extra large pool, read under the umbrellas on the deck chairs, and napped on the daybed. And when we needed a break from the heat, there was always the option of watching tv or reading in the comfort of the air conditioning.

A trip to Bali is great to be able to explore and enjoy the sun, the beaches, and everything else on offer, but it’s great to give yourself the opportunity to just stop and do nothing for a time. And we found plenty of opportunities!

Places to eat and drink in Uluwatu

Outside Corner

Outside Corner is a rather Australian take on breakfast and was reminiscent of the many cafes back home. I had smashed avocado and a chia seed parfait. The coffee was also good which also suggests foreign influence. The cafe is flanked on both sides by tiny shops with handmade cosmetics and clothes. To complete the picture, out the back is a large skate bowl. It’s pretty random, I didn’t know people bring skateboards to Bali, but there plenty of marks on the bowl so it obviously gets used a bit.

Suka Espresso

Suka Espresso is another place with clear Aussie influences, with strong timber vibes, an overworked espresso machine and fashionable uniforms,  all of which reminded me of home. It was also a little bit pricier than usual too, suggesting the same (we’re still only talking $6-7 mains here). And of course, the coffee was probably the best I’d had in Bali yet.

Kelly’s Warung

Kally’s Warung is a beachside resto at Bingin Beach. It’s located among the homestays at the bottom of the cliff and has a lovely view of the beautiful blue sea. And in the distance, we could see what I expect was the coastline of Kuta, Seminyak and Canggu. I had Indonesian chicken satay and a smoothie before walking back up the stairs. to our bike.

The Gong

The Gong was located across the road from our villa so we ate there a couple of times. It was really good value Indonesian food. Don’t expect fine dining, just expect quality food really cheap. (Also, their spaghetti bowl was surprisingly good…we got it a couple of times for B-Man).

Ulu’s Resto

Ulu’s Resto was next door to our villa and was another example of quality Indonesian food in a relaxed setting. Service was quick and I genuinely had the best mie goreng of my trip to Bali here.

Warung Lima

Located away from the main strip restaurants not far from the bridge, Warung Lima sits elevated by the road in a lovely open-air setting. This was one of the few places that I actually saw had bihun chicken as well as the usual nasi and mie goreng. Bihun is this beautiful thin rice noodle dish with garlic, soy sauce, vegetables, and chicken. The menu was simple, yet there were plenty of different options, including some western favourites. For me though, it’s always hard to look past the local dishes.

Single Fin

Single Fin is a cliffside restaurant and bar that makes every single “things to do” list for Uluwatu. Single Fin is the main bar, but it feels more like a complex of cliffside bars, as there are steps leading down to some lower on the cliff. The lower you get the better the actual view is because you can see the same amount of sea, but more cliff. It’s pretty cool. I’d suggest, sure, have a drink at Single Fin, but then walk down the stairs and see what else is around.

But if you’re up for a party, their Sunday sessions are pretty legendary too.

Beaches of Uluwatu

Padang Padang Beach

Padang Padang Beach is another spot that makes all the “things to do” lists for Uluwatu and honestly, I can’t tell why. I understand it has good surf, but for everyone else, the beach is quite small, and it becomes even smaller after all the stalls setup shop around the beach. On the plus side, if you do need a hat, shirt or a pair of sunglasses this is probably your best bet for market shopping. I didn’t come for a long time, but I was stressed out just visiting with my camera, let alone if I wanted to actually spend an afternoon there.

There are also about 100 steps to walk down to get there AND it’s 3,000 rp to park plus 5,000 to visit the beach. Everyone wants a piece of the tourists. It just didn’t feel very authentic. If you want to spend a day at the beach, I’d probably recommend Dreamland or Balangan.

Dreamland Beach

We actually arrived at Dreamland by accident. We went exploring on the bike and were aiming for Bingin Beach but once you get off the main road it becomes very green, windy, and maze-like. It immediately feels like you’ve left the beaten track, not that Uluwatu is really overrun as it is, but the shop fronts disappeared along with the scooters. This made it hard to navigate even checking the map periodically, so when we saw a sign for Dreamland Beach we headed towards it anyway. Even then we took a few more wrong turns.

After paying our 5,000 parking fee we started walking towards the beach and ran into a corn man. Obviously, it’s illegal to walk past a corn man without buying one so we obliged then ambled last the market stalls set up for people like us.

The beach was actually one of the nicest I saw in the Bukit Peninsula region. Set in front of an admittedly ageing Resort, the beach is wide and deep, bounded to the south by what might be the beginning of the peninsula cliffs. There are deck chairs and umbrellas to rent and a large Warung at which to eat. The beach actually stretches some distance north to a point, after which it turns into Balangan Beach.

Bingin Beach

Bingin Beach is a different beach experience again. After riding through a maze of backstreets and trees that largely seemed devoid of traffic. After paying our 2,000 rp parking fee, we navigated down a hundred or so steps through a maze of homestays and warungs until we reached the beach, which was a small combination of beautiful sand and large flat rocks. The beach was quiet but a bit windy. I’m not sure if it was the day or if it’s always windy, but it didn’t make it unpleasant.

Balangan Beach

I didn’t actually make it as far north as Balangan Beach, but being a little more removed from the main sights of Uluwatu, I imagine it’s a little quieter.

Nyang Nyang Beach

Again, this is another one I didn’t get to but I wanted to include it anyway. It’s a little past Uluwatu Temple and seems like it’s a true secret beach. Not because no one knows it exists, but because nobody can be arsed. It’s 500 steps down a cliff but once you’re there you’ll likely have the place to yourself. Here’s an article that details how to get there and what to expect.

Getting around Uluwatu

Getting around Uluwatu with a toddler and baby was admittedly a bit challenging, but it just meant we had to plan a little more ahead. To do something away from the villa we had to call a taxi. Our housekeeper Made helped out a couple of times, but I got a driver’s Whatsapp number so I was able to call him myself which made it a little easier.

Our villa was a touch removed from the main areas of shops and restaurants so that did make it a little more challenging. Around here and near places like Padagang Padang Beach you’d have more chance of hailing a cab as Blue Birds cabs are in service. A trip around Uluwatu should cost 70k, to Jimbaran is 120k and anywhere in between would be somewhere in between. Anything longer and you’d probably have to negotiate.

The best way to get around Uluwatu is definitely by scooter. Scooter rental is $6-7 a day and you can pick one up at any number of places along the road or more likely, your accommodation will be able to help you out. If you’re new to scooter riding, Uluwatu is a good place to learn as the traffic is quite light compared to most of Bali. Just wear a helmet and take it slow.

Where to Stay in Uluwatu

If you want to close to the action (or at least the main cafes, beaches and bars) then somewhere between Uluwatu Temple and Bingin Beach would be ideal. There is no shortage of cheap homestays and villas in the area. I stayed in a villa called Tanah at Ulu’s, which was just a few minutes north of the temple. It had a huge private pool, a generous outdoor area with deck chairs, a day bed, and umbrellas, and it also had a housekeeper who the place looking ship shape and helped with organising some things.

If you’d prefer to splash the cash a little more, then consider a luxury villa at a cliffside resort. These are a little more removed but closer to heaven. Some options include The Edge, The Ungusan, and Karma Kandara. These are all spectacular places to stay and I’ve no doubt you’d enjoy yourself at any of them.

Click here to search for the perfect place to stay in Uluwatu.

I hope my experiences have helped you plan your own trip. I’d love to know what you get up to or plan to do there. Leave a comment below with your own favourite thing to do in Uluwatu. 

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