ULUWATU

ABOUT ULUWATU

The Uluwatu area is located on the Bukit Peninsula in Badung Regency. Uluwatu is one of the most popular destinations for tourists visiting Bali and some of the best beaches on the island are located in this area.

Uluwatu is also known for its impressive cliffs, for its temple with sea views and for being one of the best areas for surfing. Uluwatu is an ideal destination for any kind of holiday.

Cliffs in the southern part of the island of Bali, in Uluwatu

HOW TO GET TO ULUWATU

From the airport

Uluwatu is about 35 minutes away from Ngurah Rai International Airport. To get from the airport to the Uluwatu area, you need to take a taxi or hire a car with a driver. The journey from the airport to Uluwatu takes around 35-45 minutes, depending on traffic. The price is approximately IDR 250,000 (about €16).

How to get around Uluwatu

The easiest and most economical way to get around Uluwatu is by motorbike. Once you have arrived at Uluwatu, you will have no problem finding a motorcycle as they are available for hire everywhere. The price per day for renting a motorbike is between 50,000 and 70,000 IDR (€3.5 – 5 approximately). If you don’t plan to move around that much, a good option can be hiring a car with a driver for a day.

WHAT TO SEE AND DO IN ULUWATU

Unlike other areas of Bali, there is not much to visit in Uluwatu. Still, there are many beaches and cliffs to see, and many activities to do in this area. On this page, we have put together the most important things to do and see in Uluwatu and a map with main points of interest in the area.

See the Uluwatu temple and the Kecak dance

The temple of Uluwatu is one of the most important in Bali and was built to protect the island from evil spirits. The Uluwatu temple is located on the edge of a 70-meter cliff from where you can see the waves of the Indian Ocean and some impressive sunsets. Pura Luhur Uluwatu is one of the temples where you can admire the authentic Balinese architecture. In this temple you will find long-tailed macaques that give the site an even more exotic air. Although the monkeys are lovely, remember that they are very unpredictable animals, and our recommendation is that you keep your distance and take care of your belongings.

Every night, starting at the sunset, there are multiple shows of Kecak, a traditional Balinese dance considered the dance of the trance. This is one of the most famous plays in Bali and is highly recommended to see, especially if it is your first time on the island.

We recommend visiting the Uluwatu Temple in the afternoon so that you can see the sunset from there as it is considered one of the best places to watch the sunset in Bali. You can also take advantage of the visit to see the Kecak show.

The Uluwatu temple is open every day from 7:00 to 19:00, and the entrance fee is 50,000 IDR (less than €3 ). If you want to attend the Kecak show, you will have to buy a separate ticket which costs 100,000 IDR (about €5.5 ).

Traditional Balinese Kecak dance performance at the Uluwatu temple, Bali

Explore the beaches of Uluwatu

The Uluwatu area is full of beautiful beaches, and some of them are considered the best in Bali. Uluwatu’s beaches are located underneath impressive cliffs, and that is what makes them unique. The beaches of Bingin, Balangan, Dreamland, Padang Padang, Thomas, Suluban, or Nyang Nyang are well known among travellers visiting Bali. Most of them are considered among the best on the island for surfing. If you want to read all the details about each of these beaches and also about other beaches in Bali, we recommend you to read our page about Bali beaches.

Surfing

Uluwatu is considered a surfer’s paradise. This area is ideal for surfing due to the big waves that hit the cliffs of Uluwatu. In Uluwatu there are many surfing schools where you can learn to ride the waves. You will also find a lot of accommodation and camps for surfers. Some of the best beaches for surfing are the beaches of Uluwatu, Balangan, Nyang Nyang, or Suluban.

A typical day at Bingin Beach, Uluwatu

See the Karang Boma cliff

Karang Boma Cliff is a cliff that has one of the best views in the Uluwatu area. From Karang Boma, you can see on the right side the Uluwatu temple at the edge of a cliff. Karang Boma has even better views than the Uluwatu temple, and the best part is that not many people go there. At Karang Boma, you can enjoy the beautiful views and the sunset without many people hanging around.

Views of the sea from Karang Boma cliff, Bali

Spend the day at one of Uluwatu's beach clubs

In recent years the beach clubs have become very fashionable in Bali and many tourists who visit the island decide to spend a day in one of these places. Uluwatu, Canggu and Seminyak are the places where there are more beach clubs. In fact, in Uluwatu, you can find some of the best known as Sundays Beach Club, Ulu Cliffhouse, OMNIA Dayclub Bali, or The Edge.

To access these beach clubs, you will have to pay an entrance fee, which usually includes access to their infinity pools, drinks, and some food. The entrance fee for these types of places is not cheap. Depending on which one you choose and how famous it is, spending a day in a luxury pool can cost you between €20 and €100.

Paragliding

A different activity you can do in Uluwatu is paragliding. Uluwatu is considered the best place for paragliding as the views of the cliffs from above are breathtaking. Near Nyang Nyang beach there are several paragliding schools where you can book a paragliding experience to fly over the cliffs of Uluwatu. If this is your first time paragliding, you can choose to fly in tandem with an instructor from the school. The price for a paragliding experience is between €50 and €70, depending on the school. Some schools offer the option of taking a course to fly solo, but the price is around €1000.

Watch the sunset

Uluwatu, being situated in the south of Bali, is one of the best places from which you can watch the sunset. The favorite places for tourists to watch the sunset are the Uluwatu temple and the Karang Boma cliff. Apart from these two places, you can watch the sunset from any beach in Uluwatu, from one of its beach clubs or from any restaurant or cafe near the sea.

Relaxing in a spa

The Balinese massage is recognized worldwide for its relaxing, therapeutic, and healing effects. In Uluwatu there are many spas and massage centers where you can discover the art of Balinese massage and relax after an intense day of water sports and exploring beaches. From humble local massage parlors to luxurious spas, Uluwatu will not be short of options to relax.

WHERE TO STAY IN ULUWATU

In Uluwatu, there is a wide range of accommodation of all kinds and for all budgets. In this area, it is very fashionable to rent villas or stay in resorts with sea views. If you are travelling on a tight budget, there are also options for you, such as guest houses or hotels at reasonable prices. The area of Uluwatu is considered one of the best cities for surfing, you can find different surf camps where you can stay.

⇒ Check out our accommodation selection in Uluwatu

WHERE TO EAT IN ULUWATU

Being a very touristy area, you can find restaurants with a great variety of dishes. From local and western cuisine, bars and terraces that serve exclusive dishes and beach clubs where you can drink cocktails by the infinity pools.

⇒ Check out our restaurant and cafes selection in Uluwatu

PLACES OF INTEREST NEAR ULUWATU

Very close to Uluwatu, you can visit the areas of Nusa Dua or Jimbaran, also located in the Bukit Peninsula. If you have more time to spend in this area, we recommend you visit Denpasar and Sanur or take a boat to the Nusa Penida island.

OTHER DESTINATIONS​