26 Best Stunning Beaches in Bali, Indonesia

In spite of what some people might say, there are some great beaches in Bali, but they aren’t exactly obvious to the tourist crowds.

The really amazing ones are waiting in remote corners of the island or hiding at the bottom of rocky cliffs, so you have to track them down and find them with some effort, but that’s all part of the fun.

The majority of Bali’s most spectacular beaches are in the Uluwatu area (far south coast) or on Nusa Penida, a small island that’s considered part of Bali and can be reached pretty easily on your own or even on a day trip.

Here’s my complete Bali beach guide and map, with a list of some of the very best beaches in Bali and surrounding islands like Nusa Penida!

Uluwatu Hotels

East Bali Beaches

1. Amed Beach

The main beach at Amed, on the far northeastern tip of Bali, has a mix of fine black sand (from the volcano) and smooth rocks.

It’s a quiet beach lined with fishing boats and small hotels, and the sunsets over the volcano every night are awe-inspiring.

Read More: Amed Beach

2. Jemeluk Beach

This scenic bay is the main snorkeling site in Amed, with good corals on both sides of the bay.

There’s also a popular viewpoint near the road where you can watch the sunset over the bay.

Jemeluk has lots of good restaurant and hotel options, and you can walk here from Amed Beach in about 10 minutes.

Read More: Amed Beach

West Bali Beaches

3. Yeh Leh Beach

This is one of the best sunset beaches in Bali, but it’s not very well known since it’s hiding in West Bali (GPS here).

The coast at Yeh Leh Beach is covered with smooth boulders and tide pools, so it’s great for sunset photos.

It’s approximately 1.5 hours from Canggu or Ubud if you drive.

4. Balian Beach

Balian is a secluded beach on the west side with plenty of accommodation and restaurants nearby. It’s a 1.5 hour drive from Canggu or Ubud.

This is a great spot for sunsets and intermediate surfing. The beach has mostly soft black sand, with a few patches of smooth volcanic rocks.

Compared to the touristy areas in south Bali, this beach is less busy and much quieter. It’s actually pretty similar to Amed in terms of the scenery and overall vibe, although it’s even less touristy, which is great!

South Bali Beaches

5. Kuta Beach

This is Bali’s original beach! It’s a classic, so it had to be mentioned.

You won’t find peace and quiet here, but it’s still worth a visit. Shop at the Beachwalk Mall, go surfing, or watch the sunset with a Bintang.

6. Sanur Beach

Sanur beach may be pretty average in most respects, but where it really shines (no pun intended) is at sunrise. This beach is one of the best sunrise viewing spots on the entire island.

Calm sea waves and shallow water make it an ideal place for kids to swim, and there’s a fantastic breeze in the summer months (May through August).

Read More: Best Things To Do In Sanur Beach

7. Tegal Wangi Beach

Tegal Wangi is a pretty small beach, yet it’s still a secret to most Bali tourists, so it’s never crowded.

This beach features two sea caves. The first one is small, but if you keep walking further down the beach, you’ll find a larger one. At low tide, there are also natural pools where you can sit and soak in while enjoying the views.

While we came here at sunrise, the best time to visit is actually at sunset. Since the beach faces west, you’ll have a great view of the sunset from inside the caves!

UPDATE: Tegal Wangi is currently closed to visitors, but hopefully, it will reopen soon.

8. Dreamland Beach

Dreamland has a nice long stretch of white sand lined with sunbeds available for rent. Unfortunately, this beach has deteriorated a bit in recent years due to trash washing up from the ocean, but hopefully, things will improve again.

9. Bingin Beach

Bingin is a photogenic beach with exotic boulders and seaweed-covered rocks. It’s great for photos or surfing, and it’s less crowded than some other beaches in the area.

While there’s been some trash from hotel construction, high-quality accommodation and restaurants are starting to emerge here.

10. Pemutih Beach

Pantai Pemutih is a popular surfing spot with cliffside hotels and a small (but nice) white sand beach.

Not many people seem to know about this beach, which makes it that much better. If you want to stay directly on the beach with ocean views, check out Rock N Reef Hotel Uluwatu!

11. Padang Padang Beach

This is a neat little hidden beach tucked into the cliffs in south Bali. It’s a popular spot for surfing, or you can just sip a fresh coconut and hang out on the white sand with the monkeys.

12. Thomas Beach

This is one of the nicest beaches in south Bali. It has a long strip of white sand scattered with boulders, and not too many people.

13. Melasti Beach

Melasti is a highly developed beach in southern Bali with a road carved into the tall limestone cliffs, creating a stunning background.

This beach features a long strip of white sand, clean turquoise water, ample parking space, and a variety of fancy clubs lining the beachfront: Cattamaran, Minoo, and Palmilla. You can also reach Karma Beach Club by walking from here.

Normally, I’m not a big fan of seeing once-empty beaches get so developed, but I think Melasti was actually done pretty well. While there’s sometimes some trash, it’s surprisingly clean and nice overall.

14. Balangan Beach

This is a nice free beach with white sand and blue waves. Like many beaches in Uluwatu, it’s a great spot for sunset.

Balangan Beach is also popular for pre-wedding photoshoots because of the cliff above the beach, where you can get amazing views of the ocean scenery and the entire coastline.

It’s still fairly quiet here and not too commercial. You can access the beach by descending some stairs, and there are two parking areas — one for the beach and another on the cliff above it.

Balangan Beach — one of our favorite views in Uluwatu Bali.

15. Suluban Beach

Suluban is a secluded beach with some caves and enormous rocks to explore, plus surfable waves. However, my favorite aspect is the restaurant view. This little warung on top of the cliffs offers fantastic views of the coastline.

We enjoyed some drinks here while taking in the scenery, even getting a visit from a monitor lizard sneaking around on the cliffs! It’s an epic location to grab breakfast while exploring southern Bali.

16. Nunggalan Beach

This is one of the longest white sand beaches in southern Bali. The walk down and back up can be challenging, but you’re rewarded with a huge private beach and a captivating wooden shipwreck for photos!

Nusa Penida Beaches

19. Kelingking Beach

The Kelingking Cliff is the most famous view in Nusa Penida and probably one of the most iconic views in all of Bali.

This is an incredible ‘T-Rex’ shaped rock jutting out over the ocean, with perfect turquoise water rushing around it. The first time you admire this cliffside view, it truly takes your breath away!

After you’ve enjoyed the scenery at Kelingking Cliff, there’s also a path leading down to the white sand beach at the bottom.

The hike down is a workout, a bit intimidating, and takes at least two hours roundtrip, but you’re rewarded with one of the best white sand beaches in Bali.

Read More: Kelingking Beach

20. Crystal Bay

This beach on Nusa Penida is a lovely spot to relax and watch the sunset with your toes in the sand. There are several food and drink shacks available, or you can rent a sun chair or bean bag to lounge on.

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21. Suwehan Beach

Looking for a hidden beach with perfect white sand and turquoise waves? Suwehan is one of the best-kept secrets on Penida.

The hike down to the beach takes about 30 minutes and is exhausting, but incredibly rewarding. This is one of my favorite spots in Penida. There’s even a striking pointy rock that resembles a Christmas tree.

This beach is a hidden gem not included in most Nusa Penida island tours, but you can reach it via scooter or car charter. Just be cautious, as the road is quite rough.

Read More: Suwehan Beach

22. Nyanyad Beach

This is a mostly unknown beach at the southern end of Nusa Penida, featuring a small temple and giant hills on either side of the beach.

The hike to Nyanyad only takes 15 minutes, with concrete steps to lead you there, and the beach boasts perfect white sand!

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23. Atuh Beach

This is one of the most beautiful beaches on the southern end of Penida island. Unlike Suwehan Beach, Atuh is not a secret and features sunbeds, beanbags, and several nice food and drink shacks available.

The highlight of Atuh Beach is the large elephant-shaped rock in the ocean and the incredible variety of marine life visible trapped in the rocks at low tide.

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24. Diamond Beach

Diamond Beach, named after the distinctive diamond-shaped rock on its shore, is another stunning “cliff beach” located on the southeastern coast of Nusa Penida island.

It’s been accessible since late 2018 when a path down the cliffs was constructed. Wildlife, from monitor lizards to dolphins and manta rays, can occasionally be spotted here.

This place is also becoming well-known due to the scenic swing, where you can take pictures while swinging between two palm trees over the beach.

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25. Tembeling Beach

The Tembeling beach and forest is a hidden gem tucked away in the cliffs along Nusa Penida’s west coast, featuring a natural pool and small waterfall to enjoy.

My favorite feature about this beach is the huge sea cave that opens up to a view of the towering cliffs. However, the Tembeling natural pool has also become popular, providing a refreshing spot to relax.

The access to this beach can be tricky, but it’s one of our favorites in Bali!

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26. Puyung Beach

This is one of the most beautiful white sand beaches in Bali, and it remains almost completely unknown to tourists, despite being a short distance from the popular Crystal Bay.

When I visited Puyung Beach, I was literally the only person there!

Read More: Puyung Beach

Bali Beach Map

Here’s a map featuring the best beaches in Bali to help you plan your trip. You can click the icons to get more info and directions for each point of interest, but keep in mind that some of the locations on this map may be approximate.

For more detailed information on how to reach the Bali beaches on this map, check out individual travel guides for each location.

Bali Beach Clubs

The beaches and cliffs around Bali are perfect for clubs, and as a result, there are quite a few of them.

Typically, you pay an entrance fee (anywhere from 100k to 500k Rupiah), which serves as a credit for food and beverages, and grants you access to a lounge with a pool, sunbeds, and WiFi.

Depending on the club, your view from the lounge could be a beautiful beachfront or an infinity pool — or even both! Enjoying beverages by an infinity pool is an excellent way to watch the Bali sunset.

Some recommended Bali clubs include Ulu Cliffhouse, Palmilla, El Kabron, Azul Beach Club, and Potato Head Beach Club.

Our absolute favorite spot for sunsets is the Oneeighty cliff pool at The Edge! The pool has a glass bottom and offers breathtaking views of the Uluwatu cliffs.

Is There A Pink Sand Beach In Bali?

Unfortunately, there isn’t any pink sand beach in Bali.

However, there are numerous beautiful white sand beaches and black sand beaches in Bali and the Nusa islands, in addition to a pink sand beach located in Lombok.

If you really want to experience Indonesia’s best pink sand beach, then you have to visit the one in Komodo National Park. Getting to the Komodo islands from Bali is easier than ever with affordable daily flights.

Read More: Pink Beach Komodo