If you’re planning a trip to Bali and you’re looking for the best beach in Uluwatu, this is for you! By now it’s no secret anymore that Bali has some outstanding beaches. Whether its wild, black-sandy beaches up North and East or those beautifully white-sandy ones in the South, Bali has something for everybody. This post is designed to cover the prettiest beaches in Uluwatu, so you can decide what’s the best one to visit.
(Updated June 2023)
Why Uluwatu Has Bali’s Best Beaches
Many people arrive in Bali, only to find out that the beaches on the West aren’t quite what they envisioned. To find those white-sandy ones, you need to go south, to the Bukit Peninsula – Uluwatu.
To get the most out of a day of beach hopping around Uluwatu make sure to rent a scooter. It shouldn’t cost you more than 50.000 IDR (2.50 Euro) per day and allows you to roam freely. There are taxi drivers and GoJeks (Indonesia’s answer to Uber) but they aren’t necessarily lots, and many only drop you off but don’t pick you back up in downtown Uluwatu.
If you aren’t comfortable driving a scooter, I recommend hiring a local driver for the trip so you can cruise around safely.
To visit all the beaches I mention in this post, you’d need at least 2-3 days to really enjoy them to their fullest.
Thomas Beach
This one is a beach, easy to reach in Uluwatu. From the parking lot, it’s a short walk till the beginning of the steps downwards. It’s quite some steps to descent, leading you to a yellow-coloured and little bit grainy sand beach.
There is a homestay called Thomas Stay (hence the beach is now called like this), as well as some simple beach shacks selling food & drinks.
Make sure to stop at Suka Espresso for their amazing coffee and food (I couldn’t finish the Monkey Business smoothie bowl). It’s the best you’ll find in Uluwatu. You can park your scooter there and start walking towards Thomas Beach.
Thomas Beach is one of the lesser-known, secret Uluwatu beaches – a little gem not to miss!
No parking fee!
Bingin Beach
Certainly one of Uluwatu’s busiest and one that won’t disappoint you. If I had to choose only one to visit, Bingin Beach would be it!
The sand is soft, the water calm enough for a swim and enough restaurants/bars to keep you fueled. It’s also where you can have some of the best grilled fish. Make sure to visit Lucky Fish for their fish barbeque and some sunset drinks.
To be fair, the descent and ascent is a challenge (many many steps) but it’s well worth it! A smaller street takes you off the main road, towards a parking lot. From there you follow the signs.
The best changes of a nice beach day you’ll have outside of low tide, as the reef makes it impossible to swim.
One of Uluwatu’s Instagram-worthy restaurants is also nearby, The Cashew Tree. A relaxed boho vibe with outdoor seating and great food makes this a nice stop.
Bingin Beach is also one of Uluwatu’s best surfing spots!
Parking fee of 5000 IDR (2.50 Euro)
Dreamland Beach
Once you are at Bingin Beach, it’s only a 10 min or so drive to Dreamland Beach. The way is a bit windy and the last part of the path goes down fairly steep.
Here you find spotless white sand and perfect turquoise water that reminds you of the Caribbean.
The only downside is, that the shore break at high tide can be very strong – it’s not advised to swim! Here the tidal timing needs to be right.
There is a hotel and restaurant with sun chairs, and further away some local beach shacks. This part of the beach I found the most beautiful, relaxed, rather sheltered and more private.
A place to stop for brunch should certainly be Ours in Uluwatu. Closer to Bingin Beach, this place makes the ideal Instagram background and delivers outstanding food and environment.
No fee for parking to visit Dreamland Beach.
Balangan Beach
A wonderful beach that’s most worth visiting during sunset. It’s nestled within limestone cliffs and the colour of the ocean is just on point.
Although I actually did not visit the beach itself, I died to go to the Balangan Viewpoint – to see it from the top.
Usually, this viewpoint is super busy with wedding shoots and a million other people, so to my luck, this place was deserted. A young couple enjoying the sunrise, 2 locals on bikes having a break and a few fishermen further down on the rocks.
To reach this one, you will likely drive through or around the golf course. It’s the stop that took me the longest to get to, but was well worth the detour! Should you go for sunset, plan some time ahead.
The view of the coastline was stunning, definitely a place I would come for a photoshoot.
No fee for parking up at the viewpoint.
A little note regarding taking images at sunrise – it’s not the right time to get those strong emerald colours from Balangan beach, as the sun is too low and shut off by the cliffs. In retrospect, I would have gone later.
Need more inspiration on a trip through Bali? Have a look here at my other posts for 3 to 4-day road trips!
Where to Stay in Uluwatu
Finding a beautiful place to stay in Uluwatu is not hard. From eco-bamboo resorts to white-washed boho-style boutique hotels and luxurious hotels, you have endless options!
Some of my favorites hotels in Uluwatu include:
Roots Tree House – one of the most amazing stays I ever had – sleeping in a real treehouse is a dream coming true!
Le Bamboo Uluwatu – I stayed at this beautiful eco-resort multiple times because it has fantastic views of Bali’s volcanos and the ocean!
Sal Secret Spot – one of the best places when it comes to stylish boho interiors, lovely staff and the ideal location right in the heart of Bingin!
Alila Villas Uluwatu – this one is a real treat and one of Uluwatu’s 5* star hotels, they place a big focus on sustainability and their food is amazing!
I hope this post helps you to plan your beach-hopping adventure around Uluwatu. I leave it to you to decide, which makes Uluwatu’s best beach.
If you’re keen on exploring the beaches around Nusa Dua and end with a visit to Uluwatu Temple, I’d recommend booking this Bali Beach Hopping tour.
Have you read my other Bali articles?
One of the best trips for divers to take from Bali : Budget Scuba Diving in Komodo – What You Need To Know
The top things to photograph in Amed: Amed Bali – 3 Day Photography Trip
My Top Experience To Do in Bali: Mount Batur Sunrise Hike
When in Bali you should also visit its neighboring island Sumba: Sumba, The 20 Most Amazing Places to See
Disclaimer: Some of the links in this article may contain affiliate links. If you purchase using these links, I earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only recommend services and tools I know and trust myself.
For more inspiration on Bali, follow me on Instagram @christintheilig
Pin this for later!
Sign-up to receive your FREE Outdoor Photoshoot Checklist to be fully prepared & to get the perfect shot!
[…] If you need some ideas on what else to do in Bali, head to my blog post here. […]