Welcome to our ultimate guide to Uluwatu! Nestled along Bali’s stunning coastline, Uluwatu is a paradise for surfers, sun-seekers, and adventure enthusiasts alike.
Join us as we explore the breathtaking beaches, iconic surf spots, vibrant culture, and hidden gems of this enchanting destination.
Get ready to discover everything you need to know for an unforgettable Uluwatu adventure!
Uluwatu is one of the most visited tourist places in Bali. However, its surf culture, luxury resorts, sunset points, and clean beaches are some of the attractions that catch the eyes of tourists from all around the world.
However, besides white sand beaches such as Padang Padang, Suluban, Nyang Nyang, and Balangan beach Uluwatu also offer you the most stunning Pura Luhur Uluwatu.
September is the best time to visit here. The restaurants and the nightlife will not disappoint you as well.
Things to do in Uluwatu:
1. Uluwatu temple:
Uluwatu temple temple is located one hour’s drive away from Ngurah Rai airport. People also call this temple Pura Luhur Uluwatu, a renowned Balinese temple.
This temple is the most picturesque in Bali. However, To enter this temple you must buy a ticket. A ticket for adults costs 30,000 rupees and for children, it costs 20,000 rupees.
Furthermore, visitors are advised to dress appropriately when visiting this temple. However, you can get a sarong to wear at the entrance to the temple. Moreover, you can also enjoy the traditional Kecak dance performances held at the Uluwatu temple every day at sunset.
Buy a ticket costs 100.000 rupees/person and secure a seat for the performances. You will find a lot of monkeys here. Therefore, beware of the monkeys at this temple.
Monkeys can snatch your essentials in search of food. This temple opens at 9 in the morning and closes at 6 in the evening for tourists. For worship purposes, it is open 24 hours.
2. Padang Padang beach, Uluwatu
Padang Padang Beach is located on the southwestern end of the Pecatu Bali island. People also call this beach Labuan Sait Beach.
For those seeking a quality sunbath, visiting between April and July is advised. For a less crowded experience, consider visiting in the off-season, between August and October.
Here at this beach, you can enjoy the smashing waves, relax take a sunbath, and get a chance to have a look at the Amazon sunrise and sunsets.
However, you will find a lot of umbrellas already placed at the beach for sunbathing and relaxing. Beware of the monkeys here too. To enter this beach you have to pay about 10.000IDR or 0.75 USD.
3. Uluwatu Cliff:
This spot is an hour’s drive from Canggu and a two-hour drive from Ubud and is located near the Uluwatu temple. People also refer to this cliff as Karang Boma Cliff.
It is about 70 meters 70-meter-high limestone cliff, straight down into the sea. It is the most famous sunset point in Bali. To experience this spot alone without hassle, it’s advisable to visit early in the morning and start your day with the inspiring sunrise.
Although, during the sunset, you will find a lot of photographers capturing the beauty in their cameras. You can easily reach the edge of the cliff, but be careful as it’s super steep and dangerous.
4. Suluban beach, Uluwatu:
This is a cove-shaped beach. It is very famous among surfers. Moreover, it also hosts several international surf events throughout the year. The best time for surfers to visit is in between May to October.
The huge cliff shades half of the beach, while the rest witnesses sunlight throughout the day.
This beach has two entrances, one is through Single Fin Bar, where you can make a stop and grab a beer, or two.
5. Nyang-Nyang beach, Uluwatu:
Nyang-Nyang Beach has almost no visitors because it is hard to reach. It is one of the cleanest beaches in Bali. This beach is about 1.5 kilometres wide and has a limestone cliff coastline.
There is also a hidden swing allowing you to have an amazing photoshoot using the ocean as the stunning backdrop.
People recommend not going deep into the ocean here due to the sometimes strong waves.
You will also find some abandoned graffiti boat vessels here, which make it more appealing to visit. The local graffiti artists visit this beach frequently, so the artwork on the sides of the boats is constantly changing.
6. Balangan viewpoint, Uluwatu
This viewpoint is at Balangan beach. This is a perfect place for adventure seekers. Here you can have a wide panoramic view of the ocean.
At the beach, you will find several local restaurants and shops selling refreshments and snacks. This spot is very popular among tourists to have a look at the sunset and the beach below.
You will also find photographers and couples in suits and wedding dresses visiting this place to have a wedding photo shoot at this amazing spot.
On the backside of the cliff, you can have a look at the nearby beaches and coastline.
At the beach, you can watch the surfers showing their skills and catching the waves in the ocean. Additionally, if you want you can snorkel along the reef near the cliff.
Food to try:
1. Betutu:
This dish takes 8 hours to cook. It is full of spices and flavours. They cook a whole chicken or duck as the meal’s main ingredient, rubbing and stuffing the poultry with lots of traditional and exotic spices such as shallots, garlic, ginger, chili, peanuts, and coriander.
This Betutu mixture is first sauteed in coconut oil to enhance its flavour. This raw dish spends most of the time baking or steaming. Moreover, this dish is served with rice, roasted peanuts, chillies, pickles, and traditional water spinach.
2. Martabak:
It is a sweet and savoury dish. The filling of this dish is made with eggs, vegetables, and chicken. The ball of dough is placed on a pre-oiled surface and stretched to a very thin layer. This paper-thin layer is then fried in a shallow pan.
Once it becomes light brown it is filled with the omelette mixture, sliced green onion, chilli, and cilantro. The dough is then folded around the omelette in a neat rectangle shape.
Once ready it is sliced into small squares and served with hot chilies and pickled veggies. Moreover, it also has a sweet version. However, the sweet version is stuffed with chocolate, condensed milk, and cheese.
3. Soto Ayam:
It is a yellow spicy chicken soup with a Balinese touch. It is a combination of noodles, compressed rice cakes, chicken, hard-boiled eggs, and veggies. However, turmeric gives it its yellow colour. It has two other variations, fried garlic and prawn crackers.
How to reach:
1. By flight:
The nearest airport to Uluwatu is the Ngurah Rai International Airport. Deboard here, and hire a cab or taxi that will take you to Uluwatu, which is 45 45-minute drive away.
2. By roadways:
Many Perama buses run from the neighbouring cities to Uluwatu. You can also hire a scooter if you know how to drive or you can hire a scooter with a driver who will take you to the places.
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