Bingin
SurfCliff-side guesthouses.
Uluwatu city guide
Things To Do In Uluwatu
Bali's southern cliffs: world-famous reef breaks, a temple on a cliff with a fire dance at sunset, hidden beaches down steep steps and sunset bars above the surf.
41
Hostels in the city
8.3
Average, from 9,428 reviews
70 m
The temple cliff
Reef
World-famous breaks
45 min
To the airport
The cliffs
Uluwatu is on the Bukit peninsula, Bali's southern tip, where limestone cliffs drop into the Indian Ocean. Its reef breaks are among the most famous waves in the world, and the area has grown from a surf camp into a string of cliff-top bars, villas and hidden beaches.
The Uluwatu Temple, perched on a cliff seventy metres above the sea, is one of Bali's holiest, and its sunset Kecak fire dance is unforgettable.
Three days is right.
Where to stay
Uluwatu is spread across the Bukit peninsula's clifftops. Bingin has guesthouses built down the cliff above the surf. Padang Padang, near the famous break, has a small beach and cafés. The area along the main road, Jalan Labuansait, has the cafés and shops.
Padang Padang
BeachA famous break.
Labuansait
CafésThe main road.
Orange labels are neighbourhoods, dots are the 12 top-rated hostels. Map data from OpenStreetMap contributors.
Things to do
Things to do in Uluwatu
Uluwatu, on the cliffs of the Bukit peninsula at Bali's southern tip, is famous for world-class reef surf, white-sand coves below the cliffs and a temple on a 70-metre precipice.
Uluwatu Temple, Pura Luhur Uluwatu, one of Bali's six key temples, stands on the cliff edge above the Indian Ocean. At sunset, the Kecak fire dance is performed in an amphitheatre with the sea behind it: a chorus of men chanting 'cak' while the Ramayana is acted out. Arrive early for a seat.
The reef breaks at Uluwatu, Padang Padang and Bingin are among the best in the world, but only for experienced surfers; beginners learn at Balangan or Dreamland. The beaches below the cliffs, Bingin, Padang Padang, Suluban and Melasti, are reached down steps; check the tide, as some disappear at high water.
Cliffside bars and beach clubs watch the sunset over the ocean. Nusa Dua, to the east, has calm lagoon water for swimming.
Free things
Free things to do in Uluwatu
Most of the beaches below the cliffs are free or ask a small parking fee, and so are the sunsets from the clifftops.
Watching the surfers at Uluwatu and Padang Padang from the cliff cafés costs the price of a drink. The temple and the Kecak dance charge.
Food and drink
Eating and drinking in Uluwatu
Uluwatu has warungs serving nasi campur and fresh fish, and a growing café scene along the main road and at Bingin. Seafood grills on Jimbaran Bay, half an hour away, cook the day's catch at tables on the sand at sunset.
A warung meal is €2 to €5; a café meal €6 to €12.
Nightlife
Going out in Uluwatu
Uluwatu's nightlife centres on sunset at clifftop bars and beach clubs, with a few late venues and parties on certain nights. Single Fin, above the Uluwatu break, is the classic Sunday sunset session.
A beer is €2 to €5.
Getting around
Getting around Uluwatu
A scooter is essential; the area is spread out and hilly, with no public transport. Grab and Gojek work in parts. The airport is about forty-five minutes away.
Foreign visitors to Bali pay a tourist levy of 150,000 rupiah, paid online before arrival through the Love Bali system or at the airport.
Costs
What Uluwatu costs
Uluwatu is pricier than most of Bali. Dorms start around €8 and a careful day is €25 to €40.
The temple is about €3 and the Kecak dance about €8. A surf lesson at Balangan is €20 to €30. Some beaches charge small parking fees.
The currency is the rupiah (IDR), at roughly 17,000 to 18,000 rupiah to the euro; prices here are euro equivalents. Cards work in tourist areas; carry cash for warungs, boats and small islands, where ATMs are few.
Safety
Staying safe in Uluwatu
Uluwatu is safe. The reef breaks are for experienced surfers only; the reef is sharp and shallow. Scooter accidents are the biggest risk to travellers in Indonesia. Only ride with a valid licence for motorbikes, insurance that covers it, and a helmet; police checks are common.
The temple monkeys steal sunglasses, phones and hats, then trade them back for food; keep belongings secure. Beach steps are steep; check the tide before going down.
At temples, wear a sarong and sash, usually available to borrow, and do not climb on shrines. Balinese temples also ask women not to enter during menstruation.
Most visitors need a visa on arrival, best bought online as an e-VOA before you fly, and must complete Indonesia's online arrival declaration, All Indonesia, before landing; check the current rules for your passport.
Emergency number is 112.
Day trips from Uluwatu
The cliff temple, white sand and the surf town.
Uluwatu Temple
Cliff temple and Kecak dance.
Canggu
The surf town.
What's on
What is on while you are there
The dry season brings the biggest swells.
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Hostels
Where to stay in Uluwatu
The top-rated places to stay in Uluwatu right now, live from Hostelworld.
Mad Monkey Uluwatu
Dorms from €25 a night
See dates and book
Q-Star Uluwatu
Dorms from €10 a night
See dates and book
Lay Day Hostel Uluwatu
Dorms from €21 a night
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Sustainable
The Lazy Lama Hostel Uluwatu
Dorms from €14 a night
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Karma Backpacker
Dorms from €13 a night
See dates and book
Sustainable
One More Wave Surf House Uluwatu
Dorms from €18 a night
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Surfers House Green Bowl
Dorms from €6 a night
See dates and book
LoTide Surf Camps Uluwatu
Dorms from €10 a night
See dates and book
Uluwatu Surf Paradise
Dorms from €7 a night
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Taste of Bali Hostel
Dorms from €5 a night
See dates and book
One Degree Sunset Hill Leisure
Dorms from €25 a night
See dates and book
Pecatu Guest House & Hostel
Dorms from €4 a night
See dates and book
When to go
April to October is dry, with the best surf.
Jan
Wet
Feb
Wet
Mar
Nyepi
Apr
Drying
May
Dry season
Jun
Dry
Jul
Peak
Aug
Peak
Sep
Excellent
Oct
Good
Nov
Wet
Dec
Christmas crowds
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average highs.
What your trip will cost
Pick how you travel. Per person per night, in euros.
Prices are in rupiah locally; these are euro equivalents.
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- Beds—
- Food and drink—
- Getting around—
- Doing things—
Uluwatu travel questions
The ones we get asked most.
Can beginners surf in Uluwatu?
Not on the reef breaks; learn at Balangan or Dreamland.
When is the Kecak dance?
At sunset every evening at the temple; arrive early for a seat.
Do I need a scooter?
Yes, there is no public transport; ride only with a licence and insurance.
Are the beaches easy to reach?
Down steep steps; some disappear at high tide.
How many days do you need?
Three.
When is the best time to visit?
April to October, the dry season and best surf.
What about the monkeys?
At the temple they steal belongings; keep everything secure.
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