Thanks to its close proximity to the airport, Uluwatu is the place travellers usually begin or end their Bali journey. That being said it shouldn’t be treated as a stopover before your next flight as Uluwatu is a top destination in its own right.
Boasting cliff top temples, chic beach clubs and first-class surf breaks, Uluwatu also holds the accolade for the best beaches in Bali.
Before we dive in to showing you the top stretches of coastline, here’s a few FOW Uluwatu tips:
How to get around Uluwatu
A scooter is bar far the easiest way to travel around Uluwatu. You should expect to pay about 90,000 – 120,000 IDR (£5 – £7) per day for rental, however if you hire for a longer period you can negotiate a better price. The roads in Uluwatu are also a lot quieter than in the busy towns of Canggu and Seminyak.
If you’re not comfortable riding a scooter then you can hire a driver for the day. They’ll get you from A to B quickly comfortably while sharing their local knowledge of the area.
General Uluwatu Tips
If you want to visit a waterfall or beach in Bali, it’s going to involve steps. A lot of them. They can be steep and slippy at times and while some travellers successfully tackle them in flip-flops or even barefoot, we would recommend wearing a study pair of trainers.
Take plenty of water. Or better yet invest in a filter water bottle. There will almost always be a vendor selling refreshments but having a filter bottle will save eating into your budget and save on plastic. Win, win!
Best time to visit Uluwatu
The best time to visit Uluwatu is the dry season between April and early October. The temperatures are good and there’s less rainfall.
Now that we’ve shared our tips for visiting Uluwatu, let’s get into our best beach recommendations.
Padang Padang Beach
Probably the most talked about beach in Uluwatu, Padang Padang draws people in from all over the world thanks to the world-class surf breaks. Photographers, sun-worshippers and surfers of all experience levels share this beautiful beach.
If you’re an experienced surfer then head to the left side for high and fast breaks. Experts on the board will have a blast but be warned that the shallow waters and sharp coral can make the left side dangerous. Those new to surfing can head right to get a taste of the famous Padang Padang Beach breaks. The unbroken waves are perfect for newbies who want to master their skills with little risk factor.
The beach itself is an 100 metre stretch of golden sand dotted with rocks, swirl pools and cave formations. Eagle-eyed romantic film fans will recognise the setting from Eat, Pray, Love featuring Julia Roberts.
Arrive there early to beat the crowds and if you’re lucky you could see a surfing competition under way.
Getting to Padang Padang Beach: Located Southwest on the Bukit Peninsula, it’s about a 10 minute drive up the coast from Uluwatu Temple. Once you reach the carpark, walk across the bridge for your first view of the beach and then carry on down the narrow staircase and through the rock cave onto the shore.
Entrance Cost: Entrance to the beach costs 10,000 IDR & the carpark fee is an additional 5,000 IDR.
Suluban Beach/Blue Point Beach
Suluban Beach, also known as Blue Point Beach, was our first taste of the epic coastline Uluwatu has to offer. Tucked away in cove at the bottom of a concrete staircase (we told you!), it’s about a 10-minute walk until you reach the beach. The first thing worth noting is Suluban Beach is not for sunbathing. If you want to set out your towel and try your luck then make sure you visit at low tide, but the reality is you still stand a good chance at being washed away by the unpredictable waves.
Known locally as Pantai Suluban, as-well-as Blue Point and Suluban, this beach is all about the adventure. On the walk down, you’ll pass through levels of warungs, restaurants, shops and surf rental stores. It’s definitely worth stopping for a snack or cold beer at one of the warungs at the end of the clifftop. You’ll get your first proper view of the beach and overlook the sparkling turquoise water – it’s at this point you’ll realise why it got the name of Blue Point.
Head down to the beach and you’ll be almost completely surrounded by limestone cliffs. The beach will be dotted with surfers coming in, or venturing out to catch the famous left-sided breaks.
Again we recommend coming at low tide so you explore the Hidden Beach. At the bottom of the stairs, you have the option to turn left into the opening of a rock cave. You will have to bend down and scramble over some rocks to make your way through but trust us, it’s worth it! If the tide isn’t low, the path through can dangerous due to the wave breaks and swells so we wouldn’t advise it. On the southern end of the beach you can see a shipwreck which has been covered in graffiti and makes for a really cool photo. Take some time to watch the surfers, or even have a go yourself. There are a number of surf schools to chose from if you’re a beginner, they will guide you to the best spots to tackle to breaks.
We recommend staying at Blue Point Beach for sunset. Single Fin Beach Club is a popular spot and offers one of the best places to see the sunset in the whole of Uluwatu.
Getting to Suluban Beach: Not far from Padang Padang Beach, Suluban is also located in Pecatu Village. Head for Single Fin Beach Club, park up and follow the directions to Suluban Beach.
Entrance Cost: Entrance to the beach is free but the carpark fee is 5,000 IDR for scooters and 15,000 IDR for a car.
Thomas Beach
Thomas Beach was actually recommended to us by a friend before we set off on this crazy travel adventure. A slightly lesser known beach in Uluwatu, it still draws in a crowd but feels more secluded, with fewer people.
Nestled on the coastline between Blue Point Beach and Padang Padang Beach, Thomas Beach often gets overlooked in favour of its neighbours. That’s a good thing if you’re after a perfect spot to sunbathe and swim in the bright blue water. One of the few beaches in Uluwatu that offer free parking and no entrance fee to the beach, you can set your towel straight down on the sand or opt for a sun lounger for 50,000 IDR.
Once you park your scooter, or get dropped off in the parking area, it’s a couple of minutes down the stairs until you reach the beach. You can stop halfway to catch your breath and take a photo of the stunning view.
There are a number of small stalls offering snacks, drinks, and cold coconuts and women selling sarongs and jewellery will pass by if you wish to purchase any.
Thomas Beach doesn’t compete with the likes of Padang Padang for world-class surf breaks but it’s still a great spot for learners and those of intermediate skill level. The waves are lower and less aggressive making it perfect for surfing novices and those wishing to swim.
Getting to Thomas Beach: If you’re riding a scooter follow the directions to Thomas Beach which can be found easily non Google Maps. We chose to walk as our hotel was located pretty close but found the path down to the carpark was relatively bumpy – so please take care if you’re on a bike or scooter.
Entrance Cost: Take advantage, both the parking and entrance to the beach is free!
Bingin Beach
If we hadn’t made it clear yet, Uluwatu is a surfing mecca and people travel from all over the world to test themselves on the impressive breaks. The likes of Padang Padang and Blue Point Beach have well and truly put Bali on the surfers map and Bingin Beach joins the line-up offering world-class waves. It’s not all about surfing though as Bingin Beach draws in party-goers and sunset lovers alike. The latter will be in sunset heaven as Bingin Beach is west-facing therefore boasts impressive views across the Indian Ocean.
From the carpark, you’ll enter what can only be described as a maze of pathways, hotels and restaurants as you make your way down to the beach. Stop at Kelly’s Warung which in our opinion is the best place to have a drink and grab some food in the glow of the afternoon.
The beach itself can get a little crowded due to its popularity but don’t let that put you off. Make sure you pitch up early enough to get a good spot and you won’t be disappointed.
Getting to Bingin Beach: Pantai Bingin is just north of Padang Padang Beach and can be easily reached by scooter or taxi.
Entrance Cost: Entrance to the beach is free with scooter parking 2,000 IDR.
That concludes our round up of our best beaches in Uluwatu. Be sure to check out our full Uluwatu itinerary.
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