10 places · Bali
A temple on the edge of a 70-metre cliff above the ocean. At sunset there's Kecak, a trance dance accompanied by a chorus of a hundred voices.
Price: Temple about IDR 50,000 (sarong included), Kecak IDR 150,000
Insider tip: Kecak tickets go on sale an hour or so before the show, so come early. The local monkeys steal glasses and phones: keep everything in your hands.
White sand at the foot of limestone cliffs, reached by a road cut straight through the rock.
Insider tip: Swim at high tide: low tide exposes the coral. You won't see the sunset from here, but in the morning the beach is nearly empty.
A small cove you reach through a gap in the rock, the beach from "Eat Pray Love".
Insider tip: The surf here is a legendary wave for pros; beginners are better off at nearby Bingin or in Canggu.
A temple on a rock in the surf and one of Bali's great symbols. At low tide you can walk across the stones to the rock.
Price: Paid entry (raised in April 2026, check on site)
Insider tip: Arrive an hour and a half before sunset and grab a spot on the cliff to the right. Don't leave straight after: the car park jams.
The surfers' and digital nomads' neighbourhood: coffee shops, beach clubs and gentle waves for first lessons.
Insider tip: Book a surf lesson in the morning, when the wind is lighter. In the evening, watch the sunset from the sand with a coconut instead of from a pricey club.
The south's most stylish area: boutiques, restaurants, spas and a wide beach with sunsets.
Insider tip: Shop during the day: in the evening Seminyak's streets are jammed and walking is faster.
Tables right on the sand, grilled fish and prawns and the sunset over the bay.
Insider tip: Prices are by weight: ask them to weigh it in front of you and confirm the total before it's cooked.
A small beach under the cliffs of the Bukit: you reach it by stairs past cafés and guesthouses clinging to the cliff. At low tide rock pools with fish appear, and surfers ride the reef.
Price: Free; bike parking is a few thousand rupiah
Insider tip: Swimming is best at high tide; at low tide the reef underfoot is sharp, so wear reef shoes. The sunset is one of the best in the south. The stairs are long, and the climb back up is noticeable.
The "T-rex" cliff above a turquoise bay, and how to survive the road there.
🔒 Secret spot: details and the map pin are in the full guide
A white beach under a sheer cliff, reached by stairs carved right into the rock.
🔒 Secret spot: details and the map pin are in the full guide