Island Guide: 4 days in Uluwatu
Four-day trip filled with beaches, food, and a touch of Balinese tradition
Uluwatu
Located in the southern peninsula (Bukit), Uluwatu has some of the best sunsets I’ve ever seen. It has dramatic landscapes offering cliff point views, cool white sand beaches, and super advanced surfing spots. It’s also a famous area for expat communities as there is an ongoing development of villas, gyms, and everything that an expat might need.
If you are into surfing, you can definitely spend most of your vacation in Uluwatu. Depends on how much time you have in Bali, I recommend spending between 3-7 days in this region.
At the end of November, I took my mum there and spend 4 full days. November is considered rainy season, so every night (after 12am) it rained a lot and some days in rained until around 11am. Everything we did there was very spontaneous as we were adjusting our plans according to the weather conditions.
Transportation
Depends on your driving experience and adventure apetite, you have a few ways to get to Uluwatu.
By car 🚙
The safest way is to hire a personal driver or get a taxi car to Uluwatu.
Distance from Canggu = 36km, travel time ~ 1:30hrs; Trip cost: Rp. 250.000 (€15)
Distance from Ubud = 55km, travel time ~ 2hrs; Trip cost: Rp. 500.000 (€30)
By scooter 🛵
If there is heavy traffic, you will get to Uluwatu faster by scooter, however there are a few junctions on the way which are very hectic and therefore dangerous. Even some locals say how busy the road to Uluwatu is. So, if you have the option to travel to there by car, I would highly recommend it. A scooter however is a way cheaper option.
Price of scooter hire per day ~ Rp. 100.000 (€6); fuel cost: Rp 10.000 (€0.60)/litre
Moving around 🚕
Once you arrive, it is pretty easy navigating the area. GoJek and Grab taxi hires operate in the area and are very affordable. If you don’t have your own scooter, I recommend using taxi bikes which you can order through and pay for through an App. The drivers arrive almost immediately and I recommend you always ask for a helmet.
Tip: bring your own headscarf or bandana as some helmets are quite worn out.
Price of a scooter taxi ride: Rp 15.000 (€0.90), distance: 3-4km
Must Know:
Uluwatu is still developing as an area. There is no specific city center, however there are a few established areas, where most of the life happens. A lot of new villas, resorts and establishments are being built, which make the roads busier with trucks carrying building materials. Some of the construction also happens near the main roads and even at night. So, be careful.
Walking: there is very little pavement, so walking is almost not an option. For example, you can go to a restaurant, and most likely you will have a small area around, where you can walk. But in general, it is quite dangerous.
four days itinerary
Day 1: Arrival, relax on the beach + casual seafood dinner 🦐
Day 1 is your arrival day. We arrived around noon and checked into Bella Bali. Bella Bali offers accommodation with an outdoor swimming pool, free private parking, a garden and a terrace.
Depending on the season the prices vary; it November we paid €55 a night for a huge double bedroom.
After we had lunch in our villa and we headed to Bingin Beach. Bingin is a popular cliffside beach which is also a great surfing spot. The beach is not huge, it’s rather a bay with loads of villas and some restaurants hanging on the side of the cliff. It has a modern hipster vibe.
The entry to the beach is quite hidden but once you get dropped off at the parking, you just need to follow the crowds.
Be aware that there are 200 steps down to reach the beach. But once the view reveals it’s totally worth it.
We spent a few hours there and then we did something I wanted to do since arriving in Bali - to have a seafood dinner on the beach.
dinner
Around 5pm, two of the restaurants start setting up their tables and firing up the barbecue. There is fresh seafood offered daily and the options vary. The seafood is grilled to perfection and is served with a small portion or rice and water spinach. The sides are nothing special but the seafood itself is a winner.
Seafood restaurants on Bingin Beach: Lucky Fish Lounge, Bingin Bagus Seafood
Cost of dinner for 2 ~ Rp 300.000 (€18)
Day 2: secluded beach day and wild monkeys 🐒
We started the second day with a visit to Thomas Beach, one of Uluwatu’s quieter beaches. Actually, it’s mum who discovered it in the hotels’s booklet - we found out it was the villa owner’s favourite spot.
The path leading to the beach starts just opposite of Suka Espresso Uluwatu.
Prepare to take 133 steps down to reach the beach.
The clear, turquoise waters and white sand were perfect for swimming and lounging in peace as this beach felt like an untouched pristine place. There were a few locals who offered sun beds but we decided to stay under the natural shade of the trees. For food, there are a few local warungs and stalls offering local food, drinks and fresh coconuts.
The coconuts were pricier than those in a mid-range restaurant (Rp. 50,000 per piece); considering the heat and the stairs locals have to climb, this was entirely justifiable. The coconuts appeared very appetizing, as the moment a nearby couple went for a swim and left their coconut unattended, a few wild monkeys emerged from the forest and attacked it. It was quite a spectacle for many people on the beach.
Be aware of wild monkeys. They are always on the lookout for food and are more than willing to go through your bag. Avoid making eye contact with them; if they feel threatened, they might attack you. Pro tip: monkeys are afraid of water.
Sunset
As we were nearby, we decided to head to the cliff above Suluban beach to watch the sunset. There are many venues where you can take a drink and watch the sun goes down. To get down to the actual beach, you need to go down some steps and turns but there are loads of bars and warungs, located near the parking path such as Single Fin.
To enter the area you need to pay Rp. 5000 (€0.30) no matter whether you have a scooter or no. Or at least that’s what we were asked to pay for 2 people.
dinner
For dinner, we decided to indulge in more seafood. We visited a place called Sugar Rock, located in one of the busier areas of Uluwatu. The venue and food were nice, but the music was very strange and constantly changing, probably depending on the night. For dinner, we had a salad, grilled tuna, and a barramundi fillet.
Cost of dinner for 2: Rp. 340.000 (€20)
Day 3: rain made our day perfect , nusa dua visit
Day 3 started with loads of rain and going to the beach was not an option. We booked an online GoJek taxi car and headed to Nusa Dua, a different world compared to Uluwatu’s rustic charm. Nusa Dua is a luxurious touristy area, with loads of 5 star resorts, white sand beaches, and high-end restaurants.
Distance from Uluwatu to Nusa Dua = 17km, travel time ~ 35mins; Trip cost: Rp. 120.000 (€7.20)
Our first stop was Bali Collection, a shopping and lifestyle open complex with a mix of local boutiques and international brands. It was a great way to escape the rain and my mum got to satisfy her shopping cravings.
Although the area is more luxurious, most shops have regular prices and you can buy loads of nice souvenirs and gifts.
Lunch 🍕
Lunch was a delightful Italian meal at Nusa by Suka, a restaurant known for its cozy ambiance and authentic dishes. This one is part of the By/Suka Collective which has a few cafes and restaurant locations in Ubud, Uluwatu, and Canggu. Definitely, check them out.
It was my first time visiting it and we both loved the food. We finally felt like eating some different from seafood or Indonesian cuisine, so we shared a pizza and a pasta. I 100% recommend this place.
Cost of lunch for 2 ~ Rp 300.000 (€18)
After the rain cleared up by the afternoon, we took a walk along Nusa Dua’s pristine beaches. They are suitable for both swimming and surfing. Next to the beach, you can take a walk to Pura Nusa Dharma Nusa Dua, from where you can have an amazing ocean view. The entry is free and you need to be dressed appropriately as this is the location of an Hindu temple and the area is considered sacred.
Dinner 🥡
There are loads of beach front resorts and restaurants in Nusa Dua but we decided to head home on time and have a lighter dinner in Uluwatu. We had a simple yet very tasty meal in Satu Uluwatu. It is a buffet style restaurant with both traditional Indonesian food and some western style options. You can either go light or heavy. The prices are regular and loads of tourists eat here.
Cost of dinner for 1 ~ Rp. 100.000 (€6)
Day 4: Padang Padang beach and traditional balinese ceremony
Day 4 felt like one of those “meant-to-be” days, where the unexpected turns out to be perfect. It rained the whole morning, so we stayed in our villa, we relaxed and cooked some food in the shared kitchen.
(I really like booking accommodations that have a small kitchenette or a shared kitchen for cooking healthy meals)
By mid-afternoon, the skies finally cleared, and we decided to visit the iconic Padang Padang Beach—famous not only for its stunning beauty but also for being a filming location in Eat, Pray, Love. Despite knowing it might be crowded, we couldn’t resist the appeal of this well-loved spot.
You can take a scooter to there or park your bike at the parking of the beach.
Entry to the beach is Rp. 10.000 (€0.50) per person, bike parking costs Rp. 5000 (€0.30)
Reaching the beach involves descending a staircase carved through the rocks. It was definitely a busy day at the beach—not just with tourists, but with locals participating in a Melasti ceremony. This beautiful ritual, performed by the Pecatu village community, was a prayer for rain and land fertility—a rare sight as it only happens once a year!
It was incredible to witness the colourful offerings, music, and rituals, all set against the backdrop of the ocean. It is done once per year, so it was a total luck to witness so culturally rich and significant ceremony during our visit.
Although Uluwatu, particularly Pecatu, has a predominantly dry climate, many locals still rely on farming. Ceremonies like Melasti, performed by the sea, are their way of seeking blessings from the God of the ocean for rain to nourish the land. Interestingly, all Balinese rituals conducted on or near the water are referred to as Melasti, symbolizing purification and harmony between humans and nature.
This unexpected cultural encounter was the best ending to our Uluwatu adventure, leaving us with memories that go far beyond the typical beach day.
other activities
If you have more time, you can visit some of the following places:
the famous Uluwatu temple or a traditional Kecak fire dance
other cliffside sunset spots such as Jaran Hill
Savaya - one of the best nigh clubs on the island; you can visit either during the day, during sunset or attend a famous DJ event
there are loads of options for yoga and wellness practices, so I highly recommend adding such an activity
Beaches
Nyang Nyang, Dreamland beach
Sundays Beach Club - pay-to-enter beach club with private beach
Melasti, Pandawa, Geger Beach - these are closer to Nusa Dua. Geger is one of my favourite beaches in Bali
