Beach Science · October 2026 · 4 min

Bali's 10 Most Famous Beaches in Photos, and the Best Thing About Each

Sunset dinners on the sand, a postbox under the sea, dolphins at dawn. One photograph and one true fact for each of the ten.

These are the ten best-known beaches in Bali, in the order of our Bali list, which counts how often each appears on the best-beach lists we read. Each gets one photograph and the single best thing about it, taken from a dated source. The warnings about the water live in our Bali beach rules.

1. Nusa Dua: the long one

The longest of the ten. The mapped shape that carries its name runs 4.7 km down the coast. It sits inside a gated resort area with security checks, and entry is free and open to everyone.

2. Jimbaran: dinner on the sand

At sunset the grills start smoking and the beach turns into one long row of tables set on the sand. The photograph at the top of this page is that hour.

3. Canggu: black sand and surf

Surfers come for its strong breaks and sunbathers for its long stretches of black sand. One guide counts a warung on every corner, selling cold drinks and snacks.

4. Padang Padang: the door in the rock

The shortest of the ten, 147 metres by our measurement. The way in is roughly 120 steps down a narrow stone staircase that winds through a crevice in the rock.

5. Seminyak: walk the whole thing

About 3 km of sand from near Double Six up to Petitenget and Batu Belig. The sections run into each other, and you can walk it end to end in under an hour.

6. Sanur: breakfast at sunrise

About 7 km of Bali's east coast, flat the whole way, with a beachfront path for jogging, cycling and beach-hopping. At Sunrise Beach a few warungs serve breakfast on the sand.

7. Amed: the postbox under the sea

On the seabed at Jemeluk Bay there is a working postbox, several Apsara-style statues and a small temple-like structure. Bring a mask. The post office keeps unusual hours.

8. Dreamland: named by surfers

Surfers in the 1970s gave it the name. It is a short walk down a paved path from the car park to the sand.

9. Lovina: dolphins at dawn

Black volcanic sand on the north coast, known for dolphin sightings at sunrise. Even in July and August, one guide says, you will not be bumping elbows.

10. Kuta: the famous one

Described as the busiest beach in Bali, and free to walk onto. It was once a surfing and swimming beach and is now best known for the bars and restaurants along it. We rate it Overrated. It still has this sky.

Ten beaches, one island, and every one of them is somebody's favourite.