With its picture-perfect beaches, stunning clifftop villas and laid-back island vibe, Uluwatu deserves top billing on your Bali bucket list. Here are our favourite things to do in Uluwatu!
Hit the beach
Uluwatu is known for offering perhaps the most beautiful beaches in Bali, boasting soft golden sand, photogenic lime cliffs and clear blue water. It’s the perfect setting for enjoying an ice cold coconut with your toes dug into the sand! Ulu’s best beaches include Padang Padang, Thomas Beach and Melasti – find all the best beaches in our Uluwatu beach guide.
Surf
Surfing is the reason most people head down to Uluwatu – whether that’s to actually catch some waves or to simply soak up the laidback surf village vibe. Uluwatu shot to world fame with the release of the iconic documentary Morning of the World in the 1970s and the rest, as they say, is history! Today, the area attracts surfers of all skill levels from far and wide. The most famous surf breaks include Padang Padang, Bingin, Impossibles and of course, the iconic Uluwatu surf break.
Go café hopping
All that surfing is bound to leave you famished – and in a serious need of a caffeine fix! Luckily, a whole plethora of cute cafes have popped up all over Uluwatu, so you’ll have your pick. Breakfast is a great time to sample their offerings – most venues serve stunningly photogenic smoothie bowls and towering stacks of pancakes, along with Aussie-standard coffees.
Check out the beach clubs
Nothing says “chillax” quite like a day spent lounging by the pool in a Bali beach club. Uluwatu offers a prime opportunity to do some serious beach club hopping, as the area offers a new beach club to try for every day of the week! If you’re looking for a swanky clifftop setting, try venues like El Kabron or Savaya. If you prefer to have your feet firmly in the sand, check out Sundays Beach Club, Palmila or Rooster Fish!
Visit Uluwatu temple
The majestic Uluwatu Temple is one of the most stunning landmarks on the island and should be included in any and all Uluwatu itineraries. Built on a dramatic clifftop, the temple is one of the most important spiritual locations on the island and also one of the most photographed. The ocean views from these heights are nothing short of breathtaking! Besides its spiritual importance and stunning scenery, the temple is known for housing mischievous monkeys (watch out for your valuables!) and hosting transcendent Kecak fire dances.
Witness sunset magic
The sunsets in Uluwatu are some of the most beautiful you’ll encounter anywhere on the planet. There really is nothing like watching the sun sink into the Indian Ocean as the sky above the water turns flaming shades of red, pink and orange. The best place to witness the magic is an epic clifftop venue, whether that’s the Uluwatu Temple during the famous Kecak fire dance or Single Fin surf club during one of the popular live music sets.
Looking for more information on Uluwatu? Check our guide to the best beaches in Uluwatu or explore our collection of villas in Uluwatu.