Uluwatu – Surfing, Beaches & Stunning Cliffs

Uluwatu is one of the most popular coastal areas in the south of Bali and is famous for its massive cliffs. There are tons of surf spots, beautiful beaches, and stylish cafes, which is why it is also a huge hub for digital nomads. Uluwatu offers so many things to do and see and it is definitely one of our favorite places on the entire island. Compared to other areas, life here is much more relaxed and laid back.

We spent a total of 4 days in Uluwatu and experienced quite a bit. You can see how this stop fits into our overall itinerary in our Bali Round Trip Guide. If we had more time for our overall trip, we definitely would have stayed longer, especially in the south. There is still so much more to explore and it is just the perfect spot for surfing and chilling out. A total must do is watching the sunsets from the cliffs, which you can enjoy with a drink almost anywhere.

What to Do in Uluwatu?

There is so much to see and do in Uluwatu. It starts with exploring the area by scooter, goes on to surfing, and ends with beautiful beaches and sunsets. There is also a huge selection of restaurants, cafes, and boutiques. No matter what your travel style is, you can spend your time exactly how you like it. We will show you what we did during our 4 days in Uluwatu and give you our honest feedback on everything.

Activities in Uluwatu

Exploring by scooter: Just like everywhere else in Bali, a scooter is the best way to get around Uluwatu. It allows you to reach hidden spots and you are much faster than you would be by car.
Sunset Points: On our very first day, we watched a stunning sunset from the terrace of The Ritual. Unfortunately, we found out that it is now permanently closed. Nevertheless, there are plenty of other spots along the cliffs where you can enjoy the view.
Surfing: Uluwatu is home to many great surf beaches like Padang Padang, Bingin, Suluban, and Dreamland. Padang Padang is especially good for beginners, which is where we actually learned to surf ourselves.
Checking out boutique stores: There are many small boutiques like Cove that are great for shopping. Just keep in mind that prices here are usually a bit higher compared to the general cost of living in Bali.

Beaches in Uluwatu

Padang Padang: A beautiful and somewhat hidden beach where you can see monkeys if you are lucky. You should definitely watch out though, as they like to search your bags for food. Since the animals can carry diseases, you should always keep your distance. We actually booked our surf lessons at the hotel right next to it, Dreamsea Uluwatu.
Bingin: A very famous and spacious beach that can feel a bit crowded at times. To us it felt a little too touristy, but the beach is still worth a short stop for lunch at the Lucky Fish Lounge. You can get fresh fish and seafood there with a great view of the ocean.
Dreamland: One of the most impressive beaches with a great sunset view. Because of the strong currents and high waves, the beach is not really suitable for swimming. Since it is very popular and can get crowded, here is our secret tip. When you are facing the beach, walk to the left around the cliff. We were almost completely alone there and could enjoy the sunset in peace.

Our Restaurant Recommendations

Uluwatu has countless restaurants, cafes, and bars serving everything from Western to Balinese cuisine. As everywhere in Bali, the prices are very affordable for you, for example a breakfast bowl costs only about 3 to 4 Euro.

Zicatela
Mexican cuisine and breakfast. Our absolute recommendation is the banana pancakes, they were by far the best ones we had on our entire trip.p.
Dreamsea Uluwatu
Great breakfast and savory bowls. It is a bit more expensive than average, but a very good option if you are staying there anyway or spending time at Padang Padang beach.
Ours
A slightly more upscale restaurant with a diverse menu including pasta for about 6 to 7 Euro, burgers, or salmon. Since it gets quite busy in the evenings, you should make sure to book a table in advance.
Lucky Fish Lounge
This restaurant at Bingin beach is a must for all seafood lovers. Besides the regular menu, you can put together your own plate of fresh fish and seafood.
The Place with No Name
Here you will find pasta, burgers, and more. The food is very authentic and costs about 4 to 5 Euro per dish. You should also reserve a table here beforehand.

Our Accommodation Tip

We had two different accommodations in Uluwatu. Our first one was Desak’s AirBnB, located right next to Zicatela restaurant and the sunset point we mentioned earlier. This AirBnB was more of a means to an end since we just needed a place for the first night after arriving late. The stay was fine and very affordable at just 15 Euro per person per night.

Our second stay was at Dreamsea Uluwatu. The hotel is well-known for its surf camps around the world and in is located right on the cliff of Padang Padang Beach. It is very popular and therefore often fully booked out far in advance. The place impresses with its aesthetic Balinese style, great service, and delicious food, though it is a bit more expensive than other Bali stays at around 46 Euro per person per night. However, breakfast is already included in the price. We booked a sea-view suite and were very satisfied, as it was right at Padang Padang Beach. Also there were plenty of activities available, such as surf lessons or yoga.

If you plan to stay there, we also recommend booking a room with a sea view, as other rooms don’t have the view and are located next to the restaurant area, where people can pass by freely (this happened to us at first). Also, keep in mind that the hotel is built on a cliff, so there are quite a few stairs leading down, which can be challenging in the heat or with heavy luggage. One downside is that the rooms are very thin-walled. So if you get as lucky with your neighbor as we did, his alarm will go off at 5 AM without him hearing it, but you definitely will.

Getting There & Getting Around

From the airport we took a regular taxi to Uluwatu. Looking back that was quite a mistake because we paid way too much. We highly recommend that you use the Grab or Gojek app instead, even if you have to walk a short distance out of the airport area first. Once we arrived, we rented a scooter for around €10 per day, which we found to be the best way to explore the area. Almost everywhere, you can find rentals within walking distance of your accommodation, and many hotels or Airbnbs even have their own contacts and can arrange the rental for you. The scooter is usually delivered directly to your accommodation and picked up again after use.

The scooter was ideal for us to flexibly visit the different beaches and spots. This allowed us to see a lot in one day and also move on quickly if we didn’t like a place that much. In our experience many beaches and famous sights are easier or sometimes even only accessible by scooter, so you have to walk much less than you would by car. For our next stop in Ubud we definitely used the app and ordered a Grab taxi.