Uluwatu Guide | Best Things to Do and See in Bali’s Top Tourist Spot

As you’re planning your vacation to Bali, make time in your itinerary for a stop in Uluwatu. This destination is popular with travelers for its beach atmosphere and unique cuisine combined with some of the finest luxury hotels, villas and resorts on the island of Bali.

Things Visitors Love About Uluwatu

The beaches here are beautiful and noted for their crystal blue waters that attract surfers from all over the world. Views are nothing short of majestic, as you soak up some rays from clifftop day clubs or resorts and then watch the sun sink into the water as evening takes over.

The opportunities to socialize with other travelers are stellar, too. Within local communities, Uluwatu welcomes expatriates from around the globe, and many are ready and willing to chat with travelers. As you setting in, you’ll meet people in resorts, on the beach, in clubs and in popular cafes.

If you’re an aficionado of luxury resorts, surfing or day spas, then a stay in Uluwatu is a must. Find what appeals to you and begin to get the lay of the land with this complete overview of Uluwatu.

Getting In and Around Uluwatu

Write down a few tips about how to get around in Uluwatu, and make your way between its landmarks and hot spots. Just like any other city worth visiting, Uluwatu has a variety of transportation options. Your hotel can provide the best options, depending on your sightseeing itinerary, and many Uluwatu attractions are simple to reach by foot. When you’re out and about, don’t be leery of asking locals for directions, as Balinese people are usually very friendly and helpful, and there is normally a fellow traveler nearby who can most likely steer you in the right direction.

Travel Times to Uluwatu

If you’ve chosen to make this the first stop on your itinerary, you’ll spend about 45 minutes heading south from Ngurah Rai International Airport. From other destinations, your travel time may be longer or shorter.

• From Kuta, it takes about 45 minutes to 1 hour.
• From Seminyak, it takes about 45 minutes to 1 hour.
• From Nusa Dua, it takes about 20 to 30 minutes.

You could choose to make Uluwatu your base camp for a stay in Bali. Day trips to many Bali destinations are easy from Uluwatu.

Uluwatu Transportation

Once you’ve settled into your hotel or villa, you’ll be ready to get out there and see what there is to do and experience. Make transportation easy on yourself when you know a few of the local customs ahead of time. Many travelers like to have their own transportation arranged for the duration of their stay. In fact, this is the recommended approach and the most popular.

• You can take a taxi from the airport into town in order to cover the long distance quickly and easily. Marked taxis in Bali are safe to use and frequented for airport trips.
• Once you’ve made it to Uluwatu, the local regulations are designed to maintain the ambience of the town. This isn’t a place full of honking taxis or waving down ride shares. Both are prohibited in order to keep the peaceful vibe.
• Try a scooter to get around. If you’ve never driven or ridden a scooter, you may find that it’s a fairly easy skill to pick up. Wear your helmet and follow local laws as posted.
• For those who prefer to skip the scooter, hire a private driver. While Uluwatu is a luxurious area, you can find one for a relatively reasonable rate, especially with some haggling as needed. Ask your hotel concierge to help you connect with a comfortable car.

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Explore Uluwatu Beaches

Everyone who travels to Bali comes with the expectation of spending much of their time lounging on gorgeous sands and skipping into beautiful water to swim, snorkel or surf. Throughout Bali, many of the beaches are absolutely sublime, so pack your swimsuit and sunblock. The beaches are also a major social draw, where you can meet other travelers and locals.

In Uluwatu, the beach scene is largely about surfing. Waves swell and are topped by white caps, while the water remains warm almost all of the time. The direction of the tide is different, however, depending on which section of the coast you choose, so along with surfing, you can find other watersports, perfect for any day out on the beach in Uluwatu.

• Bingin Beach offers jaw-dropping views of the Indian Ocean and strong waves that make it a high-demand spot for surfers who take their sport seriously. Sand is dazzling white beneath a jagged rise of cliffs.
• Padang Padang Beach is a smaller beach with an entry fee, but it’s a favorite among locals and travelers who stay long enough that they start to feel like locals. The steps to the beach here are steep, giving you a chance to warm up before hitting the waves.
• Thomas Beach is a low-key beach with beautiful white sand. Sometimes considered a hidden beach, it still draws a good number of people on days when the waves are good. This beach is between Bingin Beach and Padang Padang.

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Enjoy Day Clubs in Uluwatu

While you’ll definitely want several beach days, there’s a lot to be said for hanging out at the tops of the cliffs in Uluwatu, too. Here is where you’ll find resorts designed to entertain you as you relax.

If you’ve never been to a day club, you’re in for a treat, whether you’re the type of person to enjoy a nightclub or not. The concept of a day club is almost the same as a nightclub, but the ambience is totally different. There’s still a focus on signature cocktails, premium service and gorgeous lighting and decor — although much of the lighting is simply from the sun — but the tenor of day club events in Uluwatu is much more relaxed.

Listen to electronic music, dance by the pool or dine on a patio or in a restaurant. When you get warm, take a dip before laying on chaise lounges, rented beds or in private cabanas. Day club dress often focuses on highly stylish swimwear and other beachwear looks, like upscale sunglasses, layered jewelry, refined sandals and sarongs, lightweight dresses or cute shorts to move between resorts or head in or out.

Check with locals to see which resorts feature music or a quieter vibe, depending on the day, since schedules change frequently.

• Go to Sundays Beach Club at The Ungasan clifftop resort for one of the most popular spots to hang out during the day.
• At Ulu Cliffhouse, you’ll find a bar, a restaurant, day beds and a pool for a day of utter relaxation in luxury with incredible views.
• Another popular spot is OMNIA Dayclub Bali, considered a relatively newer entry to the scene in Uluwatu and full of comforts and luxuries for the traveler who wants an authentic resort experience.

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Visit Uluwatu Temple

Chances are one of the main reasons you decided to travel to Bali is an interest in the temples. Balinese temples are called pura, so you might see a name that seems familiar, but instead of calling it a temple, a sign or a local may call it pura.

Temple life is a major part of the history and culture of Indonesia. Experience these holy sites to understand more about the true spirit of the place and to show your respect for their beauty and significance. Temples are a breath-taking aspect of life on Bali and make it clear why it’s known as The Island of The Gods.

General information about Uluwatu Temple

Uluwatu Temple is the one temple many visitors travel to Bali to see. This gorgeous temple is renowned for its clifftop location and is dedicated to Sang Hyang Widhi Wasa, the Supreme God of Indonesian Hinduism, in his manifestation as Rudra, a Rigvedic deity known as the mightiest of the mighty.

If you’ve never heard anyone speak of a culture of deities in these terms, you’ll find learning about temples fascinating. If this is a topic that has long held your interest, seeing Uluwatu Temple with your own eyes is a fantastic opportunity that is sure to remain one of the best travel experiences of your life.

While you’ll definitely understand more about this temple upon visiting it, you can get excited in advance with a few fast facts about its history, layout and significance.

• The temple sits 230 feet above the ocean at the top of a cliff. Local folklore claims the cliff is the petrified barque, or wooden sailing ship, of the Balinese water goddess, Dewi Danu.
• There are two entrances to get inside the temple. One is from the north and the other is a hall from the south. A forest with many monkeys surrounds a path that leads up to the temple.
• The temple is an expansion of the original site. Starting in the 11th century, Javanese sages and pilgrims constructed additions. One of them is said to have obtained moksha or emancipated enlightenment inside the expanded temple.
• You are welcome to pray or meditate as you see fit within the temple or on the grounds. Many travelers like to visit early and then make their way to another location in order to take pictures or just gaze in admiration as the sun sets.

Temple monkeys

Macaques live all over the area surrounding Uluwatu Temple. These descendants of Old World monkeys can be a little bit cheeky, grabbing visitors’ belongings when unattended or even while you’re holding your things. They proceed to hold bags — or even phones — hostage until given fruit. This kind of behavior has been studied by primate experts in the area, who found the trade is taught to younger generations, simply because it works so well on humans. Remember at all times these are wild animals and watch valuable belongings closely.

Sad Kahyangan

Uluwatu Temple is considered one of the sad kahyangan or six sanctuaries of the world. The Balinese people believe these temples provide spiritual balance to the island as a whole and are just one example of the pervasiveness of spirituality on an island full of candles, floral offerings, prayer, blessings and other rituals.

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Watch a Kecak Dance in Uluwatu

At sunset at Uluwatu Temple, guests can see the kecak dances performed by locals who refined this art in the 1930s. The dances are based on the Ramayana, a Sanskrit epic, and is sometimes called the Ramayana monkey chant for its consistent chant of the percussive sound chak.

• The dance portrays the battle between the Vanaras, led by Hanuman, the monkey god, and the armies of the evil King Ravana.
• Inspired by exorcism dances and originally meant to induce trance, the kecak dances are performed by up to 150 men in checkered cloths tied at the waist and other key dancers dressed in ornate monkey costumes. Audience interaction may occur.
• To see the kecak performance at Uluwatu Temple, ensure you arrive well before sunset when the dances take place. These are popular attractions both for their authenticity and the chance to see the temple lit from behind by the drama of a sunset amid a crowd of high-energy travelers.

If you miss the dance the day you visit the temple, there are many other places throughout Bali to see kecak performances. Just ask your hotel concierge for assistance in reserving a time to attend one.

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