How to spend 3 days in Uluwatu (according to me)
If you’re planning to spend 3 days in Uluwatu then you’ve made a good choice. You can find Uluwatu on the Bukit Peninsula of Bali, on the south-western side. Uluwatu is known for surfing, sunsets, and laid back cafes. It is one of the Bali-est places you’ll find in Bali and is popular with nomads and tourists alike due to its villas and easy access from the airport.
Please note (and I cannot stress this enough) – Uluwatu is mostly surf beaches so please be careful around the water. Waves can be dangerous and pull you out, so if you are not a confident, experienced swimmer I do not recommend going into the water.
What you will find here
This post will tell you all about how I spent 3 days in Uluwatu. This is my personal experience and only includes the honorable mentions that I think are worth considering for your very short time on the coast. I don’t want to waste your time with nonsense! If you are planning to visit other parts of Bali, I have lots of Bali guides for you.
Day 1:
Padang Padang Beach
This is probably the best beach in Uluwatu for swimming and because of that, it is always packed! There are often stalls here too hustling due to the high number of tourists. You usually have to pay to enter, as well.
Padang Padang Shops
Up from Padang Padang Shops on Jl. Labuansait you’ll find all the cutest cars, restaurants, and bars. This is my favourite part of Uluwatu for grabbing a coffee or some food because there are so many awesome vegan options!
Make sure you visit:
- Alchemy Uluwatu
- Gelato Factory Uluwatu
- NOURISH CAFE ULUWATU
- Drifter Acai Bowls & Vegan Gelato
- Joy Cafe and Bakery Uluwatu
Impossible Beach (Pantai Pemutih)
Personally, this is my favourite beach for sunset. It is less popular than the other beaches on this list and therefore a lot more quiet and secluded. When we went there for sunset, there were only a few other groups of people there. It is a much smaller beach, and again it is not great for swimming as it is mostly rocky and caves which can be dangerous. But the colours! The views! Spectacular.
Day 2:
oneeighty Dayclub
If you’re going the south, I highly recommend taking a day to go to the oneeighty Dayclub. Oneeighty is part of The Edge Villa Resort in Pecatu, Uluwatu which is located next to Bvlgari Hotel and about a 15 minute drive from Uluwatu Temple (depending on traffic). It is famous for its glass-bottom sky pool, and you can spend a good part of the day here relaxing by the pool in a cabana with a cocktail.
Nyang Nyang Beach
Nyang Nyang Beach is more of a hidden gem than the other beaches in Uluwatu. It has far more space and cleaner sand, and a road that leads down but it is still super steep so if you have trouble walking downhill like me it might be a bit of a struggle. Like most of Uluwatu beaches, it still isn’t great for swimming as Uluwatu is really for surfing only.
Uluwatu Temple
Uluwatu Temple is probably the most iconic and popular tourist destination in Bali. If you haven’t been, I would recommend it if you’re going past it by car/taxi or scooter around sunset just to have a peak. However, I think that if you’re not that interested and have already seen some of the lesser known temples, then I wouldn’t go because it really is a tourist trap situation where a location has become too hyped and now it is just full of tour buses and people trying to sell you something.
Day 3:
Uluwatu Beach
Uluwatu Beach is probably the most famous and popular part of Uluwatu, so it can get really busy. It is probably also the most dirty part, due to the numbers of visitors. Here you’ll find the popular Suluban Beach and Single Fin beach club and bar which are both popular spots for admiring the sunset and hanging out. Keep in mind this area has lots of uneven steps (it took me FOREVER to find the right paths) and it is not great for swimming due to the waves, caves, and rocky ground, but it is excellent for surfing. Inland, you can find a street with lots of cute cafes and bars popular with digital nomads.
Make sure you visit:
- Single Fin Bali (beach club and bar)
- Suluban Beach (popular beach)
- Ulu Garden (cute cafe)
What are the best hotels to stay in when visiting in Uluwatu?
Use the interactive map below to find all the accommodations available: (I stayed at Radisson Blu Bali Uluwatu which I also wrote a review about!)
Best places to book your trip
Did you love this post? By booking through these links, you can support me at no additional cost for you. Your support helps me write honest guides and helpful posts!
🖤 Book a hotel with Booking.com (this is my favourite website to book hotels)
🖤 Get an e-sim for your trip with Airalo
🖤 Book experiences with Viator.com
🖤 Book experiences with GetYourGuide.com
🖤 Book a car with Rentalcars.com
🖤 Book lounge access for your airport with Priority Pass (I’m an airport lounge girlie)
VERDICT
Is it worth visiting Uluwatu?
Personally I think Uluwatu is one of the nicest parts of Bali. If you’re visiting Bali, you’ll definitely want to spend 3 days in Uluwatu – at the least! Uluwatu is quieter than the north-western towns like Seminyak and Canggu but still offers all the amenities you might need like cute cafes and restaurants. I’ve been to Uluwatu a few times now and will always make sure to spend a few days there when I return to Bali.
Thanks for reading!
I’d love to hear your thoughts. If you’re on Instagram, you can find me over here: @apicturesquelife or youtube: @apicturesquelife and I’d be happy to connect!
xoxo,
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