Where to stay in Bali: an area guide
Canggu, Pererenan, Seminyak, Uluwatu, Ubud, Sanur and Cemagi: how Bali’s areas differ and where to rent a villa for the trip you have in mind.
Bali is a small island, yet each of its areas moves at a different pace. One is all surf and beach clubs until late, another is jungle quiet and sunrise yoga. Traffic is heavy, too: getting from one area to another can easily take an hour or more. So it pays to choose a villa not by the photos, but by how you want to spend your days.
Here is a short guide to the areas where our guests stay most often.
Canggu: surf, cafés and beach clubs
The liveliest stretch of the west coast. Long beaches with surfable waves, coffee shops, restaurants and beach clubs: Finns and Atlas in Berawa, La Brisa by Echo Beach. Right for anyone who wants the buzz a couple of minutes from the villa.
The one drawback is dense traffic on narrow lanes, especially in the evening. If you’d rather not spend your holiday behind the wheel, it is easier to get around with a chauffeur.
Pererenan: Canggu, only calmer
The neighbouring area: Canggu’s cafés and beaches are close by, yet there are more rice fields and less noise. People move here when Canggu feels too busy. A good pick for a family or a group that wants both quiet and restaurants nearby.
Seminyak: restaurants and boutiques
A more urban, established area: restaurants, boutiques, spas, sunset bars on the beach and Potato Head. It is a convenient base for exploring the whole south of the island. Suits those who value service and a wide choice of restaurants within walking distance.
Uluwatu and the Bukit: cliffs and sunsets
The Bukit peninsula in the south is all clifftops above the ocean, turquoise beaches at the foot of the rocks and arguably the island’s best sunsets. Expect villas with sweeping views, the cliff clubs Savaya and Sundays Beach Club, and the Kecak fire dance at Uluwatu Temple at sunset.
The area for those who put the view and privacy first. Bear in mind that Canggu and Ubud are a long drive away, so plan longer trips ahead.
Ubud: jungle and rice terraces
Bali’s cultural heart, inland: jungle, rice terraces, temples, yoga studios and retreats. There is no sea, but there are villas overlooking the valleys with pools that seem to hang above the jungle. Ideal for a slow, restorative stay or the first days of a trip.
Sanur: a calm sea, easy with children
On the east coast a reef shelters the shore from big waves, so the sea here is calm. A seafront path runs along the beach for walks and cycling. A quiet, family-friendly area, and the place where boats leave for Nusa Penida and Lembongan.
Cemagi: a quiet coast and beachfront villas
The west coast beyond Pererenan: black volcanic sand, a powerful ocean and villas right on the beach. Tanah Lot temple is nearby. For those who want a true beachfront and seclusion without giving up Canggu’s restaurants.
How to choose
- Surf and nightlife: Canggu, or Pererenan for quiet next door.
- Restaurants and service: Seminyak.
- Ocean views and sunsets: Uluwatu and the Bukit.
- Nature and a reset: Ubud.
- Travelling with young children: Sanur.
- A villa right by the water: Cemagi.
Many guests combine two areas: a few nights in Ubud, then a villa by the ocean. That way you see both sides of Bali, the jungle and the coast.
The Luxury Bali catalogue has more than 100 villas across all of these areas. Send us your dates, the number of guests and the area you like, and your concierge will pick villas that fit.
