What You Need to Know Before You Go

Sanur Beach is a former fishing village that still has a relaxed coastal ambience. It’s on the eastern side of the island's isthmus and is the opposite of Kuta, both in location and characteristics. It has managed to cling on to its charm and a wealth of arts and culture, making it a great place to enjoy both classic and contemporary attractions.

Sanur was the first area of Bali to be developed for tourism and contains some of the islands first hotels and beachfront retreats, together with an eclectic mix of restaurants, shops and bars. It’s not a place that lives in the past, though, as you’ll also find an assortment of innovative and modern entertainment venues.

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What is Sanur Most Famous For?

Some of the best things to do in Sanur appeal to those looking to learn about Bali's unique culture and natural landscape. Historical landmarks include the Le Mayeur Museum, the ancient and mysterious Blanjong inscription, and even a ‘ghost town' that only the brave should enter.

Sanur Beach was one of the first resort areas in Bali, though it remains rich in history and maintains a laidback ambience. It's made up of several beaches that are relatively quiet when compared to the likes of Kuta or Legian. Sanur's expansive coastline is shared by some of the island's oldest hotels and boutique resorts.

Sanur beaches

The coastline of Sanur spans around 8 km from north to south, between the coastal border of the Gianyar regency and southern Denpasar's mangrove forest. You'll enjoy several notable Sanur beaches that are connected by a paved footpath. The walkway provides a nice jogging track and scenic cycling routes.

Starting from the southern end, Sanur beaches include Mertasari Beach, Semawang Beach, Pantai Karang (Reef Beach), Segara Ayu Beach, and Sindhu Beach. The footpath ends at Grand Bali Beach, one of the most popular coasts on the island.

Location: Sanur, Pantai Sanur, Bali, Indonesia

Bali Seawalker

Bali Seawalker, as the name implies, lets you walk underwater to view beautiful reefs and the tropical marine life that live on them. Their pontoon is anchored 5 minutes offshore, from where you go below the waves on a ladder while wearing a specially designed helmet.

You can easily explore the bottom of the ocean on foot for about 30 minutes, with certified and experienced guides overseeing the activity from above and below. Bali Seawalker can be enjoyed by children aged 10 and up, and no diving experience or swimming skills are necessary.

Location: Puri Santrian Hotel, Jalan Cemara No.35, Semawang, Sanur, Bali 80228, Indonesia

Open: Daily from 10am to 8pm

Phone: +62 (0)813 3739 9432

Le Mayeur Museum

Le Mayeur Museum is right on the main Sanur Beach of Sindhum, behind a row of art and souvenir stalls. This memorial museum mainly houses the artworks and personal history of painter Adrien-Jean Le Mayeur de Merpres, a Brussels-born artist who was impressed by Bali and the shores of Sanur.

His wife and muse was Legong dancer Ni Pollok. She is prominently featured in his oil paintings. The main building features the former living quarters of the couple, with classical Balinese elements, sculpted stone walls and red terrazzo floor tiles. Carved wood dominates the furnishings, and window sills feature motifs inspired by wayang (shadow puppet) characters.

Location: Jalan Hang Tuah, Sanur Kaja, Denpasar Selatan, Kota Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia

Open: Fridays from 8.30am to 12.30pm, Saturday–Thursday from 8.30am to 3.30pm

Phone: +62 (0)361 286 201

Bali Sharks

Bali Sharks is a private nature conservation initiative with a mission to save black tip and white tip reef sharks in Indonesia. Also known as the Serangan Shark Island Project, it also offers environmentally-friendly tours of its pontoon nursery located east of Serangan Island.

The conservation centre collaborated with the local Kelompok Nelayan Serangan fishermen's group to build this nursery, which has over a dozen pups. The tours let you swim and snorkel with these young sharks, visit a turtle hatchery and a marine garden aquarium. Meals and refreshments are provided as well.

Location: Jalan Tukad Punggawa No.25, Serangan, Denpasar Selatan, Kota Denpasar, Bali 80229, Indonesia

Open: Daily from 8am to 4pm

Phone: +62 (0)858 5732 0471

Blanjong Temple

Blanjong Temple displays one of Bali's oldest known artefacts, which dates back to AD914. It's a stone pillar with Sanskrit inscriptions, and is believed to be some sort of victory monument, chiefly of King Sri Kesari Warmadewa. The first king of the Balinese Warmadewa dynasty. He was believed to have installed Bali's first formal government.

Blanjong Temple also showcases sandstone statues of Hindu lord Ganesh and various animal figures. The temple is a national cultural heritage site and welcomes visitors year-round.

Location: Jalan Danau Poso, Sanur, Denpasar, Bali 80228, Indonesia

Bali Kites Festival

The annual Bali Kites Festival takes place at Padanggalak Beach, located on the northern end of Sanur. It's one of Bali's major provincial calendar highlights, preceding the Bali Arts Festival. On this day, you'll see thousands of traditional kite troupes and youth groups transporting their gigantic kites to the beach using large trucks. The kites usually have wingspans ranging between 5 and 10 metres.

Bring your camera to take photos of the sky speckled with hundreds of colourful kites, though the process of take-off and landing are just as exciting, with the troupes manoeuvring in their droves. The Bali Kites Festival is usually held during the windy season, between July and August. Confirmed dates follow favourable weather conditions in Bali.

Location: Pantai Padang Galak, Denpasar Selatan, Kota Denpasar, Bali 80223, Indonesia

Bali cruises

Sanur, Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Penida, are some of Bali’s premier sailing points. Many cruises depart from Sanur, stopping on a pontoon at Lembongan Bay for water activities and a village outing, and end at Benoa Harbour by dusk. The floating dock has waterslides, a swimming pool, an underwater viewing chamber, glass-bottomed boats, banana boats, canoes and snorkelling equipment. Meals usually consist of an international buffet spread, with a live band playing at the background.

Diving in Sanur

The waters surrounding Sanur are considerably colder than Kuta, but are host to hundreds of species of fish, sea urchins, crustaceans, and coral reefs. The beach can be your starting point for discovering Bali’s underwater landscape through scuba-diving. The Bali International Diving Professionals offer twice-daily diving trips to the Nusa Islands, led by PADI-certified instructors. Other notable centres along Sanur Beach include Bali Marine Diving (BMD), Joe's Gone Diving Bali, and Crystal Divers.

Kitesurfing

Kitesurfing is one of the most popular water sports in Sanur, with dozens of rental shops lining the coast. The sport is a combination of parasailing, wakeboarding, and water-skiing, uses a large kite to tow the wakeboard instead of a boat. Most of the time, you’ll see kitesurfers at Kite Beach as this is where some of Sanur’s best surf schools – like Rip Curl School of Surf – are located.

Surfing and windsurfing in Sanur Beach

Keramas Beach in Sanur attracts surfers with its opposing twin swells that reach an uneven lava reef. The black-sand beach lies on Bali’s eastern coast in Gianyar, facing Nusa Lembongan. The waves are mostly fast right-handers and average up to 1.5 metres. To surf in Sanur, you’ll require a boat or face a long paddle to cover the 500-metre distance between the shore and the curly barrels.

Windsurfing is more popular than surfing in Sanur. The beach enjoys steady winds and constant currents year-round, though the best time to enjoy this sport is during the dry season. For professionals, the wind at Serangan Island is always a few knots stronger than other spots on the island, while the reef breaks serving as ramp waves make for impressive stunts.

Bali Beach Golf Course

Bali Beach Golf Course at Inna Grand Bali Beach Hotel is one of Bali’s smallest golf courses, offering 9- and 18-hole courses with a private country club atmosphere. A round of golf can be quite challenging, thanks to its small acreage and greens surrounded by ponds, fountains, crisscrossing garden bridges, and pine trees. The golf centre has a night driving range on the 2nd floor and an event venue on the 1st. Onsite facilities include a pro shop, meeting rooms, and a restaurant overlooking the greens.

Location: Inna Grand Bali Beach Hotel, Jalan Hang Tuah No.58, Sanur Kaja, Denpasar Selatan, Kota Denpasar, Bali 80226, Indonesia

Open: Daily from 6am to 6pm (hours vary by course)

Phone: +62 (0)361 287 733

Mertasari Beach

Mertasari Beach can be found in the southern part of Sanur Village. The beach is geared more towards local activities, such as fishing and boating, but there are touristy activities to enjoy as well. The beach is quite popular among windsurfers and kitesurfers and there's a vast, flat field that serves as a take-off and landing spot for paramotoring and paragliding. Mertasari Beach is also close to Sanur’s historical landmarks like the Bali Museum, Jagatnatha Temple, Werdhi Budaya Art Centre, and the Bajra Sandhi Monument.

Location: Pantai Mertasari, Sanur, Denpasar Selatan, Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia

Pantai Karang Beach

Pantai Karang is a small and secluded beach in Sanur, about 1 km south of Sindhu Beach. Swimming, playing, and sea kayaking are some of the best things to do here, thanks to its relatively calm waters. There are inexpensive gear rental operations at Pantai Karang Beach, many of which don’t impose a time limit. Part of the beach has tree-shaded spots where you can enjoy sunbathing, yoga, and picnics year-round.

Location: Jalan Pantai Karang, Sanur, Denpasar Selatan, Kota Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia

Pantai Matahari Terbit Beach

Pantai Matahari Terbit Beach is a 500-metre strip on the northern end of Sanur, about 2 km north of Padang Galak Beach. Its name means 'Sunrise Beach' in Indonesian. The beach may lack a sandy shoreline, due to wave breakers and a beach footpath bordering the waves, but it’s popular among locals looking to catch the sunrise in Sanur. You’ll find a small cluster of warungs (local food stalls) lining a small part of Pantai Matahari Terbit.

Location: Jalan Pantai Matahari Terbit, Sanur, Denpasar Selatan, Kota Denpasar, Bali 80237, Indonesia

Pantai Segara Ayu Beach in Bali

Pantai Segara Ayu is one of Sanur’s centrally located beaches. It has a stretch of clean and white sand that’s maintained by Inna Grand Bali Beach Hotel and beach restaurants along the coastline. The beach is popular for its broad sands and calm waves, where you can enjoy recreational activities and excursions to the Nusa and Gili Islands. There are plenty of dining and shopping options along a beachfront pathway, which connects Pantai Segara Ayu with neighbouring Sanur beaches.

Location: Jalan Segara Ayu, Sanur, Denpasar Selatan, Kota Denpasar, Bali 80227, Indonesia

Pantai Semawang Beach in Bali

Pantai Semawang Beach is one of the small coastal areas along the Sanur coastline. The beach connects seamlessly with Cemara Beach to its south and both offer impressive sea views. The waves are calm enough for swimming and snorkelling on Pantai Semawang Beach.

There’s an artificial wave breaker with a Balinese gazebo at its end, where you can rest and enjoy the coastal view. The early morning seascape is especially beautiful, with the silhouettes of Nusa Penida and Mount Agung in the background.

Location: Pantai Semawang, Jalan Setapak, Kota Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia

Sindhu Beach

Sindhu Beach has a wide sand bed and moderate winds, making it popular for both leisurely and challenging sports in Bali. Snorkelling, canoeing, and kitesurfing are some of the best things to do if you want to stay active during your holiday.

Local art shops and warungs (food stalls) line the roadsides and Sindhu’s footpath, and you can easily rent a bike to explore the rest of Sanur. On clear days, you can take in the sweeping seascape, with Mount Agung and the outlines of Nusa Penida Island on the horizon.

Location: Pantai Sindhu, Sanur, Denpasar Selatan, Denpasar City, Bali, Indonesia

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Where to Eat in Sanur

The best restaurants in Sanur generally have an atmosphere that follows the laidback nature of this quiet coastal village. Most of these dining venues are on the beachfront, offering views of the beach and the Indian Ocean, as well as along Sanur's main road, Jalan Danau Tamblingan.

As Sanur is one of the main beach resort areas in Bali, there are plenty of high-end resorts with award-winning restaurants here. You can enjoy authentic Balinese, European, and Asian cuisine, along with an extensive drinks list. Live music and traditional performances often take place in the evenings, while family-friendly activities are part of most weekend brunches. Check out our guide to where to eat in Sanur with its mix of fine-dining venues, casual cafes, and unique restaurants that children will also enjoy.

The Village Cucina Italiana

The Village Cucina Italiana is one of the best places to enjoy authentic Italian cuisine in Sanur. Homemade pasta and pizzas are among the restaurant's most popular offerings. For breakfast, you can opt for the prix-fixe menu (2- or 3-course), which has beef carpaccio, seared snapper with green risotto, and crepes.

Dessert options at The Village Cucina Italiana include homemade gelato, panna cotta, and tiramisu. Live music, either by a pianist or resident DJs, accompanies your meal throughout the day.

Location: Jalan Danau Tamblingan No.47, Sanur, Bali 80228, Indonesia

Open: Daily from 8am to 11pm

Phone: +62 (0)361 285 025

Charming Resto Sanur

The cuisine at Charming Resto Sanur has a French influence, with Asian and European selections. You get to dine in a subtly-lit layout that combines joglo (traditional Javanese house) with wantilan (Balinese pavilion). Dining alfresco is also an option, as the restaurant's lush gardens provide a relaxed dining atmosphere.

A must-try is the rijstaffel option, which presents you with 10 Indonesian specialities, soups, mains and desserts. Charming Resto Sanur is only open for dinner, so advanced booking is recommended.

Location: Jalan Danau Tamblingan No.97, Sanur, Bali 80228, Indonesia

Open: Daily from 5pm to 11pm

Phone: +62 (0)361 288 029

Ristorante Massimo Bali

Ristorante Massimo Bali has been serving classic Italian cuisine since 1996, with Chef Massimo Sacco occasionally delivering personalised services for his customers. Must-tries include the oven-baked Avellinesi pasta with seafood in tomato sauce and risotto with parmesan and mozzarella cheese.

There’s also a gluten-free menu for those with food sensitivity. Ristorante Massimo Bali is also famous for its homemade gelato, considered one of the best in Bali. Its wine cellar stocks a wide selection of Italian wines for pairings.

Location: Jalan Danau Tamblingan No.228, Sanur, Bali 80237, Indonesia

Open: Daily from 11am to 10.45pm

Phone: +62 (0)361 288 942

Byrdhouse Beach Club at Segara Village Hotel

Byrdhouse Beach Club at Segara Village Hotel has 3 restaurants and 2 bars, as well as family-friendly activities on the beach. Kids can have fun at the club’s dedicated playground and kids’ corner, while parents can sit back and relax on the beachfront.

Live bands and cultural dance performances often accompany your seaside seafood barbecue dinners here. Byrdhouse Beach Club also regularly organises face painting, crafts making activities, and free buffets for kids.

Location: Jalan Segara Ayu No.8, Sanur, Bali 80227, Indonesia

Open: Daily from 6.30am to midnight

Phone: +62 (0)361 288 407

Basilico Italian Pavilion at Prama Sanur Beach Hotel Bali

Basilico Italian Pavilion at Prama Sanur Beach Hotel Bali serves authentic Italian cuisine with views of Sanur Beach in Bali. It has an opulent dining pavilion on the beachfront, with an extensive menu of wood-fired pizzas, pasta and seafood dishes.

Basilica’s Alfresco Sunday Brunch takes place from 12pm to 3pm, when you get to enjoy dishes like sautéed blue river prawns, cheesy pizza, and tiramisu. Kids under 12 years old get to enjoy free meals and access to the hotel’s splash pool and beach.

Location: Jalan Danau Tamblingan, Prama Sanur Beach, Sanur, Bali, Indonesia

Open: Daily from 11am to 11pm

Phone: +62 (0)361 281 805

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Best Shopping Experiences in Sanur

Shopping in Sanur is a laidback and easy-going affair, much in line with the general character of this quiet beach resort area. While the number of hotels and restaurants in Sanur overshadow the shops and boutiques that line its major streets, there are a select number of locations offering arts and crafts, fashion items and curios to take back home as a personal memento or souvenir.

While not offering an ample selection of shops when compared to Bali’s other resort destinations such as Ubud or Seminyak, Sanur still has its own bargains for you to discover. Your Sanur hotel or resort may host its own art gallery or boutique, but you can always venture out along Jalan Danau Tamblingan, or right on the main beach footpath toward Sanur Beach’s colourful art markets.

Jalan Danau Tamblingan Shopping Street

Jalan Danau Tamblingan is Sanur’s main street and runs north-south parallel to the eastern coastline. The 2.5-km length is lined with various brand boutiques and locally run art shops. Between this street and the beach are some of the main hotels and villa resorts of the area.

A convenient footpath provides a leisure walk right out of your hotel, and within walking distance is the traditional Pasar Senggol – the local food market. The art shops mostly sell typical art and handicraft items of varying prices and quality. Some even feature fixed prices to save visitors the usual haggling. Side streets branching off from Tamblingan also feature ‘hidden’ shops that might just have the knick-knack you are looking for.

Location: Jalan Danau Tamblingan, Sanur, Denpasar, Bali 80228, Indonesia

Sindhu Beach Art Market

The Sindhu Beach Art Market is a collection of small different art and souvenir shops at the northern end of the Jalan Segara Ayu beach path. It starts from the namesake street of Jalan Pantai Sindhu and goes for about 400 metres south. The market area is less crowded when compared to those in the other beach resort areas in Bali.

It’s a small complex of shops that each offers a wide variety of clothing, sarongs, jewellery, woodcarvings and other handicrafts. There’s plenty to browse through and barter for, and there’s even a tailor here, too.

Location: Jalan Pantai Sindhu, Sanur, Bali 80228, Indonesia

Hardy’s Supermarket Sanur

Hardy’s is the largest supermarket in Sanur and is a great shopping option for groceries and daily necessities. There’s just about a bit of everything inside, from clothing, fruits, vegetables, meats, and bread to a medicine counter, alcoholic beverages, a bookshop, souvenirs, DVDs… you name it.

Frequented by locals and visitors, Hardy’s is the go-to, fixed-prices shopping place in Sanur for all your basic needs, as well as a quick stopover for snacks and drinks at local prices.

Location: Jalan Danau Tamblingan No.136, Sanur, Bali 80228, Indonesia

Open: Sunday–Friday from 8am to 10pm, Saturdays from 8am to 10.30pm

Phone: +62 (0)361 281915

Atlas South Sea Pearl

Atlas South Sea Pearl is one of the notable pearl producers and jewellers of white and golden cultured pearls in Bali. With one of its pearl farms in the coastal village of Penyambangan in North Bali, where it also offers eco-tours to see its natural and environmentally friendly pearl husbandry, Atlas South Sea Pearl focuses on specifics type of pearl – namely, white, silver, and south sea gold.

The company has several outlets in Bali, and one of their premier stores is right on the Ngurah Rai bypass in Sanur. Here, you can admire the vast collection of pearl jewellery crafted by an international team of designers who combine the pearls with 18-carat gold and sterling silver, together with mother-of-pearl and a variety of shells. Each purchase comes with an authenticity certificate.

Location: Jalan Bypass Ngurah Rai No.49, Sanur, Bali 80227, Indonesia

Open: Daily from 9am to 9pm

Phone: +62 (0)361 284455

Nogo Bali Ikat Center

Nogo Bali is one of the island-based companies that focuses on a Balinese heritage textile that is exotic, elegant and versatile. Among its collection are fine hand-woven fabrics, as well as jewellery pieces, together with rare and antique samples that it keeps in a private collection. Fashion items in various colours and motifs, as well as bits and pieces that are ideal for home décor, are on display.

Nogo incorporates premium materials to produce the finest textiles with deep, vibrant colours that it claims will last for years. They make great exotic gifts and souvenirs, and with regular sale items on offer, you can always find a bargain treasure among its selections.

Location: Jalan Danau Tamblingan No.104, Sanur, Bali 80228, Indonesia

Open: Monday–Saturday from 9am to 9.30pm, Sundays from 9am to 8pm

Phone: +62 (0)361 288765

A-Krea Sanur

A-Krea is a little boutique on the main Sanur street that houses vast displays of artisanal products that are original and elegant. You can find items from traditional batiks that create chic living room backdrops or table runners to bamboo vases dyed in rich colours. Interior décor items are inspirational and unique.

Besides homeware, A-Krea also presents fashion items and accessories that follow in its unique patterns and motifs. There’s a large collection of printed textiles and woven bags and baskets in various shapes and sizes, and items made from seashells. Smaller items such as leather wallets and frames work great for gifts or simple things to bring back home.

Location: Jalan Danau Tamblingan No.51, Sanur, Bali 80228, Indonesia

Open: Daily from 9am to 9pm

Phone: +62 (0)361 286101

Carlo Showroom

Carlo Showroom is one of the longstanding interior design firms and boutiques located on Jalan Danau Poso. It showcases the innovative home décor items of Carlo Pessina, an Italian designer and long-time Sanur resident. The showroom features the unconventional design alternatives of furniture, particularly in the use of exotic tropical materials, from bamboo, seashells and coconut. Some in the collection feature the unique use of the latter material as finishing for the designs, while others incorporate more innovative and exotic varieties.

There are beds, cabinets, credenzas, chairs, and even smaller décor items that you could purchase to take home, such as bowls, boxes, ice buckets, lamps, trays and photo frames.

Location: Jalan Danau Poso No.22, Sanur, Bali 80228, Indonesia

Open: Monday–Friday from 9am to 6pm, Saturdays from 10am to 5pm (closed on Sundays)

Phone: +62 (0)361 285211