Perched on Bali’s dramatic southern cliffs, Uluwatu is a place where surf culture meets laid-back luxury. From breathtaking sunsets to ancient temples and hidden beaches, there really is something for everyone. Whether you’re chasing epic waves, soaking up the views, or hunting down the island’s best cafés, you’ll never run out of things to do in Uluwatu.
We stayed for a week during our latest trip to Bali and these are our favourite things we did during our stay in Uluwatu.
Spend The Day At A Beach Club
Uluwatu is famous for its luxury beach clubs, so you simply have to try at least one during your stay. We spent a day at Timbis Beach Club on Pandawa Beach — the perfect family-friendly spot for a relaxed day. You can step straight onto the soft white sand, swim in the turquoise water, or hunt for shells along the shore. The kids loved the infinity pool surrounded by sun loungers and the laid-back atmosphere.
My husband visited a very different beach club while we were there: El Kabron. Adults-only, and possibly one of the coolest places he’s ever been (his words), it sits on a cliff above Dreamland Beach — an incredible sunset spot. There’s live music, and the highlight was a violinist playing along to dance tunes as the sun sank behind him. He said I would have loved it (next time maybe)!
Visit Uluwatu Temple And Watch The Kecak Fire Dance
Uluwatu Temple is again set up high on top of a cliff and is another stunning place to watch the sunset. It is also the venue to go and watch a performance of the Kecak Fire Dance, one of Bali’s most iconic performances — a spellbinding mix of drama, rhythm, and firelight. It tells the story of the Ramayana through music, dance, and chanting. Dozens of men in traditional costumes sit in a circle, rhythmically chanting “cak-cak-cak” while dancers act out the battle between Prince Rama and the evil king Ravana. Flickering torches and bursts of flame create a magical sight in this sacred venue as the sun sets.
There are two shows each day (5:45pm and 7pm) but we would advise going to the first one. The sun sets during the performance making it even more special. You can buy tickets in advance but have to pay the entry fee to the temple 50K IDR for adults and 30K IDR for children on entry to the temple. Tickets to the fire dance do sell out so its wise to purchase a few days before you plan to go to avoid disappointment.
Beach Hop
The beaches in Uluwatu are some of the most stunning beaches in Bali. Each with its own personality and charm. They are often framed by impressive limestone cliffs, have crystal clear water and soft white sand. We sampled quite a few during our stay and they all had their own distinctive feel.
Thomas Beach is a long stretch of powdery white sand reached by a short walk and a climb down a steep set of stairs from the main road. When we first arrived, it was high tide, so there wasn’t much beach to sit on. However, there are plenty of little beach bars on stilts, so we sat and watched the waves crash below while sipping coconuts and admiring the surfers’ skill. On our next visit, we checked the tide times and were rewarded with a calm, relaxed atmosphere — sun loungers and umbrellas on the sand, and gentle waters perfect for our daughters to swim in.
Padang Padang Beach is a tiny little cove with a lot of personality. You climb down about 120 steps between the rocks to get to the beach and are greeted by a small but beautiful beach with limestone cliffs either side and a few stalls selling drinks and providing the tunes. It can get very crowded, but whenever we visited we manage to find a good spot and enjoyed the buzzing atmosphere. For more details see our Padang Padang Beach page.
In contrast, Pandawa Beach is a vast expanse of soft white sand stretching for about 1 km on the Bukit Peninsula. Thanks to its size, it never feels crowded, and the beautiful turquoise water is usually calm, making it great for swimming — unlike many other beaches in the area. We visited while spending the day at Timbis Beach Club and loved being able to stroll along the shore, seeing only a few other people — a rare experience in Bali.
Brunch At Milk & Madu
Milk & Madu doesn’t look like much from the outside, but it’s definitely worth a visit. Inside, it’s modern and spacious with an industrial-chic style. There’s an open kitchen, plenty of tables, and even a children’s play area — perfect for keeping little ones busy while you wait for your food.
The brunch selection is fantastic, offering something for everyone, from the ultra-healthy Super Brekky Bowl to the indulgent (and delicious) Madu Pancakes topped with cream, strawberries, meringue shards, and honeycomb.
We also loved Nourish, which serves great brunch dishes to eat in or have delivered to your Uluwatu accommodation. Their Morning Glory brioche bun — packed with bacon, eggs, avocado, hash brown, onion chutney, and spinach — was delicious!
Surf The Famous Breaks
Uluwatu is famous for its surf spots, the most iconic being Suluban Beach (also known as Uluwatu Beach). The waves here are often big and powerful, so you really need to be an experienced surfer to tackle them. Strong currents, sharp reefs, and tricky entry and exit points add to the challenge. As we’re not experienced surfers, we chose to watch from nearby restaurants like La Terrazza and Single Fin. We loved soaking up the atmosphere and marvelling at the surfers’ incredible skill.
If you are a beginner then head to Dreamland beach as it offers a variety of waves that can cater to surfers at different levels, depending on the conditions. It is also the only beach break with a sandy bottom in Uluwatu. Much more appealing to beginners who are worried about surfing at breaks with reefs beneath the waves.
Visit GWK Cultural Park
When we first arrived in Bali, we spotted the Garuda Wisnu Kencana statue from the plane window. It’s the fourth-tallest statue in the world (so it’s pretty hard to miss) and the centrepiece of the cultural park. We decided to visit the GWK Cultural Park on our last day in Bali, as it’s close to the airport and our flight wasn’t until the evening.
We booked our tickets in advance, but it isn’t essential — plenty of people were buying them on arrival. A ticket that includes all-day entry and the Barong performance costs IDR 200K, and children under 100 cm go free. You can also add a buggy shuttle service for an extra IDR 40K (definitely worth it, as the main statue is uphill).
From the car park, you take a bus to the entrance, then either walk through the park to the Garuda Wisnu Kencana statue or hop on the buggy shuttle. The statue is an impressive 122 m tall: a monument of the Hindu god Vishnu riding his mythical bird, Garuda, towering over the GWK Cultural Park. Completed in 2018, its copper-brass form with sweeping wings symbolises protection, courage, and harmony.
Inside the building there is an interesting exhibition showing traditional Balinese costumes and when we visited we got to have a go at playing the rindik, a bamboo xylophone often played at ceremonies. The park itself is beautiful and there are lots of other statues which you can admire as you wander back down to the entrance. You also have great views from the park’s elevated position.
It made a great end to our stay in Bali and has a huge gift shop perfect for purchasing those last few souvenirs or gifts to take home.
Although Uluwatu is fully geared up for tourists it feels less touristy than areas like Canggu or Kuta. Once a surfers’ hideaway, it now has a relaxed mix of locals, expats, and boutique villas. I loved Uluwatu’s vibe — everything is more spread out, but with cheap taxis and lighter traffic, it’s easy to get around. Whether you’re chasing waves, soaking up sunsets, or exploring hidden temples, Uluwatu offers the perfect balance of adventure and tranquillity.