South Bali – places like Seminyak, Canggu and Uluwatu – is where most first-time visitors to Bali end up. This is the Bali of world-class beach clubs, great restaurants, cool villas, surfing, sunset drinks and lazy days by the pool. It’s fun and very easy to have a good time here.
But it’s also busy, quite commercialised and not really the “old Bali” you might be imagining. Traffic can be bad, the beaches in places like Seminyak and Canggu are not the best, and in some areas it can feel more like a very warm version of Sydney or Los Angeles than a remote Indonesian island.
So is South Bali worth visiting? Yes, the beach clubs are arguably the best in the world and justify a visit on their own. But if you want the real Bali vibe, mix it up:
- South Bali – beach clubs, restaurants, villas, surfing
- Ubud – jungle, temples, rice terraces, culture (and see the entry for Bali – in and around Ubud for tips)
- North Bali – waterfalls, diving, quiet, “old Bali” feel (Northern Bali – Pemuteran, Lovina, Waterfalls & Diving)
