Where to stay in Canggu
Canggu is one of the best places to stay in Bali because of its convenient location halfway between Ubud and Uluwatu. I’ve been to this Bali three times so far, and each time I’ve made this my home base. You can find hotels of all kinds in Canggu. I’m confident you’ll discover the kind of hotel you’re looking for.
We stayed at Asung Guesthouse on our first and second visits, which is a very budget-friendly hotel in the Canggu area. It’s a villa with individual rooms. In addition to your personal bedroom and bathroom, you will have access to communal areas, including the garden, pool, and kitchens. I also wanted to emphasize how welcoming the staff was.
On my third trip to Bali, I rented a private villa for several months and had a wonderful stay. The name of the place is Umah CinCin. Our villa had a spacious bathroom, bedroom area, living room, kitchen and a small garden with a private pool. It was in a very quiet area.
Lastly, if you are looking to treat yourself, I recommend staying in Own Villa Bali. We stayed here for two nights on our second trip to Bali and couldn’t have liked it more.
Here are other hotel recommendations in Canggu:
- The Uma Guesthouse ($)
- Maylie Bali Bungalows ($$).
- Kano Canggu ($$$).
- Mayana Villas ($$$$).
Things to do in Canggu, Bali
Do you want to know what are the best things to do in and around Canggu? Let’s begin!
1. Tanah Lot Temple
The Tanah Lot Temple is possibly the most important place to visit in the surroundings of Canggu, apart from being one of the essential things to see in Bali. It stands out for being located on a small islet, therefore, when the tide is high, it is completely surrounded by sea water. However, when the tide is low, it is possible to approach the temple by land.
The most popular time to visit the Pura Tanah Lot is at sunset. During this time of day it looks more beautiful, I warn you that there will be a lot of people. If you prefer to avoiding large crowds, I recommend going at dawn, when you will also find a beautiful scenery. Near this temple, in the same complex, you can also visit the Batu Bolong Temple.
If you want to know the history of this temple and everything that revolves around it, be sure to book this guided tour of the Tanah Lot at sunset. The tour is in English.
- Tanah Lot Entrance Fee: 60.000 IDR.
- Schedule Tanah Lot: 7:00h – 19:00h.
2. Surf in Batu Bolong, Canggu (Bali)
If you go to any beach in Canggu, you will see a lot of people surfing. The waves are perfect for beginners or intermediate level surfers. One of the most popular beaches to practice this sport is Batu Bolong. It will be very easy for you to find a surf school where you can rent a board located right on the beach. If you prefer, you can book this 2-hour surf lesson in advance.
3. Watch the sunset at Echo Beach
Any beach on the Canggu coast is great for watching the sunset. However, my favorite and the one I highly recommend is Echo Beach. On this beach you will find many bars with deckchairs in the sand, ideal for sitting down, ordering something to drink or eat, and enjoying the beautiful views of the sea at sunset. By the way, be sure to try the spicy roasted corn on the cob from the mobile stalls.
You can also take the opportunity to bathe, although if you prefer to stay dry, you can entertain yourself watching others surf or taking a walk along the shore. Going to Echo Beach to watch the sunset is, in my opinion, one of the best things to do in Canggu. I have lost count of the times I have gone!
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4. La Brisa Sunday Market, one of the best things to do in Canggu
One of the coolest beach clubs in Bali is also located at Echo Beach. I’m talking about La Brisa, a great place to go at any time. However, on Sunday mornings, La Brisa Sunday Market takes place, a market where they sell all kinds of local handmade products. You will find clothes, accessories, soaps, creams, ceramic tableware, dog collars, traditional drinks, etc.
I highly recommend going to the market, since it is an ideal place to take a souvenir from Bali or to buy a gift. In addition, the aesthetics and decoration of La Brisa is very cool. Don’t forget to visit!
5. Lyma Beach, previously called Nate’s Bar
Another place I recommend to watch the sunset if you are in Canggu (Bali) is Lyma Beach. This is an outdoor bar built on a small green hill located between Pererenan and Munggu beach. On the grass, there are armchairs of different colors, perfect for sitting and enjoying the views. There is usually live music, and the vibe is always very cool.
6. Pasut Beach, a black sand beach on the outskirts of Canggu
Pasut Beach is a local beach located just over 20 km west of Canggu. I highly recommend it if you want to enjoy a quieter sunset and feel a more local atmosphere. Something that attracts some tourists to Pasut Beach is the location of a bent palm tree trunk facing the sea, as it is a good place to take photos. You will also find a swing between palm trees.
7. Old Man’s, one of the best bars in Canggu
The quintessential place to party in Canggu is Old Man’s. This is an open-air bar, restaurant and nightclub facing Batu Bolong beach. If the night comes and you feel like dancing and enjoying a lively atmosphere, it is a very good place to go out. If you don’t like partying so much, I recommend you go for a drink at sunset.
- Old Man’s Canggu Schedule: 8:00h – 1:00h.
8. Playa Nyanyi, near Canggu (Bali)
Pantai Nyany is one of the beaches that I discovered during my last visit to Bali. It is located just over 10 km from the center of Canggu. It is a very long black sand beach, perfect for walking and enjoying a calmer atmosphere. If you go to the final stretch of the beach, you will find small cliffs with black walls. If the tide is low, from here, you can cross to the next beach.
9. Walk on the rice paddies, one of the best things to do in Canggu
In Canggu, there are no rice terraces as famous as Tegalalang or Jatiluwih; however, it does not mean that it is not possible to see rice fields. Quite the opposite! You only need to get away a bit from the main streets to find spectacular landscapes.
After living in Canggu for several months, I discovered beautiful trails to walk through rice paddies. Here are two of my favorites. Understand that these are places where farmers work every morning, so remember not to interrupt their path.
- Jogging Track Subak Uma Desa.
- Selingsing Jogging Track.
10. Alternative Beach
If you are one of those who does not really like bathing in salt water, I have a perfect plan for you! I recommend you go to Alternative Beach, a day club with a very beachy atmosphere where you can bathe in huge pools while you enjoy calm music and something to drink or eat. They also often host events, like movie nights or pool parties.
- Schedule Alternative Beach: 10:00h – 19:00h.
- Entrance Fee Alternative Beach: from 100.000 IDR.
11. Go shopping in Canggu, Bali
Canggu is also a haven for shoppers. You can find both local markets and boutiques selling fashionable clothing from Indonesia or Australia. You can buy items at extremely reasonable prices at the markets; however, brand name stores offer the same prices as stores in the United States. Even so, it is still worthwhile to shop in Canggu because the style is different from what you may be use to.
Take a look at the following stores:
- Canggu Love Anchor Store
- Blood + Bone.
- Bamboo Blonde.
- Luna & Rose.
- Palma Australia.
12. Tamora Gallery, a great place to visit with children
Tamora Gallery is a recreational center located in Berawa and designed for all members of the family. In it you will find several clothing stores, a playground, a music school, a skate park, an art center, beauty salons, food stalls, a coworking space and even a nightclub called Vault. As you can see, it has it all! It is a good place to go if you are traveling to Bali with children.
- Schedule Tamora Gallery: 8:00h – 10:00h.
13. Go for a morning walk at the beach, one of the best things to do in Canggu
One of my favorite and simplest plans in Canggu (Bali) is to take a walk on the beach first thing in the morning. At this time of day, the atmosphere is very calm, although I assure you that you will come across many people who have also gone out to play sports or walk their dogs. Batu Bolong is my go-to beach to go for a walk because if you go to the left, you can make the walk as long as you want. Of course, you will have to cross some estuaries.
14. Book a bicycle, motorbike or ATV tour
If you are looking for something different to do in Canggu and you like adventure, I recommend taking a tour with Karbit Dirt Bike Adventure. My partner booked a dirt bike class at this activity center and thoroughly enjoyed it. He was able to practice on a closed dirt track and then go ride the bike on the beach. Aside from offering dirt bike tours, they also offer ATV and bike tours.
On the other hand, if you have already rented your dirt bike elsewhere and would like to ride it along the seashore, a good place to do so is Batu Tampih beach. Remember that it has to be an appropriate motorcycle for this type of terrain. If you take your scooter, it will most likely get stuck.
15. Get a Balinese massage
After doing so many things in Canggu, it’s time to relax and get a Balinese massage. Since massages are so affordable in Bali, I usually go to the spa several times a week. During your stay in Bali, I recommend booking at least one massage session. Canggu is a good place to do it. One of my favorite massage centers is Dewah Spa, located in Pereranan. If you want to have a more exclusive experience, you can go to Spring Spa Canggu.
Places to eat in Canggu
Canggu (Bali) has one of the best sections of restaurants on the island. You can find all types of cafes and restaurants: Vietnamese, Italian, Japanese, Indian, Spanish, etc. There are also many vegan or vegetarian places. Canggu is simply a culinary paradise.
There are so many options that it is difficult to choose. For this reason, I want to give you my recommendations on the best restaurants to eat in Canggu:
- Warung Bu Mi. My favorite local food restaurant.
- Ithaka Warung. Go for breakfast and try their white bowl.
- Secret Spot Bali. Comida sana y repostería vegana.
- Copenhagen. Healthy food and vegan pastries.
- Matcha Cafe Bali. To have breakfast and try a good matcha tea.
- Luigi’s Hot Pizza. Pizzeria and nightlife.
- Deus Ex Machina. Restaurant with shop and events.
- La Baracca Bali. Another great pizza place.
- HoiAn by MeVui. Beautiful restaurant to eat Vietnamese food.
- Tygr. If you feel like having affordable sushi (every Wednesday).
- JIB Fusion. Yummy Indian food.
- Warung Ava. Large affordable pizzas.
- Ji Restaurant Bali. Japanese restaurant overlooking the sea.
- BGS Bali Canggu. One of the best cafes in Bali.
Map of Canggu, Bali
In the following map, I have marked all the places mentioned in this guide: places to visit, recommended restaurants and hotels, with their respective links to Booking.
Are you planning a trip to this Asian country? Do not miss my Indonesia travel guide.
I hope this article about the best things to do in Canggu (Bali) has been very useful for you to organize your trip to this incredible Indonesian island. If you have any questions, I encourage you to leave a comment or write me an email. Enjoy your trip!
