9 Top Things To Do in Candidasa & Padangbai, Bali

Candidasa, or Candi Dasa, is a lazy coastal town in East Bali's Karangasem Regency that’s perfect for escaping the crowds of the south and enjoying the island’s quieter side. It sits just across the bay from Padangbai, or Padang Bai, where you can board ferries to Lombok and the Gili Islands.

The area strikes a great balance, offering tourist-friendly amenities like hotels and restaurants, while still maintaining a distinctly local feel and a wide range of things to do, as we’ll share in this guide.

Things To Do in Candidasa & Padangbai

1. Take a snorkelling trip

While not as famous as the likes of Amed or the Nusa Islands, Candidasa and Padangbai are some of the best places to go snorkelling on mainland Bali, and the ones that surprised us the most.

The Blue Lagoon is the best-known snorkelling spot in the area, with its clear, shallow waters and vibrant reef. We hired snorkelling gear from a warung on the beach for just 30,000 IDR ⓘ each and got straight into the water from the beach.

But the real highlight of Candidasa for us was Tanjung Jepun, a more secluded area around the cliffside that’s only accessible by boat. We took a private snorkelling trip that picked us up right on the beach in front of our hotel and spent a few hours exploring the huge reef.

The water was crystal clear, giving us great visibility as schools of colourful fish swam around us, including clownfish (yes, like Nemo). Unfortunately, we didn’t spot any turtles, but apparently they're very common in the area.

2. Relax on the white sand beaches

Most of Northern Bali’s coastlines are lined with black sand beaches due to the nearby volcanoes. But go east, and you'll find a handful of picturesque white sand beaches around Candidasa.

Much quieter than those in the south, the beaches here are perfect for spending an afternoon relaxing on the soft sand and enjoying the turquoise waters. A beach day is one of our favourite things to do when in Candidasa.

Our favourite beaches in the area:

3. See the bats at Goa Lawah Temple

Pura Goa Lawah is a unique Balinese Hindu temple located on the main coastal road leading towards East Bali, just before you reach Padangbai.

Its name translates as ‘bat cave temple’, referring to the small cave behind the shrines where thousands of bats live. We’re not exaggerating when we say this is the most bats we’ve ever seen in one place!

Although only a small complex, Goa Lawah is one of Bali’s nine directional temples, which are the most important temples on the island. According to legend, a snake-like holy dragon also lives in the cave and occasionally bathes in the nearby ocean.

Entrance was 30,000 IDR ⓘ (cash only), which included a sarong. Vendors outside will say you must buy a sarong from them to enter, but this is a common scam in Bali. You can pay extra for a tour guide if you’d like to learn more about the temple’s history and significance.

We visited without a guide and saw everything in about 15 minutes. We’d recommend stopping here on the way to/from Candidasa rather than going out of your way to visit it.

4. Walk around the Lotus Lagoon

The Lotus Lagoon (also known as the Lotus Pond) also doesn't take long to visit. But as one of the most iconic landmarks in Candidasa, it’s worth stopping for a quick look as you pass by.

Close to the beach, the picturesque pond is covered with pink and white lotus flowers and lily pads, set against a backdrop of tall palm trees. A peaceful walking path circles the pond where you’ll spot a handful of local fishermen quietly casting their lines.

It only takes 5-10 minutes or so to walk around the entire path. Because there's no lighting, it's best to visit during the day or around sunset.

5. Visit Taman Ujung Water Palace

Taman Ujung is a 100-year-old former royal palace in the Karangasem Regency, just a 20-minute drive from central Candidasa. Built by the last king of Karangasem, it features beautifully manicured gardens, three large ponds, and pavilion-like buildings that appear to float on the water, all connected by elegant bridges.

One of the architects hired to build the palace was a Dutchman (Bali was a Dutch colony at the time), which is why you can see a unique mix of Balinese and European architecture throughout.

The highlight of the palace is its beautiful gardens and hilltop viewpoint overlooking the entire complex, which is one of the island’s largest historical landmarks. We recommend giving yourself at least an hour or two to fully enjoy the site, but try to avoid the midday sun as it's mostly outdoors.

Entrance costs 100,000 IDR ⓘ per person, payable with cash or card.

6. Feed the fish at Tirta Gangga

Not too far from Taman Ujung is Tirta Gangga, a second water palace built by the same ruler. It's named after the River Ganges, which is considered sacred in Hinduism.

The buildings that once existed here were mostly destroyed when Mount Agung erupted in 1963. However, you can still enjoy the manicured gardens, ponds, and intricately carved statues and fountains that depict characters from Hindu mythology.

The most famous thing to do at Tirta Gangga is to cross the stepping stone trail over the main pond and feed the koi fish that swim beneath. You can buy fish food right outside the entrance for next to nothing.

As well as exploring the complex, there’s one pool dedicated to bathing and another with a small jukung (traditional boat) you can ride in. Both of these activities have extra fees. It takes around an hour to explore Tirta Gangga.

7. Take a tour and tasting at Sorga Chocolate Factory

Sorga is a micro chocolate factory in rural East Bali that produces flavourful dark chocolate that they sell in their shop and in stores across Indonesia.

Bali has earned a strong reputation for high-quality chocolate, thanks to its tropical climate and nutrient-rich volcanic soil, which are ideal conditions for growing cacao. Sorga sources its cacao from local farmers and reinvests profits back into those same communities, supporting sustainable, community-driven production.

You can visit Sorga to tour the small factory and follow the entire process from bean to bar. Our guide gave a detailed explanation about each step and showed us some chocolate being produced.

Most importantly, we got to taste the final product at the end. We tried around 15 different flavours of dark chocolate, including some usual flavours like ginger and rambutan, along with cocoa husk tea and silky melted chocolate.

You can also enjoy a hands-on chocolate-making experience at the factory, although we didn’t have time to do this (maybe next time!).

Sorga is located down a narrow, bumpy road in a rural area of coastal Karangasem. Be careful of the uneven roads when driving to the factory by yourself!

8. Dine with ocean views at Bloo Lagoon

Bloo Lagoon Restaurant is our favourite lunch spot in Padangbai, located on the top floor of a spiral cliffside building where you can enjoy great food and ocean views.

The open-air restaurant offers a front row seat to coastal life around Padangbai port. Watch fishermen bringing in the daily catch, divers preparing to explore the ocean, and ferries transporting passengers to and from Lombok.

We enjoyed a slow, leisurely lunch of burgers and sandwiches on our recent visit, which we'd highly recommend. Being part of the Bloo Lagoon Eco Village, they follow sustainable practices, such as vegetables grown in their own garden and minimal plastic waste.

9. Visit Sang Hyang Ambu Gates

Sang Hyang Ambu Gates mark the start of the path leading up Sang Hyang Ambu Hill to Gumang Temple. You can’t miss these unique, towering gates from the main coastal road that runs through Candidasa and Padangpai.

The gates have an unusual style compared to traditional candi bentar (Bali split gates), with a design combining ancient Balinese architecture with a Stone Age influence. The circular patterns are said to represent continuous life. They are nicknamed the ‘Gate of Moksha’ – although we’re not sure why.

There’s no need to walk all the way to the shrine – it’s a long walk and not that impressive (we're talking from experience), but do go through the gates and enjoy the first viewpoint at the top of the stairs.

On our most recent visit to Candidasa, we discovered that right across the road, another grand stone staircase and set of gates has just been built. These lead up to another small temple and viewpoint.

You'll need to negotiate with locals to rent a sarong if you want to visit the hilltop temple. They can be a little pushy in our experience, so make sure to negotiate and simply say no if you just want to take photos at the stairs.

It’s not just tourists who enjoy these gates. Monkeys love congregating around this area too. It's actually one of the best places to see wild monkeys in Bali. Just watch out for your belongings!

Where To Stay in Candidasa

Where To Eat in Candidasa