As affiliates, we may earn a commission on qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. Learn more.
We'll be totally honest with you, the beaches in Canggu are by no means the prettiest in Bali. This is something many people find out the hard way. But what they lack in aesthetics, we think they definitely make up for with their fun, energetic atmosphere.
From consistent waves that make the area a top surf destination to numerous lively beach clubs and chilled beachfront cafes, Canggu's black sand beaches are perfect for leisurely strolls, people watching, and sunset drinks.
We've spent the last four years based in Canggu, so we’ve got to know the beaches in the area pretty well. In this guide, we’ll share our favourite beaches and what each has to offer
Map of Canggu Beaches
Quick Summary
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Batu Bolong | Canggu’s best-known and busiest beach. Many beach bars with seating on the sand. Lots of beginner surf schools. Great for sunset. Nightlife hub after dark. |
| Echo Beach | Better waves for experienced surfers. Home to La Brisa Beach Club and several other laid-back beach bars. Sun loungers for hire in the day. |
| Pererenan Beach | Less developed but still popular. Spacious sandy area where people bring towels and hang out. Not many amenities other than a rooftop bar with a pool. |
| Seseh Beach | Quiet and natural. Only a couple of small beach bars/cafes. Great for long beach strolls or family time on the sand. |
| Berawa Beach | South Canggu. Known for its several large, modern beach clubs and lively party vibe. |
| Kendungu Beach | Top surf spot with fewer people. Clifftop bars, including The Beach Love. Quiet, local, and affordable. 30-minute drive from central Canggu. |
| Bonus: Pasut Beach | Wide and picturesque black sand beach with stunning palm tree forest. Popular for dirt biking. 45-minute drive from central Canggu. |
Our Go-To Bali Insurance
We’ve used SafetyWing for over 2 years while exploring Bali and beyond and honestly couldn’t imagine traveling without it. It’s simple, reliable, and perfect for digital nomads like us.
We love that it:
Auto-renews monthly (one less thing to think about)
Works globally
Can be purchased while already abroad
Covers tech for just $10 extra
Best Beaches in Canggu
1. Batu Bolong Beach

Best for: Beginner surfers, lively beach bars, sunsets, nightlife
Parking: Here
Batu Bolong Beach is the most famous and popular beach in Canggu. It sits at the end of the lively main tourist street and is always packed with people enjoying its many beach bars and beachfront cafes.
Times Beach Warung is my favourite spot to grab an iced coffee and brunch on the beach. The stylish little cafe has sheltered tables and loads of bean bags right on the sand. They also host an open-air movie night every other Tuesday.
For something a little more upmarket, The Lawn is a modern beach club with plenty of daybeds and a small infinity pool overlooking the ocean right in the heart of Batu Bolong Beach.

During the day, Batu Bolong is a popular spot for beginner surfers, with small yet consistent waves. There are several surf schools along the beach where you can hire a board and an instructor. However, the downside of learning to surf here is that it can get very busy in the water.
During my last class, there were hundreds of people taking lessons in the same place. I even ended up crashing into another surfer while trying to catch a wave (we were both okay!). We'd suggest taking a class early when there are fewer other people in the water.
This is also our favourite place to catch the sunset in Canggu. We often wander down to Batu Bolong, find a beanbag at one of the beach bars, order a fresh coconut, and watch the sun melt into the ocean. While it's not the most peaceful, we really enjoy people watching on the busy beach.



The beach is pretty crowded most evenings, and gets noticeably busier during peak tourist periods like summer and the Christmas holidays. During these times, it can be difficult to find somewhere to sit, so it's best to bring a towel or blanket to lie down on the sand.
Later in the night, Batu Bolong Beach becomes Canggu's biggest nightlife hub. Overlooking the beach are two popular bars, Old Man's and Motel Mexicola. There's also Sandbar, a popular late-night club (we're talking 1-2am) where people dance right on the sand.

Best Bars and Nightclubs in Canggu
Read Now →2. Echo Beach

Best for: Advanced surfers, mellow beach bars
Parking: Here
A little further north along the coast, Echo Beach is another popular spot to hang out on the sand and enjoy one of the many beachside cafes and bars, but with a more mellow and laid-back vibe than neighbouring Batu Belong.
The most iconic venue at Echo Beach is La Brisa, our favourite beach club in Canggu. The large club has a chilled, bohemian vibe, eco-friendly design, and plenty of areas to hang out, from poolside sofas to beanbags on the beach.
Surfers and Othree are more rustic beach shacks serving affordable drinks on the beach. We also like the new Sunset Point Echo Beach for enjoying a sunset drink from a large terrace overlooking the ocean, just steps from the car park.



Echo Beach is popular among experienced surfers, especially during mid to high tide, with faster and more powerful waves. The conditions can be more challenging, with strong currents and sharp reef breaks, so it's best for those with good board control.
There are a handful of surf shacks on the beach where you can rent a board or take a class with an experienced instructor. The waves here tend to be less busy than at Batu Bolong.
After sunset, Echo Beach gets pretty quiet, with most people heading out to dinner or drinks elsewhere in Canggu. Just be careful of the large concrete stairs leading from the beach to the car park; I have fallen down them in the dark before!

Best Beach Clubs in Canggu
Read Now →3. Pererenan Beach

Best for: Relaxing on the sand, sunset strolls, rooftop drinks
Parking: Here
Pererenan Beach is a quieter, less developed beach overlooked by the large Gajah Mina statue. This colourful statue depicts Lord Baruna, ruler of the ocean, riding a creature with the body of a fish and the head of an elephant.
The beach here is more popular with locals and expats living in the area (we often stay around here), with many tourists not making it this far up the coast. This means it tends to be less busy than other Canggu beaches.


There aren’t any flashy beach bars or cafes, but there are usually a few small, local vendors selling fresh coconuts, beers, and grilled corn. There's a spacious sandy area, perfect for hanging out with friends. We like to go prepared with beach towels and a few beers to enjoy the sunset.
While there are no big beach clubs on Pererenan Beach, there is a popular rooftop bar overlooking the coastline. Sol Rooftop is a tropical two-story bar with a small swimming pool, plenty of seating, and sweeping ocean views. It's perfect for a chilled sunset drink and escaping the tourist crowds.

Where to Stay in Canggu
Read Now →4. Seseh Beach

Best for: Peaceful beach strolls, dog walking
Parking: Here
Seseh is an up-and-coming neighbourhood just north of Canggu and Pererenan. Its once-derelict black-sand beach is slowly being developed, with a couple of oceanfront cafes catering to the many expats starting to call the area home.
At the beach's entrance is a large green lawn, where we often see families enjoying picnics and a big group gathering to practice acro-yoga. It feels as close to a public park as you'll find in this part of Bali.
It's also home to Thalassa Sunset, a modern restaurant with a large oceanfront terrace, a nice spot to grab a cocktail and watch the sunset. We've not tried the food here yet, but reviews are hit-or-miss.

A short walk up the beach is another of our favourite spots for a chill sunset drink, Warung Pantai Seseh. This rustic little beach shack was one of the first beach cafes in the area, and is a popular hangout spot among the local expat crowd looking to escape the tourist crowds.
The vibe is laid back, the drinks are affordable (especially at happy hour), and there are a few rows of loungers and bean bags on the sand. We love their homemade French fries and Pisang Goreng (fried banana). You can walk along the beach to it or park right behind the bar (here, scooters only).



Other than these, Seseh Beach itself is largely untouched and undeveloped. The wide black-sand beach is ideal for a peaceful stroll along the waterfront, letting kids play on the sand, or watching the sunset, all without the big crowds or the sound of music blaring from nearby beach clubs.
However, a new mega-luxury resort is currently being built at the end of Seseh Beach (scheduled to open in 2028), so it won't stay this quiet for long. Make the most of it while you can!
5. Berawa Beach

Best for: Big beach clubs, lively party vibe
Parking: Here
Head south from Batu Bolong Beach and you'll arrive at Berawa Beach. This is one of the longest beaches in Canggu, running from Berawa Green at one end down to the lagoon in front of the LV8 resort.
Berawa is best known for its several huge beach clubs, clustered toward the southern end of the beach. Two of Bali’s biggest beach clubs, FINNs and Atlas, both overlook the coast here, so it often feels lively and a bit loud, with music from the clubs carrying across the sand.



For a slightly more low-key experience, we like Caravan, a topical beachfront cafe with tables right on the sand and a menu of freshly caught seafood. We're not big seafood eaters, but we've enjoyed some nice salads and Mediterranean sharing plates here too.
The surf at Berawa Beach isn’t as good as the beaches north of Canggu, but it’s still quite popular among surfers living in Berawa and Seminyak.

Best Restaurants in Canggu
Read Now →6. Kendungu Beach

Kendungu Beach is one of the furthest beaches from central Canggu, around a 30-minute drive north. But it may be worth the journey, depending on what you're looking for.
The small black sand bay is a popular surf destination, with quieter waves than central Canggu. There are three surf breaks here, two for experienced surfers and one that breaks 25m from the beach, which is a good practice spot for beginners (more info here).
There’s also a surf hostel overlooking Kendungu Beach called The Swell if you want to make the most of the great wave conditions without travelling too far each day.

While we're not surfers ourselves, we love visiting Kendungu for its peaceful clifftop bars, the most famous being The Beach Love. This local beach bar has hundreds of colourful beanbags spread across the clifftop, with stunning views over the beach and ocean.
To use the bean bags here, there is a small minimum spend, but we always manage to meet this with a couple of drinks and some bar snacks. Prices are super affordable compared to central Canggu.
Bonus: Pasut Beach

Best for: Photoshoots, dirt bike adventures
Parking: Here
Pasut Beach is a picturesque black sand beach, around a 45-minute drive north of Canggu. In our opinion, it's one of the most underrated beaches in Bali.
The sand on the beach is known for its strikingly deep black hues and for being so dense that you can actually ride a motorcycle across it, which many people do (see this video). You can even book dirt bike experiences and quad bike adventures on the beach.


The back of the beach is lined with hundreds of palm trees that make a beautiful setting for photos. One oddly shaped palm tree hangs towards the ocean, which Kieren climbed up for a cool photo. But after trying and failing a few too many times, I stuck to the swing instead.
There are limited public facilities along Pasut Beach. But there are a couple of resorts along the coastline with restaurants open to the public, including the lovely Lilly by The Sea, which has a beautiful infinity pool overlooking the sand.

How to Visit Pasut Beach
Read Now →Canggu Beaches FAQs
Does Canggu have good beaches?
This depends on what you're looking for. Canggu's beaches aren't the prettiest in the traditional sense, with their black volcanic sands and wild waters. If you're looking for a white sand tropical paradise, you're better off visiting the beaches of Uluwatu or Nusa Lembongan instead.
However, the beaches in Canggu are great for surfing, with plenty of surf schools, rental shacks, and breaks for beginners and experienced surfers. They also have a lively atmosphere, lined with many modern beach clubs and busy bars, while their west coast location offers incredible sunset views.
What’s the best beach in Canggu for swimming?
Being a top surf destination, none of the beaches in Canggu are particularly great for swimming. The coastline here has strong currents, big waves, and sharp corals along the seabed. You can often paddle close to the shore, but you can't swim out far.
If you want to swim, we'd suggest heading to a beach club with an infinity pool overlooking the beach. Or pick another destination with a more swim-friendly shoreline, like Sanur on the east coast or Melasti Beach on the Bukit peninsula.
![34 Best Things To Do in Bali, Indonesia [2026]](https://images.baliuntold.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=300,quality=75,format=auto/Ulun-Danu-Beratan-Temple-Bedugul-Em-Kier.jpg)




![Calendar of Festivals & Cultural Events in Bali [2026 – 2027]](https://images.baliuntold.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=128,quality=75,format=auto/Galungan-decorations.jpg)







![6 BEST Beaches in Canggu, Bali [2026]](https://images.baliuntold.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=3840,quality=75,format=auto/Sunset-Canggu-beaches.jpg)



No comments yet
Leave a comment