18 Best Things To Do in Nusa Dua, Bali [2026]

Located on the southeast coast of Bali's Bukit Peninsula, Nusa Dua is a luxurious resort town known for its stunning white sand beaches, upscale hotels and resorts, and many exciting watersports.

The coastal area offers the perfect blend of relaxation and adventure and is a great option for a family vacation, a romantic getaway, or a luxurious beach break.

We recently spent some time in Nusa Dua to see what the hype was all about. Other than its many beautiful all-inclusive beach resorts, what exactly is there to do in Nusa Dua? Here's what we found out...

Map of Nusa Dua

Things to Do in Nusa Dua

1. Watch the Devdan Show at Nusa Dua Theatre

Our absolute favourite thing to do in Nusa Dua has to be the Devdan Show at Nusa Dua Theatre. This amazing stage production showcases Indonesia's diverse cultures, taking you on a journey through the islands of Bali, Sumatra, Java, Borneo, and Papua.

The show features a mix of traditional and modern dance, breathtaking acrobatics, and state-of-the-art special effects. There are stunning costumes, pyrotechnics, water performances, illusions, and more! We've seen countless cultural performances in Bali, and this is definitely the most impressive!

The Devdan Show runs on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday evenings. It starts at 7:30pm and lasts just over an hour. At the end of the show, we headed outside to take photos with some of the performers, which was a lovely little keepsake.

There are four ticket categories, varying in price: VIP, A, B, and C. The VIP ticket gets you a comfortable armchair, but to be honest, it's not necessary for a one-hour show. We got the Category C side-view tickets and ended up just a few rows away from the stage with a fantastic view!

2. Relax on Nusa Dua's beautiful beaches

Nusa Dua is home to some of the most beautiful, accessible, and cleanest beaches in Bali (mostly thanks to the high-end beachfront resorts that help maintain them). The area's soft white sands and calm azure waters are one of the main things that keep drawing us back here.

These are our favourite beaches in Nusa Dua:

3. Explore the "Two Islands"

Did you know that "Nusa Dua" translates to "Two Islands"? The tourist region was named after the two small islands that stick out from the coastline - Peninsula⁩⁦ Island and Dharma ⁩⁦Island⁩.⁦ Despite being called "islands," both are actually connected to the mainland and easy to reach on foot.

Peninsula Island is the biggest of the two, just north of central Nusa Dua Beach. It's mostly parkland with a circular walking route centred around a large statue of Krishna and Arjuna. It's also home to the Nusa Dua Water Blow (more below). It took us around 15 minutes to walk the entire island.

Peninsula Island also has a small outdoor theatre, called the Taksu Art Stage, that hosts traditional Balinese Kecak and Barong dance performances every Friday evening from 6-7pm. Tickets cost 150,000 IDR ⓘ per person.

Just along the coast, the tiny Dharma ⁩⁦Island⁩ is home to a peaceful garden and a small Hindu temple. It has lovely views over the ocean and surrounding bays. But if you only have time for one, we'd definitely recommend visiting Peninsula Island instead.

4. See the famous Nusa Dua Water Blow

Located on Peninsula Island, the Nusa Dua Water Blow is a striking natural phenomenon where waves crash through a hole in the volcanic rock and surge high into the air, reaching crazy heights of up to 30 meters.

At high tide, the waves can soak everyone in the area, which is a refreshing way to cool down from the intense Bali heat and keep little ones entertained for a while.

The Water Blow has become one of the top tourist attractions in Nusa Dua and now even has an official entrance gate and a 25,000 IDR ⓘ entry fee. You'll need cash to buy the ticket.

However, it's worth knowing that the Nusa Dua Water Blow doesn't always "blow." During our last visit, it wasn't that impressive. It's best to go at high tide and always ask at the ticket booth what the waves are like - they'll be honest with you if it's not worth visiting. If the tide is out, don't waste your time or money.

5. Walk or cycle along the Nusa Dua Promenade

The Nusa Dua Promenade is a lovely walking path that runs for around 7km along the area's stunning stretch of coastline.

The well-maintained pathway starts close to the Ayodya Resort and continues north, past the two islands and many luxury beachfront resorts, finishing in front of The Conrad on Tanjung Benoa - see the full route here.

Walking the entire promenade took us around an hour (one way). Much of the path was shaded by trees, and there were plenty of beach bars and restaurants to stop at along the way. There's also enough room to cycle along the promenade, with several hotels and shops offering bicycle hire nearby.

6. Enjoy watersports on the Tanjung Benoa Peninsula

On the small peninsula to the north of Nusa Dua, Tanjung Benoa is a hub of water sports in Bali! It offers a variety of exciting activities, including surfing, jet skiing, waterskiing, banana boats, flying fish, parasailing, and more.

You can even try some more unique activities, such as flyboarding, a hydro-jetpack that propels you above the water, and sea-walking, a unique scuba-style helmet that lets you walk on the ocean floor.

There are many shops offering water sports along Tanjung Benoa Beach, so you can easily walk up and negotiate a price on the spot. But if you suck at negotiating (like we do), you can also book activities in advance.

7. Admire the artwork at Museum Pasifika

Museum Pasifika is a modern gallery in Nusa Dua that's home to the largest collection of Asia-Pacific artwork in Asia, with over 600 works by 200 artists from 25 countries. The one thing all artists have in common is that they lived in the Asia Pacific and were inspired by the region in their work.

There are paintings and sculptures by established Indonesian artists, such as Balinese painter Nyoman Gunarsa and Javanese artist Raden Saleh, as well as many European artists who lived and worked in Indonesia, using the culture, people, and landscapes as inspiration for their work.

Other exhibits in the large gallery included indigenous art and artefacts from Oceania and many exotic paintings from Japan, China, and India.

We're not usually huge art lovers, but we really enjoyed our visit to Museum Pasifika, with the range of artistic styles and focus on the region's amazing cultural diversity. Plus, the free audio guide really helped us to understand the exhibits better. It's now one of our favourite galleries in Bali.

8. Take part in a purification ritual at The Apurva Spa

Built for luxury tourism, Nusa Dua can feel a little removed from authentic Balinese culture. While exploring more of Bali is the best way to experience the island's rich traditions, there are a handful of cultural experiences around Nusa Dua too.

One of our favourite recent experiences in Nusa Dua was the "Awakening the Chakra Spirit" ritual at The Apurva Spa (inside The Apurva Kempinski Resort but open to outside guests).

The half-day experience included a 60-minute sound meditation, a 60-minute Balinese massage, and a 60-minute water purification ceremony by a local priest, designed to clear blocked energy and realign the seven major chakras.

We began at the luxury hotel with a private sound meditation session, where our chakra blockages were identified, before changing into traditional clothes and taking a transfer to Gerger Temple on the nearby beach.

At the small temple, we were met by a Balinese Priest who guided us through a private Melukat purification ritual, using water and coconut water for cleansing.

Compared to other Melukat rituals we've done in Bali, we loved how personal and intimate this ceremony felt, with the priest thoughtfully guiding us through each step and explaining its significance.

We then headed back to the hotel spa to end the experience with a relaxing Balinese massage that specifically targeted our chakra blockages. Whether you believe in chakras or not, the experience is deeply relaxing and very enjoyable.

9. Join a Balinese cooking class

A cooking class is one of our absolute favourite things to do in Bali. It's a fun and hands-on way to experience local Indonesian cuisine and culture, and enjoy a delicious home-cooked meal!

Some of the best cooking classes in Nusa Dua:

10. Enjoy shopping and dinner at the Bali Collection

The Bali Collection is a spacious outdoor shopping and entertainment complex in the main tourist area of Nusa Dua. Set amongst a lush green park, the mall is home to a variety of shops, market traders, restaurants, and bars.

There are many local and international brands, including Levi's, Nike, Billabong, and 69 Slam, as well as a large Balinese art market where you can grab local crafts and souvenirs. We're not huge shoppers, but we do enjoy wandering around and enjoying the lively atmosphere.

For us, the best thing about the Bali Collection has to be its many great restaurants and bars, with lovely al fresco terraces filled with tables and live acoustic music most nights of the week.

Nusa By/Suka is our favourite restaurant in the Bali Collection, specialising in delicious Mediterranean dishes and wood-fired meats. We often grab dinner here before heading to the Devdan Show, which is just a 5-10 minute walk away at the Nusa Dua Theatre.

The shopping complex even offers free transport to and from most hotels and resorts in the area on its shuttle bus - find out more here.

11. Visit Bali's most unique religious complex

Puja Mandala is one of Nusa Dua's more unusual attractions. It's a unique complex where five religious buildings stand proudly side-by-side, including a Hindu temple, a Mosque, a Buddhist temple, a Catholic Church, and a Protestant Church.

The complex is a true testimony to how Indonesia’s major religions can live harmoniously. Most of the religious buildings are open to visitors (depending on prayer times and events). Our total visit only took around 20 minutes, but it was a fascinating place to explore while passing by.

12. Treat yourself to a luxurious massage

What's a trip to Bali without a little pampering!? Nusa Dua has no shortage of amazing spas, whether you're looking for a traditional Balinese massage, a rejuvenating facial, or a relaxing body wrap.

Most hotels and resorts in Nusa Dua have their own world-class spas with modern facilities and a huge variety of luxurious treatments. Most are open to the public too, as long as you book in advance.

There are also several independent spas in Nusa Dua to suit all styles and budgets.

13. Go golfing at the Bali National Golf Club

If golf is your thing, Nusa Dua has one of the top golf courses in Bali. The award-winning Bali National Golf Club is part of The Maj Nusa Dua, just 5-10 minutes from the beach and the area's top luxury resorts. It has three different playing environments throughout a spacious 18-hole course.

Facilities include a Golf Academy, modern locker rooms, a well-stocked pro shop, and a luxury lounge and restaurant. You can even stay on-site at the Bali National Golf Villas, which has 7 luxurious villas overlooking the 17th and 18th holes.

Things to do near Nusa Dua

14. Relax on peaceful Gunung Payung Beach

For a quieter and more natural beach than those in central Nusa Dua, head just 15 minutes south to the hidden Gunung Payung Beach on the Bukit Peninsula's southern coast.

Surrounded by limestone cliffs and greenery, Gunung Payung Beach is a small, secluded bay with soft white sand, clear blue waters, and a couple of amazing natural caves offering much-needed shade. One vendor rents a few sun loungers and kayaks, but beyond that, there’s little else available.

The beautiful beach remains somewhat of a hidden gem and is our favourite spot for a peaceful beach day. Whenever we've visited, there's never been more than a handful of other people here.

Reaching Gunung Payung Beach requires a 10-minute walk down a steep staircase and through an unusual abandoned amphitheater on the cliff edge. Or you can pay 25,000 IDR each way for the brand-new shuttle, which takes you most of the way down the cliff.

15. Go kayaking at Pandawa Beach

Pandawa Beach is another beautiful beach sitting below the limestone cliffs on Bali's south coast. It used to be a hidden gem, like neighbouring Gunung Payung, but after an ambitious project built a huge road through the cliffs, it's become one of the most accessible and popular beaches in the region.

The gorgeous 1km stretch of white sand has plenty of facilities, including sun loungers, toilets, and shops. There are a couple of small beach clubs, Roosterfish and Timbis Beach Club, with pools and daybeds overlooking the ocean, but most of the beach is backed by rustic local warungs.

The beach is also a popular place for swimming and kayaking thanks to its calm, crystal-clear waters, protected by a large offshore reef.

Despite its ever-growing popularity, Pandawa never feels too overcrowded thanks to its huge size. There's more than enough space along the beach for everyone to spread out!

16. Try wakeboarding at Bali Wake Park

Bali Wake Park is around 20 minutes away from Nusa Dua (over the Mandara Toll Road) and offers a state-of-the-art overhead cable system that pulls you around a large lake on either a wakeboard, kneeboard, or water skis.

You can book a one-hour session or get a full-day pass to use the cable park, which includes all equipment. The park is suitable for all ages and abilities.

If you're a complete beginner (like we were), there's a dedicated area to pick up the basics with an instructor (for free). We did this and managed to advance to the main cable park around halfway through our session - but making it the entire way around the course was quite the challenge!

The complex also has an inflatable water park for younger children and a cafe with an infinity pool overlooking the lake for spectators. You could easily spend an entire afternoon here enjoying the activities.

17. Visit the Garuda Wisnu Kencana (GWK) Cultural Park

One of Bali’s biggest cultural attractions, the GWK Cultural Park sits in the middle of the Bukit Peninsula, around a 30-minute drive from Nusa Dua.

The park is home to the iconic Garuda Wisnu Kencana statue, which at 121 meters tall (including the base) is the tallest statue in Indonesia and one of the tallest in the world. It's devoted to the Hindu god Vishnu, and his mount, Garuda, the mythical bird who became his companion.

The statue sits within a 60-hectare cultural park where you can learn all about Balinese culture through its museum, amphitheatre, huge sculptures, and a packed schedule of daily cultural performances (including a Kecak dance each evening at sunset).

You can wander around the large park on foot or hire a segway or bike to explore. Expect to spend at least a couple of hours in the park. There’s a small food court and some shops/cafes on-site too.

18. Enjoy Uluwatu's vibrant nightlife

Uluwatu sits on the opposite coast of the Bukit Peninsula, around a 45 minute drive from Nusa Dua, and is a great place to visit for the afternoon/evening.

The region's west-facing location makes it a fantastic spot for watching the sunset over the ocean (as opposed to Nusa Dua which is better for sunrise). There are plenty of clifftop restaurants and stylish beach clubs with amazing sunset views.

Uluwatu also tends to offer a younger and more lively atmosphere than tranquil Nusa Dua, especially when it comes to nightlife. From watching big-name DJs perform at Savaya to partying the night away at Single Fins, there are countless exciting evening activities to enjoy on the west coast.

Plus it's easy to get a taxi back to Nusa Dua at the end of the night.

Where to eat in Nusa Dua

Where to stay in Nusa Dua