Our 11 Favourite Day Trips From Sanur, Bali [+ Itineraries]

Sanur is one of our favourite places to stay in south Bali, with its lovely beachfront promenade and many cafes, restaurants, and family-friendly activities. But beyond this popular tourist resort area, there's an entire island just waiting to be explored.

From the picturesque Nusa Islands just off Sanur's coast to the lush green jungles and traditional temples of northern Bali, we've listed all of our favourite day trips from Sanur, with travel tips and suggested itineraries.

1. Discover the iconic sights of Nusa Penida

Sanur Harbour serves as the main gateway to Bali's famous Nusa Islands, with loads of ferries every day, making them one of the most popular and convenient day trips from Sanur.

Nusa Penida is the biggest of the three islands and one of Bali's most photographed destinations. Known for its pristine white sand bays and rugged coastline, it has numerous iconic viewpoints, such as the T-rex-shaped headland at Kelingking Beach and the natural infinity pool at Angels Billabong.

However, most people don't realise quite how big Penida actually is. It took us several days to see all the main sights here. With just one day, it’s best to choose either the east or the west of the island to focus on. Or stay overnight and explore both sides.

Suggested itineraries

• East Penida – This is our favourite side as it’s a little quieter. It’s home to Goa Giri Putri (a huge underground temple) and several beautiful beaches such as Diamond Beach and Atuh Beach. You can also stop by the iconic Rumah Pohon Tree House and the new Cactus Beach Club.
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• West Penida – The west side of the island is where the island's most iconic sites are found, including Kelingking Beach (the one that looks like a T-rex), Angel's Billabong, and Broken Beach. You can find some hidden gems over here, but most day-trippers stick with the highlights.

Another of our favourite things to do on Nusa Penida is a snorkelling trip. The Nusa Islands are home to some of the most incredible snorkelling spots we’ve visited, with huge schools of colourful fish and giant Manta Rays. However, you'll need to sacrifice some land attractions to squeeze this in too.

How to get from Sanur to Nusa Penida

The ferry to Nusa Penida departs from Sanur Harbour in north Sanur, which takes 10 minutes to reach by car. Ferries run regularly throughout the day and can be booked online. For a day trip, we recommend catching a 7:30am ferry there and a 5pm return.

To get around on the island, most people pre-organise a private driver who meets you when you arrive. But we prefer to hire a scooter from Doel Rental near the harbour and drive ourselves.

If you'd rather avoid organising everything separately, you can also book an all-inclusive Nusa Penida tour which includes everything from your morning hotel pick-up to evening drop-off back in Sanur. It's more expensive, but hassle-free.

2. Relax on the peaceful beaches of Nusa Lembongan

Right next to Nusa Penida is the much smaller and flatter island of Nusa Lembongan. This lovely little island may not have as many iconic sights, but it is far calmer and more easygoing than Penida, with several accessible white sand beaches and plenty of chilled oceanfront cafes and bars.

Lembongan is our favourite place for a quiet beach getaway. With its small size, it's also easy to explore the island's main sights and attractions in a day, including its lush mangrove forest and several scenic bays.

Nusa Lembongan is connected to the tiny Nusa Ceningan via its famous yellow bridge. You can cross the bridge on foot or by scooter to see the stunning waters of the Blue Lagoon, explore cliff jumping spots, or visit Ceningan's several luxury beach clubs.

Suggested itinerary

This is how we'd recommend seeing the best of Lembongan in a day:

• Take a boat ride through the famous mangrove forests

• Snorkel with tropical fish at Mangrove Point

• Enjoy brunch on the sand at Jungutbatu Beach

• See the crashing waves of the Devils Tear coastal formation

• Visit the pretty shores of Dream Beach

• Cross the Yellow Bridge and see the seaweed farms

• Visit the Blue Lagoon on Nusa Ceningan

Alternatively, you can spend the day just hanging out on Jungutbatu Beach, enjoying a drink on the floating pontoon bar, or relaxing at one of Lembongan’s beautiful beach clubs.

How to get from Sanur to Nusa Lembongan

Ferries to Lembongan also depart from Sanur Harbour. You can book ferry tickets here. On Lembongan, the ferries drop off/pick up at Jungutbatu Beach, the island’s longest and most popular beach.

It's a little more difficult to get around on Nusa Lembongan than on Penida, as some roads aren’t made for cars. The best option is to rent a scooter or a buggy and drive yourself. The island is small and easy to navigate. Trucks transport people between the main areas, but it's hard to rely on these.

If you don’t want to drive yourself around, it may be better to pre-book a full-day Lembongan tour from Bali, which includes hotel transfers, ferry, and transport around Lembongan.

3. Explore temples, palaces, and markets in Ubud

If you want a break from the beach, head north to Ubud, Bali’s spiritual, artistic, and cultural hub. Right in the heart of the island, this popular tourist town is packed with busy markets, historic palaces, yoga shalas, and craft studios. There are also plenty of cafes, restaurants, and shops.

The outskirts of Ubud are home to some of the island's best natural attractions, including cascading rice terraces, dense jungles, and picturesque waterfalls. Several important historic temples are also just a short distance away.

There's so much to do in and around Ubud that we think it deserves a longer stay if your itinerary allows. But if you're limited on time, you can still enjoy the main highlights on a day trip from Sanur. We often head up to Ubud for the day!

Suggested itinerary

With just one day to see the best of Ubud, we'd recommend an itinerary like this:

• Join a traditional purification ceremony at Pura Tirta Empul

• Visit the famous Tegallalang Rice Terraces

• See the wild monkeys at Ubud Monkey Forest

• Explore Ubud town centre for art markets, palaces, and cute cafes

• Take a sunset stroll along the Campuhan Ridge Walk or Sweet Orange Trail

• Watch a traditional dance performance at Ubud Palace (book here)

How To Get From Sanur to Ubud

Ubud is roughly 25km north of Sanur, which typically takes around an hour by car, depending on traffic. When starting with the rural attractions of north Ubud (temples and rice terraces), add an extra 15-20 minutes.

If you're following the itinerary we suggested above, you can either drive yourself (by scooter) or hire a private driver for the day. We enjoy driving a scooter, but the traffic in central Ubud is heavy and chaotic, so you need to be experienced!

If you only want to visit Ubud town centre for the art markets, palaces, and Sacred Monkey Temple, you can easily take a taxi or call a Grab or Gojek (online taxi) from Sanur. Central Ubud itself is all pretty walkable.

4. Trek through the rice terraces of Sidemen

For a quieter alternative to Ubud, Sidemen is another of the best day trips from Sanur for nature lovers. This peaceful, rural region of East Bali is known for its lush green landscapes and sweeping rice terraces, set against the picturesque backdrop of Mount Agung.

This is our favourite place to go trekking in Bali's iconic rice fields, without the many pool clubs and Instagram swings of the Tegallalang Terraces. It's a place where you can experience the authentic side of rural Bali, watching farmers tend to their fields and water buffalo plowing the paddies.

Sidemen is also known for its silver jewellery classes, where you can make your own ring or pendant with the help of a local silversmith, and many peaceful cafes overlooking the rice fields. Gembleng Waterfall, known for its natural infinity pools, is also just a short drive away.

Suggested itinerary

• Take a dip in the natural infinity pools at Gembleng Waterfall

• Take a guided trek through Sidemen's rice terraces

• Craft your own ring at a silver-making class

• Enjoy a drink with rice terrace views at Koli Koli

How to get from Sanur to Sidemen

Sidemen is located in East Bali, around 40km from Sanur. The drive takes roughly 1hr15 by car, depending on traffic. Being a spread-out rural area, we'd suggest hiring a private driver for the day or driving yourself by scooter. Even Sidemen town itself isn't particularly walkable.

5. Go Balinese wine tasting at Sababay Winery

If you're a big wine-lover (like I am!), you can spend a day learning about Balinese wine production and drinking locally-made wines in the sunshine at the Sababay Winery, just up the coast from Sanur.

While Bali isn’t traditionally known for its wine, the growing number of international tourists and expats has led to a rise in the island’s wine industry. Balinese wines may not yet rival those of Europe or Australia, but they are improving enough to pleasantly surprise most people.

Sababay is one of Indonesia’s leading wine producers and makes some of my favourite Balinese wines. My go-to is their Ascaro, a crisp, dry sparkling wine that’s perfect for Bali’s hot weather.

On a day trip from Sanur, you can visit their modern winery for a guided tour. Our guide had perfect English, and we found the tour extremely informative. But our favourite part was definitely the wine tasting out in their beautiful garden. There was even the option to add cheese pairings or a romantic picnic setup.

How to get from Sanur to Sababay Winery

Sababay Winery is just a short drive up the east coast from Sanur. The journey takes around 30-40 minutes. If you plan on drinking (which is kind of the whole point), we'd definitely suggest getting a taxi or Grab to and from the winery.

To make your day trip longer, consider heading to Moonstone Beach Lounge after the tasting for a dip in the pool and another drink overlooking the ocean. Moonstone is just a 10-minute drive from Sababay.

6. Take the kids to Trans Studio Theme Park

Trans Studio Theme Park is one of the top family-friendly day trips from Sanur. Hidden on the upper floors of a mall, this huge indoor theme park has a full-sized go-karting court, thrill rides, river rapids, a Ferris wheel, and even a roller coaster sticking out of the roof.

It also has a few more unique attractions, including a Titanic Zone with a replica of the infamous ship, a Ninja Warrior-inspired obstacle course, and indoor skydiving. We really enjoyed the shows and parades, especially the stunt show, which had motorbike tricks and A LOT of fire!

While targeted towards families, we had a great day out at Trans Studio with friends on a rainy day in Bali. The zombie maze had us all screaming our way around, while the boomerang roller coaster was surprisingly terrifying!

How to get from Sanur to Trans Studio

Trans Studio is around a 30 minute drive from Sanur. It's best to organise a taxi through your hotel or call a Grab/Gojek to the theme park.

While the mall is open until 10pm, the theme park is only open until 6pm on weekdays and 7pm on weekends. Make the most of it by going early and enjoying a full day of activities. We spent 6-7 hours here and just about managed to try all the rides.

Ticket prices at the door start at 600,000 IDR ⓘ per adult (for foreigners), but are cheaper if you book online in advance.

7. Cool down at Bali's biggest water park

For a day of fun in the sun, don't miss Waterbom, Bali’s biggest water park in Kuta. Often voted one of the best in the world, the massive park is packed with thrilling water rides, from near-vertical drops to twisting tube slides. There's also a lazy river, several swimming pools, and water play areas for kids.

If you’re an adrenaline seeker, the Climax is one of the scariest rides at Waterbom. You wait in a small capsule until the trap door swings open and drops you onto the slide at full speed. So far, we've always been too scared to try it, but maybe on our next visit!

Our favourite ride here is Boomerang, a two-person tube slide that sends you flying down a steep drop before shooting you up an almost vertical wall and back down into a splash pool.

Whether you’re travelling as a family, a couple, or a group of friends, the park is suitable for everyone and every occasion. We even spent Christmas Day here with friends a few years ago.

How to get from Sanur to Waterbom

Waterbom is around a 30-40 minute drive from Sanur, depending on traffic. If you don't have your own scooter, we recommend taking a taxi, Grab, or Gojek.

The park closes around sunset at 6pm, so we always aim to arrive early to make the most of our tickets. There are plenty of restaurants and a swim-up bar to keep you fuelled all day long.

8. Climb Mount Batur and enjoy volcano views in Kintamani

If you're looking for one of the most adventurous day trips from Sanur, head north to Kintamani to climb Mount Batur, Bali's second-largest volcano.

Summiting Mount Batur for sunrise is one of the most popular things to do in Bali. The sunrise hike took us around 2 hours, meaning it required a very early morning, but the views were more than worth it! If the hike is too much, you can also take a 4WD jeep tour for similar views.

After climbing Mount Batur for sunrise, many people head straight back to Sanur. But if you’re not too tired, we'd recommend sticking around to enjoy some of the other attractions in Kintamani.

We love hopping between the beautiful cafes perched along the crater edge and relaxing in the area's natural hot springs heated deep below the surface.

Suggested Itinerary

Here’s a recommended day trip itinerary:

• Summit Mount Batur for sunrise (hiking or jeep tour)

• Soak in Toya Bungkah or Cinze Hot Springs

• Visit the Pura Segara Ulun Temple

• Enjoy lunch with a view at one of Kintamani's amazing cafes

• Learn about Bali's volcanic landscapes at the Batur Geopark Museum

How to get from Sanur to Kintamani

Kintamani is around 65km from Sanur, typically taking 2 hours to drive. It's best to hire a scooter or book a private driver for the day.

The sunrise hike of Mount Batur has to be done with a local guide. A private driver can help arrange this for you, or you can book it here. The hike took us around 2 hours, so you need to leave Sanur around 1:30am to start the hike at 3:30am and get to the top in time.

9. Visit Bedugul's floating temple and scenic lakes

Located in deep Bali’s central highlands, Bedugul is one of the longer day trips from Sanur, but worth it to experience a very different part of the island. The cooler, mountainous region offers stunning natural landscapes and is home to three of Bali’s four major lakes.

Bedugul’s most iconic attraction is Pura Ulun Danu Beratan, also known as the floating temple due to its pagodas appearing to magically float on the surface of Lake Beratan.

The temple complex itself is a bit too touristy for us, packed with cheesy photo spots and kids' attractions. Instead, we hired a Jukung (a traditional Indonesian rowing boat) to explore the large lake and temple, which was a much more peaceful and unique experience.

Other than the iconic temple, there’s plenty to do in Bedugul to fill a day out, from strawberry picking at local farms and exploring the beautiful Botanic Gardens to enjoying picturesque restaurants overlooking the lakes.

Suggested Itinerary

• Take a boat ride on Lake Beratan to see the famous floating temple

• Snap a photo at Handara Gate (a good alternative to the Gates of Heaven)

• Have a picnic lunch in a giant greenhouse at Rumah Gemuk

• Go strawberry picking at a local farm in Bedugul Village

• Meet friendly goats, donkeys, and llamas at Bali Farm House

• OR explore Bali Botanic Garden, the largest in Indonesia

How To Visit Bedugul From Sanur

The journey from Sanur to Bedugul takes around 2 hours, depending on traffic. We recommend either hiring a scooter or booking a private driver to take you between the many different spots.

Along the route from Sanur to Bedugul are two local restaurants we like that might be worth stopping at for dinner on the way back, Warung Bubble and Warung Dedari.

10. Spend a day in luxurious Nusa Dua

Nusa Dua is one of Bali’s most luxurious resort areas, filled with amazing 5-star beachfront hotels. Most accommodation here is a little out of our budget, but we still enjoy visiting on a day trip.

With just one day, you can easily explore the top things to do in Nusa Dua. The resort area has beautiful white-sand beaches with gentle waves for swimming, a lovely promenade to walk or cycle along, and two “islands” (peninsulas) with gardens and parkland.

Our favourite activity in Nusa Dua is the Devdan Show, a stunning cultural performance that takes you through the diverse islands of Indonesia, featuring dance, acrobatics, and special effects. The show runs three days per week, so organise your day trip accordingly, as this is a must-see!

Suggest Itinerary

Our perfect day trip to Nusa Dua would look something like this:

• See beautiful artwork from across Asia Pacific at Museum Pacifika

• Stroll around Peninsula Island and see the Nusa Dua waterblow

• Spend the afternoon relaxing on Nusa Dua Beach

• Enjoy shopping and dinner at The Bali Collection

• Watch the amazing Devdan Show at Nusa Dua Theatre

The Tanjung Benoa Peninsula, just north of Nusa Dua, is known for watersports, with everything from parasailing to jet skis and banana boats. Check here for booking information.

How to get from Sanur to Nusa Dua

Nusa Dua is less than 20km from Sanur, so this is one of the easiest day trips to take. The journey takes around 30-40 minutes, depending on traffic (quickest via the toll road).

Most of the main attractions (except watersports) are located within the central tourist district in Nusa Dua, so you don’t need a private driver for the day. Just take a taxi/Grab there and back from Sanur. Everything is walkable once you arrive.

11. Go beach hopping on the Bukit Peninsula

Sanur is an easy beach destination for families, but there are loads of other gorgeous beaches in Bali worth visiting too. Most of our favourite white sand beaches are found on the Bukit Peninsula, around Uluwatu and along the southern coast.

From accessible, swim-friendly stretches of coastline to quiet, hidden gem bays, there are so many beautiful beaches that you can easily visit on a day trip. It's also home to some of Bali's most luxurious beach clubs, if you're looking for something a little more upscale.

To break up a day at the beach, you can also visit the GWK Culture Park, home to Indonesia's tallest statue, or watch the famous Kecak dance and fire show at Uluwatu Temple, which takes place each evening at sunset.

Here are a few beaches we recommend visiting:

How to get from Sanur to the Bukit Peninsula

The Bukit Peninsula is located just south of Sanur. Driving time depends on exactly where you're going. The drive between Sanur and Uluwatu on the very southwest coast is roughly 1 hour.

If you plan on visiting a few different beaches and attractions in one day, we recommend either hiring a scooter or booking a private driver.

If you're only visiting one beach or beach club for the day, it may be worth taking a taxi instead. But keep in mind that some of the beaches on the peninsula (such as Pandawa and Melasti) don't allow online taxis to pick up, so do some research in advance.