Padang Padang Beach: Why To Avoid This Perfect Spot

Padang Padang Beach is a beautiful white sand beach on the west coast of Bali’s Bukit Peninsula. Known as Labuan Sait Beach by locals, the main sandy section is less than 80m long, making it one of the smaller beaches in Uluwatu.

But what it's lacking in size, it certainly makes up for in reputation. The beach was featured in Eat Pray Love starring Julia Roberts, has a famous surf break known as the Balinese Pipeline, and is home to a rather notorious troupe of monkeys.

But is Padang Padang really worth the hype!? After many visits to this popular beach, we’ve finally decided to share our honest review, along with a useful visitor's guide, so you know exactly what to expect.

The Bottom Line

On paper, Padang Padang Beach ticks every box. It’s a beautiful white sand beach surrounded by towering cliffs that create a sense of seclusion. The sea has a sandy bottom and small waves, which are ideal for swimming, and there’s a famous surf break just offshore.

However, Padang Padang has become a victim of its own popularity. The tiny Uluwatu beach is extremely popular and gets overcrowded very easily.

We've visited during both the dry and wet seasons, and it's always so busy that there's hardly ever space left on the sand to lay down a towel (unless you arrive early). It's also one of Uluwatu's most expensive beaches, and you risk having your belongings stolen by monkeys.

So, unless you’re specifically coming for the surf spot or are a huge Eat Pray Love movie fan, we don’t recommend Padang Padang. There are many other lovely beaches nearby that are much less crowded (and cheaper), such as Thomas, Dreamland, and Balangan.

Or if being in the water is most important to you, consider heading to Melasti Beach on the peninsula's south coast, where the ocean is calmer and better for swimming.

How To Get There

Padang Padang Beach is located on the west coast of the Bukit Peninsula, in the heart of popular Uluwatu.

The entrance to Padang Padang Beach is right on the main road of Jalan Labuan Sait. There's a large parking area on the opposite side of the road to the beach entrance, with space for both cars (3,000 IDR) and scooters (2,000 IDR).

After you’ve paid for parking, cross the road to the beach entrance where you’ll need to purchase a ticket.

From the ticket counter, it takes just a few minutes to reach the beach, but you’ll have to descend around 120 steep steps and follow a pathway that leads between a fallen rock and the cliffside. Getting down isn't too strenuous, but we definitely worked up a sweat getting back up.

The steps are properly paved and well-maintained, although there's no handrail. Local ladies regularly sweep the sand away to prevent the steps from getting slippery.

Can You Get Online Taxis?

Yes, online taxis such as Grab and Gojek can drop off and pick up at the entrance to Padang Padang Beach, as it’s located right next to the main road.

Visitor Information

How Much Does it Cost?

Payment is by cash only. A child is considered to be ages 3-10. Under 3’s go free.

What Are the Crowds Like?

Despite being one of the smaller and more expensive beaches in Uluwatu, Padang Padang is still one of the busiest and most overcrowded spots in the region.

Any time we've visited, it’s been difficult to find a space to sit on the sand. It was the busiest we've ever seen it during peak summer. But even on a cloudy day in late January, the beach was still packed with people!

You need to arrive at Padang Padang early to get a good spot on the sand, especially if you want to sit under one of the beach umbrellas.

Can You Swim at Padang Padang Beach?

Padang Padang Beach is one of the best places to swim in Uluwatu. The inviting turquoise water is clean, calm, and has a sandy bottom, which is gentle on your feet. It's sheltered by a large bay, so the waves are small, and you don't get thrown around too much.

However, being such a small and crowded beach, expect to be surrounded by many other tourists who came here for exactly the same reason.

Is Padang Padang Good for Sunset?

No, Padang Padang Beach isn't a good sunset spot.

The beach is north-facing, so the view of the sunset is obscured by the towering cliffs to the left of the beach.

Is Padang Padang Good for Surfing or Water Sports?

Yes, Padang Padang is a fantastic surf spot. It has two popular breaks depending on your ability.

The most famous one is Padang Padang Left, nicknamed the Balinese Pipeline.

It’s excellent for pros, with long hollow waves that let you ride a deep barrel when the conditions are right. It's one of the top surf spots in Bali, but the waves only break properly here during the dry season (source). But with strong currents and shallow reefs, it’s not for beginners!

Less experienced surfers should head to the other break, more to the right, aptly named Padang Padang Right (or Baby Padang). This one has long, slow rolling waves, better suited to beginner or intermediate surfers.

There are plenty of shacks along Padang Padang Beach offering surfboard rental (the going rate is around 100,000 IDR ⓘ for an hour) or surf lessons if you’re a newbie.

The Infamous Padang Padang Monkeys

It's not only tourists who love Padang Padang. The beach is also home to a troupe of wild monkeys who have become rather infamous for their mischievous ways.

The monkeys here have gained a reputation for stealing people's belongings to swap for food. It's not uncommon to see the cheeky little thieves grabbing sunglasses, hats, and bags from unsuspecting tourists.

Once they have your belongings, the only way to get them back is to barter with food. The locals are accustomed to these scenarios and are well prepared with fruit and snacks to trade with the monkeys.

But if you'd rather avoid this happening altogether, keep all of your loose belongings in a secure bag and keep your eye out on the way down to the beach.

Most monkeys hang out around the entrance, staircase, and forest. Once on the sand, you should be safe as they rarely venture into the crowds. Just don't leave anything on the rocks along the back of the beach - we've seen monkeys steal water bottles and snacks left here before.

Padang Padang Beach Amenities

Cafes, Restaurants & Shops

About a dozen vendors sell food, drinks, and tourist souvenirs along the back of Padang Padang Beach.

Some vendors offer drinks and snacks like crisps and pot noodles, while others serve basic Indonesian dishes at small plastic tables on the sand. The prices are reasonable, with a cold coconut or a Nasi Goreng (fried rice) both costing around 50,000 IDR ⓘ.

However, Padang Padang’s location in central Uluwatu means there are also many fantastic places to eat nearby. One of our favourite cafes, The Loft, is just a 3-minute drive away. We'd recommend leaving the beach to eat elsewhere.

Toilets & Showers

There are free toilets at the back of the beach, along with indoor and outdoor showers.

There’s also a second toilet and shower block near the ticket counter at the entrance. But this only has outdoor showers.

Near the entrance, you can also find a foot wash station to get the sand off after your visit.

Sunbeds

There are no sunbeds on Padang Padang Beach, but there are some umbrellas dug into the sand that you can rent for 100,000 IDR ⓘ.

One vendor in the middle of the beach also now has a handful of beanbags, but these get taken early. You’ll need to arrive by 8-9am to get a beanbag or umbrella during high season, or hope that some free up mid-afternoon.

Padang Padang Beach is very exposed to the sun throughout most of the day, so if you're planning on sticking around, it's a good idea to have an umbrella.

More About Padang Padang Beach

Eat Pray Love

Padang Padang Beach is best known as one of the filming locations for Eat Pray Love, the iconic 2010 movie starring Julia Roberts that was largely filmed in Bali.

One of the scenes filmed at Padang Padang is when Liz (Julia Roberts) asks Felipe if he loves her but he avoids answering her question, causing an argument and upsetting Liz who ultimately walks off at the end.

You can watch the full scene here on YouTube.

GoBoat

GoBoat is a new boat service that runs between Uluwatu and Canggu. The journey takes just 35 minutes by boat, as opposed to 2 hours by car or 1hr 20 by scooter.

It runs between Padang Padang Beach and Nelayan Beach in Canggu. We have not tried this service so we cannot give our opinions.