The Perfect Day in Uluwatu, Bali

Picture this: you wake up in a villa in Uluwatu. There’s not a cloud in the sky and you can hear the distant waves crashing on the shore. It’s a perfect day in Uluwatu, Bali. How will you spend it?

This one-day guide will show you the best of Uluwatu in less than 24 hours. Uluwatu deserves more than a one-day stay but we’ll focus on the highlights for a perfect day.

This laid-back surf town is located on the south-western tip of the Bukit Peninsula in Bali. Uluwatu blends the best beaches in Bali with a rich cultural heritage, making it one of my favorite spots on the island.

Breakfast at Banana Lounge

The perfect day in Uluwatu begins with breakfast poolside. Grab breakfast at Banana Lounge, an intimate tropical retreat with delicious breakfast and a pool. Banana Lounge serves Australian cafe menu items like big brekkies and acai bowls. You can eat your breakfast then take a dip in the pool before heading to the beach.

Walk along Bingin Beach

After breakfast, walk over to Bingin Beach. Bingin is a big spot for surfing with a surf school on the beach. But, if surfing isn’t your thing, you can rent an umbrella to relax on the sand.

Bingin is below steep cliff, so it’s a bit of trek to get down to the beach. On the way down the winding staircase there are a bunch of cliffside cafes to catch your breath and hang out at.

Relax on Padang Padang Beach

Padang Padang is the best beach in Uluwatu. This is where you’ll want to spend the majority of your day.

Padang Padang is home to clear waters, beach shacks, and resident monkeys. It costs 15,000 Indonesian rupiah (about $1) to enter the beach, so make sure you bring cash.

You’ll also want cash to rent an umbrella, buy a sarong to lie on, or purchase food and drink for lunch. An umbrella and sarong will cost you less than $20 USD and claims your spot in the sand.

The calm waters of Padang Padang make it the perfect swimming spot in the cove on the left side of the beach. In deeper waters, you’ll see surfers conquering bigger waves.

Padang Padang is also the home of monkeys. Be mindful of your stuff because monkeys can be thieves, stealing snacks and sunglasses from inside your bag (they know how to use zippers!).

The walk from Bingin Beach to Padang Padang Beach is 30-minutes. You can’t walk along the shore but you’ll walk through the main road in the village. I recommend walking but you can catch a Gojek scooter or car and reach Padang Padang from Bingin in under 10 minutes.

Explore the Uluwatu Temple

After a day in the sun, get ready for a cultural experience at Uluwatu Temple. The temple is located on a beautiful cliff next to the ocean. It is one of the most revered temples on the island.

Arrive at the temple before sunset to explore it in the daylight. Like Padang Padang Beach, many monkeys call Uluwatu Temple home. So, again, be mindful of your belongings.

See the Kecak fire dance show

The view of the sunset at the Uluwatu Temple is beautiful but most people flock here at sunset to watch the Kecak fire dance show. This traditional performance happens every day at sunset (5:45) and 7 p.m. The dancers literally walk on fire, putting on a captivating and culturally-significant show.

Tickets for the sunset show sell out quickly, so get your tickets in advance here.

Dinner at YUKI

End your perfect day in Uluwatu with a sushi and lobster dinner at YUKI. YUKI is a modern Japanese Izakaya spot with both raw and wood-fired dishes. The food is delicious and the staff is friendly and attentive. It has a cool vibe with an open-air dining room.

YUKI has locations in Uluwatu and Canggu. I spent my birthday here and it was the perfect end to my ideal birthday.

Where to stay in Uluwatu

Outdoor living room in a villa in Uluwatu, Bali

In Uluwatu, you want to stay near a beach. Padang Padang beach is the best beach in the area to stay in. But, because most people know that, prices near Padang Padang are generally more expensive.

For a more affordable beach stay, book a villa near Bingin Beach or Dreamland Beach. Be mindful that Bingin and Dreamland are rapidly growing, so there is a lot of construction noise in that area. For a more quiet stay, pay the extra money to be near Padang Padang or Uluwatu Beach.

I stayed two nights at Yume Villas near Bingin Beach and loved my time there. We had a private villa with our own pool, making it a magical oasis after a day of exploring.

More than 24 hours in Uluwatu

Although this guide only focuses on one day in Uluwatu, you should spend at least two to three nights here. It’s the best location in Bali to unwind by the beach while still having access to cultural sites and great restaurants.

If you have any questions about planning a trip to Bali, I’m happy to answer them in the comments below.