Sanur Beach has a reef out front that keeps the sea almost still. At low tide the shallow water looks like a lagoon, and there are very few waves. It is a beach strip in Denpasar, on Bali's southeast coast, with white sand and a long boardwalk running beside it. Swimmers who do not like waves come here for exactly that calm.
Before you head to Sanur Beach
| Type | Beaches |
|---|---|
| Getting there | In Denpasar, on Bali's southeast coast; the Le Mayeur Museum is a short walk away |
| Map | Open the map |
The boardwalk is the other reason to come. It is lined with bars, restaurants and cafes, and there is even a beach club. You can swim, walk, eat and watch boats come and go without leaving the same strip. Boats also leave from the beach, on trips of around 45 minutes.
Calm water behind the reef
A long reef protects the shallow water here. It breaks the swell before it reaches the shore, so the sea stays quiet. At low tide the effect is strongest and the water feels like a lagoon. This is the best choice on the island for anyone who wants to swim without fighting waves.
The calm also makes the beach easy for children. The shallow water is a good place for kids to paddle and swim. It also works for a range of gentle watersports. If you want surf, look elsewhere. If you want to float and stay relaxed, this is the place.
White sand and a boardwalk of cafes
The sand is pale and soft, and a scenic boardwalk follows the shoreline just behind it. You can walk the whole strip on foot without ever leaving the beach edge. Bars, restaurants and cafes sit along the path, so a drink or a meal is never far away. The beach club adds a more relaxed, lounge-style option.
That mix makes the beach easy to use at your own pace. You can swim, dry off on the sand and be at a table a few steps later. Most people walk a stretch of the boardwalk, stop where something looks good and carry on. There is no need to plan a route.
Choosing your stretch: Sunrise Beach and beyond
The strip is long, and the stretches have different moods. Sunrise Beach lies close by and is a natural part of the same walk. Taman Kota, a town park, is also nearby. Many visitors treat these places as one outing rather than separate stops.
Sanur faces east, so the early light comes straight off the water. That is the idea behind the name Sunrise Beach. Later, the cafes fill up and the beach becomes more social.
Pairing the sand with a museum walk
Sanur Beach sits close to the Le Mayeur Museum, and the two go together well. Visit the museum first, then walk down to the water. That gives you art and history in the first part of the outing and a swim or a meal in the second. It is a gentle sequence with no rush in it.
Elsewhere in Denpasar you will find Ngurah Gede Pemecutan's Fingerprint Painting Museum, the Bajra Sandhi Monument and Museum Agung Bung Karno. They are in the same city, so they fit a wider day of sightseeing. Sanur Beach is the soft landing at the end of it.
Good to know
Is Sanur Beach good for swimming?
Yes. A long reef protects the shallow water, so the sea is very quiet and has almost no waves. At low tide it feels like a lagoon. This makes it a good choice for swimmers who dislike surf.
Is Sanur Beach good for kids?
Yes. The calm, shallow water is an ideal place for children to swim. There are also a variety of watersports on offer. Cafes and restaurants along the boardwalk are close at hand.
What is there to do along Sanur Beach?
You can swim, walk the scenic boardwalk and eat at the bars, restaurants and cafes beside it. There is also a beach club. Boats leave from the beach and take around 45 minutes.
What is near Sanur Beach?
Sunrise Beach and Taman Kota are close by. The Le Mayeur Museum is also nearby, and many visitors walk from the museum to the beach.
Near Sanur Beach
- Le Mayeur Museum (0.98 km)
- Ngurah Gede Pemecutan's Fingerprint Painting Museum (3.59 km)
- Bajra Sandhi Monument (3.83 km)
- Museum Agung Bung Karno (4.69 km)
Boat and beach tours
More beaches and days out: things to do in Bali.