The majority of Bali, an island in the Indonesian archipelago, is covered by lush rainforest and rice paddies, but the same cannot be said for Uluwatu. In fact, much of the Bukit Peninsula – the island's southernmost tip where the region is based – is dry and rocky, littered with limestone quarries and cliffs that plunge into the churning Indian Ocean below. Despite the arid landscape, luxury hotels continue to sprout along Bukit's coastline to take advantage of those jaw-dropping sea views, and a steady stream of tourists come to see one of the island's most sacred temples.
Uluwatu's fame centres around Pura Luhur Uluwatu. This temple balances at the edge of a bluff overlooking the ocean. The structure, one of six directional temples on the island, was built from black coral rock and guards the island from evil spirits. Today, it also provides a stage for one of Bali's most enchanting experiences – a sunset kecak dance, where dancers dress in colourful costumes and perform scenes from Hindu mythology.
The rugged shores of Uluwatu create large, frothy swells that lend themselves to fantastic surfing conditions. This is one of the best spots to catch a wave on Bali, and a number of surf schools are on hand to teach you the ropes. After getting your fill of the water, sprawl out on Uluwatu Beach or any other of the area's pristine beaches.
Tonight
From £48 per night
Next weekend
From £33 per night
| Most popular time to visit | October–December |
| Cheapest time to visit | January–March |
| Local currency | Rp 1,000,000 = £48.14 |
| Language | Indonesian |
| Average weekend price | £86 per night |
| Average weekday price | £88 per night |
| Typical stay | 2 nights |
Uluwatu Temple
0.4 miles from city centre
Magnificent landscape, but the temple cannot be visited, we...
13 June 2024
Magnificent landscape, but the temple cannot be visited, we stay at the gate. So the photos will mainly be taken with a view of the cliff. In the evening when the sun sets, if there are no clouds. Be careful of monkeys who can be aggressive. Balinese show and dance in the evening
A wonderful place with amazing people around.
12 June 2024
A wonderful place with amazing people around. Not quite walkable and you need to be either very brave to sit on a scooter or constantly order taxis (get the official ones). But food is amazing, views are to die for and beaches are very cute. Lots of trendy places and nice restaurants to go to. Definitely do the temple and Kecak dance performance.
As everywhere the roads are narrow and busy.
3 June 2024
As everywhere the roads are narrow and busy. It was possible to walk or take a short motorbike ride to the local shops, restaurants, and there was a good variety of them around. Travelling a bit further, there were beaches to visit and places of interest but the joy for me was that the community was friendly and it was not a major tourist area.
Great views of cliffs falling into sea;
1 June 2024
Great views of cliffs falling into sea; excellent sunset view from Uluwatu temple; fun dance performance; good beaches for surfers. Don't go there if your idea of a beach holiday is to sit on a beach chair under a sunshade with a drink and a book, and occasionally splash a bit in the water. There are many other beaches in Bali for that
Uluwatu was such a relaxing and vibrant area with so many...
27 May 2024
Uluwatu was such a relaxing and vibrant area with so many different activities. Whether you're looking forward tranquility, beaches, temples, restaurants/bars or waves for surfing - you'll find it. Such a great mix of things to do and Uluwatu will live you happy regardless of what you prefer to do on holiday. A totally different vibe from other areas of Bali and I'd definitely recommend spending some time here if you have the chance.
Uluwatu should be on your itinerary when traveling to Bali!
23 May 2024
Uluwatu should be on your itinerary when traveling to Bali! It is a lovely place with a good vibe and perfect for surfing. We stayed at Ikigai, which is a lovely small resort. There were a lot of good restaurants and shops in the area. We were now there for 3 full days. Next time we will stay longer so we can explore more places, like all the beaches and stuff.
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