Sanur is a beach and resort town located on the southeastern coast of Bali, Indonesia. Sanur is known for it’s impressive resorts, white sand beaches, and local shops. Sanur is known to be more laid back, life is slower here, especially compared to some of the other bustling tourist destinations on the opposite side like Kuta and Seminyak. Sanur attracts a more mature crowd and it shows. We visited Sanur on our final few days of our vacation in Bali and wanted to relax and unwind. Doing research prior to our trip on places to stay in Bali, we decided to stay in Sanur and I want to share why we decided on staying in Sanur as opposed to other even more popular destinations in southern Bali.
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Sanur is a charming coastal town located in southern Bali. Many visitors come to Sanur to escape the younger crowds seen in other parts of Bali. It is said that Sanur draws a more mature crowd. That being said, Sanur has a laid back atmosphere with great beaches, luxurious resorts, local restaurants, and an abundance of fun shops to explore. Curious if it is worth staying in Sanur? I spent a few days in Sanur and wish to share 8 reasons why I think a stay in Sanur is a great decision when visiting southern Bali.
1. Easy Access to Ngurah Rai International Airport
I stayed in Sanur on my final leg of my trip to Bali. One of the main reasons I decided to stay in Sanur was because of how close it was to Ngurah Rai International Airport.
Artotel, where we stayed at in Sanur booked us a private driver to Bali’s international airport. The day we left, traffic was light and it only took 20 minutes to arrive at the airport. The southern end of Sanur is only about 13 Km from the airport. Just be cautious that traffic in Bali can be horrible, so plan your departure to the airport ahead of time.
2. Soft Sand Beaches with Pedestrian and Cycle Friendly Paths
I wouldn’t say that the beaches at Sanur are the prettiest beaches in Bali, but they are lovely with an abundance of places to relax, enjoy the views, and fun beach activities. It’s popular to get up early in Sanur to watch the sunrise making it’s appearance above the horizon.
Although I did not get in the water, I spend my mornings and evenings walking the lovely beach path that extends for several kilometers. The paths here are broken up for pedestrians and cyclists. Along the paths were luxurious resorts, good looking restaurants, and exciting beach bars.
3. Perfect for Day Trips Around Bali
Sanur acts as a great base for exploring different parts of Bali. Most hotels and resorts will offer tour packages but there are tour booths found all over Sanur that offer day trips, diving excursions and other fun activities at low prices.
Sanur is in a great location for day trips as it’s not far from places like Ubud, Penida Island, and Uluwatu.
If interested in particular day trips n Bali, I have posts on East Bali Tour and a Bedugul Tour which explores central Bali.
4. Fabulous Resorts
Walking up and down Sanur Beach, it is hard not to notice the lavish resorts. Many resorts in Sanur that back up to the beach have private restaurants, unique pools, and amazing vibes.
I found one problem about Bali was booking hotels. There are literally hundreds of hotels and resorts that come up in the search result, so how do you narrow it down?
We decided on the Artotel Sanur. This hotel was fabulous. Artotel Sanur was close to Sanur Beach and Jalan Danau Tamblingan. The breakfast was fabulous, it had a nice mix of Balinese and Western dishes. My favorite part was the infinity pool on the top deck.
5. Mature Crowd
I read online prior to visiting Sanur that it attracts a lot of European visitors and a more mature crowd, especially compared to other coastal cities like Kuta.
After staying in Sanur for a couple days, I can positively say that this is true, Sanur definitely has a more mature and older crowd.
But don’t let the title of a mature town turn you away. Sanur has many bars, restaurants, and plenty for younger crowds to do.
6. Dining in Sanur: Restaurants and Places to Eat
Sanur has plenty of delicious restaurants and food options. For cheaper food options, there is the Sindhu Night Market. The night market is a great place to come to and try local fruits and other fresh meals.
I found that there was a nice mix of Balinese and Western restaurants in Sanur. We ate at a restaurant one evening called Little Mars. I ordered a dish called Nasi Campur which had a nice mix of meats and vegetables.
For breakfast or a daily pastry, check our Daily Baguette Sanur. Their croissants and cookies make for the perfect mid day snack especially when paired with an ice coffee.
Make sure to check out Lola’s Craft Beer Bar on Jalan Danau Tamblingan to sample local craft beer from around Bali.
7. Affordable
Sanur is supposed to be a bit more expensive than other places around southern Bali, but we still found it to be very affordable.
Everything from food to purchasing clothing was affordable. If looking for free things to do in Sanur, you can walk the beach, go for a swim in the ocean, or even catch a live show if performed on or near the beach.
8. Shopping, Shopping, Shopping
I am not a huge shopper, but Jill is so we spent quite a bit of time walking up and down Jalan Danau Tamblingan. Jalan Danau Tamblingan is the main shopping street in Sanur. You can find everything here from dress shops to local crafts.
Jill bought several dresses while shopping in Sanur. There is a shop here called Made in Bali. Ubud had one and there were a few others in Sanur. I actually bought a few tropical button up shirts here that I love. So I guess there really is something for everyone on Jalan Danau Tamblingan.
Conclusion
For travelers looking for a laid back and calm area in southern Bali, Sanur is highly recommended. In Sanur, life seems to be slower, more relaxed, yet very enjoyable. Sanur is known for its beaches, great Bali day trip options, unique accommodations, and so much more. There you have it, 8 reasons to stay in Sanur Bali.
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