Want to know which Bali beach town to visit on your next trip? The main three that stretch across the west coast of Bali are Kuta, Seminyak, and Canggu.
They all have beaches, parties and lots to do, but which one is the best? I have visited each one several times over the past couple of years, and I’m here to give you my verdict…
Beaches
Bali is pretty famous for having nice beaches. But those beautiful white sand, clear water beaches that people expect to see aren’t exactly what you get along the west coast of Bali.
Kuta, Seminyak, and Canggu all have darker sand beaches and not very clear water. Instead, it’s the activities and bars that bring most people down to the coast! (For beautiful white sand beaches check out Nusa Penida).
If you want to go surfing, Kuta Beach has the best waves for beginners, whilst Canggu has the best beach bars. All three are west-facing so are great spots to catch a sunset!
If I had to choose one, I’d go for Double Six Beach in Seminyak. That’s: Kuta 0 – Seminyak 1 – Canggu 0.
Things To Do
Kuta has plenty of restaurants and bars. It’s a common destination for family resort holidays and lots of Australians! It also has a great waterpark called Waterbom, which is pretty cheap to visit and is a lot of fun!
Seminyak is the busiest of the three, and has lots of tourists! Besides the beaches, there are plenty of Cafes and restaurants such as Motel Mexicola, and a cool beach bar called Potato Head. As far as activities go, Seminyak is a bit limited, but due to its closeness to Kuta and Canggu, you can easily get to other places on a bike!
Canggu is the most popular with young travelers, and is a hub for digital nomads, due to its abundance of coworking spaces. Furthermore, It has lots of healthy (and work-friendly) cafes. Canggu is also popular for its markets, the best of which is the Love Anchor Market. Here you can find everything from jewelry to frozen yogurt!
Overall, Canggu takes it for things to do. (Kuta 0 – Seminyak 1 – Canggu 1)
Nightlife
Kuta has no shortage of sports bars and live music. However, if you are looking for a big night out, you probably want to look further up the coast to its more trendy neighbours Seminyak and Canggu.
Seminyak is home to a unique and popular bar/nightclub called La Favela, which is up there with the best I have ever been to! Also, Motel Mexicola turns into a nightclub in the evening and has some amazing decor and a great atmosphere.
Canggu has Finn’s Beach Bar, which is very popular and becomes more and more lively in the evening. Also don’t forget Luigi’s – a Pizza restaurant which turns into a club on Mondays at 10 pm with a DJ and a dancefloor! A common night out ends up at Old Man’s and Sandbar down by the beach.
Due to its abundance of venues and atmosphere, Canggu takes it for nightlife.
That brings it to Kuta 0 – Seminyak 1 – Canggu 2.
Verdict: Kuta Vs Seminyak Vs Canggu
If you have enough time, why not try a bit of all three? If you’re flying into Bali, you could touch down in Kuta near the airport for a day or two, and then spend 3-4 days in Seminyak and 4-5 days in Canggu.
However, if you have limited time or want to choose one place, I’d go for Canggu. It has a great selection of places to eat, great hostels, and loads to do. You’re also most likely to meet fellow travelers here!
After you’ve visited the beach towns, there are some amazing other places to go in Bali, you can read more here!