The white sands of Kuta are still arguably the best beachfront on Bali. The beach is much cleaner than just a few years ago, although the vendors remain annoying. Kuta is not the fishing village it once was: it is now a booming Pacific resort and its streets are clogged with tourists and traffic during peak seasons. Legian is a bit quieter, less crowded, and more suitable for longer stays, although in many ways it has become an extension of Kuta. Further north, Seminyak, Petitenget and Canggu offer more tranquility.

Bali - Kuta and Tuban

Kuta proper is the area delineated by JI. Legian, JI. Pantai Kuta, JI. Melasti, the beach front drive and the lanes in between, especially Gang Poppies I and 11. JI. Legian is the commercial hub of Kuta and the stage of many of its restaurants and nightlife. Most of Kuta's big beachfront hotels are in southern Kuta.

Kuta - Tuban Area Hotels
» Santika Beach Hotel (USD 75.00, 4 star)
» Bali Dynasty Beach Hotel (USD 62.00, 5 star)
» Ramada Bintang Bali Hotel (USD 82.00, 5 star)
» Discovery Kartika Plaza (USD 87.00, 5 star)
» Kuta Paradiso (USD 72.00, 4 star)
» Patra Jasa Hotel (USD 82.00, 5 star)
» Agung Segara Hotel (USD 20.00, 2 star)
» Aneka Beach Kuta Hotel (USD 37.00, 2 star)
» Camplung Mas Hotel (USD 24.00, 2 star)
» Bali Rani Hotel (USD 47.00, 3 star)
» Bali Mandira Hotel (USD 75.00, 3 star)
» Legian Beach Hotel (USD 57.00, 4 star)
» Flora Beach hotel (USD 26.00, 2 star)
» Bali Garden (USD 34.00, 3 star)
» Bali Hai (USD 70.00, 3 star)
» Bali Rani hotel (USD 47.00, 3 star)
» Flamboyan hotel (USD 33.00, 3 star)
» Green Garden bali (USD 40.00, 2 star)
» Hotel Wina (USD 32.00, 2 star)
» Kuta beach club (USD 35.00, 2 star)
» Kuta sea view cottages (USD 39.00, 2 star)
» Perdana Dadi hotel (USD 37.00, 2 star)

Bali - Legian and Seminyak

Legian and Seminyak are northern extensions of Kuta proper along JI. Legian to JI. Basangkasa. Somewhat quieter with cottage-style accommodations, this is where many of the ex-pat designers and long-stay tourists live.There are three ways to reach Legian and Seminyak: through Kuta and JI ' Melasti, then north; from JI. Imam Bonjol, turn west on to A Patih Jelantik at the Pertamina gas station; or from the north via JI. Kerobokan.

Seminyak Area Hotels
» Bali Padma Hotel (USD 80.00, 5 star)
» The Oberoi Bali (USD 202.00, 5 star)
» Bali Imperial Hotel (USD 97.00, 5 star)
» Bali ayu (USD 47.00, 3 star)
» Bolare beach bungalow (USD 32.00, 3 star)
» Puri ratih hotel (USD 64.00, 3 star)
» Santika villa (USD 215.00, 5 star)
» Century Saphir Seminyak (USD 37.00, 3 star)

Legian Area Hotels
» Sahid Raya Hotel (USD 52.00, 4 star)
» Hard Rock Hotel Bali (USD 105.00, 4 star)
» Alam Kulkul Resort (USD 72.00, 3 star)
» Natour Kuta Beach Hotel (USD 55.00, 4 star)
» Legian Paradiso Hotel (USD 39.00, 3 star)
» Villa Rumah Manis (USD 91.00, 3 star)
» Bali Intan Village (USD 37.00, 3 star)
» Intan Legian Hotel (USD 42.00, 3 star)
» Adhi darma (USD 32.00, 2 star)
» Andika sari bungalow (USD 27.00)
» Bali Dwira hotel (USD 34.00, 2 star)
» Hotel Restu Bali (USD 24.00, 2 star)
» Bali Sani hotel (USD 29.00, 3 star)
» Bali Sani suite hotel (USD 47.00, 3 star)
» Jayakarta hotel (USD 49.00, 3 star)
» Legian express hotel (USD 25.00, 2 star)
» Maha mertha hotel (USD 12.00, 2 star)
» Puri naga hotel (USD 66.00, 2 star)
» Prani legian hotel (USD 21.00, 2 star)
» Puri raja hotel (USD 50.00, 3 star)
» Saphir mabisa inn (USD 27.00, 2 star)
» Simpang inn hotel (USD 17.00, 2 star)
» Sri kusuma hotel (USD 23.00, 2 star)
» Suji bungalow (USD 22.00, 2 star)
» White rose hotel (USD 42.00, 3 star)

Bali - Petitenget and North

Petitenget, Berawa, Canggu, and Seseh are new and quieter continuations of Kuta's beach, easier to reach through Abian Timbul or Denpasar and Kerobokan than through Kuta, as there are no bemos north from Legian.

Kuta Beach also extends to the south, beyond the airport to Jimbaran.

For assistance with tours and tickets, and information on events, Rentcar info or Guides

Restaurants

Kuta is a great place to eat. New places open almost daily and competition is fierce. Most don't last for long. The ones which do have great food at unbeatable prices. Seafood and Western dishes are your best bets. Or try Mexican, Indian or Japanese. The more well-known places are mentioned below, plus some promising newcomers. Ask around for the latest "in" spots.

Poppies Restaurant on Gang Poppies I is the other old favorite in downtown Kuta with a rather more up market atmosphere and menu. Specialties include fresh seafood, steak, shish kebab, as well as salads, a selection of Indonesian dishes and one of the most extensive wine lists on Bali. Kopi Pot on JI. Legian. The second story has a coconut grove view which is now a rarity in Kuta. Try the sate or the baby shark when it's on special. Superb desserts. Open till midnight.

Night Life

Bali's nightlife is legendary and these days there are two very different 'scenes', the young boisterous crowd that dominates the Kuta circuit and a cooler, slightly older crowd that frequents the nightspots in Legian and Seminyak.

Kuta Activities

Surfing. Kuta and Legian have long been surfing areas. The 6 km beach break stretching from Kuta to Petitenget has a range of waves.

The School of Surf provides surfing lessons for the uninitiated. Japanese and Australian instructors.

Swimming. The currents at Kuta are extremely strong and the undertow is dangerous.

Waterpark. Bali's first waterpark, is more than an amusement park with its variety of pools, "rides", and slides in a beautifully landscaped environment. Open 9 am-6 pm.

Bungy Jumping. A new adventure to experience. Facilities in Kuta: Bali Bungy Co.,, operated by the father of bungy, A.J. Hackett.

Dance performances. Kuta is not the greatest place to see Balinese dance, although the main hotels have cultural dinner shows. Sri Wisata Budaya on J1. Bypass Ngurah Rai in Suung, toward Sanur, has morning performances daily of barong and keris dances. The Pengabetan neighborhood also holds irregular performances.


Horse Riding. Riding along Seminyak beach at sunset is worth the back pain. in Kerobokan is a professional stable with trainers and lessons, offering

Massages. Lots of ladies offer massages on the beach. Although they may not be as good as the ones you can get in Denpasar, Some Massage on Bali has to do with sex, it depends on your tastes The local euphemism is jiggy-jig."