Canggu, Bali has evolved into one of the island’s most popular hotspots. Surfers, yoga enthusiasts, beach lovers, and nightlife seekers all flock to Canggu, drawn together by its unparalleled dining culture. Having spent quite some time in Canggu, we’re here to share our tips for the most beautiful attractions in Canggu and its surroundings, both the touristy spots and the hidden gems.
Exploring the Photogenic Rice Fields of Seseh and Cemangi by Scooter
One of the main attractions around Canggu is, of course, the photogenic rice fields. You can find beautiful rice fields in the vicinity of Canggu as well. Just north of Canggu, you’ll encounter some authentic villages where Balinese culture still thrives. The best way to explore these is by renting a scooter. When driving north along the main road (Jl. Raya Tanah Lot), it’s worth taking the turnoff to Munggu/Seseh Beach. You’ll pass by rice fields that are particularly picturesque during sunrise and sunset. Stop by Warung Honey for a coconut drink, breakfast, or lunch. Then, continue through the rice fields to the village of Cemangi for even more photogenic spots.
Tanah Lot Temple
One of the attractions you can visit near Canggu is the Tanah Lot Temple. Located about a 20-minute drive north of Canggu, this popular temple sits in the water during high tide. Therefore, you can only visit the temple when it’s low tide. Tanah Lot Temple is one of Bali’s most significant attractions and is heavily visited, but definitely worth it if you’re seeking cultural experiences. The best time to visit Tanah Lot Temple is during sunset, although this is also the busiest time of day.
Joshua District and Yeh Gangga
Admittedly, these two attractions are a bit of a drive from Canggu. However, by combining them with a visit to Tanah Lot Temple, you can turn it into a fun DIY day trip from Canggu. You can easily combine the three attractions on a single day using a scooter.
Joshua District isn’t exactly an attraction, but a nice restaurant, shop, and art gallery with stunning views of the rice fields. It’s a great stop to include in your route as you drive from Tanah Lot Temple to Yeh Gangga Beach. During the scooter ride, you’ll experience authentic Balinese life as you pass through villages and along the most beautiful rice fields.
Yeh Gangga is a beach known for its large rock in the sea with a heart-shaped hole. There’s a nice beach club and a warung (Warung Tulus) where you can eat fresh lobster. This is a beach frequented by locals, and if you’re lucky, you might witness a ceremony or performance. At the Yeh Gangga beach club, you can rent a beach bed by the pool or on the sand. It’s a beautiful place to end your day!
Various (Hippie) Markets in Canggu
You can find weekly and monthly markets at various locations in Canggu:
- Every Sunday from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM, there’s an organic market at Samadi Yoga School. By visiting this market, you support locals with their organic cultivation. Besides fresh food items, you’ll also find handmade souvenirs. The atmosphere is incredibly lively, with music playing and Balinese people adding warmth with their smiles.
- On Saturdays and Sundays, Love Anchor Canggu hosts an extensive bazaar with over 150 stalls offering local goods. This can range from jewelry and clothing to delicious organic and local delicacies.
- Then, every last Saturday of the month from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM, there’s the hippie market at Old Man’s. You can check their Instagram for exact dates. Here, you can indulge in clothing and jewelry with a high boho factor. Small businesses and start-ups are well represented at this market!
Surfing in Canggu, Bali
Good vibes happen on the tides! Bali is known for surfing, and each stretch of coastline offers different waves, attracting various types of surfers. Canggu is renowned for its surf beach, and you’ll often see scooters carrying surfboards in a dedicated board rack. Some surfers are already in the water by 6:00 AM to catch the sunrise while riding the first waves. When you’re out on your board that early, it’s not too crowded, and you’ll only be sharing the waves with a few other early birds. Along the beach, you’ll find surfboards available for rent, and you can also book a surf lesson.
Old Man’s Beach is the perfect spot for beginners. Next to Old Man’s Beach is Echo Beach, where the waves are slightly different. This beach is more suitable for advanced surfers.
Take a Yoga Class, Ecstatic Dance Session, or Cacao Workshop in Canggu
Yoga enthusiasts also adore Canggu. There are many yoga schools, including Samadi, The Practice, and the unique Udara. They offer classes in various yoga styles and organize other activities as well. For example, Udara hosts an ecstatic dance session every Sunday morning, followed by a sound healing session. Additionally, they hold cacao ceremonies and breathwork sessions several times a month. Samadi also hosts a weekly ecstatic dance session on Thursdays, along with other activities like gong baths, women’s and men’s circles, or special meditation evenings on other days.
Watch the Sunset at a Beach Bar
The southwest coast of Bali is perfect for incredibly beautiful beach sunsets. And the most enjoyable spots are often at local beach bars, where you can sip on a Bintang beer while watching surfers glide by as the sun slowly sinks into the water. Our favorite beach bars are those at Seseh Beach and Pererenan Beach. There’s only one beach bar at Seseh Beach, so you can’t miss it. In Pererenan, there are several, but the best ones are located to the left of the large statue just before you cross the river mouth.
The Beaches of Canggu, Bali
Canggu and its surroundings offer various beaches for relaxation. The beaches in the south of Canggu have black sand, but it turns yellow as you head north (near Pererenan and Seseh Beach). There are six different beaches along the coast of Canggu, each with its own character. Here are the beaches in Canggu!
Berawa Beach Bali
Berawa Beach is popular among surfers. Depending on the tide and wave conditions, you can swim here. In January 2020, all the beach shacks on this beach were closed due to the construction of a large new beach club and shopping center (next to Finn’s Beach Club). Apart from these beach clubs, there aren’t many places to grab a drink. You can easily walk from Berawa Beach to Seminyak (south of Berawa/Canggu) along the beach, which takes about half an hour. Along the way, you’ll encounter various locals selling cold coconuts or Bintang beers from their coolers.
Nelayan Beach Bali
About 500 meters north of Berawa Beach is Nelayan Beach. This beach is mainly frequented by fishermen. There aren’t appealing waves for surfers here, making it the perfect spot for swimming. It’s also ideal for those seeking tranquility away from the tourist crowds.
Batu Bolong Beach Bali
About a kilometer north of Nelayan Beach is Batu Bolong Beach. This beach offers easy surfing waves, making it perfect for beginners. The large temple at the south end of the beach is notable, but there’s also a small temple hidden behind the warungs (local eateries), which is worth exploring.
Echo Beach Bali
Further north from Batu Bolong Beach is Canggu’s most popular surfing spot: Echo Beach. This is a surf spot for advanced surfers, and there are several restaurants offering perfect views of the waves and surfers.
Pererenan Beach Bali
If you head further north from the popular beach club La Brisa, you’ll reach Pererenan Beach. Here, you’ll find several beach shacks where you can rent a beach bed and watch the surfers. Swimming is possible depending on the tide, but due to the many surfers, it’s essential to be cautious in the water. This is also a great spot to watch the sunset.
Seseh Beach Bali
For those who want the beach all to themselves, it’s recommended to go a bit further north to the quiet Seseh Beach. From Pererenan Beach, you can reach it in about 20 minutes on foot. Once you pass the temple, you’ll have the beach almost entirely to yourself. Occasionally, you’ll see a local surfing, but more often than not, you’ll have the waves to yourself. You can enjoy a lovely beach walk here, and if the waves aren’t too strong, you can take a refreshing dip.
Nightlife in Canggu
Every night, there’s a party somewhere in Canggu. In the past, Monday night used to be the only quiet night, but that changed with pizzeria Luigi.
- On Monday night, pizzeria Luigi turns into a bar with a DJ that goes on until late.
- On Tuesday and Thursday nights, Pretty Poison is the place to be. Here, you’ll find an old pool turned into a skatepark. You can either skate here or enjoy watching others showcase their skills.
- On Wednesday, you’ll have to choose between Old Man’s (also on Saturday night), Sand Bar, and Techno Bar, as they all host parties.
- Friday night is all about the hip beach clubs. Both The Lawn and La Brissa feature DJs and attractive cocktail prices.
- Saturday night, besides Old Man’s, the ‘secret’ café Black Cat is where everyone hangs out. Black Cat is a tiny supermarket next to Pretty Poison. When you enter, walk to the back, to the freezer. The freezer serves as a ‘secret’ door behind which the bar is located.
- Sunday night is the time to party at Deus! Deus is a golden oldie in Canggu where the roof has been raised every Sunday for years.
- If you don’t want to join the weekly rotation of bars and clubs, it’s fun to spend an evening at Black Sand Brewery.
Restaurant Tips in Canggu, Bali
There’s no shortage of restaurants in Canggu. Every week, a new restaurant opens its doors. Due to the high competition (and social media pressure), the quality is incredibly high. Generally, the emphasis at Canggu restaurants is on conscious eating. Many restaurants focus on vegan or at least offer a wide range of vegetarian dishes. The products are fresh and mainly sourced locally. Apart from the hipster joints, there are also cool local spots that are more than worth a visit. Since so much has been written about the most popular restaurants, we’ve chosen to include some hidden gems below.
Warungs in Canggu: Eat Like a Local in the Warung
A warung is an Indonesian eatery. There are several delicious warungs serving nasi campur, a type of rice table where you can choose which dishes you want to accompany your rice. Our favorite nasi campur warungs in Canggu are Warung Jaba, Warung Lokal, and Warung Bu Mi. For dinner, Warung Kezia in Pererenan is a favorite. One drawback of many warungs and restaurants in Canggu is that they are located along busy roads, so you’ll always hear the traffic rushing by. Warung Kezia has a peaceful garden with bean bags and views of the rice fields. Another favorite is Warung Jib Fusion, which focuses mainly on delicious Indian food but at local warung prices!
Tips for Hipster and Vegan Cafés and Restaurants in Canggu
There are plenty of popular hipster cafes in Canggu that focus on the vegan kitchen. Popular spots include Shady Shack, I am vegan babe, and Peleton, all of which are highly recommended. You won’t miss meat in your dishes; they are varied and incredibly delicious. Our favorite vegan spots are those where you can choose your food in nasi campur style. This can be done at Oma Jamu and Give. It’s worth mentioning that all profits made at Give restaurant go to charity. When purchasing your food, you can choose which of three (changing) charities you want to support. Other trendy restaurants are those that focus on macros and are therefore popular with athletes (especially CrossFitters in Canggu). For example, Motion Café and Macro Kitchen in Pererenan.
Tips for Cozy Dining Restaurants in Canggu
There’s no shortage of cozy restaurants for a nice dinner in Canggu either. An absolute favorite is Dandelion. At Dandelion, rabbits roam around, staff address you by name, and you can enjoy Indonesian dishes at fair prices. If you’re looking for a more upscale dining experience with cocktails and wine, Penny Lane and Fishbone Local are recommended. For delicious Vietnamese cuisine, Leroy is a winner, and if you’re craving pizza and beer, Fabricca comes highly recommended. For a high-level Italian night, La Baracca is your best option.
Traffic and Transportation in Canggu
Getting in and out of Canggu by car can be difficult. The road to Canggu is incredibly busy, and it’s not uncommon to be stuck in traffic for 45 minutes or more. However, once you’re in the Canggu region, getting around is easy. Exploring Canggu and the surrounding area on a scooter gives you the most freedom of movement and allows you to get everywhere quickly. If you find busy traffic daunting or prefer not to drive yourself, you can easily arrange transportation with the Gojek app, such as a motorbike taxi. Think of it as Uber for motorbike taxis. Gojek prices are very low; for example, a 10-minute ride will cost you approximately IDR 10,000 (€ 0.65). And there’s always a Gojek available to take you wherever you need to go.
Living as a Digital Nomad in Canggu, Bali
Canggu is one of the largest digital nomad hubs worldwide. It’s not uncommon to see someone opening their laptop in cafes. There are many influencers (often digital nomads) around, and restaurants cleverly cater to them by creating Instagrammable corners to attract them. If you’re going to Canggu to try out the digital nomad scene, you have plenty of options for co-working spaces where you can be productive. For example, there’s Outpost in Berawa and Tropical and Dojo in Canggu. There are also co-working cafes like Zin Café. For some variety, it’s nice to work in Joshua District for a day, where you have a view of the rice fields. Joshua District is about 25 minutes north of Canggu and is an alternative cafe with co-working facilities.
Canggu, Bali offers a diverse array of experiences, from trendy vegan cafes to cozy dining spots, from bustling traffic to serene rice fields, from thriving digital nomad hubs to laid-back beach vibes. Whether you’re seeking culinary delights, cultural immersion, or an efficient workspace, Canggu has something to offer for everyone. Embrace the charm of this exotic destination, immerse yourself in its diverse experiences, and create unforgettable memories at the heart of Bali’s seaside paradise.
