 South Bali Travel Guide
South Bali Travel Guide: Kuta Beach (19 June, 2004)
© Timothy Tye using this photo
The South Bali Travel Guide helps you get to know this part of Bali. I write it for the benefit of budget travelers who will be discovering Bali on their own. Listed on this page are the principal towns and attractions of South Bali.
About South Bali
South Bali is the most developed and most populous part of Bali. This is the location for Denpasar, the provincial capital, and Kuta, the main tourist haven. This is the part of Bali that you will be seeing first, upon your arrival, as the Ngurah Rai International Airport is located here.
Nusa Dua Beach (20 June, 2004)
© Timothy Tye using this photo
South Bali stretches from Denpasar in the north to the Bukit Peninsula to the south. It includes the Kuta and Legian areas, which is on a isthmus between Denpasar and Bukit. Also part of South Bali are offshore islands of Nusa Penida and Nusa Lembongan, among others.
Many visitors to Bali never go beyond this part of the island. Every creature comfort is found right here. Kuta is the main tourist center of the island. This is where you can find all the restaurants, throbbing night life and shops to suit every budget. Kuta Beach is also a major surfing destination, attracting surfers from all over the world.
If you prefer a quieter, more luxurious setting, head for Nusa Dua, a resort area created specially to cater to the taste of more upmarket visitors. There are 5-star resorts here, some of the most pampering spas, and an 18-hole golf course.
For a bit of history, visit Denpasar, the capital of Bali since 1958. Before that, it was already a royal capital to the Badung kingdom from the late 18th to the early 20th century. There are still historical buildings here as well as important cultural centers such as the Bali Museum and the Bali Arts Centre (Taman Werdhi Budaya).
On the southern tip of South Bali, on the southwest extremity of the Bukit peninsula, stands one of Bali's holiest temples, the Pura Luhur Uluwatu, perched at the edge of a cliff with the roaring ocean churning below.
At South Bali, you start your journey in discovering Bali.
A Candi Bentar, or Split Gate, at the Ngurah Rai International Airport (18 June, 2004)
© Timothy Tye using this photo
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Accommodation in Bali
- Look for Hotels in Bali
Help in comparing room rates from different hotels at different booking sites.
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Help in finding affordable hostel and budget hotels in Bali.
Towns in South Bali
Towns are arranged in alphabetical order:
- Benoa Harbour
Harbor with commercial and private boats, south of Denpasar.
- Bukit Peninsula
Headland on the southernmost part of Bali.
- Canggu
Small town on the northwest coast of South Bali.
- Denpasar
Provincial capital of Bali.
- Garuda Wisnu Kencana
Cultural park with mammoth statue of the Hindu god Vishnu.
- Jimbaran
Village on northern part of Bukit Peninsula, with beach, good seafood and a few luxurious resorts.
- Kuta
Main tourist area in Bali, includes neighboring Legian area.
- Ngurah Rai International Airport
Main gateway to Bali.
- Nusa Dua
An area of upscale resorts and luxury spas.
- Nusa Lembongan
Small island with pristine beaches.
- Nusa Penida
Undeveloped island with many legends attached to it.
- Pulau Serangan
Also called Turtle Island, this is an island south of Denpasar.
- Pura Sakenan
Sea temple on Pulau Serangan.
- Pura Luhur Uluwatu
One of the most sacred sea temples in Bali, on one of its most beautiful.
- Sanur
Earliest resort area in Bali, located to the southeast of Denpasar.
- Seminyak
Tourist area to the north of Kuta.
- Tanjung Benoa
A long, narrow cape with a fishing village on it.
- Tuban
Tourist area south of Kuta and contiguous to it.
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