Uluwatu packs a lot into a small corner of Bali: white-sand coves hidden below the cliffs, world-class surf, a sea temple on the edge of the ocean and sunsets that stop everyone in their tracks. Three days is the perfect amount of time to see the best of it without rushing. Here is our local itinerary for three days in Uluwatu, from people who live and cook on Jl. Labuansait, plus shorter versions if you only have one or two days.
How many days do you need in Uluwatu?
- 1 day: enough for a beach, the temple at sunset and a good dinner, but you will wish you had stayed longer.
- 2 days: time for the main beaches, the Kecak fire dance and a surf or a lesson.
- 3 days: the sweet spot. You can see the highlights, find a quieter beach and still have time to slow down.
- A week or more: for surfers, remote workers and anyone who wants to live on Bukit time.
Before you go, check our guide to Uluwatu weather by month. The dry season, roughly April to October, is the sunniest, while the wet season brings afternoon showers, so plan beach time for the mornings.
Day 1: beaches, lunch and your first Uluwatu sunset
Morning: Padang Padang and Bingin
Start early at Padang Padang, before the crowds arrive. The stairs down through a limestone cave are half the fun, and the sheltered cove is one of the best places to swim on the Bukit. Then head to Bingin, a few minutes away, with its cliffside paths and famous reef break. Our guide to the best beaches in Uluwatu has tips on access, swimming and tides.
Lunch: a long Italian lunch
Come in from the beach for lunch at CAVO, from 12 PM, Tuesday to Sunday: generously filled focaccia sandwiches, oval Roman-style pizza, fresh pasta and Italian salads. Heading back to the sand? Everything on our lunch menu can be taken away.
Afternoon and evening: aperitivo and sunset
Rest through the hottest part of the day, then make your way to the cliffs for sunset. Uluwatu faces west, so the sun sets over the ocean between about 6:05 PM and 6:50 PM depending on the month: see our Uluwatu sunset guide for the exact time and the best spots. Start with Aperitivo Romana at CAVO from 4 to 6 PM, then stay for dinner.
Day 2: surf, Melasti and the Kecak fire dance
Morning: surf, or watch the surfers
Uluwatu is one of the most famous surf spots in the world. Experienced surfers can paddle out from the cave at Suluban; everyone else can book a lesson with a local surf school, or simply watch the best surfers in the world from the clifftops above the breaks. Our guide to surfing Uluwatu explains the breaks, tides and where beginners can start. At low tide, walk through the caves onto Suluban Beach itself.
Afternoon: Melasti
After lunch, drive down the dramatic road cut through the white limestone cliffs to Melasti, a wide stretch of sand with calm water on good days. It is the easiest beach to reach and great for families.
Evening: Uluwatu Temple and the Kecak fire dance
Arrive at Uluwatu Temple by 5 PM. Walk the clifftop paths (sarongs are provided at the entrance, and watch your sunglasses around the monkeys), then take your seat for the Kecak fire dance, which starts around 6 PM as the sun goes down and lasts about an hour. Entry to the temple is around IDR 60,000 for adults, and the Kecak is a separate ticket of around IDR 150,000.
The show finishes around 7 PM, perfect timing for dinner. CAVO is about 15 minutes away. New to Italian dining? Read how to order like an Italian before you arrive.
Day 3: slow down
Morning: a quieter beach
Spend your last morning somewhere quieter. Nyang Nyang is a long walk down, which keeps the crowds away, and you can often have a stretch of sand almost to yourself. Thomas Beach is another easy-going option. Bring water, sunscreen and reef shoes.
Lunch and afternoon: take your time
Make it a long Italian lunch: share a Burrata e Pomodorini, a pasta and a pizza, and finish with Nonna’s tiramisu. Not sure what burrata is? See our guide to Italian fresh cheeses. Then spend the afternoon with a massage, a swim or a nap.
Evening: your last night
End where you started, with a sunset on the cliffs and dinner at CAVO. Pick your night: Monday is Table for Two from 4 PM, Thursday has a live acoustic singer from 7:30 PM, and Friday is Vinyl & Vino, with four hours of funk and disco from 7:30 PM and happy hour from 10 PM to midnight. See what’s on for the full week.
Only have 1 or 2 days?
1 day in Uluwatu
- Morning: Padang Padang for a swim.
- Lunch: focaccia and pizza at CAVO, or takeaway for the beach.
- 5 PM: Uluwatu Temple and the Kecak fire dance at sunset.
- 7 PM: dinner at CAVO.
2 days in Uluwatu
- Day 1: Padang Padang and Bingin, lunch, then sunset on the cliffs and dinner.
- Day 2: a surf lesson or Suluban at low tide, Melasti in the afternoon, then the temple, the Kecak and dinner.
Tips for your Uluwatu trip
- Getting around: the Bukit is hilly and spread out. Most visitors rent a scooter or hire a driver for the day.
- Getting here: Uluwatu is usually 45 minutes to an hour from the airport, longer in traffic.
- Traffic: Jl. Labuansait gets busy around sunset, so leave extra time.
- Cash: carry rupiah for beach parking, entry fees and warungs.
- Mondays: CAVO opens at 4 PM on Mondays, so plan lunch for another day.
- Book the busy nights: Thursday, Friday and weekends fill up, especially in July, August and over Christmas.
For more ideas, see the best things to do in Uluwatu.
Or book through our reservations page. Walk-ins are always welcome.
Uluwatu itinerary FAQs
How many days do you need in Uluwatu?
Three days is ideal: enough to see the main beaches, the temple and Kecak fire dance, try a surf and still slow down. One or two days works if you focus on a beach, the temple at sunset and a good dinner.
What is the best order to see Uluwatu?
Do beaches in the morning before the crowds and the heat, rest or have a long lunch in the middle of the day, and spend late afternoons at the cliffs for sunset or at Uluwatu Temple for the Kecak fire dance.
Is one day in Uluwatu enough?
One day is enough for a swim at Padang Padang, Uluwatu Temple and the Kecak fire dance at sunset, and dinner, but most visitors wish they had stayed longer.
How far is Uluwatu from the airport?
Uluwatu is usually 45 minutes to an hour by car from Bali’s airport, and longer in heavy traffic.
Where should I eat in Uluwatu?
CAVO Bar & Bistro on Jl. Labuansait, Pecatu serves fresh pasta from family recipes, oval Roman-style pizza and house-baked focaccia sandwiches, with lunch from 12 PM (Tuesday to Sunday), aperitivo from 4 to 6 PM daily and dinner every night.
