Sanur
Calm Shores & Sunrise Walks
About Sanur
Sanur is the oldest tourist destination in Bali, developed in the 1960s by the Belgian painter Le Mayeur and the international circle of artists and thinkers who followed. It was Bali's first resort town, and it has kept something of that earlier era: wide, tree-canopied streets, low-rise hotels set in garden compounds, a beach promenade that is genuinely pleasant to walk at any hour. The beach faces east — which means sunrises, not sunsets — and the offshore reef keeps the water calm year-round, making it the best swimming beach in South Bali. Sanur is the departure point for fast boats to Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan, and the Gilis. It is also the least-changed part of South Bali: unhurried, predominantly Indonesian in its residential areas, and considerably quieter than Seminyak or Canggu.
Highlights
- Sanur Beach Promenade
- Sunrise on the Beach
- Museum Le Mayeur
- Bali Kite Festival
- Fast Boat to Nusa Islands
Experiences
7 Experiences in Sanur
Wellness & HealingSunrise Beach Yoga in Sanur
From IDR 200.000
Sunrise Beach Yoga in Sanur
Nature & OutdoorsSanur Sunrise Beach Walk
From IDR 250.000
Sanur Sunrise Beach Walk
Art & CraftTraditional Balinese Painting Class
From IDR 380.000
Traditional Balinese Painting Class
CulinarySanur Morning Market & Warung Food Tour
From IDR 350.000
Sanur Morning Market & Warung Food Tour
Culture & SpiritualSanur Heritage Walk & Le Mayeur Museum
From IDR 280.000
Sanur Heritage Walk & Le Mayeur Museum
Water ActivitiesGlass-Bottom Boat & Snorkel at Sanur Reef
From IDR 320.000
Glass-Bottom Boat & Snorkel at Sanur Reef
Local ExpertsPet sitter
From IDR 500.000
Pet sitter
Don't Miss
Essential Sanur
The Beach Promenade at Sunrise
A five-kilometre paved path runs the full length of Sanur's beach. At sunrise it is walked by local families, elderly Balinese doing their morning exercise, and fishermen heading to their boats.
Museum Le Mayeur
The home-studio of Belgian painter Adrien-Jean Le Mayeur, who lived in Sanur from 1932 until his death. The building is a masterwork of Balinese craft; the paintings document a Bali that no longer exists.
Nusa Penida Day Trip
Fast boats leave from Sanur's beach from 7am. The crossing takes forty minutes. Kelingking Beach — an improbable turquoise cove below a dinosaur-shaped headland — is one of the most photographed places in Indonesia.
Practical Tips
Before You Go
Book fast boats to the Nusa islands online in advance during peak season (July–August, December–January). Same-day walk-up tickets are often available but prices vary.
The promenade is best walked or cycled — bicycles are available for hire from most hotels and along the beach road.
Sanur's restaurant scene is concentrated around Jalan Danau Tamblingan. It is genuinely good and considerably cheaper than Seminyak.
The kite festival in July/August is one of Bali's great annual spectacles — enormous traditional kites flown over the beach by village teams.
Ready to explore?
Book an Experience in Sanur
Handpicked by people who know the island. Every experience is led by a local.