Berawa Beach, Bali is one of the most popular beaches on the island. It’s home of the world-famous FINNS Beach Club and has one of the best beach breaks for surfers around.
Our guide to the Berawa area will explain what the beach is like, how to get there, where to stay, what to do in the area and more.
Where Is Berawa Beach?
Berawa Beach is at the end of Jalan Pantai Berawa (literally “Berawa Beach Road” and it’s in the middle of Canggu on the South Coast of Bali.
How To Get To Berawa Beach?
You can get to Berawa from Kuta, Seminyak, and Legian easily enough by Grab or Gojek and it shouldn’t take more than 30 minutes assuming light traffic.
If you’re staying in Canggu, you might even be able to walk to the beach.
If you’re going to travel from further away, you might consider renting a private car to take you there and back but there’s no shortage of Grab and Gojek services in Canggu.
When Is The Best Time To Visit Berawa Beach?
There is never a bad time to visit Bali and even in the rainy season, there are 8 hours of sunshine on average each day.
If you want to make the best of the beach break, you will want to visit during low tides as the high tide brings the water right up to the end of the beach.
Otherwise, we’d recommend aiming for sunset when the light over the Indian Ocean is at its best and you can really get the most out of Berawa.
Is There An Entrance Fee For Berawa Beach?
No, there’s no entrance fee for Berawa Beach but if you want to park at the Southern end of Jalan Pantai Berawa, you will need to pay a small parking fee (around 2-5,000 IDR). This is a secure parking area and is watched over by security.
However, if you’re on foot, you can walk straight down the road and onto the sand and nobody will make it hard for you to do so.
Things To Know Before You Visit Berawa Beach, Canggu
There are a few things you should know about Berawa before you visit:
- It’s a black sand beach – the sand is very beautiful at the right time of day but it can get very hot in the midday sun. Always wear thongs or flip-flops as burns to the feet are no joke.
- It’s most popular at sunset – sure people come to catch the surf all day long, but the best time is sunset. It’s the most beautiful sunset on Earth.
- Don’t swim – seriously, don’t swim at this location. It’s not safe to do so and there are no lifeguards.
- There is plenty of accommodation nearby – you can find villas, guesthouses, resorts, etc. within walking distance.
Things To Do At Berawa Beach
There are plenty of things to do at Berawa and they include:
FINNS Beach Club
FINNS Beach Club is the world’s best beach club and it’s the number one attraction in this part of Bali and possibly, in Bali as a whole.
More than 1 in 8 visitors to the island, will visit FINNS during their time in Bali. Its oceanfront infinity pools, ice-cold cocktails and amazing food are the stuff of legends.
The comfortable day beds are an amazing place to spend a day relaxing in the hot Balinese sun.
They have free WiFi too which means you can stay connected as you have fun.
But most of all, FINNS is about entertainment and their live DJs, vocalists, dancers, magicians and light shows are the stuff of legends.
A visit to Bali without a visit to FINNS is barely a visit at all.
Surf
The beach break at Berawa is ideal for beginner surfers and you will find that the surf is perfect for building up your skills before heading to more challenging parts of the island.
There are plenty of surf shops and surf schools in the area which will be more than happy to help equip you with the boards and gear as well as the knowledge to improve your surfing.
Watch The Sunset
We like to do this with a cocktail in the infinity pool at FINNS but the sunset is just as beautiful from the sand.
Bali is famous for its glorious sunsets and they don’t get much better than the sunset over Berawa.
Go For A Walk
This is a long sandy beach and while the black sands might not be everyone’s cup of tea, it’s a great beach for long walks.
In the early part of the day, you will see the surfers getting ready to catch the surf as dogs and their owners go up and down the beach.
Later on in the day, it’s a great spot for a romantic walk with a special someone or for a family stroll after lunch.
Go Shopping
There are two excellent beachwear shops in FINNS but if you wander around Jalan Pantai Berawa, you will find plenty of boutique stores offering fashion and souvenirs.
You may need to haggle in the souvenir stores, but if you do, you might be able to land yourself a bargain.
Where To Stay Near Berawa Beach
There are several great places to stay in this area. Of course, FINNS Resort will be the best destination for your holiday when it opens but until then why not check out:
- Swarga Suites Bali – this 5-star property represents excellent value for money and is just a short walk from the beach.
- White Goose Hotel – you can’t get closer to the beach than the White Goose which is also directly opposite FINNS.
- Citadines Berawa Beach – a very laid back and charming hotel complex that has an amazing pool area.
- Aradhana Villas – if you’re in the mood for some luxury villas, these villas by Aradhana may well be exactly what you’re looking for.
Where To Eat Near Berawa Beach
There are some amazing places to eat in this area too including:
- Monsoon Restaurant – this party restaurant at FINNS Beach Club has amazing choices of food and is regularly voted the best place to eat in Canggu on TripAdvisor
- Mosto – Mosto is an upmarket wine bar with a first-rate selection of dishes, it’s not cheap but it’s ideal for a quiet afternoon with friends
- Sababa – the Middle Eastern flavours at Sababa are excellent and their hummus takes some beating.
- Ruko Cafe – Ruko is a home away from home for many Australians in Berawa and their breakfast burger is amazing
- Lusa By/Suka – If you’re in the mood for cheap drinks and plenty of tacos this pleasant spot has you covered.
Other Things To Do Near Berawa Beach
There are plenty of things to do in this area too including:
- FINNS Recreation Club – the ten-pin bowling is temporarily closed, but the water park (perfect for little kids), amazing fitness centre and padel courts (opening soon) are ideal for a great day out. Their friendly staff will be very happy to see you too.
- Body Temple Spa – why not treat yourself to a little pampering and get a nice massage and work out all the stresses and strains of daily life? They do some great spa treatments too, maybe it’s time for a great facial?
- Tanah Lot – OK, it’s a drive away from Berawa but it is the most famous temple in this part of Bali and its location on an island just off the coast from the shore makes it a must-see if you’re in Canggu.
- Go street art hunting – Canggu is full of amazing street art and if you get off the main roads and wander down the side streets, you will find graffiti from some of the world’s top artists.
- Get arty at The Medium – The Medium is a great art and design gallery on the main road to the beach. If you love handcrafted products, you’re going to love THe Medium.
FAQs
What Is The Cleanest Beach In Bali?
Balangan Beach is the cleanest beach in Bali with Bias Tugel Beach competing for second place.
This is simply because these beaches see fewer visitors than most beaches, have regular clean-up crews and are sheltered from the worst of the onshore tide that brings plastic waste out of the ocean and onto beaches.
However, it’s important to note that while social media is awash with pictures of plastic on beaches in Bali – this isn’t a regular occurrence and beach clean-up crews always move it fairly swiftly.
The majority of beaches in Bali are very clean by the time that tourists arrive on the sand around lunchtime.
What Is The Most Picturesque Beach In Bali?
We think that if you’re going to take a photograph of a beach in Bali, you want to get out to the Nusa Islands to Kelungking Beach. That’s the famous “T-Rex” beach which when viewed from the right angle from above, looks like a tyrannasaurus rex.
You could also argue that the beaches of Uluwatu which are surrounded by majestic limestone cliffs are very photogenic too.
It’s also worth noting that while Berawa Beach, Bali may not be the first beach that you think of because of the black sand, it actually looks spectacular at sunset.
What Is The Nicest Beach In Bali?
We love Berawa Beach the home of FINNS Beach Club and the best sunset in Bali but we think most people would say that Nusa Dua Beach is the nicest beach in Bali.
That’s because it’s a white sand beach that looks amazing and is surrounded by 5-star hotel resorts that keep the sand immaculately clean all year round.
Nusa Dua is an upmarket area and the prices in restaurants, bars, etc. can be a bit higher than in the rest of Bali but access to the beach there is free even if you’re not staying in the resorts.
Is Berawa Beach Good For Beginners?
If you mean for surfing then yes, Berawa Beach is a great beach for beginners and there are several surf shops and surf schools in the area where you can get equipment and lessons too.
We should note that the waves are ideal for surfers, but this isn’t the right place for beginner swimming lessons or indeed, any kind of swimming at all.
The current offshore from Berawa Beach can be very severe away from the breaks and it’s easy even for advanced swimmers to be pulled out to sea.
If you do swim, make sure to follow all the safety guidance on the beach. There are no lifeguards on duty on Bali’s beaches.
Is Berawa Part Of Canggu?
Yes, Berawa is one of the three main beaches that make up “Canggu Beach”. The other two are Batu Bolong Beach and Echo Beach. There are several other beaches that can also fall into the “Canggu” definition depending on how wide you want to draw your boundaries.
Because Berawa is home to FINNS Beach Club, the world’s best beach club, it’s one of the most popular places on the island. With nearly 15% of all visitors to Bali paying a visit to FINNS Beach Club alone!
What Is The Most Popular Beach In Bali?
There are no official figures on popularity or visitor numbers to beaches in Bali but Kuta or Seminyak beaches are probably the busiest.
That’s because these are the most developed tourist towns in Bali and they see huge numbers of visitors.
These beaches are very attractive and can be absolutely jaw-droppingly beautiful at sunset but if you want a lot of space on the sand, you might want to consider one of Bali’s other beaches.
Can You Swim At Berawa Beach?
There is no law preventing you from swimming at Berawa Beach but we wouldn’t recommend swimming in this area at all.
It’s popular with surfers because of the excellent breaks, but swimmers will find that the currents can be severe and a riptide could easily drag you out to sea.
There are no lifeguards available on Bali’s beaches and if you do get into trouble, there’s no guarantee that anyone could help and even if they could, they might end up swept out to sea too.
If you really want to swim in the Berawa Area go to FINNS Beach Club early in the day or visit FINNS Recreation Club at any time of day and swim in the pool.
Which Is Better Seminyak Or Canggu, Bali?
Canggu is the most popular part of Bali and we’d say it’s for good reasons. The area has the best blend of old Bali and modern Bali.
There are a lot of facilities, great accommodation options, rice fields, the infamous Canggu Shortcut, and it’s an excellent place for singles, couples and families to relax and have fun.
Seminyak is great but it’s a little overdeveloped now and it tends to appeal to a very specific audience – younger, upwardly mobile people seeking to see and be seen.
If you want to explore Seminyak and Caanggu, we’d stay in Canggu and then take a day trip to Seminyak as it’s right next door.
Can You Walk From Seminyak To Canggu On The Beach?
Yes, you can but you should be aware that there are parts of the beach that are completely underwater and need to be approached carefully and at low tide.
As long as you’re OK with getting your feet wet, then it’s a fairly straightforward process to walk from one to the other.
However, you might prefer to walk from Seminyak to Kuta or Legian and beyond as this is a much easier walking route along the beach.
Final Thoughts On Berawa Beach Bali
Berawa Beach is our favourite beach in Bali. That’s because it’s home to FINNS Beach Club and because it has the most amazing sunset on the island.
It’s a great spot for surfers looking to improve their skills and it’s within walking distance of some of the best accommodations, cafes, and restaurants in Bali. Yet, somehow, it’s not as packed and crowded as the area around Batu Bolong.
You’ll also find that if you explore the area around Berawa there are plenty of other things to do.