Canggu is the number one tourist destination in Bali and that means most people want to include the area in their Bali Itinerary.
A Canggu adventure is an awesome thing, but how long do you want to spend among the rice paddies and pristine beaches of this area before you move on?
We’ve put together some ideas on just how many days you might want to spend in Canggu on your Bali trip.
Why Is Canggu Popular?
Canggu has the best blend of old and new Bali. You can have a surf lesson on Echo Beach before having a delicious breakfast in one of the many cafes and restaurants in the area.
You can visit Tanah Lot Temple and wander through the rice paddies. Indulge in a cooking class, spa day, yoga class or hit up one of the best beach clubs in the world.
Digital nomads will love the fact that Canggu has a huge number of coworking spaces and coliving spaces so when the surfing’s done for the day – they can get some work done on the island.
Whatever your travel style, you can find the perfect itinerary in Canggu that meets your needs and you can experience island life something which has disappeared a little from some of the other beach town areas in Bali.
What Is There To Do In Canggu?
There are lots of things to do in Canggu and depending on your preferences, you may want to spend more (or less) time in the area:
- Indulge in a delicious breakfast or brunch – some of the best brunches in Bali are in Canggu and it’s another reason that many digital nomads stay in the area (we’ve got all the best restaurants in Canggu and the best cafes too).
- See the sunset over the pristine beaches – Batu Bolong Beach, Berawa Beach, and Echo Beach all offer views of the best sunset on the island
- Spend time at a beach club – Canggu is home to FINNS the world’s best beach club. Everyone should experience this place for themselves and many people plan their Bali holidays just to see FINNS.
- Cooking classes – this area has plenty of places where you can learn to cook Balinese dishes.
- La Brisa Farmer’s Market – this Sunday market by the beach is a great place to experience some local fruit and veg fresh from the farm.
- Tanah Lot Temple – Tanah Lot Temple is one of the most beautiful and important temples in Bali. It’s super popular in peak season, though, so if you can get there early, you may find it’s less crowded.
- Surfing – the beaches in Canggu are awesome for beginner and intermediate surfers and there are a lot of surf schools available for lessons.
- Nusa Clay Club – if you want to do something a little different this charming business teaches you to make pottery.
- FINNS Recreation Club – this is a great place for people who love fitness. (You can find out list of the best gyms in Canggu here too).
- Rice Paddies – the rice terraces in Canggu aren’t quite as stunning as those near Ubud, but they’re still very pleasant.
- Join A Beach Clean-Up – beaches don’t clean themselves and while the more popular stretches of beach tend to be cleaned by the local business community, there are plenty of charitable organizations that run daily cleans ups where you can volunteer.
- Go Graffiti Spotting – Canggu has some amazing street art (and some terrible street art too, to be fair) – go on a walk and discover the talent of the island’s street artists.
- Go Co-Working – if you have to work while you’re here, why not join the digital nomads on their Canggu adventure and visit a co-working space? (Check out our digital nomad guide to Canggu and our list of the best coworking spaces).
- Try A Yoga Class – there are several yoga studios here where you can enjoy learning to stretch.
- Have A Massage – Canggu is a great place for a spa day too.
- Take A Day Trip – you’re in an excellent spot to see the whole island in from Canggu.
And we’re just scratching the surface here. If you explore the area, you’re going to find many other places to enjoy.
How Many Days In Canggu?
It’s really up to you and what you enjoy from a holiday. You can do the absolute basics of Canggu in a couple of days or you can spend longer and enjoy the pace of island life, master your surfing on Berawa Beach or Echo Beach and enjoy discounts on your accommodation for long stays.
Some Basic Itinerary Outlines For Time In Canggu
So, here are some very basic outlines of how you might want to spend some time in Canggu on your Bali holiday:
A 2-Day Canggu Getaway
Day 1: Start with a little surfing at Berawa Beach, enjoy a scrumptious breakfast in a cafe, take a walk through the local rice fields, stop for a massage in a spa and then take in sunset at Tanah Lot before enjoying a meal in one of the many amazing local restaurants.
Day 2: Visit FINNS Beach Club and spend a glorious day on the beach sipping cocktails and being entertained by the best people in the business. Stay after sunset and enjoy dancing the evening away.
3-Days Of Exploring Canggu
Day 3: Head down to Batu Bolong Beach and enjoy learning the art of paddleboarding. Nip to a yoga studio and enjoy an incredible session of stretching. Then, enjoy a long brunch at one of the best brunch spots on the island. In the afternoon, go horse riding on the beach.
5-Days In Canggu For A Deeper Dive
Day 4: It’s time for a day trip! Head to Ubud and see the Sacred Monkey Forest, and some of the incredible temples and visit the Tegallalang Rice Terraces. Make sure to take a sunset walk along the Campuhan Ridge before returning to Canggu for an amazing late dinner.
Day 5: Start the day early and wander around the back streets of Canggu seeking out some of the finest street art on the island. Stop for breakfast at an authentic local spot and enjoy some tasty Balinese food. Then head to FINNS Recreation Club to enjoy some time on the trampolines and in the bowling alley. In the afternoon, wander the local streets exploring the boutique stores and do some souvenir shopping for the folks back home.
Of course, these are only suggested itineraries, there’s so much that you can do in Canggu, that you could easily extend your time in the area for 5-10 days without getting bored.
FAQs
Should I Spend More Time In Canggu Or Ubud?
We think Canggu is the best spot on the island but Canggu and Ubud are very different places.
You come to Canggu mainly for its beaches and you can enjoy a surf lesson or surfing every day on some of the best surfer’s beaches in Bali (Echo Beach, in particular, is a must-see spot for surfers).
Then there are the beach clubs, Tanah Lot Temple, rice fields, etc. and you can easily spend a week or more in Canggu to get everything in.
However, there’s no doubt that Ubud offers a lot to see and do as well and if you’re less interested in beaches and more into temples, rice paddies and yoga – you may want to spend as much time in Ubud as you do in Canggu.
How Many Nights Should You Stay In Canggu?
It’s very much up to you. We live in this town and we don’t feel like we’ve seen everything, yet.
However, the perfect itinerary for someone on a holiday will probably be from 2-5 nights in Canggu though if you stay longer, you may find that you learn a lot more about this area.
(Check out our guide to 3 days in Canggu).
Is It Better To Stay In Seminyak Or Canggu?
We would always choose Canggu over Seminyak for somewhere to stay.
While Seminyak is a great beach town, it’s been a bit overdeveloped and it’s not got the rice paddies, temples, etc. of Canggu to go alongside the beaches, clubs, restaurants, etc.
The good news is that Canggu and Seminyak are next door to each other. You can easily stay in Canggu and then jump into a Grab or Gojek ride-share and be in Seminyak a few minutes later.
Is Canggu Worth Visiting?
Yes! Canggu is the most popular destination in Bali for good reasons.
While the area is being developed rapidly, there’s no doubt that for the moment – it has the best balance between modern and traditional island life.
It has all the facilities you need on hand to enjoy an amazing holiday on the island and if you want to see many of the other attractions here – a day trip should be enough to experience them.
Final Thoughts On The Number Of Days In Canggu On A Bali Itinerary
How long is the right time to spend in Canggu? It very much depends on your travel style and it’s worth remembering that in peak season, there may be more queues at every location, which can slow you down a little.
However, we think most visitors to the island would enjoy 2-5 day in Canggu without getting bored and they’re in a prime position to visit other attractions on the island while using Canggu as a base.