Two of the most popular resort towns in Bali are Canggu and Nusa Dua and choosing between them can be a hard prospect.
That’s why we’ve put together this round-up where we put the two head-to-head in categories that visitors really care about, so that you can make an informed decision on where to stay.
About Canggu
Canggu was once a very quite, rural environment with a small village at its centre. However, those days are long gone now and it’s the most popular vacation destination in Bali, now.
Explore the streets and rice fields and you’ll find it’s packed with resorts from humble guesthouses to 5-star luxury hotels, there are villas galore for holidaymakers too.
There are co-working spaces for the digital nomads, beaches that are crammed with surfers seeking the waves off the awesome breaks, party animals enjoying their best lives at FINNS Beach Club, foodies appreciating the extraordinary dining experiences that the area has to offer and much more.
You’ll also find shoppers crowding the most popular streets eager to spend some cash in the boutique stores and markets of the area.
Canggu used to be a backpacker haven and while the backpackers are still very welcome, it’s transformed into a cosmopolitan and exciting place with something for nearly every traveller.
About Nusa Dua
Nusa Dua was conceived as a high-end resort town for families seeking a place where they could hole up in a 5-star brand name hotel and just enjoy getting away from it all.
The beaches in this area are lined with resorts like this and there’s no doubt that each resort offers a great experience for the weary traveller, however, this kind of luxury comes at a price and some feel that Nusa Dua isn’t the most affordable place in Bali.
It’s location on the Bukit Peninsula means that it’s quite isolated from the rest of the island and thus, people do tend to stay within the confines of their resort except when they go on day trips.
There are shops and other amenities in this area if you do venture out, but there’s less choice than in the rest of Bali and it often comes at a higher price.
Despite the drawbacks, the golden white sands of Nusa Dua’s beaches continue to bring in visitors from all over the globe.
Canggu Or Nusa Dua? A Breakdown Of Each Area
In our head-to-head comparisons, we break down the areas into a list of categories that most visitors care about and then we put each area head-to-head.
Then, at the end of this comparison, we can declare a “winner” based on how many categories they have won.
We want to stress though, you can have a great time in both destinations, there’s nowhere in Bali that’s not worth seeing.
What Are The Hotels, Resorts, Etc. Like?
Nusa Dua is all about luxury brand name resorts and their target market is very much on families with money to spend who want to have most of their time in the hotel complex, with maybe the occasional excursion.
There’s not a lot of choice for travellers with a more modest budget in mind and almost nothing for the backpacker in Nusa Dua.
Canggu, on the other hand, is very much seeking to cater to everyone. There’s less emphasis on brand names but you can easily find a great 5-star hotel for a family if that’s what you’re seeking out.
The area is also home to a wide variety of villa complexes with everything from the fairly modest to the incredibly over the top available to visitors.
You’ll also find plenty of mid-range accommodation and while the guesthouses and hostels are not as abundant as they once were, backpackers won’t struggle to score lodgings in Canggu, either.
So, this is a win for Canggu as it simply has a much broader range of appeal than Nusa Dua.
Where Is The Best Place For A Party?
Nusa Dua doesn’t have the best nightlife scene in Bali, in fact, it’s fair to say that while the high-end luxury resorts have some very refined bars for elegant times sipping cocktails, there’s no real place to party in the area at all.
Canggu has its elegant speakeasies and cocktail bars too, and many of them aren’t resort properties and thus, offer better value for money.
However, there’s no doubt that as we go to press the best nightlife area on the island is Canggu and it’s home to FINNS Beach Club, the world’s best beach club as well as nightclubs, bars and pubs galore.
There’s absolutely no contest in this category, it’s a handsdown win for Canggu, though some might argue that being away from nightlife is a win of a kind too.
Which One Is Best For Shopaholics?
You’d think given the fact that Nusa Dua caters almost exclusively to upscale tourists that the area would be awash with shops eager to extract some of the money in their holiday funds.
Yet, it’s actually a pretty disappointing spot for shopping with not too many options and all of them considerably overpriced because of the area it’s in.
Sure, some people will pick up souvenirs and clothes because it’s convenient for them, but we can’t see many people travelling to Nusa Dua to go shopping.
Whereas, Canggu is the second best shopping destination on the island after Seminyak. It’s full of boutique stores that offer everything from home furnishings to the latest beachwear.
There are no malls in Canggu, but you don’t have to travel far to experience the malls in Kuta from Canggu, either.
We’re actually surprised by how easily Canggu wins this category, we’d expect more from Nusa Dua.
Where Will I Get The Best Food?
Nusa Dua has some excellent restaurants and, once again, many of them are in the resort properties. If you’re in the mood for a fabulous hotel Sunday brunch, you won’t find better than in this area.
There’s also a surfeit of fine dining restaurants which are only too happy to entertain the discerning palate.
What’s missing though is the mid-range and warung-style offerings, which are very much few and far between.
Canggu’s the island’s foodie’s paradise and whatever you want you can find it in Canggu. From Monsoon, the only party restaurant in Bali with an incredible reputation, to Warung Local serving authentic Balinese food for a tiny price, to Vore, a newcomer specializing in dry-aged meat.
There’s something for everyone in Canggu’s dining scene and that includes plenty of offerings at all price points.
So, Canggu takes this category too and while there are some great restaurants in Nusa Dua, you should be prepared to pay for them.
Comparing Beaches
Canggu’s black sand beaches are gorgeous in the right light and the memorable sunsets over the beach when the water is trapped in the sand are world class.
The beaches also have some of the best surf breaks on the island and Canggu is a great spot for surfers of all abilities.
However, there’s no doubt that the soft, white sands of Nusa Dua are the things that postcards from tropical islands are made of and that many tourists dream of beaches like these.
The only downside of Nusa Dua’s beaches is that a lot of the sand is monopolized by the resorts that face out onto it.
Overall, though, while it’s closer than you might expect, Nusa Dua wins this category.
Water Sports Opportunities
Canggu is an amazing place for surfers, but it’s fair to say that the other water sports capabilities of the area are a bit limited.
Because of the breaks and currents, it’s not great for swimming or for snorkelling.
Nusa Dua, on the other hand, may not have a huge amount going on but its next door neighbour, Tanjung Benoa is the place to try almost every water sport apart from surfing.
One great thing about Bali is that water sports are very reasonably priced (including the surfing lessons and equipment hire in Canggu) and there are no scams like those practiced in places like Phuket and Pattaya.
So, Nusa Dua wins this category too.
Which Is The Prettiest Place?
Beauty is always in the eye of the beholder and we’d have to point out that this category is the most subjective in our rankings.
Nusa Dua’s beaches are lovely and there’s no doubt that the high-end resorts look great dotted around the shoreline.
But there’s not much trace of “Bali” in the area, it’s a polished tourist experience without a huge amount of authenticity.
Canggu is a little rougher and readier in its visual appeal than Nusa Dua, but you can still enjoy a walk in the rice fields, some incredible sunsets (Nusa Dua is on the wrong side of the island for that) and there’s a certain charm about the winding streets around the area.
Overall, we’re going to call this one a draw. Neither place is obviously more attractive than the other.
Where Will I Have The Most Things To Do?
Nusa Dua is built for people who don’t want to spend much time outside of their resorts and that means each resort has a bunch of things to do and often has a kids club.
However, once you get outside of the hotel, there’s much less to do than you’ll find in other areas of the island.
Sure, Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park isn’t too far away, there is a nice path linking the shoreline resorts, and there are a couple of small offshore islands to explore, but that’s about it. Everything else is going to need a day trip.
Canggu is a happening place and part of its popularity is that the area has an awful lot of things to do.
From horseriding on the beach, to spending a day at the world’s best beach club, to exploring art galleries and street art, to attending a jewellery making workshop, and more. You’ll never be bored in Canggu.
So, Canggu wins this category and by a reasonable margin.
Which Area Do The Expats Prefer?
Hands down, Canggu is the most popular area with expats at this moment in Bali. That’s because the area has access to most of the rest of the island within a reasonable driving distance and it has the most facilities on hand.
Yes, it’s a little bit more expensive than some of the neighbouring areas, but it’s also less built up than places like Kuta and Legian.
Nusa Dua does have some expats, but they’re mainly folks who are working in the resort properties.
It’s an expensive place to live in and while there are facilities on hand, there aren’t as many as around the other beach towns. It’s also harder to get out of the Bukit Peninsula from Nusa Dua and go to other areas on the island.
Canggu takes this round too.
Which Area Is Most Popular With Digital Nomads?
Bali is one of the world’s digital nomad hotspots as it offers an excellent balance between affordability and quality of life.
Canggu has been the number one digital nomad destination on the island for quite some time, now. Ubud comes in a close second.
That’s because Canggu has endless coffee shops and coworking spaces where nomads can work, coliving for them to congregate after work and lots of nomad meetups, etc.
We’re not saying there are no nomads in Nusa Dua, but they’re very thin on the ground, the premium pricing, etc. is going to deter many from even visiting this part of Bali.
So, Canggu is definitely the winner in this category.
Canggu Vs Nusa Dua – Which Place Comes Out On Top?
So, in our head-to-head we find that Nusa Dua wins the best beaches, the best water sports and draws in the aesthetics category.
Whereas Canggu has the best shopping, the best nightlife, the most to do, the best dining, the best hotels and is the top pick for both expats and digital nomads.
So, it’s easy enough for us to declare that most people are going to have a better time of their holiday in Canggu than in Nusa Dua.
That’s not to say that Nusa Dua’s a bad place to go, but it’s very much defined as a place for wealthy families to spend their holiday within the confines of their favourite 5-star brand name resort.
FAQs
Is Nusa Dua A Nice Part Of Bali?
Yes, Nusa Dua is a lovely part of Bali. It’s got some of the nicest beaches on the island and it’s a resort town that was built to cater to well-heeled families.
You’ll find that there are plenty of upsides to staying in Nusa Dua, but it can be on the expensive side and it’s a little bit cut off (due to geography) from the rest of the island.
Is Nusa Dua or Canggu Better For Shopping?
Canggu is a much better shopping destination than Nusa Dua. Despite Nusa Dua attracting upmarket tourists, there’s not been a boom in boutique stores, etc. to cater to those tourists.
Yes, you can find souvenirs and most things you need in Nusa Dua, but they tend to come at premium prices which are only likely to appeal to the convenience shopper.
Canggu, on the other hand, is one of the most thriving shopping destinations on the island and comes second only to Seminyak.
Whether you’re in the market for some bespoke artwork, new beachwear, surfing equipment, or a new sofa, you’re going to be able to find it in Canggu.
Are The Beaches In Nusa Dua Clean?
Yes, the beaches in Nusa Dua are clean. Firstly, they are on a different side of the island from those commonly plagued by garbage washing ashore and secondly, the resorts that line the shores of Nusa Dua are very meticulous about keeping the sands free of trash.
You can be certain that any rubbish on the beach in Nusa Dua won’t stay there for very long. However, there may be some rubbish in the water off the coast, as there is in almost every spot of ocean on the planet, now.
Should I Stay In Canggu Or Nusa Dua?
We’d recommend that most people stay in Canggu. It has more to offer most travellers than Nusa Dua and it’s well-positioned for exploring more of Bali.
You can always take a day trip to Nusa Dua if you really want to see that area too.
Final Thoughts On Canggu Or Nusa Dua
As you can see from the results of our head-to-head, Canggu has more to offer most visitors than Nusa Dua.
That doesn’t mean that you can’t have a great holiday in both places, you can. But if you can only spend time in or the other, you might want to prioritize Canggu.