Canggu is fast rivalling its bustling, neighbours Kuta and Seminyak. Canggu is truly for all travellers; the surfers, couples, backpackers, digital nomads, and anyone else. Head to this beachy town to enjoy a dip in the ocean, learn to surf, take advantage of the beach bar happy hours, and dine at the hipster cafes.
Find out the 15 best things to do in Canggu below, as well as a brief guide on where to stay and how to get around Canggu, including your trip from the airport straight to your accommodation.
For everything you need to know about travelling to Indonesia, make sure to also check out our in-depth Indonesia travel guide and this guide to the best tourist sim cards in Indonesia (yeah, it’s a bit complicated). Let’s get into it!
Things to Do in Canggu
1. Relax at the Best Beaches in Canggu
One of your main reasons to visit Canggu will be to hit up the local beaches. Take a stroll along the beaches, have a dip in the ocean, learn to surf, relax on a daybed under an umbrella, or eat a meal with a cocktail in hand at a beachfront bar.
Canggu is made up of a stretch of beaches. There’s Echo Beach, Batu Bolong Beach (the main beach), Nelayan Beach, and Berawa Beach further down.
The great thing about the Canggu beaches is that there’s plenty to see. Looking out to the water, you’ll see an array of surfers of all abilities. The beaches are amazing places to watch the sunset.
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Turning your back to the sea, beachfront bars line the beach. They all have something unique about them. It could be their use of colours, their cuisine, the genre of music playing, and some even have a swing.
Canggu beaches also have another advantage. In Kuta and Seminyak, hawkers may overcrowd you and act quite pushy if you look slightly interested in making a purchase. In Canggu, it’s a lot more relaxed. You may get asked if you want a surfboard or a lesson, and ladies selling bracelets might approach you from time to time. A simple, ‘no thank you’ or ‘tidak terima kasih’ (pronounced tee-duck tuh-ree-ma-ka-see) will do the trick if you aren’t interested.
2. Learn to Surf at Canggu Beach
Learning to surf is a great way to spend a day and one of the best things to do in Canggu.
Surfers will start as early as sunrise, around 6 am. The more advanced surfers tend to go early around 6 am or 7 am so they can surf without the crowds, and do so before it gets too hot. If you rent a scooter, you can ask to hire one with a surfboard rack, making transporting your surfboard a breeze.
Every second store on the beachfront seems to be for surfboard hire or lessons. As you’re walking along the beach, you’ll likely be stopped by the store owners, asking if you’d like to hire a surfboard.
It is recommended to get a beginner’s lesson so you can learn the basics. It’s a lot less frustrating once you get out there. If you’re uncoordinated, you’ll feel a lot less self-conscious learning in Canggu, as there will be dozens of beginner’s lessons going on at the same time as you.
A 2-hour surfing lesson should cost around 350k IDR. Prices tend to be very similar across the different stores, but if you ask around, you may be able to score a deal, especially if the lesson is for two or more people.
Then, if you prefer to do your own thing, renting a surfboard will be a lot cheaper, at 50k IDR for 2 hours.
Batu Bolong Beach seems to be the most popular place to try your hand at surfing. Berawa Beach would be the second most popular spot. For more of a challenge, intermediate and advanced surfers should head to Echo Beach instead.
3. Stay at One of the Best Luxury Resorts on Bali
Overall, Bali’s a pretty cheap destination for travellers, but it’s also a pretty amazing place to visit for those of you on a baller budget.
Como Uma in Canggu is without question, one of the most stunning resorts in Bali. The rooms are beautiful and modern – especially the Penthouse with its own infinity pool!
The resort is conveniently located right on the beach in the heart of Canggu, however, you won’t really care where it is as you won’t want to leave the resort at all. The beach is on your doorstep, as well as pools, a restaurant, bar, and just about anything else you could want.
For a treat yourself stay, Como Uma is well worth the splurge.
Alternatively, if you’re on a budget we personally loved staying at Leo Home Stay. It’s not on the beach, but it’s close enough to walk.
4. Visit Tanah Lot
Perched atop an impressive rock formation, Tanah Lot is somewhere you have to visit on your trip to Canggu. Tanah Lot is a Hindu temple, a popular place for pilgrimage, and is a favoured spot for photographers at sunset. It is one of seven sea temples located in Bali. Pura Ulun Danu Beratan is another one and one of our top things to do in Munduk.
The journey will take you 30 minutes from the heart of Canggu. The entrance fee is 60k IDR for adults and 30k IDR for children. Like other Hindu temples, you’ll need to have your knees covered when you enter. Sarongs will be provided for you at the entrance.
The temple is open from 7 am – 7 pm. Bear in mind the temple isn’t reachable in high tide, so check out the tide times before your visit and plan accordingly. Regardless of the tides, it’s still worth the view.
There are actually two other temples nearby (both are less than a 10-minute walk) that are also worth visiting. There’s Enjung Galuh and Batu Bolong Temple. Batu Bolong is commonly mistaken for Tanah Lot and is easily the most photographed place and amongst the top attractions in Canggu.
The temple is built on the edge of a cliff, The void, or hole, at the base of the rock creates a natural arched bridge. After visiting the other temples, set your tripod up in the prime spot on the beach to get that perfect sunset shot.
Although some tours, such as this one, include Tanah Lot as a stop, we’d recommend just booking a Grab to go straight there.
5. Happy Hour Hop
Many of the bars in Canggu have Happy Hour. Just walk along the streets or the beach, and look out for the signs. Here are some of our favourite happy hours in Canggu.
Sand Bar
Sand Bar is right on the beach. It’s a great place to sit on a picnic bench or beanbag and relax or watch the sunset. Happy Hours run for three hours, from 4 pm – 7 pm. You can get three beers for 50k IDR or three select cocktails for 100k IDR. The options are usually Mojito, Cuba Libre, or Vodka Soda.
Deus Ex Machina
This one is for the hipsters. Not only is Deus Ex Machina a motorbike garage, but it is also a cafe, tattoo parlour, gallery, surf shop, and bar. Happy Hour is from 5 pm – 7 pm, when you’ll get 2-for-1, so that’s two large Bintangs for 50k IDR.
Grass Terrace Cafe
It’s always Happy Hour at Grass Terrace Cafe. You’ll get two cocktails for 80k IDR. This is a great brunch spot and you’ll frequently see digital nomads working here.
6. Take a Canggu Yoga Class
Whenever you think of Bali, yoga always comes to mind. Since yoga has become associated with this island, where better than here to do some yoga?
Even if you haven’t jumped on the yoga bandwagon, Canggu is a great place to try it out. Most Canggu yoga studios cater to all levels, with the majority of attendees being beginners.
Samadi Bali
Samadi Bali is the most well-known yoga and wellness academy in Canggu. They have a vegetarian cafe, retreats, a spa, and a yoga academy.
One class will cost you 140k IDR, whereas a one-month membership is priced at 2.4 million IDR. They have a variety of classes available from 7 am in the morning, right up to 8 pm at night. Try out Vinyasa Flow, Yin Yoga, and Handstand Jam!
7. Look for Canggu Street Art
Like Georgetown in Penang and Hosier Lane in Melborne, street art fills the streets of Canggu. It’s one of the great free things to do in Canggu.
Look out for Quint’s art pieces. He’s a Jakarta-born artist who tends to favour black and white street art with red hearts around the piece. His work is also featured in Jakarta, Tokyo, and Berlin.
Simply go for a walk or jump on a scooter in search of street art. Street art is located all over the town, especially at the end of alleyways. Here are the best places to go searching for street art:
- Batu Bolong Beach
- Jalan Batu Belig
- Pantai Batu Bolong
- Outside Old Man’s
- Jalan Pantai Berawa
8. Explore the Canggu Rice Terraces
Although Canggu is primarily known as a place digital nomads come to surf, you can find the typical rice paddies you see on postcards here as well.
The rice terraces in Canggu are definitely worth a visit. Whereas they’re not as extensive and impressive as the ones in Ubud, they’re a lot less heavily touristed and they’re a way to keep yourself grounded with the more authentic side of Canggu.
A popular route is to start at Jalan Pantai Batu Mejan, at Echo Beach. From there, take a left onto Jalan Pura Blulang Yeh until you reach the end of the road. Then you’ll be at the crossroads of Jalan Sempol, the best road to view the rice paddies.
For the shorter way back, you could turn left down Jalan Sempol until you reach Jalan Pantai Pererenan, then take a left until you reach the beach again.
This loop is around 5 km. This is quite a long walk on a hot day, so the best time to do this walk would be early morning or late afternoon. Yes, you could scooter, but I wouldn’t recommend this at all. This is because Jalan Pura Blulang Yeh is a narrow dirt road. Instead, we’d recommend hiring a bike. It’ll be a lot easier to manoeuvre around.
If you want to take the longer route by scooter to avoid the dirt road, Jalan Pantai Batu Mejan from Echo Beach, right to the main road, Jalan Raya Canggu. Make a left here, then another left down Jalan Sempol until you reach Jalan Pantai Pererenan, which will take you down to the beach again. This longer route is about 7 km. It is walkable, but a scooter will make the journey much easier.
9. Watch the Sunset
Canggu is a great place to watch the sunset in Bali. The best places to watch the sunset in Canggu are from either Echo Beach, Batu Bolong Beach, or Berawa Beach. If you’re game, climb the rocks to get an uninterrupted view of the sunset. You’ll often see a photographer out on the rocks with their tripod, so you know it’s going to be a good spot.
On the beach, there are always crowds of people watching the sunset. Our tip is to take a picnic. Head to the local supermarket or convenience store, stock up on goodies, and bring your beach towel to use as your picnic blanket. This is our favourite way to spend an evening anywhere in the world.
Otherwise, find one of the many local bars lining the edge of the beach. La Brisa on Echo Beach is a popular spot, as well as Sand Bar. Get comfy on a bean bag, grab a coconut or a Bintang, and watch the show unfold as the sun goes down.
10. Eat Local food
The best place to get Iocal food is at a warung. A warung is a small, family-owned business specializing in Indonesian cuisine.
Some warungs will use nets or glass cabinets to keep flies away from the food. There are plenty of warungs in Canggu, so just scope out the ones which appear to use good hygiene practices. We’ve put together a list of our 20 favourite restaurants in Canggu, which includes a few of the best warungs.
Our favourite warung by far is Warung Jaba. Their food tastes amazing and happens to be the cheapest we’ve found. A heavily-piled plate will only cost you around 35k IDR.
Grab a plate and fill it up with whatever you desire. There’s usually a mix of vegetarian and non-vegetarian options. Don’t miss out on the yellow rice and beef rendang. All the choices are amazing, but those two you have to try.
You can also order from the menu – try their gado-gado or pineapple pancakes.
Other warungs we love to go to include Warung Bu Mi and Varuna Warung.
Our three favourite dishes to try are:
Nasi Goreng
Nasi goreng is Indonesian fried rice. The rice is usually served with a fried egg and cucumber. You can also get nasi goreng made with meat, like chicken.
Satay
Cooking over smoking coals, these marinated meat skewers are irresistible. They’re served with peanut sauce and rice cakes, called ketupat.
Gado-gado
This dish literally translates to mix-mix. Gado-Gado is a mixture of vegetables covered in a tasty peanut sauce. Vegetables usually include potato, green beans, boiled egg, corn, cucumber, tofu, and sometimes tempeh.
If you’re ever wondering what to do in Canggu, just go for a walk and find some food.
11. Enjoy the Nightlife
Canggu is the place to be when the sun goes down – it won’t be difficult to figure out what to do in Canggu at night. Before the town became known as the place where digital nomads in Bali reside, Canggu was known for its nightlife. Unfortunately, thanks to COVID-19 we suspect the nightlife in Canggu is probably a bit quieter – hopefully this changes when we travel resumes in the future.
Vault
Vault is a relatively new player in the nightclub scene but is quickly gaining popularity. The interior is slick and modern, with a dancefloor and a DJ playing electronic beats. Vault frequently hosts events, many of which are free if you enter before midnight.
If you need a break from the dancing, or you’re looking for a more chilled night, they’ve also got a lounge area to relax in.
12. Relax at Beach Clubs
Canggu does not have a shortage of bars, beaches, or pools! The pool bars are a great place to relax and spend an afternoon.
La Brisa Bali
La Brisa Bali is breathtaking and one of the best beach clubs in Canggu. The decor looks like an upscale treehouse which has been made from reclaimed fishing boats. It is decorated with fairy lights, wicker furniture, and roped netting.
If that wasn’t enough to convince you, all their food is sustainably-sourced.
La Brisa Bali is located on Echo Beach, making it one of the best places to catch the sunset in Bali. Take a dip in their pool in the afternoon, then by sunset, find a great spot and enjoy the view with a beer or cocktail in hand.
Like many upscale bars, there is a minimum spend. For a seat that faces the beach, you’ll be required to pay 200k IDR as the minimum spend. For a sofa, the minimum spend is 500k IDR.
Finn’s Beach Club
Even before making your way out to Bali, you’ll have heard of Finn’s Beach Club. It is the epitome of beach clubs in Canggu, but this does come at a price – it’s incredibly busy.
There’s not one, but four pools. One being an infinity pool and two being swim-up pool bars.
There is a minimum spend, so it’s the kind of place you’d bring a group of friends. For the double day beds, the minimum spend is 3 million IDR. This is worth it if you bring five other friends with you and spend a few hours here. Getting a meal each and a couple of cocktails, and you’ll easily make up the minimum spend. For just a couple though, it’s quite dear. They also have single day beds, bean bags, and seats at a lower minimum spend.
The Lawn
The Lawn is right on Echo Beach. Watch the surfers and the sunset as you relax by the beachfront infinity pool.
The minimum spend depends if you’re visiting on a weekday, weekend, or the festive season. Cabanas will cost as little as 350k IDR on a weekday and 1.5 million IDR during the festive season. Day beds start at 500k on a weekday up to 2.5 million IDR during the festive season. The minimum spends are definitely worth it outside of the festive season.
13. Shop at the Canggu Markets
There are three Sunday Markets in Canggu:
Samadi Organic Market
Every Sunday from 9 am – 2 pm, the Samadi Organic Market is held next to Samadi Bali Yoga Studio at Jalan Padang Linjong.
Grab your fresh produce for the week, especially the fresh tropical fruit. You can also buy freshly-baked breads, cheeses, coffee beans, essential oils, jewellery, and clothing.
Love Anchor Market Canggu
Nextdoor to Love Anchor Market, there’s a mixture of indoor shops and outdoor stalls. They sell anything from clothing to jewellery, to soaps, handicrafts, and souvenirs. They’re open every day from 9 am – 9 pm and are the only Canggu market to open daily.
Come on a weekend for their special weekend bazaar. This is a great time to get some great deals on clothing and handicrafts. And in case you buy too much, we’ve even got this handy guide on how to pack a suitcase to maximize space!
La Laguna Gypsy Market
Each month, La Laguna Beach Bar hosts their own gypsy market. The huge market hosts 100+ stalls selling organic and eco-friendly products. Live music accompanies the experience, which really livens up the atmosphere.
The La Laguna Gypsy Market is held over a weekend each month from 4 pm – 10 pm. Check out their timetable here. The majority of the stalls sell clothing and accessories, but you’ll also be able to scope out herbs, spices, coffee, ice-cold drinks, and food.
La Laguna Gypsy Market appears to be closed now but we’re hoping it reopens again in the future.
14. Stay fit
Get your Bali body by working out at one of their many gyms. They have gyms available for classes, yoga, CrossFit, and those who just want to do their own workouts.
Nirvana Strength
Nirvana Strength is one of the most well-established gyms in Canggu. They have an indoor gym facility, as well as an onsite cafe and recovery centre, including hyperbaric chambers, and an EMS lounge.
Their casual price is 250k IDR, which is standard across gyms in Canggu. A one-month pass will cost you 3.2 million IDR.
S2S Fitness Bali
CrossFit is becoming increasingly popular in Bali. S2S was actually the first CrossFit gym to open in Canggu. A casual pass will cost you 200k, and if you sign up for a one-month membership, this will cost you 1.65 million IDR.
Bali Climbing
Bali Climbing is a climbing and bouldering gym. They offer routes for all levels, from beginner to advanced. They also have climbing and gym equipment, as well as a cafe. If you’re an avid climber, Bali Climbing also organises climbing excursions.
15. Indulge in a Balinese Massage
Everywhere you look there’ll be a massage parlour or spa in Bali. That’s exactly what you’d expect from Southeast Asia’s relaxation capital. You’ll find everything from a back alley parlour to a luxury day spa overlooking the rice paddies.
Unfortunately, Canggu doesn’t really have massage parlours with spectacular views. However, they do have parlours where you can get an amazingly relaxing massage.
Here are a couple of the best massage parlours in Canggu:
Lotus Massage Therapy
Lotus Massage Therapy is a popular massage parlour in Canggu. They have two locations, one near Echo beach and one in Canggu further inland.
A one-hour full-body massage will cost you 180k IDR, which is quite standard amongst massage parlours and day spas in Canggu.
Therapy Canggu
Therapy Day Spa is a bit more upmarket compared to some of the other massage parlours. They’re also a bit more pricey at 270k IDR for a one-hour full-body massage. They offer a range of different massages and spa treatments to suit everyone.
16. Take Part in a Beach Cleanup
Unfortunately, the beaches in Bali aren’t as squeaky clean as you see in the photographs. Help out by taking parting in a beach cleanup and do your little act of kindness.
Trash Hero Canggu is part of the global movement, Trash Hero World. Indonesia is one of the 12 countries part of the movement.
The team meets every week on either a Saturday or a Sunday. To find out their meeting point for the week, check out their Facebook page. Just turn up – it’s free to help out and they’ll also provide you with gloves and refreshments to keep you going.
Where to Stay in Canggu
Batu Bolong is the best area to stay in during your stay in Canggu. You’ll find everything here – restaurants, bars, market stalls, and the beach.
Jalan Pantai Batu Bolong has many homestays, as well as hostels and hotels. At the end of the road lies Batu Bolong Beach. You could also consider staying closer to Berawa Beach, but it will be a lot busier. It’s nearby the infamous Finn’s Beach Club and more upscale restaurants and bars.
If you’re looking for a more secluded area, try staying closer to Pererenan Beach. This is nearer to the rice fields. However, it’ll be quite a long walk to the busier streets for good food and drinks. With a scooter or motorcycle, this should be no problem.
Budget: We stayed at Leo Home Stay and thought it was great value. Super friendly staff, private rooms, affordable and located near the beach.
Mid-Range: Zin is a beautiful resort located near the beach. Its vibe epitomises Canggu with trendy and modern decor.
Luxury: Como is the ultimate luxury beach resort. Located right on Echo Beach and just a short walk from La Brisa Beach Club, you won’t need to go far to have a great time.
How to get to Canggu
From the airport, Canggu is a 1-hour drive away. The easiest way to arrange a pickup is to book an airport transfer here for around 200k IDR, which is an okay price.
A Bluebird Taxi is the best way to get there. The drive should cost you 150-200k IDR. Either book one through the app or go to the departures terminal on level three. As a passenger gets out, the driver will be free to take you back to your accommodation. The latter seems to work better as you don’t have to wait as long.
Be aware that there are other taxi companies that pose as Bluebird with similar coloured cars. Look out for the word ‘Bluebird’ on the car and a driver in a uniform. Other taxi companies may refuse to use a meter or use a faulty meter with large jumps in price.
Grab is another option, and there are now two allocated Grab pickup zones. There’s one in the domestic terminal past the taxi drivers until you see a discrete green and white Grab sign at the pickup area.
However, it’s more likely that you’ll be coming from the international terminal. Walk towards the parking garage to area C80 for pickup.
Check with your accommodation, as they may organise an airport shuttle for you. This will be the most convenient way to get from the airport to your accommodation, but is usually more pricy. Some people also choose to book a private driver, but once again, this tends to be more pricy. If you go with this option, book someone with good recommendations and reviews.
How to get around Canggu
The vast majority of tourists and locals alike rent a scooter to explore the island. The streets are mostly walkable, but in the heat, this makes it a little more difficult. Difficult, but definitely doable.
Rent a scooter for 60k IDR per day or around 800k per month. It’s not necessary to prebook – just walk right into a shop that rents out scooters and motorcycles.
Something to bear in mind is whether or not it is legal for you to drive in Bali. Although you can rent a scooter without even showing your licence, if you do not have an international licence plus your country’s licence covering bikes over 100cc, you may not be covered by your insurance company, should anything go wrong. Whether you take the risk is your call.
When it comes to a taxi, forget the ride-sharing apps. Bluebird and Grab aren’t welcome in Canggu, so you may be lucky enough to catch either from the airport to your accommodation, but drivers tend not to dare to pick up from Canggu. Instead, hailing a motorbike or taxi cab on the street may be your best bet. But, it could be difficult to negotiate a fair price or find one that uses a meter. Make sure to follow along with Google Maps when you’re in the car – you can read our guide to the best Indonesia sim cards if you need access to the internet.
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