South Bali

• 🌍 Denpasar — a bustling city, the administrative center and transport hub of the island but not a major tourist destination
• 🌍 Jimbaran — seaside resorts, a nice sheltered beach and seafood restaurants south of Kuta
• 🌍 Kuta — party central, by far the most heavily developed area in Bali. Lots of shopping and nightlife and the center of lower-end party culture on Bali
• 🌍 Legian — located between Kuta and Seminyak
• 🌍 Sanur — seaside resorts and beaches popular with older families
• 🌍 Seminyak — quieter, more upscale beachside resorts and villas just to the north of Legian, with some fashionable upscale restaurants and trendy designer bars. Much of the better nightlife has moved into this area
• 🌍 Kerobokan — a tourist area starting to be favored by tourists on the north side of Seminyak

• 🌍 Bukit Peninsula — the rugged southernmost part of Bali which is home to the stunningly located clifftop temple at Uluwatu
• 🌍 Canggu — black sand beaches, surfing and rolling rice paddies
• 🌍 Nusa Dua — an enclave of high-end resorts
• 🌍 Tanah Lot — one of Bali's important directional temples and a world renowned golf course, the sunset here is to die for

This is by far the most popular part of Bali with visitors. The airport is here along with the greater Kuta area which now stretches several km to incorporate Legian and Seminyak. The area south from the airport is quieter and largely upscale including Jimbaran and Nusa Dua. The areas north of Seminyak up the coast to Canggu and on to Tanah Lot are more rural but also fast being developed. Sanur on the opposite coast is a mature tourist town which appeals mostly to older families.

Over time, this region developed into a metropolitan area called Sarbagita (Denpasar-Badung-Gianyar-Tabanan).

Famed Kuta Beach. This 5-km stetch of sand is one of key reasons why Bali has become such a hot tourist destination. With the inevitable crowds nowadays some of the associated romance has gone but it is still a great experience, especially at sunset. There are obvious access points throughout Kuta, Legian and Seminyak but none more popular than the long beachfront road in front of the Hard Rock Hotel (Jalan Pantai Kuta). In Legian, Jalan Padma and Jalan Double Six run perpendicular to the beach and provide popular access. As you move north toward Seminyak, the beach becomes noticeably quieter and more laid back and the stretch at Petitenget is particularly recommended for those seeking to escape large crowds. The best way in for this northern stretch is via the Petitenget temple car park (Rp 3,000) on Jalan Petitenget opposite the entrance to the Sentosa villa resort.

The Bali Bomb Memorial is a notable landmark on bustling Jalan Legian in Kuta at the site of the old Paddy's Bar and opposite the former site of the Sari Club (still an empty space next to the Billabong shop). A memorial to the 202 people killed in the dreadful Kuta bombings on 12th October 2002. Please be calm and silent while paying your respects. Every year on the anniversary of the atrocity, the local Balinese community hold a ceremony here to honour the dead and wounded.

Two of Bali's nine key directional temples lie in the southern region and both are popular attractions for visitors. Either can be easily reached by visitors with independent transport and both are offered as headline attractions in organised tours. Please remember that (as with all temples in Bali), an appropriate sarong and sash must be worn when entering. You can either bring these with you or rent them for a nominal fee at the temple entrance.

Tanah Lot Temple (Pura Tanah Lot) is located up the west coast from the main Kuta/Legian/Seminyak conurbation and takes between 45 minutes and 1 hour to reach by car. The temple is located on a rock just offshore and is said to be the work of revered 15th century Hindu priest Nirartha. This is an extremely popular tourist destination and the whole area is often very busy indeed, especially in the late afternoons, just before sunset. The area between the car park (Rp 5,000 per vehicle) and the beach adjacent to the temple is a maze of souvenir shops selling just about every Balinese trinket imaginable. Once you have fought your way through the souvenir vendors to the beach (entrance Rp 10,000), you will see the magnificent temple perched on a rock just a few metres offshore. There is a footpath to the raised cliff area just to the south from where the views of the temple and the sunset behind it are outstanding. There are photo opportunities abound.

In the completely opposite direction at the southwestern most tip of the Bukit Peninsula sits Uluwatu Temple (Pura Uluwatu). The location of the temple is truly spectacular perched 75 metres up on a limestone cliff above crashing waves. There are more steep headlands on either side and sunsets over Uluwatu are a sight to behold. Though a small temple was claimed to have existed beforehand, the structure was significantly expanded by a Javanese sage, Empu Kuturan in the 11th century. Another sage from East Java, Dang Hyang Nirartha is credited for constructing the padmasana shrines and is claimed to have attained Moksha here. You are free to walk around the temple grounds but the central courts can only be entered during special rituals. The temple is inhabited by many monkeys, who are extremely adept at snatching visitors' belonging, including bags, cameras and eyeglasses. Keep a very close grip on all your belongings and stow away your eyeglasses if at all possible. If you do have something taken, the monkeys can usually be induced to exchange it for some fruit. Rewarding the monkeys like this only encourages them to steal more. Locals and even the temple priests will be happy to do the job for you.

A trip to Uluwatu combines well with seeing the relatively quiet white sand beaches on the west coast of the Bukit Peninsula. Since the degradation of Dreamland beach by the huge Pecatu Graha development, the most popular and easiest to reach is Padang-Padang. This lies about 4 km north of Uluwatu temple and is accessed from the obvious bridge on the main road (you cannot miss this). The beach is in an attractive cove and is quite deep at low tide. The waves are big here and Padang-Padang is popular with surfers. Only the strongest swimmers should consider entering the water.

This is the partying capital of Bali and perhaps of the whole of Southeast Asia. If shorts, singlets and lots of beer is your thing, look no further than Kuta. If you prefer a rather more sophisticated night on the town, then the options in Seminyak are more appealing.

Legian Beach is a great place to learn to surf, either formally at the surf school or informally with the local boys.

Seminyak is home to many top class spas where you can pamper yourself at prices a fraction of those you will pay at home.

Waterbom Park in Tuban, Kuta is one of the largest water theme parks in Asia and your children will love you for taking them here.

Eating seafood on the beach at Jimbaran is right at the top of the list for many visitors to Bali. Order your choices by weight and have them freshly grilled while you stare at the stars or the glistening ocean.

Seminyak is host to some truly world class restaurants and foodies will not be short of choice here. The Seminyak clientele is very demanding and any restaurant that thrives here has to be top notch. Try the well established beachfront restaurants La Luciola, Breeze or Ku de Ta or, a little inland on Jalan Petitenget, the very highly rated Sarong.

At the other end of the scale, street and market food in Denpasar is not to be scoffed at.

For ravish night life, Kuta Beach has no equal on Bali. A 7 km strip stretching north of the original village, packed with bars, nightclubs, massage parlours and whatever the thirsty backpacker needs for a grand night out. It's not pretty, but it's definitively happening.

Another cluster of nightlife can be found near Seminyak, which has laid-back, slick and (very) expensive bar-restaurant-nightclubs like Ku dé Ta and Hu'u, as well as the Bali institution that is Double Six. The latter attracts huge beachfront dance crowds from 02:00 onwards and frequently plays host to world name DJs. Seminyak also is the home of Bali's busiest gay scene a bit inland along Jalan Dhyana Pura.

A more recent development are the beach clubs where you can relax, drink and dance at any hour of the day or night, like Potato Head beach club at the northern edge of Seminyak.

This region has a truly huge range of accommodation options. Budget travellers are best off looking in Kuta and Legian whilst Seminyak is almost exclusively the domain of chic high-end hotels and private villas. Sanur's largely well priced hotels are aimed especially at families looking for package deal and Nusa Dua looks for the higher end package tourist.

Footpaths, road infrastructure and public lighting are in bad shape, which makes walking tricky (especially at night). Watch out for open drains, big steps, rubble and missing man-hole covers. The most dangerous thing you can do here is ride a scooter. Many tourists have crashes due to inexperience and drunkenness. Medical care is expensive and there are often shortages of blood and blood products for transfusions. Always wear at least a helmet if on a scooter, and never drive drunk.

• Head east along the new bypass to Candidasa and other quiet spots in East Bali.
• Get your fix of art, culture and glorious scenery in Ubud and the central highlands at Bedugul.
• Take a boat trip to laid-back Nusa Lembongan for lovely white sand coves and excellent surf.