Best Surf Spots in Bali: 13 Breaks From Beginner to Barrel (2026)

The best surf spots in Bali are Uluwatu, Padang Padang, Impossibles, Bingin, Balangan, Canggu, Medewi, Keramas, Nusa Dua and Kuta Beach. Which ones are working depends entirely on the season: the west coast fires from April to October, and the east coast takes over from November to March. Get that one rule right and Bali has good waves every single month of the year.

Water sits at 27 to 29 degrees all year, so you never need a wetsuit. What you do need is an honest read of your own level, because most of Bali's best known waves break over shallow coral reef. This guide covers every spot by level, the seasonal coast swap and where to base yourself.

• 1. What are the best surf spots in Bali?
• 2. When is the best time to surf in Bali?
• 3. The Bukit Peninsula: Uluwatu, Padang Padang and Bingin
• 4. Canggu and the west coast beach breaks
• 5. The east coast: Keramas, Nusa Dua and Sanur
• 6. Where can beginners surf in Bali?
• 7. Surfing over reef: what you need to know
• 8. Surfing in Bali: locals and the environment
• 9. Summary
• 10. Frequently asked questions

What are the best surf spots in Bali?

This table is the quick answer to which wave suits you. Figures are approximate. Pay close attention to the coast column, because a spot that is perfect in July can be unsurfable in January and the other side of the island will be better.

Spot	Coast	Type	Skill level	Wave size (m)	Best months
Uluwatu	West	Left reef	Advanced	1.0 to 3.5m	Apr to Oct
Padang Padang	West	Left reef barrel	Expert only	1.5 to 3.0m	May to Sep
Impossibles	West	Left reef	Intermediate to advanced	1.0 to 2.5m	Apr to Oct
Bingin	West	Left reef	Advanced	1.0 to 2.5m	Apr to Oct
Balangan	West	Left reef	Intermediate	0.8 to 2.5m	Apr to Oct
Dreamland	West	Beach break	Beginner to intermediate	0.5 to 2.0m	Apr to Oct
Canggu (Batu Bolong)	West	Reef and sand	Beginner to intermediate	0.5 to 2.0m	Apr to Oct
Medewi	West	Long left point	Intermediate	0.8 to 2.0m	Apr to Oct
Kuta Beach	West	Beach break	Beginner	0.5 to 1.5m	Year round
Keramas	East	Right reef	Advanced	1.0 to 3.0m	Nov to Mar
Nusa Dua	East	Right reef	Intermediate to advanced	1.0 to 3.0m	Nov to Mar
Sanur	East	Right reef	Intermediate to advanced	0.8 to 2.5m	Nov to Mar
Serangan	East	Right reef	Beginner to intermediate	0.5 to 2.0m	Nov to Mar

 

Bali sits inside a much bigger picture. For the region as a whole, see our guide to the best surfing destinations in Asia.

When is the best time to surf in Bali?

April to October is the classic season, but Bali has quality waves in every month if you switch coasts. The dry season brings southeast trade winds that groom the west coast. The wet season brings westerlies that blow out the west and turn the east coast offshore instead. Same swell, different side of the island.

Period	Coast that works	Swell	Crowds	Verdict
Apr to May	West	Building, consistent	Moderate	The sweet spot: good waves, fewer people
Jun to Aug	West	Peak Indian Ocean swell	Busiest of the year	Biggest waves, biggest lineups
Sep to Oct	West	Still strong, easing	Easing after mid September	Clean mornings, fewer people
Nov to Dec	East	Moderate	Quiet in the water	Warm, empty, afternoon rain
Jan to Feb	East	Moderate	Quietest of the year	Wet season, but Keramas and Sanur deliver
Mar	East then west	Transitional	Quiet	Unpredictable, can be either coast

 

May and September are the two best months overall: proper dry season swell without the July and August crowds. If your dates are fixed instead, our May, August and December guides put Bali in context.

The Bukit Peninsula: Uluwatu, Padang Padang and Bingin

The Bukit is the limestone peninsula at the southern tip of Bali, and it holds the island's world class waves. Seven or eight quality reef breaks sit within a twenty minute drive of each other, all of them lefts, all of them facing the Indian Ocean swell head on.

Uluwatu is the headline. You reach it through a cave in the cliff, and depending on tide and size you will be surfing one of several sections: The Peak, Racetracks, Temples or Outside Corner. It handles serious size and is genuinely one of the best left hand waves in the world. It is also crowded, sharp and unforgiving of a bad wave choice.

Padang Padang is the perfect barrel in the photographs, and it is expert only. It needs a big swell to break at all, and when it does the lineup is stacked with professionals. The beach in front, sometimes called Baby Padang, is a completely different and far gentler wave.

Bingin is short, hollow and shallow, breaking over a reef that dries out at low tide. Impossibles is the long one, running for hundreds of metres across three sections when it links. Balangan is the most approachable of the group and the sensible first Bukit wave for an intermediate surfer.

Canggu and the west coast beach breaks

Canggu is where most visiting surfers actually spend their time, and for good reason. Batu Bolong, Echo Beach, Berawa and Pererenan give you sand and shallow reef rather than the Bukit's dry reef, waves that are forgiving enough to progress on, and a town built entirely around surfing.

Batu Bolong, known to everyone as Old Man's, is the mellow longboard wave that suits beginners and improvers. Echo Beach next door is punchier and better suited to intermediates. Pererenan, a little further north, is the least crowded of the four.

Further west, Medewi is Bali's longest left: a slow, workable point break two and a half hours from Canggu that rewards the drive with rides of 300 metres or more. It is one of the best intermediate waves on the island and a fraction as busy as anywhere in the south.

Full detail on all four Canggu breaks, plus where to stay and eat, is in our guide to the best surf spots in Canggu.

The east coast: Keramas, Nusa Dua and Sanur

From November to March the west coast blows out and the east coast comes alive. The same westerly winds that ruin Uluwatu are offshore at Keramas, Sanur, Nusa Dua and Serangan. Most visitors do not know this, which is why the east coast in January is one of the quietest quality surfing experiences in Asia.

Spot	Skill level	Wave size (m)	Bottom	Notes
Keramas	Advanced	1.0 to 3.0m	Reef	A world class right, hosts professional events
Nusa Dua	Intermediate to advanced	1.0 to 3.0m	Reef	Boat access, holds big swell
Sanur	Intermediate to advanced	0.8 to 2.5m	Reef	Long right, best on a bigger swell
Serangan	Beginner to intermediate	0.5 to 2.0m	Reef	The most forgiving east coast option
Green Bowl	Intermediate	0.8 to 2.0m	Reef	Steep staircase down, usually quiet

 

The wet season is not a washout. Expect heavy afternoon rain for an hour or two rather than all day storms, humid mornings and water that is, if anything, slightly warmer than in the dry season.

Where can beginners surf in Bali?

Kuta Beach, Batu Bolong in Canggu, Dreamland and Serangan are the four beginner spots. Kuta is the safest bet: several kilometres of sand, waves that reform repeatedly on the inside, and more surf schools than anywhere else on the island.

Beginner spot	Bottom	Season	Wave size	Why it works
Kuta Beach	Sand	Year round	0.5 to 1.5m	Pure sand, endless reforms, lots of surf schools
Batu Bolong, Canggu	Reef and sand	Apr to Oct	0.5 to 2.0m	Slow, long ride, great for the first green waves
Dreamland	Sand	Apr to Oct	0.5 to 2.0m	Beach break on the Bukit, quieter than Kuta
Serangan	Reef	Nov to Mar	0.5 to 2.0m	The wet season beginner option on the east coast

 

Do not start at Uluwatu, Bingin or Padang Padang. Every season a handful of visitors get badly cut on those reefs because they went to the famous wave rather than the right wave. If it is your first surf trip anywhere, Sri Lanka is a gentler place to begin.

Surfing over reef: what you need to know

Most of Bali's quality waves break over live coral in shallow water, and that changes how you should approach a session. The rules are simple and they prevent almost every injury.

• Check the tide first. Bingin, Uluwatu and Impossibles all get dangerously shallow at low tide. Mid to high is safer for most reef breaks.
• Fall flat, not deep. Land on your back or your side with your arms over your head. Never dive off headfirst.
• Wear booties if you are unsure. Reef cuts get infected quickly in tropical water.
• Clean every cut immediately. Fresh water, antiseptic, keep it dry. A small coral cut left alone can cost you the rest of the trip.
• Know your exit before you paddle out. The channel you came in through may not be there at a different tide.

Rinsing properly after every session matters more here than in cold water. Salt, sand and reef bacteria sitting on your skin all day is how small scrapes turn into a problem, and most Bali accommodation gives you a cold outdoor shower rather than a bathroom.

Surfing in Bali: locals and the environment

Respect the locals

Balinese surfers are among the most skilled in the world and they are surfing their home reefs. At Uluwatu, Keramas and Padang Padang especially, wait your turn and do not paddle deeper than your ability justifies. Bali is also a deeply religious island: cover up away from the beach, do not step over offerings on the pavement, and dress respectfully near temples, including the one above Uluwatu.

Respect the environment

Bali's waste infrastructure has not kept pace with its visitor numbers, and during the wet season the west coast beaches receive large amounts of plastic carried in by currents and rivers. Refuse single use plastic where you can, refill rather than buying bottled water, and join one of the regular beach cleans if you are around for one.

It is also worth thinking about what goes down the drain. Much of Bali's wastewater reaches the ocean with limited treatment, and reef systems are sensitive to it. That is part of why I made Rinsed™ a solid bar: one small piece that covers hair, body and face, with no bottle to leave behind on an island that already has more plastic than it can handle.

Summary

Bali works year round if you follow one rule: west coast from April to October, east coast from November to March. Uluwatu and the Bukit hold the world class waves, Canggu is where most people actually surf and improve, Medewi is the underrated long left, and Kuta Beach is where you learn. Bring boardshorts, a reef first aid kit and no wetsuit at all.

Next, read the Canggu guide or compare Bali against the rest of the shortlist in our guide to the best surf destinations in the world.

Frequently asked questions