Bali guide › Religion and temples
Can you visit Tanah Lot, and what time should you go?
Yes, and it is one of Bali's most photographed places. Tanah Lot, “land in the sea” in Balinese, is a temple built on a rock just a few tens of metres off the south-west coast. At high tide it appears to float on the ocean, and that is the image the world has seen. It is one of the sea temples (pura segara) that watch over the coastline, dedicated to the guardian spirits of the ocean.
The legend is worth knowing. In the 16th century the Javanese priest Dang Hyang Nirartha, passing through, was taken with this rock. The village chief opposed him, so Nirartha moved the rock into the sea and turned his sash into venomous black-and-white sea snakes to guard the temple. They are said to live still in a cave at the base of the rock.
What you will see:
- The rock and its temple, whose interior is reserved for Hindu worshippers.
- A freshwater spring that rises at the foot of the rock, despite the sea. At low tide you can walk down and receive a blessing from the priests.
- Pura Batu Bolong, a small shrine on a natural arch, five minutes' walk away.
- A Kecak dance (around 100,000 IDR, about $6) performed daily around 6 pm, near Batu Bolong.
Practicalities:
- Entry: 75,000 IDR (about $4.50) for a foreign adult, 40,000 IDR (about $2) for a child.
- Opening hours: 7 am to 7 pm, with last entry around 6.30 pm.
- The tide: no access to the foot of the rock at high tide.
Verdict: spectacular, but the sunset, between roughly 5.30 pm and 6.30 pm depending on the season, draws a huge crowd and a lot of selfie sticks.
Tip: either arrive a good hour before sunset to claim a spot, or come early in the morning or at sunrise: you will have the temple almost to yourself, though not the sunset colours.
Prices, hours and dance programme checked in October 2026; confirm before you go.
More landmarks in this section
- What is Bali's religion, and how is Balinese Hinduism different?
- Is Pura Besakih, Bali's mother temple, worth visiting?
- What is Uluwatu Temple, and how do you visit respectfully?
- Can you join the Tirta Empul purification ritual (melukat)?
- What do Bali's canang sari offerings mean, and how to behave?
- What is Nyepi, the Day of Silence, and what should you do?
- Is Taman Ayun Temple worth visiting?
- What are the best temples to visit in Bali?