Bali guide › Sanur and Denpasar
What is there to do in Sanur and Denpasar?
Sanur is Bali's laid-back beach town: a reef-sheltered lagoon (you can only really swim at high tide), a long seafront path for walkers only (yes, really!) and sunrises rather than sunsets. Denpasar, the island's capital next door, makes a great day trip for its big, very Indonesian market, its museums and its temples. Few overseas visitors sleep there, or even visit, yet it's the only real city on the island.
A quick bit of trivia: on paper, Sanur is part of the city of Denpasar (the South Denpasar district) and is really its seaside suburb. The mood couldn't be more different. On one side, sun loungers and bicycles. On the other, ruko (narrow two- or three-storey shophouses), tangled power lines, scooters parked bumper to bumper, and traffic that never lets up.
Sanur was Bali's first beach resort: its big hotel opened as early as 1966. Today it draws families and travellers who want to stay in the south without Kuta's buzz or Canggu's beach clubs. It's also handy for island hopping: fast boats to the Nusa Islands leave from Sanur harbour (see How do I get to Nusa Penida, and how many days do I need?).
An easy two-day plan:
- Day 1, Sanur: a swim at high tide (see Can you swim at Sanur Beach, and when should you go?), a walk along the boardwalk and a visit to Le Mayeur Museum. In the evening, eat at the Sindhu night market (Pasar Malam Sindhu, also spelt Sindu), still very local, where dishes cost about IDR 15,000–40,000 (US$0.85–2).
- Day 2, Denpasar (about 20 minutes by car): Badung Market in the morning, then the Bali Museum and Pura Jagatnatha, side by side on Puputan Square. Finish at the Bajra Sandhi Monument in Renon Park.
- An extra half day: the Serangan turtle centre and the mangroves, just south of Sanur.
Getting there: allow about 30 minutes from the airport, more at rush hour (see How do I get from Bali airport to my hotel?). Sanur is easy on foot or by bike, with plenty of rental shops on the main street, Jalan Danau Tamblingan. For Denpasar, book a Grab or Gojek (ride-hailing apps, like Uber): there's no public transport that really works for visitors. On a rainy day or with kids, the Icon Bali shopping centre, opened in 2024 on the Sanur seafront, has air conditioning, restaurants and a cinema.
Verdict: Sanur is one of the best bases in Bali for families or a quieter stay (relatively quiet, but with that big plus of a walkers-only seafront), and for hopping over to the Nusa Islands. If you're after nightlife or surf, look at Kuta, Canggu or Uluwatu instead (see Which area of Bali should I choose?). Denpasar isn't worth a stay, but it's well worth a day.
Tip: visit Denpasar on a weekday, early in the morning. The market is at its busiest, it's still fairly cool, and you're back in Sanur in time for the lagoon in the afternoon, if the tide allows.
Information checked in October 2026; check before you travel.
More landmarks in this section
- Can you swim at Sanur Beach, and when should you go?
- What to see on the Sanur boardwalk and at Le Mayeur Museum?
- What to see at the Bali Museum and Bajra Sandhi Monument?
- Is Badung Market in Denpasar worth it, and when should you go?
- Can you visit Pura Jagatnatha, Denpasar's main temple?
- Is the Serangan turtle centre worth visiting, and is it ethical?