Bali guide › South Bali beaches and surf
How do you reach Padang Padang and Bingin, and can you swim?
Both beaches are a few minutes apart on the Bukit Peninsula, and both have to be earned with a walk down.
Padang Padang, made famous by the film Eat Pray Love, is a small cove framed by rock. You reach it by a narrow stairway cut into the cliff, passing through a natural gap in the stone (between 100 and 120 steps, depending on who is counting). At the bottom you get white sand, clear water and an entry fee of about 15,000 IDR (around $0.85).
Bingin is reached by a steep stairway down the cliff. Entry is free, the mood is bohemian and surf-obsessed, and small guesthouses and warungs cling to the cliffside above the beach. Bring cash and expect a few small parking fees at the top.
So, can you swim?
- At Padang Padang, swimming is nicest at mid to rising tide, when the water is calmer and there are sometimes small rock pools. At low tide the reef is exposed and shallow, and a strong swell can make the inside dangerous.
- At Bingin, this is above all a surf spot, with reef breaks for intermediate to advanced surfers. At low tide there is little water to swim in and the reef is sharp.
On the surf side, Padang Padang has two faces. The left, nicknamed the “Balinese Pipeline”, is strictly for experts. Next to it, “Baby Padang” is gentler and better suited to less experienced surfers, though still over reef.
For the adventurous, Suluban (Blue Point) is another curiosity: a splendid but hidden beach under the cliffs, reached through caves at low tide, which you sometimes have to crawl through (claustrophobes, stay away). The wave of the same name is for experienced surfers only. Check tide times before you go down, because the way back can be cut off.
Verdict: Padang Padang is the one to see if you only have time for one, as long as you go early. Bingin suits you better if you want a lunch with a view and to watch the surf.
Tip: come early in the morning or late in the afternoon: Padang Padang fills up fast. Keep small change for the entry and parking, wear shoes with grip for the steps, and think twice about the descent with very young children.
Prices checked in October 2026; confirm before you go.