What is there to do in Uluwatu?
Uluwatu means a temple on the edge of a cliff, the Kecak fire dance at sunset, white-sand coves at the foot of limestone walls and some of the most famous waves on the planet. The name belongs to the temple, but it also covers the whole south-west of the Bukit Peninsula, the dry limestone plateau that juts into the ocean south of the airport.
Forget rice fields and volcanoes: here it's cliffs, savanna-like scrub and turquoise water. For decades the Bukit belonged to surfers; it has since filled up with villas, cafés and clifftop beach clubs, yet it still feels more spacious and more upmarket than the rest of south Bali.
What you'll see:
- Pura Luhur Uluwatu temple, about 70 m (230 ft) above the ocean, one of the great temples that guard Bali, with its light-fingered monkeys (see What is Uluwatu Temple, and how do you visit respectfully?).
- The Kecak dance, in an open-air amphitheatre facing the ocean at sunset. No instruments: a choir of men does everything with their voices, chanting chak-chak-chak, and tells an episode of the Ramayana, with masked characters and a fire scene.
- The beaches, from Padang Padang to Melasti, often at the bottom of a staircase cut into the cliff (see What are the best beaches in Uluwatu?).
- The surf: legendary reef breaks for experienced surfers (see Where to surf in Uluwatu?).
- Clifftop beach clubs and their sunsets (see Uluwatu beach clubs and nightlife).
Practical info:
- The temple: around 50,000 to 60,000 IDR (about US$3 to US$3.50), sarong and sash lent at the entrance; open 7am to 7pm.
- The Kecak dance: around 150,000 IDR (about US$8.50) on top of the temple ticket, with one or two shows a day, around 6pm and 7pm depending on the season.
- From the airport: allow 45 minutes to an hour, more at rush hour (see How do I get from Bali airport to my hotel?).
- Getting around: everything is spread out and there are hardly any footpaths. Use Grab or Gojek (ride-hailing apps, like Uber), a driver for the day, or a scooter if you hold the right licence, on roads shared with lorries.
- How long: half a day covers the temple and the Kecak from elsewhere in the south; give it 2 to 4 days to enjoy the beaches and sunsets.
Verdict: come to Uluwatu for the cliffs, the beaches and the sunsets, and see the temple and the Kecak at least once. To learn to surf, Canggu or Kuta are better; the same goes for bar-hopping on foot.
Tip: get to the temple 1.5 to 2 hours before sunset: you can explore calmly, walk the clifftop path before the crowds, and still get a good seat for the Kecak.
Information checked in October 2026; prices and rules change, so check again before you travel.
More landmarks in this section
- What is Uluwatu Temple, and how do you visit respectfully?
- Where to stay in Uluwatu and on the Bukit Peninsula?
- What are the best beaches in Uluwatu and the Bukit?
- Where to surf in Uluwatu, and what level do you need?
- Uluwatu beach clubs and nightlife: where to go out?
- Where to eat in Uluwatu: warungs, cafés and restaurants?