Sanur, on the southeast coast of Bali, is the Island’s original resort town. Offering calm beaches and local villages, Sanur enjoys a laid-back and relaxed seaside village atmosphere. It slips under the radar of many visitors to Bali, leaving the party vibe to the Island’s west coast resort towns. For this reason, Sanur remains a popular destination with families, local visitors, mature age travellers and retirees alike. But don’t be fooled, Sanur has something to offer everyone and deserves to be considered when planning your Balinese holiday. Here are just a few of our favourite things to do while visiting Sanur.
Discover Sanur’s Beachfront Walk And Bike Path
One of Sanur’s main attractions and one that we find ourselves drawn to time and again is its famous beachside path. Stretching for about 7 kilometres, the path begins around Mertasari Beach in the South to Padang Galak Beach in the north. It is a pedestrian and cyclist path only, so remains a safe walking spot away from the traffic of the main street. The beachside is a great place for a sunbake and a swim. An offshore reef shelters the beach from waves providing a calm, safe spot for the whole family to enjoy. The other side of the pathway is lined with hotels and resorts, restaurants, warungs and markets. You are spoiled for choice when it comes to choosing somewhere to enjoy a meal and a cold drink. Just a quick note; the path has recently been upgraded with a second pathway, the beachside path is for pedestrians, while the original path is for cyclists. As people are still getting used to the new rules, be careful of cyclists and pedestrians sharing both of the paths. Speaking of bicycles, you can hire them from one of many places along the path for only 15k rupiah for a couple of hours.
Experience A Sanur Sunrise
While Kuta may be famous for watching its magnificent sunsets while enjoying an icy cold beer on the beach, Sanur is blessed with equally spectacular sunrises. Stretching over 7 kilometres, the Sanur beach provides plenty of vantage points to view the sunrise. The beautiful colours of the sunrise provide a perfect backdrop to the silhouettes of the local outrigger canoes and rock walls. You won’t be alone; many locals, ex-pats and holidaymakers come here to view the sunrise while enjoying their morning exercise. It’s a perfect way to start your new day here in Bali.
Explore Taman Festival, Sanur’s Haunted Theme Park
Taman Festival is an old abandoned theme park at the northern end of Sanur. Built in the 1990s, Taman Festival reportedly operated for 18 months before financial difficulties forced its closure in 1999. Over the years, the buildings have fallen into a state of disrepair. Nature has reclaimed much of the land and buildings, creating a uniquely spooky and eerie feel to the place. Street artists use the area as a canvas for their work leaving behind prime examples of street art to be enjoyed by visitors to the park. On top of this, Balinese legend has it that roaming spirits have taken up residence and that Taman Festival is one of the most haunted places in Bali. Oh, and did we mention the rumours of the abandoned crocodiles that live here (though they have never been seen)! All of this makes it a must-see for street photographers, or interested visitors to spend a couple of hours exploring recent Balinese history. While there is no official cost to attend Taman Festival, a fee of 25k Rupiah may be asked of you at the parking area.
Join In Free Yoga Lessons On The Beach
Ever wanted to try out your hand at Yoga? Well, you’re in luck here in Sanur. Every morning at 7.30 am, there is a free beachfront yoga class that attracts locals, holidaymakers and visitors to Sanur. These classes are suitable for beginners as well as more experienced participants. You will need to bring your own yoga mat or beach towel. And be mindful that the classes are taught in Bahasa Indonesian, however, the classes are super easy to follow along. You will find the yoga lessons at Pantai Karang, at the end of Jalan Pantai Karang. Just look for the group at the beach and join in.
Visit Sindhu Dwarawati Turtle Conservation
Located on the Sanur beach walk to the south of Jalan Pantai Sindhu is Sindhu Dwarawati Turtle Conservation. Only a small sanctuary, it provides you with a chance to discover a little about these fascinating sea creatures. Here you will find a number of tanks that house turtles of various species, sizes and ages. The main species of turtle you are likely to see here are the Hawksbill Sea Turtle, the Olive Ridley Sea Turtle and the Green Sea Turtle. Some of these turtles have been rescued from around Bali and are being rehabilitated back to health prior to being released back into their natural environment. Others have been hatched on-site from eggs collected on nearby beaches. These are grown to a size prior to their release that maximises their chances of survival. Turtle releases occur periodically, you can speak to the staff on-site to find out when these releases occur. There is no cost to enter here however a donation box is located near the entry/exit point.
Enjoy a Vegan Gelato in Sanur
Vegan meals can be a little hard to come by in Sanur but there are a few hidden gems for those in the know. One of the best is a trendy Warung on Jalan Kutat Lestari called Kood – Kolaborasi Untuk Desa. Kood is a casual dining place that offers a small, fully vegan menu. Absolutely no animal products, including dairy, are used, and all meals are cooked free of any added oils. The menu comprises several noodle-based meals, soups, meat-free burgers and salads. For your indulgent pleasure, choose from their selection of dairy-free gelatos. A small selection of groceries is also available including fresh bread, which is cooked on-site, cashew milk, both plain and flavoured, and a selection of biscuits and other snacks. Prices are extremely reasonable with meals starting from 15k Rupiah.
Visit The Sanur Market – Pasar Sindhu
Every morning, before the sun comes up, a corner of Sanur comes to life. Pasar Sindhu or the Sindhu market becomes a hive of activity as locals come to do their daily shopping. The variety of food to be found here is amazing and the cost of the produce is almost ridiculously cheap. Fresh fruit and vegetables abound, much of which you may not have seen anywhere else. Freshly caught fish from around Bali can be bought, as well as poultry and eggs. Vendors provide snacks and meals for an easy, fast breakfast on the go for the locals. The market quietens down by about 10 am, however it fires up again in the late afternoon. It becomes the famous Sindhu night market. Fresh produce is replaced by food trolleys, providing delicious freshly made street food at great prices. Pasar Sindhu – It’s a great opportunity to mingle with the locals as they go by their everyday lives.
Enjoy the Beach with the Sanur locals on a Sunday
Have you ever wondered where the local Balinese people go on a Sunday afternoon? Pantai Sindhu! Locals in their hundreds, if not thousands, gather here to enjoy the end of their week with family and friends. Families and groups take over the foreshore sitting, laughing and generally just having fun. The water is full of people swimming and kayaking. Others wade out to the outer reef to try their luck catching a fish or flying a kite. Dogs play with one another. There is food galore, from the permanent food warungs to the merchants with their food carts. And of course, the beach clubs themselves can be quite busy at this time. It’s a great spot to wander for an hour or so, experiencing the locals enjoying themselves in a way not often seen by visitors to Bali. Main access is via Jalan Pantai Sindhu and Jalan Segara Ayu. However, these streets can be incredibly busy on Sunday afternoons with parking hard to find. It’s recommended to walk here if at all possible.
