Kuta Beach

Kuta Beach is a 2.5-km stretch of cream-coloured sand, bordering Legian to the north and Tuban (home of the Ngurah Rai International Airport) to the south. This beach on Bali’s southwestern coast is one of the most popular resort areas in Bali. It’s even more recognised among international visitors than the island itself – thanks to its combined features of sun, sand and surf.
Accommodation ranges from cheap guesthouses to 5-star hotels and resorts, plus thriving bars, nightclubs and multi-storey shopping malls. Despite the modern and urbanised feel of Jalan Pantai Kuta, the main beach road that runs parallel the coastline, the beach of Kuta continues to appeal – it’s still a place for Bali’s magical sunsets.
The Beach of Kuta – one of the highlights of 5 Best Surf Beaches in Bali for Beginners and 10 Best Places for Sunsets in Bali.

The Beach of Kuta
Hit the beach in the early mornings so that you can claim a spot on the sand, together with surfers steadily watching for ocean swells as the action takes place on the waves. Throughout the day, troupes of beach vendors and masseuses will all vie for your attention, be it for a beach sarong or a cheap massage, aka ‘spa treatment,’ on the sand. During and after sunset, it’s a mixed scene – friendly beach soccer matches that you can join, spontaneous ‘beach bars’ selling cold Bintangs and local bites, chats with locals, djembe drumming jam sessions, and even fire dancers.

Kuta Beach’s focal point is its central section, aptly named ‘Halfway’. Here, you only need to cross the Jalan Pantai to Kuta Beachwalk, a modern shopping, dining and entertainment complex, filled with numerous tenants. The footpaths on both sides connect to most of Kuta’s other highlights, such as Hard Rock Café, HQ Beach Club, the Kuta Art Market, and the Balawista lifeguard tower that is right next to the Sea Turtle Conservation site, where batches of hatchlings are released regularly.

Best time to visit Kuta Beach
Like with most of Bali’s west-facing beaches, you can expect the best waves in Kuta in the dry season (April–August), with easterly winds. Conversely, expect flotsam and jetsam during the monsoonal months (October–March), with a combination of westerly winds and overflowing rivers from the highlands and neighbouring Java.

The entire length of Kuta Beach is cleaned daily by a bright red tractor and trash-raking machine, and by the peddlers and masseuses (who are listed as members of Kuta’s local beach hawkers’ association and enforced to actively participate in daily beach clean-ups).

From midyear to October, you can expect larger swells and undercurrents, which can be dangerous even for experienced swimmers. Even though you can swim or paddle on almost any day in Kuta Beach, always take caution and pay attention to the red flags posted by the Balawista crew. On the other hand, whenever you see red and yellow flags, it means it’s safe to hit the waves.

Shopping and dining at Kuta Beach
You won’t find fixed bars right on the sand along the length of Kuta Beach, but rather small vendors who claim their spots under the palm trees with ice boxes stocked up with soft drinks and beers, or wandering vendors carrying baskets of tropical fruits and light bites. Some also tout goods, ranging from colourfully dyed beach sarongs and broad-brimmed wicker hats, knock-off Oakleys, Ray-Bans and Rolexes, to unexpected knick-knacks like bows and arrows.

A variety of dining spots are just across the road, ranging from McDonald’s to an eclectic mix of restaurants at the Kuta Beachwalk. Take a short stroll south along the beach footpath and it leads you to the HQ Beach Club where international dishes are served in cosy settings. For a wide variety of local and international cuisine (and cold beers or fresh coconuts) sold at local prices, head further south along the footpath to the permanent cluster of small warungs.
Just up the path from these warungs is the Kuta Art Market, where you’ll find fixed priced items but bargaining is still a fun exercise, ranging from paintings to keychains and pervasive Bintang singlets.


Kuta Beach facilities
There are public toilets at Halfway and near the Kuta Art Market, but their cleanliness and upkeep isn’t the best. The restrooms at Kuta Beachwalk are available for public use and are modern and very well maintained. Parking is available along the beachside of Jalan Pantai Kuta, but it’s mostly occupied by motorcycles and very limited for cars. If your hotel isn’t nearby, getting to Kuta Beach is best by taxi or your hotel’s shuttle transfer services.

There are plenty of rentals readily available on the sand, run by locals, ranging from surfboards and body boards, beach loungers and parasols. If you ask to rent a board, they usually also offer coaching services. You can always just ask for the board, be it a racer or a Malibu, and rent it by the hour (the duration is usually flexible or negotiable). Feel free to ask around for the best price.

Things to do at Kuta Beach
Although surfing and swimming is the highlight activity at Kuta Beach, you can also enjoy anything from beach soccer or volleyball in the mornings or at sunset. Non-surfers can learn the art of wave riding with the number of surf schools available along the beach. There are beginner lessons for both kids and grown-ups, with some guaranteeing you’ll be able to stand up on your learner board within the 1st hour of your session.

If you aren’t into too much action, simply relax on the sand, spread out your beach sarong and laze about under the sun and watch the world go by. Or simply unwind and opt for a cheap beach spa session – be it a thorough Balinese massage, or body scrubs using a traditional concoction of virgin coconut oil and aromatic spices.

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