Sanur at a glance
| Where | East coast of south Bali, south-east of Ubud and north of the airport |
| For whom | Families, couples, travellers taking the boat to the islands |
| Atmosphere | Calm, seafront promenade, less nightlife than Seminyak |
| Boat to Lembongan | About 30 minutes to Mushroom Bay according to one booking site |
| Boat price guide | About 8 to 10 USD one way for an adult according to a 2026 guide (see below) |
The beach and the promenade
Sanur beach is wide and the water is shallow near the shore, with a stone breakwater that shelters it in places. As on many Bali beaches, the water recedes at low tide: check the day's times if you want to swim. A promenade runs along the coast, handy on foot or by bike, with restaurants and cafés. For a first night after a long flight, it is an easier choice than Canggu or Ubud.
Where to stay in Sanur
Sanur has beachfront hotels, small hotels and villas at very varied prices: compare the exact distance to the beach and the harbour according to your plan. To compare with other areas of the island, see where to stay in Bali. If you want to see Ubud and Sanur on the same trip, see Bali in 3 days.
How to get there
The airport is very close: allow about 30 to 45 minutes depending on traffic (estimate). The simplest is a pre-booked transfer, see from the airport to Ubud, Canggu or Seminyak and private driver in Bali. From Ubud the road goes through Denpasar traffic: leave a margin if you have a boat to catch.
The fast boat to Nusa Lembongan
Several companies link Sanur to Nusa Lembongan, with three possible arrival points according to booking sites: Mushroom Bay, Jungut Batu or Telatak harbour. Check which is closest to your hotel before buying. According to guides, the first departures are around 7:30 and the last around 16:00; arrive 30 to 60 minutes early. A 2026 guide gives 8.10 USD for an adult to Jungut Batu and 9.60 USD to Mushroom Bay, but booking sites show much wider ranges depending on the option: fuel surcharges and the season change the price. For what comes next, see Nusa Lembongan, Nusa Penida and Nusa Penida: east or west.
Day trips
For Penida, most tours leave from Sanur: see day trip to Nusa Penida and manta rays. If you plan to sleep on the island, take a one-way ticket and keep the return flexible.
When to go
The dry season, April to October, gives the calmest sea for crossings; in the rainy season some departures can be cancelled by bad weather. See best time to visit Bali.
Going further
To fit Sanur and the islands into a trip, read Bali in 10 days and the best things to do in Bali.
