Sanur is another one of Bali's popular southern resort towns, this one located on Bali's southeastern coast. Only a thirty minute's drive from Ngurah Rai International Airport, Sanur is a lovely little town that is not nearly as intense as places such as Kuta and Nusa Dua. Thanks to the relative lack of nightclubs, and only a small bar scene, Sanur also doesn't draw the younger crowds seen in Kuta.
Areas of Sanur
In North Sanur, you'll find a nice selection of restaurants, shops, and smaller hotels. A road here leads directly to Sanur's long beach, and nearby is the Museum Le Mayeur. The museum was once the home of Belgian artist Adrien Jean Le Mayeur, an expat who married a Balinese dancer in 1935. When Le Mayeur died, he passed the house to his wife, and she passed it – along with Le Mayeur's extensive art collection – to the Indonesian government. The museum is a lovely place to visit to get a feeling for local Balinese culture and history. Also located in North Sanur is the Sanur Paradise Plaza, a very nice hotel.
The area of Sindhu is dense with hotels and restaurants, including the Gazebo Beach Hotel. Located on Sanur's white, sandy beach, the Gazebo is a simple but clean hotel that includes three swimming pools, a gym, an internet cafe, specialty shops, and its own cinema.
Batujimber is the area of Sanur that's most popular with expatriates because of its proximity to the International School. For tourists, there's not too much to see in Batujimber, but there are some nice restaurants in this district.
From the Bali Hyatt to Hotel Sanur Beach lies the coastal strip known as Semawang. Semawang is a relatively quiet stretch of beach where you might spot a colourful local fishing boat.
Finally, the southernmost section of Sanur is known as Blanjong. In this area, cricketers might be interested in paying a visit to the Bali Cricket Club, while those less interested in sport and more interested in history will enjoy seeing the ancient inscriptions at Prasati Blanjong. Some of the oldest man-made artifacts in Bali, the Prasati Blanjong inscriptions are written in a language thought to be an old form of Javanese. The inscriptions tell the story of a Javanese king who came to Bali in order to set up a Buddhist kingdom.
Things to See and Do in Sanur
Besides the attractions mentioned above, you might want to watch the kite festival in July, walk through a mangrove forest, or go for a diving trip.
The kite festival in July is an annual event in which the Balinese send their message to heaven to request a year of good crops and harvests. Traditional kites can be up to ten metres in length, and the kite makers fly them competitively from different towns and villages all over Bali. Even if you can't make it for the festival in July, any time you visit Sanur from June through August, you'll see a clear blue sky filled with brightly coloured kites.
The Mangrove Information Centre, also known as the MIC, includes an educational centre for local school children, along with several boardwalk trails that lead through the dense mangrove forests. Definitely worth a half-day's visit, especially if you are traveling with children.
Every coastal holiday destination in Bali has plenty of good diving and good snorkeling, and Sanur is no exception. There are three well-established dive operators in Sanur (Atlantis Bali Diving, BIDP, and Diving Bali), as well as other operators. Diving Bali offers dive courses, making it a great operator for beginners looking to go diving for the first time.
If it's excitement and a lively nightlife you crave, Sanur is not the destination for you. Instead, consider visiting a place a little further south, like Kuta. But if what you're looking for in a Balinese holiday is a quiet beach with gentle waters, plenty of history and culture, and activities suitable for both children and adults, Sanur is one of the best destinations in Bali. Once you visit, you'll understand why there are so many expats here – like them, you won't want to leave this tropical paradise.