experience Padangbai

Closest Landmarks

  • Padangbai
  • Goa Lawah Temple
  • Tirta Gangga Water Palace
  • Bali Safari & Marine Park
  • Ngurah Rai Airport

About Padangbai

Padang Bai is a charming little place located in eastern of Bali Island. Although the sleepy little fishing village boasts a busy port that links Bali and Lombok, it isn’t affected by the rapid development that’s taking place in other tourist destinations around the island.

It is also a lovely beach town that is popular with those who prefer a small town atmosphere over the large scale beach party.

Today Padangbai is mostly known as a scuba diving haven. The sea between the bay and the neighboring islands of Nusa Penida and Nusa Lembongan is ripe with a great variety of marine life. There are many diving sites around the area that will satisfy divers of all skill levels.

How to get here

By Car
Rental car can be hired everywhere including by online and can be delivered at Ngurah Rai International Airport when you landing and give it back also at the airport. Many rental cars now use for SUV type car such as Toyota Avanza or Xenia.

By Taxi
Padang Bai is about 90 minutes by taxi from Ngurah Rai International Airportand. Padang Bai is 54 km east from Denpasar and takes about 1 hour to 90 minutes to drive from the southern tourist areas of Kuta and Legian.

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Get Around

You do not really need any transport within Padang Bai as everything is within walking distance (maximum one kilometer or 2 kilometers vice versa). If you want to explore the surrounding area, motorbike rental and car rental are widely available. You can go in one day tour to Candidasa, Tirta Gangga, Taman Ujung (Edge Sukasada Park), and see sunset at Lempuyang Temple

Beaches:

The main beach is generally awash with colorful double outrigger fishing boats in the shape of a marlin. The front of the boat is shaped with the point of its mouth open wide and large eyes looking to the heavens. Either side of the main beach are two other hidden coves with nice, quiet white sand beaches.

Blue Lagoon Beach is a great beach for snorkeling, although the beach is only about one hundred meters length. Some people call it is a romantic beach, so it is also called as Blue Lagoon Beach. The beach is unique, the sandy beach is not always white, but temporary change to rather black. If the current come from the west, the beach will be white sandy, but if the current come from the east, the beach will be black and white sandy which the black sand come from Mount Agung debris/stones. The coral reef is right up to the shore and is very pretty with clown fishes and small sepia. Best way to enter is on the far left side, where there is a coral-less canal that leads to the snorkeling site. There are two restaurants with reasonable food (fried rice, fried noodle, omelette, sandwiches and spirits), showers (only for restaurant guests), chairs, sunbeds (~25,000 IDR/day) and snorkeling gear. The beach is easily accessible. To reach Blue Lagoon Beach, facing to the sea (south) turn to the left until end of Silayukti street, head east on foot over the prominent headland at the eastern end of the main bay. Follow the signs that say Blue Lagoon Beach (not resort). Note that wading through the water can be both frustrating and dangerous due to an abundance of coral and submerged rocks. Next to the beach there is a forest of cacti above the rocks.

Bias Tugel Beach, also called “White Sand Beach”, is a beautiful white sandy beach and the best beach in Padang Bai. It’s wider than Blue Lagoon Beach and good for swimming, though the currents can be strong. There are about five warungs, serving simple Indonesian dishes, juices and beer. The beach is surrounded by a monstrous, unfinished resort. To reach the secluded Bias Tugel Beach from the central Padangbai, walk from the police station for 100 metres up the hill. Directly after Bamboo Paradise turn left (there’s a sign that says Bias Tugel) and climb the steep hill along a construction road for about 5 minutes and then descend. While descending – weather permitting – you should be able to see the largest mountain on Bali, Mount Agung on your left – a powerful sight. If you continue over the hill and follow the road, you will eventually come to a long, white sand beach. From Casa Mimba, go the main village road to T-junction, and follow the road up the hill.

Mimba Beach, is a long stretch of black sandy beach, about 50 meters straight in front of the villa. A long walk by its shore to the right side will take you to see the sea-salt making village of Kusamba.

Temples :
If you need a break from the beaches, there are some temples to discover. These are not especially notable temples, but still worth a visit. Padang Bai has five major temples: Pura Dalem, located downtown, Pura Segara, located next to the beach in between town and the main beach, Pura Telagamas, Pura Silayukti and Pura Tanjungsari in the eastern end of Padang Bai. Of the five Pura Silayukti is the most notable, having been the home of the great Hindu sage Empu Kuturan and dating back to the 11th century, making it one of the oldest extant temples on the island. Just walk along the beach road to the end and up around the headland. Don’t forget to bring a sarong and a sash.

Silayukti Temple [6], Pura Khayangan Jagat Pura Luhur Silayukti, located in the village Padangbay, Manggis Karangasem district, at an altitude of 25 m from the sea surface. This temple can be reached by motorcycle or car. Mileage from the district of Karangasem to this temple about 26 km, and about 55 km from Denpasar. The history of Pura Luhur Silayukti, related with a supreme pandhita Mpu Kuturan of religion named Siwa Buddha. He is said to come to Bali by the end of the 10th century.

Pura Penataran Agung
Pura Dalem
Pura Segara
Pura Puseh
Pura Pesamuhan
Pura Telaga Mas
Pura Tanjung Sari

What To Do

 

Snorkeling

There is good snorkeling in the bay, though the snorkeling at the Blue Lagoon is much better. Many of the local dive operators organise trips to this spot but you can easily walk (see section Beaches above). If the waves are large, don’t bother snorkeling as the current is extremely strong and visibility will be 1 to 3 metres at best. On a calm day expect lots of fish and great visibility. Buoys mark the furthest point snorkelers should go. For even better snorkeling you can charter a boat.

Several places in Padang Bai rent snorkeling equipment.

Diving :

Padangbai is noted for its diving and the friendly dive centres are right on the beach with their own bars for after-diving refreshments.

Absolute Scuba, Jl Pantai Silayukti, ☎ +62 363 42088. 7AM-9PM.. Teaches both PADI and SSI up to and including instructor course, in English, German, Italian, Russian and Indonesian. 3 metre deep training pool, classroom, 22 air conditioned rooms, 1 speedboat, 1 small boat. edit

Geko Dive Bali, Jl Pantai Silayulkti (northern end of the bay), ☎ +62 363 41516, e-mail: info@gekodivebali.com. Five star PADI dive resort and TecRec dive centre, which has been awarded GoEco operator status by Project Aware. Offers full range of courses and fun dives. Very active in the community and with environmental projects. Maximum of four divers to each divemaster. This ratio is reduced if requested or needed. Dive groups are welcome. Courses taught in English, French, German, Spanish and Indonesian. 2 speedboats, 1 large outrigger boat and a variety of smaller boats used as needed. Also has a cafe called Cafe Deco.

Nico Dives Cool, Jl By Pass Ngurah Rai (Sanur), ☎ +62 81 337 559 228, e-mail: nicodivescoolbali.com. PADI and SSI dive center, Nico Dives Cool is all about sustainability and customer satisfaction. Offers full range of courses and fun dives. Regularly doing beach clean ups, this family dive center can teach in English, French and Indonesian and always keeps the goups of divers smalls . Safari and packages available. 115 US$ for 2 dives

Where To Eat

Padang Bai restaurants feature good-priced seafood and the usual travellers’ fare.

The Colonial restaurant, Jalan Pantai Silayukti (located at OK Divers) ☎ +62 363 41790. Great food, no seafood on the menu. Our preferred restaurant within the vicinity.

Bu Jero Grilled Fish & restaurant, Jl. Pura Segara ☎ +62 819 1624 6070. Served grilled fish, catch of the day, bought direct from the fishermen.

Cafe Kerti, Jl Silayukti (in the middle of the main beach), ☎ +62 361 41391, e-mail: info@kertibeach-inn.com/. Kerti is a not so good budget place to stay, but serves good food in their restaurant. Nice views from the second floor. edit

Martini’s Warung (in the main square). 6AM-11PM. Set in the corner of the main square (where buses drop off), Martini’s Warung is a great little local treat. With budget prices Martini’s offers authentic local food, often cooked by Martini herself. Tourists come to chat to Martini and each-other over beers and home cooked meals. Mie Goreng is highly recommended. edit

Omang Omang Cafe, Jl Silayukti, ☎ +628123638052. Open from 10:00 till late. opposite of the reggae bars , omang omang cafe is one of the best restaurants in town. With a Western and Indonesian cuisine, very good bbq selection and various cocktails. Many home grown organic ingredients, home made cakes and ice cream. Also a regular venue for live music. edit

Puri Rai Restaurant, Jl Silayukti (next to the Puri Rai Hotel, but not part of it), ☎ +62 36341187. A decent restaurant serving Indonesian food including locally caught fresh sea food. edit

Absolute & restaurant, Jalan Pantai Silayukti (located at Absolute Scuba). 07.00am-22.00pm. The only bar in Padang Bai with a swim-up bar, serving half price cocktails every night. Asian and western style food is prepared using only the finest ingredients. Friendly staff with a happy atmosphere.

Ozone Bar & Cafe, Jl Silayukti, ☎ +62 363 41501. A long established traveler’s institution in Padang Bai, the food is good, especially the pizzas. It is a lively place for a drink and a good place to swap information with fellow backpackers. They even have beer on the tap!