SUNSET IN BALI: 12 best sunset spots in Bali for photography
Sunset is just like sunrise the most magical time of the day when the golden light touches the earth. When you’re in Bali (and Indonesia in general) you will have the chance of seeing a sunset with purple, red, orange and yellow tones. Some spots in Bali are perfect to watch sunset and even have an interesting view for photography. So in this complete guide you will find the best sunset spots in Bali with practical information and photography tips.
If you want to know all the best things to do in Bali, read this blog post. Or for more specific posts, the most beautiful waterfalls and the best sunrise locations in Bali. In this blog post you will see the most amazing locations to watch the sunset in Bali.
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Lahangan Sweet viewpoint on Mt Agung
Some of the best viewpoints on Mount Agung is Lahangan Sweet in Amed. There are plenty more viewpoints facing Mount Agung, but we think that Lahangan Sweet offers the best, most varied and impressive views on the highest volcano of Bali. The great thing about Lahangan Sweet viewpoint is that you can watch as well sunrise and sunset here. With sunrise the sun lights up the volcano and with sunset the sun will disappear behind the volcano. The photography spots at Lahangan Sweet are also very varied with different vantage points. There are quite some bamboo and wooden platforms made from where you’ll have an outstanding view on Mount Agung, but also towards the other side facing the ocean.
Read in our complete guide everything about Lahangan Sweet Mount Agung viewpoint
Practical information Lahangan Sweet viewpoint
Lahangan Sweet viewpoint is also a camp spot so it’s open 24 hours. The entrance fee is 20.000 Rupiah per person which is about €1,20. Located nearby Amed, Lahangan Sweet viewpoint is easily found on Google Maps. Just follow the navigation and when you’re close to the actual viewpoint you will see a wooden sign pointing you towards a dirt road. This road is pretty steep and can be challenging with a motorbike if you’re not very experienced. Keep right on the dirt road where it’s mostly flat and hold your throttle. If you’re not feeling confident driving up this road, you can park the scooter and walk for about 10 – 20 minutes to the viewpoint.
Jaran Hill sunset viewpoint
Jaran Hill in Uluwatu is a lesser known sunset spot then Karang Boma cliff but also looks out on rugged cliffs and of course the Indian Ocean with sunset epic view. It is without a doubt some of the best viewpoints in Uluwatu with the curved limestone cliffs with vibrant turquoise water below. It is is popular place for locals to hang out, but expats seem to have find this alternative to Karang Boma Cliff as well.
Practical information Jaran Hill sunset viewpoint
Jaran Hill is easily found on Google Maps and will lead you almost until the viewpoint. The last part you will leave the paved road and you’ll have to walk down the cliff to get to the viewpoint. There is no entrance fee and when we were there also no shack to buy drinks. So be prepared and bring your own drinks for a nice sundowner.
Jemeluk viewpoint Amed with amazing view on Mt Agung
When you visit Amed there is one view you will almost see from any corner, the mighty Mount Agung volcano. Especially when the sun goes down, there is one spot you have to go to watch a beautiful Bali sunset. It is Jemeluk viewpoint where you will see the sun going down behind the Agung volcano. As there is also a warung at this viewpoint, you can get a chair and table, order a Bintang or cocktail and just enjoy the view.
Getting there: If you type in ‘Jemeluk viewpoint’ on Google Maps, you will get there easily. There is a car park and restroom at the warung.
Entrance fee: No entrance but you have to buy a drink at the Warung.
Best time to go: Of course with sunset. But sunrise is also possible as you will see the golden morning light shimmer on the sea and top of the volcano.
Photo tip: You can use a person to stand in your frame to scale the landscape and size of the volcano. But a birds eye with a drone, if you have one, also gives amazing results!
For another amazing viewpoint with sunrise on M0unt Agung in Amed, head over to our blog about Bukit Cinta
Pasut beach with the hanging palm tree
Palm trees & sunsets, isn’t that what we all want during our tropical vacation? Pasut beach is a long stretch black sand beach 25km west of Canggu facing the tip of Java. With a hanging palm tree on the beach and a bunch of palm trees together on a grass-field, this is the perfect spot to just sit back and enjoy the sunset. And of course snap some cliche shots of palm trees with sunset in Bali 😉
Getting there: An hour drive from Canggu is Pasut beach located. When you enter the beach, you’ll see the hanging palm tree on your right. On the left side you will see a bunch of palm trees which is also a really cool place to just hang out.
Entrance fee: No entrance, only a parking fee of 2.000 IDR.
Best time to go: Best is to leave Canggu at 4 to have enough time to explore the beach and its surroundings. Colors of the sunset might go wild when the sun disappeared behind the horizon. So don’t leave the beach directly after the sun is gone. When you’re lucky you might see the sky on fire!
Photo tip: There are at least 3 awesome spots where you can take your sunset pictures. See our pictures below.
Photospot 1: the hanging palm tree. Climb in the tree and find the right angle to have the palm tree, beach and sea in your frame. You need a wide angle lens here.
Photospot 2: the palm tree forest. Also here you will need a wide angle lens.
Photospot 3: Reflection near the shore where the waves roll out. If the water pulls back into the sea, you will see that the sky reflects on the sand because its still a bit wet. That is the perfect timing to take a shot and take advantage of the reflections on the sand.
Karang Boma cliff Uluwatu; the most incredible 180 degrees view
With an incredible 180 degrees view on the Indian ocean, this cliff is one of the best, if not THE best spot to watch sunset in Bali. We had an unforgettable afternoon with friends watching and shooting the sunset from this viewpoint. The Karang Boma cliff has become a famous Instagram spot and it’s easy to understand why. There is enough space to just sit down and enjoy this wonderful view which is why you will see many locals enjoying this sunset spot as well. Take a towel with you and some snacks and drinks, and you will have one of the most memorable afternoons in Bali!
Getting there: Located in Nusa Dua, the southern tip of Bali, Karang Boma cliff is easy to reach. Type in Karang Boma Google Maps and you will get there easily!
Entrance fee: No entrance fee.
Best time to go: You will have the stunning 180 degrees view always. But the most magical time to get to this spot is of course for the sunset views. As it is located on the South-West of Bali, you will have the best view on the sunset.
Photo tip: If you want to make a picture standing on the cliff you will need a tripod to mount your camera on and a remote control to make your pictures at distance. The best framing is from the opposite of the cliff you’re standing on. You will need a wide angle lens for this.
Tegal Wangi beach
A hidden beach and cave which you can only reach by climbing over some rocks. If you want to go inside the cave, you can only get there when it’s low tide. Otherwise it’s too dangerous because of the waves rolling into the cave and the strong current. It’s just a small and rough beach with a few rocks, and if you can get to the cave, you’ll see it’s a beautifully formed cave which is a perfect framing for your picture when there’s a beautiful sunset.
Getting there: Located on the south west coast of Bali in the Jimbaran region, you have to take into the account the traffic which can be super busy around this area. So if you want to get to Tegal Wangi beach with sunset, make sure to get there early enough. You can find Tegal Wangi beach easily on Google Maps, the beach is located on the right side of Ayana resort which you will pass on your way.
Entrance fee: No entrance fee and no parking fee.
Best time to go: Because you have to climb a bit over some rocks you don’t want to be in a hurry to get to this beach. If you want to shoot sunset, make sure to be on time and give yourself the opportunity to check out this beautiful hidden beach where you might only meet some other locals.
Photo tip: If the tide is low, you can get into the cave where you’ll need a (very!) wide angle lens to get the whole cave in your frame. This also explains why the cave looks bigger on pictures than in real life. Everyone there is photographing with a wide angle lens. Otherwise you wont get the whole cave in frame.
Tanah Lot sunset with the magic of a temple
The Tanah Lot temple is a very popular tourist attraction only 10 km west of Canggu. During the day this spot can get very busy, so we would recommend because of several reasons to go here with sunset. The view with sunset is breathtaking as the temple is facing west where the sun goes down. And soon as the sun is set, there will start another show. Thousands of bats will fly out of their caves and put on a show you might have never seen before! We were speechless and just watched the sky while taking pictures of this amazing nature phenomenon.
As Tanah Lot temple is a pretty big site, you might not know where to go the first time (as we had.. we walked to the wrong side…) When you’ve parked your bike at the car park, you have to go to the right side. There you will see the ‘main’ temple where you will have the best view on the ocean, temple and a beautiful Bali sunset.
Getting there: Easily to get there with Google Maps, this famous tourist attraction won’t be hard to reach.
Entrance fee: 60.000 IDR per person and 2.000 IDR per motorbike.
Best time to go: An hour before sunset to have enough time to walk to the spot, explore the site a bit more and get ready to shoot and enjoy the sunset!
Photo tip: When it’s low tide you can see the temple from the beach and get a completely different perspective!
Bukit Mende
Bukit Mende is an incredible viewpoint in the Kintamani area but an off the beaten path location. It is difficult to get to Bukit Mende, but so worth it if you like to explore locations which aren’t hyped (yet). The weather changes very quickly in this area of Bali because you are high up in the mountains. So you can have mist, fog, clear views and golden light all in one visit. Which is actually what we had during a sunset shoot at Bukit Mende. When it was clear it felt as if we were in Hawaii with the impressive green mountains and views towards the ocean. But then the clouds came in and it became a totally different, mystical vibe. Bukit Mende is absolutely worth a visit when you are in North Bali and looking for a hidden spot to watch and shoot sunset. However you can also go with sunrise!
Pigstone beach for the lonely palm tree
This long stretched black sand beach is a nice and quiet getaway from the busy beaches in Canggu. Only thing is, on this beach it is allowed to drive with motorbikes. So there are some moments where you might see, and hear, motorbikes crossing over the beach. But, the main reason why you’re going to Pigstone beach is to enjoy the beautiful view during sunset with the single palm tree on a small hill. When you’ve parked your scooter and enter the beach, you have to walk to the right side for about 10 minutes. There you will see the single palm tree on top of a little hill. Another beautiful spot for sunset in Bali!
Getting there: Located 12 km west of Canggu, you will reach this beach in about 30 minutes with the scooter.
Entrance fee: No entrance and parking fee.
Best time to go: An hour before sunset (or even earlier if you want to escape the crowded Canggu beaches).
Photo tip: This is a cool spot to have the singe palm tree in your frame. It’s minimalistic, but beautiful. You can put your camera on a tripod and frame the hill and its palm tree from a lower perspective. Or when you have a drone, you can get another perspective with the palm tree, beach and the sea during sunset. Both examples can be seen below in our pictures.
Uluwatu temple for the kecak dance
The Uluwatu temple is one of Bali’s nine key directional temples and one of the most spectacular ones in the entire island. Perched on top of a steep cliff approximately 70 meters above sea level this is one of the best spots to watch sunset in Bali because of its 180 degrees view. One attraction not to miss when visiting the Uluwatu Temple is the traditional Balinese Kecak dance which is scheduled after sunset. These performances are obviously for tourist benefit only and are not spiritually significant to the temple.
Getting there: From Canggu it is an hour drive, from somewhere in Uluwatu around 30 minutes.
Entrance fee: 30.000 IDR per person.
Best time to go: Of course with sunset, but make sure to arrive in Uluwatu before 4 PM when you’re coming from Canggu or Kuta. The traffic around Kuta is a disaster in the afternoon!
Photo tip: When it’s getting darker, make sure to put your ISO up. Use different angles and lower the camera for example to get a creative shot.
Balangan beach Uluwatu
Balangan beach is located in the south of Bali in the Uluwatu area. Because the beach is facing West, you will have a beautiful sunset view here. There are two spots where you can watch to sunset from. The Balangan viewpoint on the cliffs and Balangan beach. The cliffs are also popular for (Chinese) wedding photographers, so don’t be surprised to see couples walking around in suits and wedding dresses and lots of photoshoots going on. This makes the Balangan viewpoint a little less serene, but still there is plenty of space on the cliffs to sit down and enjoy the view. There are actually two main viewpoints on the cliffs. The first and most popular is a small rocky edge that overlooks the beach and turquoise water. The second lookout point is a little further and is a large circular platform covered in lush vines.
Getting there: Balangan Beach is located in the southern point of Bali and is about an hour drive from Canggu. If you stay in the Uluwatu area, Balangan beach is much closer and about a 15 minutes drive. The best way to reach the beach is to hire a scooter and drive yourself. You can rent a scooter for around 50,000-100,000 IDR per day, depending on the model and CC of the scooter. The drive down south can be quite busy and chaotic, so if you’re not a confident driver, the best option is to get a GoJek or to hire a driver.
Entrance fee: 5000 IDR parking fee
Best time to go: Because the viewpoint and beach is facing West, you will have a beautiful sunset view. So, if you want to watch the sunset, getting at Balangan beach, or the viewpoint around 5.30PM is the best timing. For a beach day at Balangan you better want to arrive at the beach around 12PM.
Photo tip: Walk towards the right of the cliff to get to the popular viewpoint and frame your photo in different ways. Especially when the sun is setting the colours will only get nicer and nicer!
Beach clubs to sip cocktails and watch the sunset
Besides watching the Bali sunset in nature, there is also the possibility to just sit back, relax and sip on a cocktail in one of Bali’s stunning beach clubs! There are many beach clubs, restaurants and beach bars in Canggu, Seminyak, Jimbaran, Uluwatu and Kuta to watch the sunset. Some of the best beach clubs in Bali to watch the sunset are the following.
Seminyak
– Azul Beach Club; with delightful drinks and exquisite food, an afternoon at Azul beach club is the perfect ending of a day. With sunset views from the bamboo pod you will overlook the beach and Indian Ocean while the sky turns from a golden glow into a colorful palet.
– Potato Head
Uluwatu – Jimbaran
– Rock Bar (from the Ayana resort) with an amazing infinity pool close to Jimbaran Bay
– Single Fin in Uluwatu
– Savaya
– Ulu Cliff House
Canggu
– La Brisa Echo beach
– Finns beach club Berawa beach
– The Lawn
More Bali travel guides
We hope you will visit one of these amazing spots to watch the sunset in Bali!
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask them in the comments.
For more Bali travel inspiration, head over to these blog posts:
Wow. you created the best blog about my home island. I used to live In Bali, but I came home to help my local people of Flores Indonesia, so now I can help my local village get tourism and tell people around the world from online now. Thank you and hope you visit! thank you
Hi Ilse, again a blog with practical information! This time about the different sunset locations on Bali. Beatiful photos with beautiful colours! Nice to read your experiences about the bats when they fly during sunset!