Canggu, Bali Travel Guide
When people think of Bali a lot of times they think of the coastal towns like Canggu and for good reason! Canggu is a vibrant destination that perfectly blends laid-back island living with modern energy. Known for its amazing beaches, world-class surfing, trendy cafés, boutique shops, and wellness scene, Canggu has something for everyone!
How many days to spend in Canggu
I think you can cover a lot in 3 days. However, if you are going for a relaxing vacation, I would suggest more like 5-6 days to be able to casually shop, post up in all the cute coffee shops, enjoy some beach time, and take in everything it has to offer!
Where to Stay
I stayed at the Eastin Ashta Resort and really loved the location. It was walking distance to so many things but somewhat away from the hustle and bustle. Although that’s tough to fully get away from in Canggu. They have a pretty good breakfast, a wonderful pool/bar area, and the rooms were cozy.
Canggu is small enough that you don’t have to worry about finding the perfect location of where to stay because pretty much anywhere will be within walking distance of a ton of things!
Getting around
I only took a scooter once when I was in Canggu because I was going to Finn’s Beach Club which was not within walking distance. Otherwise I walked everywhere! Prior to going, I saw things online saying there isn’t room to walk because the sidewalks are bad and there are scooters everywhere, this turned out to be completely false. I had no problems. And if you don’t feel like walking or are sick of sweating everywhere you go, then a scooter ride will cost barely anything.
I do recommend using the GoJek app to find a scooter. I learned from locals it’s important to have a record of your ride versus just getting on the back of someone’s scooter. There will be people all over offering rides as you walk past and I’d advise from getting on any of those bikes.
currency
The currency is Rupiah. My suggestion is to bring bigger bills for exchanging money. You get more money when you exchange a $50 or $100 dollar bill versus a $20 dollar bill.
How to pay
Cash is key at the markets but cafes, restaurants, and bars take credit cards.
Bartering
They will give you a price that is at least 50% over what you should pay. It’s up to you how much you think is appropriate to negotiate but after getting some experience I would walk away if I couldn’t get it down to at least 60-70% of the original price.
Things to Do in Canggu
#1 – Shop the Boutique Stores
There are a lot of boutique stores around Canggu with what you might consier “higher end” items, but still at Bali prices. I LOVED Satunama and ended up going back twice.
#2 – Check out the Markets
There are plenty of markets to stumble into all over Canggu. I really liked Love Anchor and the Canggu Center but most markets you’ll be able to find the same things at so really any you walk into should have some fun stuff! My suggestion is to do a lap around once before you commit to purchasing anything. Most shops have similar items but one had this awesome ring and I didn’t find it anywhere else so I went back and swooped it!
#3 – Visit Taman Ayun Temple
Taman Ayun Temple is one of Bali’s most beautiful and historically significant temples. It’s filled with elegant multi-tiered shrines, peaceful gardens, and scenic lotus-filled moats. It was built in the 17th century by the Mengwi Kingdom and you can learn all about Bali’s rich cultural heritage and see traditional Balinese architecture. There is a fee to get in, around 50,000 Rupiah.
Depending on where you’re staying in Canggu, it will be about a 30-45 minute drive depending on traffic.
#4 – Hit up a Beach Club
There are plenty of low key beach clubs you can visit, like Como Beach Club or if you’re looking for more of a party scene, then I’d recommend Finn’s Beach Club! We had such a blast there. There’s DJ’s all over, multiple pools, dancers, people in costumes, views of the ocean, really everything you’re looking for in a beach club if you want to party! Finn’s is free to get into and then you can rent a locker for your belongings but I’d suggest booking a day bed or cabana or something to be able to have a place to hang out in between all the dancing and pool action. If you want to book a daybed make sure you do it in advance because they sell out!
#5 – Check out the Café Scene
Canggu has some of the best and cutest cafes I’ve ever seen. In Bali if you see a place labeld café that usually means it’s a mixture of coffee and food. I have a separate section below of all the café’s I went to and would recommend!
#6 – Take a Surf Lesson
If you are adventurous, you HAVE to take a surf lesson while visiting Canggu. It’s known for world-class surfing and once you see the waves, you’ll understand why. You can just walk onto the beach and find a shop at any given moment so you don’t have to book anything ahead of time. Also, the ocean has a mind of its own so if you plan to surf at 9am, it might not be until 11am that the tide is low/safe enough.
I really liked the surf shop I went to however I won’t recommend it because they don’t have you fill out any sort of waiver and you don’t pay until you are done. In the moment I didn’t think much of it, but once I was out in the ocean and got pummeled by a couple waves, I realized that it might not have been the best decision. So I’d recommend finding a shop that has better safety precautions. I’m a strong swimmer, but I would be nervous for other’s that might not be as good of swimmers.
#7 – Balinese Massage
Make sure you get a massage at least once on your trip! They are so relaxing and cheap. Most places you can find a 60 minute massage for $10-$20 max! I did a 60 minute full body massage at Marissa Spa and it was fantastic!
#8 – Visit Tanah Lot
When you see pictures of Bali you will often see photos of Tanah Lot and for good reason because it’s one of Bali’s most iconic landmarks. Its perched atop a rocky outcrop just offshore and surrounded by the crashing waves of the Indian Ocean. I would recommend going to see it around sunset! There are shops, bars, & restaurants around it so it’s more than just a stop to see a landmark. It’s about a 25-35 minute drive from Canggu and costs 75,000 Rupiah to get in.
#9 – Get a Tattoo
If you like tattoos, Canggu is a great place to get one. There are amazing artists all over Bali but after doing some research and knowing quite a few people that got tattoos in Canggu as well, everyone seemed to recommend Half Moon. I was able to message them the day of and get in for a walk-in but if you are certain you want one, then I’d recommend scheduling an appointment. Also fun fact, they charge per hour, not per tattoo, so if you get a small one that only takes 15 minutes, you can get more within that 45 minute time frame.
Things I’d do next time!
Restaurant Recommendations
Como Beach Club
This place has STUNNING views of the ocean and is the perfect place for a sunset dinner.
Two Face
Offers a variety of drinks, food, and coffee. The acai bowl was so good I went back twice in a couple days!
De Jukung Resto Restaurant
If you’re visiting Tanah Lot, end your day at De Jukung Resto. Great food, right on the Ocean, and there’s a daily Kecak Dance at 6pm you could check out!
Penny Lane
I can’t speak for the food as I only did drinks here but the vibe of this place was one of my favorites and we went back a couple times!
Cafes/Coffee Shops
Zin Café
Zin Café is a co-working space with amenities outside of just food and drinks. I wanted to see what one of these spaces was like so I just sat and had a coffee while I watched tons of people chat that seemed to all know each other. If you’re reading this and thinking about moving to Bali or spending an extended amount of time there, Zin Café would be a good spot to network and make friends!
Kawisari
I loved this spot! The coffee was good, the upstairs room and patio area was adorable.
Goat Father
If you’re looking for good coffee check out Goat Father. Barely any seating options.
Daun Coffee
Real talk my latte tasted mostly like milk so I did have to add a shot to make it feel more like a latte so I would say for coffee, I would give it 5/10. For aesthetic 10/10 and bonus points for having air conditioning inside!
bars/Clubs
Finn’s Beach Club
As I mentioned earlier, Finn’s Beach Club is the place to be if you’re looking for a party. It starts to get a little bit more will mid/late afternoon. If you reserve a daybed they’ll usually ask you to be there by 1pm so I’d say try to chill and relax for a bit before the party gets started or else you might miss some of the fun DJ’s and dance parties that really take off when it starts to get dark!
Old Man’s
The bars around Canggu all had specific nights where they were popping and Old Man’s was wild on Thursday night. The place next to our hotel, Desa Kistune was wild Tuesday and Friday nights. So you can pretty much find a party any night of the week, it just depends on which bar people are going to that night!
Hotel Mexicola
Another restaurant that turns into a club at night!