Canggu is a coastal village in Bali, located between Seminyak and Tanah Lot. It’s quickly become one of the hottest destinations to visit in Bali, attracting young travellers, digital nomads, and surfers. But despite its growing popularity, Canggu has managed to maintain a laid-back and tropical island vibe. With so many cool things to do in Canggu, if you’re travelling to Bali, this beach town should definitely be on your itinerary.
Offering a great mix of beaches, trendy bars and cafes, boutique shopping, yoga classes, and amazing restaurants, there’s a real buzz about Canggu. If you want to be at the centre of all that is happening in Bali, look no further than this vibey coastal town. It’s the perfect place to travel with a partner, friends, or family, or for solo travel. It’s also a party hotspot.
Canggu is split into three main areas; Batu Bolong, Berawa, and Pererenan. Spend at least a few nights of your Bali trip at a dreamy villa, surf the waves, awaken your inner yogi, and breathe in the amazing Canggu atmosphere.
Things to do in Canggu
1. Feel The Beach Vibe
Canggu is arguably the hippest and trendiest beach town in all of Bali. Travellers come from all over the world to surf, relax, and enjoy the beach vibe.
FYI: Bali is not known for white sand beaches. Most of the beaches in Bali are black sand and look dirty. If you’re anything like me, your idea of the perfect beach is soft white sand, and you might be disappointed by the Bali beaches.
But, don’t be deterred. The beach vibe here is seriously incredible. Nestled up against the ocean, Canggu is a seaside paradise home to several black-sand beaches. The most popular is Batu Bolong beach – which is lined with some of the hottest bars in the area. Berawa Beach, Echo Beach, and Pererenan Beach are the other main beaches in the area.
Canggu is a surfers’ hotspot. Word on the street is that you either came to Canggu as a surfer or will leave as one! But when you’re not surfing, you can spend your time chilling at one of the trendy beach bars. Just about every bar has beanbags setup right on the sand of the beach.
2. Explore The Cute Cafes
The Canggu cafe scene is strong. Very strong. It should be expected, given the hipster vibe. You will find a cute little cafe on every corner – each offering its own unique setting and menu. From health-conscious vegetarian and vegan meals to locally-farmed specialties, and Bali favourites, like smoothie bowls, every corner of Canggu has been styled for the gram.
Instagrammable cafes have been popping up all over the world in recent years, and Bali seems to have caught onto this trend quickly. Many of the cafes in Canggu have a distinctly European flavour because they are owned by affluent owners who have been able to design them in any way they dream of.
My favourite was Copenhagen – located near Echo Beach. As the name suggests, the owners are Danish and their specialty is cinnamon rolls. But they also have a number of other options on their menu.
Copenhagen has a strong focus on green initiatives – which I love. They don’t use any plastic, their meat is sourced from local farms, and they source their produce from local businesses in Bali. I love the vibe here, and it’s a great place to relax after a long day on the beach or to grab a morning coffee.
Other awesome cafes to check out in Bali are; Gypsy Kitchen & Bar, The Shady Shack, Quince Cafe, The Loft Bali, and Cafe Vida.
3. Experience The Sunsets
Bali is synonymous with mesmerizing pink sunsets. I mean, who doesn’t want to be sitting on the beach, and sipping a coconut, while watching the sun slowly set behind the ocean
One of the best spots to catch a gorgeous Bali sunset is in none other than, Canggu. The most magical sunsets can be seen at Batu Bolong beach. Every evening from about 5 PM, tourists start gathering on the beach, beachfront bars, restaurants, and clubs awaiting the breathtaking sunset.
There are a lot of different beach bars to choose from, but the most popular is The Lawn. Newly renovated, The Lawn is a two-story bar featuring gorgeous viewing points, an infinity pool that looks out onto the beach, manicured grass, bean bags, and the iconic Balinese umbrellas. It’s one of the trendiest and chicest places to catch a beautiful Bali sunset.
Another sunset hotspot is La Brisa – found on Echo Beach. An epic combination of bohemian and tropical decor, La Brisa has the perfect “island life” vibe. Get yourselves some beanbags with a sea view, grab a cocktail, and be mesmerized by a Bali sunset.
4. Go Shopping
Canggu is a shoppers paradise. New clothing shops are popping up all the time and offer a good mix of foreign and local brands, interior items, and accessories. There are also a number of quirky markets in the area. Canggu is the place to be if you want good food, trendy shops, and cute souvenirs to take home.
From cool surf shops to sweet boho boutiques, Canggu is one of the hippest areas to shop until you drop. One of the trendiest and most popular places to shop is a small bazaar, known as Love Anchor. You will find loads of little stalls here selling beachwear, straw bags, jewelry, wooden homeware, clothing, and lots more.
If you’re looking for a cute womenswear boutique check out Velvet the Label. They sell a great selection of mix-n-match dresses, tops, shorts, skirts, and tops in a fun and flirty range of prints. Another favourite is Mimpi Mannis, where you can find funky sunglasses, bracelets, necklaces, bags, and colourful sandals.
5. Party The Night Away
Nothing tops off a day of surfing, yoga, and eating quite like partying the night away at one of the hippest party spots in Canggu. You will find some of the trendiest beach bars and coolest hangout spots in all of Bali, right in the center of Canggu.
The most popular place to hang out is Old Man’s – truly the grand old man of the Canggu nightlife. Here you will find plenty of seating, a huge dance floor, two-for-one happy hour from 4’ til 6 on weekdays, pretty good food, and it’s located right near the beach.
Other good spots to check out are Deus Ex Machina, Pretty Poison, and Sandbar. If you looking for something a little classy, try Black Cat – located just to the side of Pretty Poison.
If you’re planning a trip to Bali, then you might also want to check out these posts:
- Two-Day Travel Guide to Nusa Penida
- 6 Things to know about the Ubud swings
- Travel Guide for visiting Broken Beach – Nusa Penida
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Hey Travel Babes. I’m Hayley a.k.a Ms Blissness – Adventurous dreamer and free spirit. I’m on a quest around the world with my husband, Peter. Join us on our journey for some travel inspiration and a lot of Love and Light xx. More about me…