Sanur is the Bali I actually recommend to people who ask me where to take their kids. Everyone talks about Seminyak for the food and Uluwatu for the views, but Sanur is the one that quietly does everything right for a family — flat, walkable, calm water instead of surf you’re chasing toddlers away from, and a slower pace that doesn’t feel like you’re missing out on anything.
We stayed at the Hyatt Regency Bali’s Sonu wing and then moved a few minutes down the road to Kayumanis Sanur, and honestly, by the end of that stretch I understood why Sanur was where Bali tourism started in the first place. It’s not trying to be Canggu or Seminyak. It’s doing its own quieter, more grown-up thing — and it works brilliantly with kids in tow.
So whether you’re weighing up where to stay in Bali with kids more broadly, or you’ve already landed on Sanur and want to know what’s actually worth your time here, this is our honest list — built from our own stay of the best things to do in Sanur.
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Our Sanur Map — Every Spot in One Place
Sanur runs along an 8km stretch of coastline on Bali’s southeast side, connected by a paved beachfront boardwalk that’s honestly one of my favourite things about the area. Unlike Seminyak or Canggu, you can walk (or cycle) almost the entire length of it without touching a road, past hotels, warungs, beach bars and fishing boats pulled up on the sand. It runs roughly from Mertasari Beach in the south up to Sindhu Beach near the north end, which is also where the Nusa Lembongan fast boats leave from.
Hyatt Regnecy – Where we stayed!
🏆 9.1 rating on booking.com
We stay in the 3 bedroom private pool family villa, which was perfect. The grounds are so amazing, huge indoor, outdoor kids club, on site restaurant, communal pool, daily activities.
1. Watch the Sunrise on Sanur Beach
Sanur faces east, which means it’s one of the only places in Bali where you actually get a sunrise over the water instead of a sunset — and it’s genuinely one of the prettiest, calmest ways to start a morning here.
My body clock was still on Sydney time our first morning at the Hyatt, which worked in my favour — I was wide awake before anyone else, so I snuck out while the kids and my husband were still asleep and walked the boardwalk at sunrise. Fishermen wading out on the reef, the light coming up soft over the water, barely anyone else around. It’s the kind of quiet you don’t get in the south of the island.
Location: Anywhere along the Sanur boardwalk, Sindhu Beach to Mertasari Beach
Entrance: Free
Good for: Early risers, solo mornings, photographers
Tip: Bring a coffee from your hotel or grab one from a beachfront cafe once you’re back — most open early specifically for the sunrise crowd.
2. Walk or Cycle the Sanur Beachfront Boardwalk
This is Sanur’s version of Eat Street or the Uluwatu clifftop path — a genuinely lovely, flat, paved promenade that runs the length of the coastline and connects nearly everything on this list. It’s one of the only stretches in Bali where you can push a pram, let toddlers run ahead, or hire a bike without worrying about traffic.
Good for: Families, joggers, cyclists, an easy way to get your bearings Tip: Early morning or late afternoon avoids the heat — the boardwalk has very little shade at midday.
3. Have the Best Hotel Breakfast of Your Trip
I don’t say this lightly, but our first morning at the Hyatt Regency Bali’s Sonu breakfast was genuinely one of the best hotel breakfasts I’ve ever had, anywhere. They had food carts set up — Indonesian, Chinese and Korean dishes made fresh in front of you. I got congee, a noodle soup, and this incredible Korean egg sandwich that I still think about. Zadie had about seven courses of her own, which tells you everything about how much choice there was.
If you’re weighing up where to stay in Bali with kids, a breakfast that actually keeps toddlers occupied for that long is worth more than it sounds.
Good for: Families, big appetites, anyone who takes breakfast seriously (me)
4. Spend a Pool Day (and Wait for the Swim-Up Bar)
Sanur’s family resorts do pools properly — think waterslides, kiddie pools, and swim-up bars that open right on cue. We found loungers near the kiddie pool at the Hyatt, and I genuinely lost count of how many times Sage and Kylo went down that waterslide. Even Zadie had a few turns.
We did laps of pool aerobics while patiently waiting for the bar to open at 11am — priorities — and then celebrated with piña coladas, mie goreng and pizza by the pool. The piña coladas, for the record, were excellent.
Good for: Families, a full lazy day, anyone who needs a break from sightseeing Tip: If you’re staying somewhere with a swim-up bar, check the opening time in advance — ours was 11am sharp.
5. Get Pampered — Sanur’s Spa Scene
Sanur has some genuinely lovely spas, and a couple of very different price points depending on what you’re after.
While Zadi was down for her nap, I snuck away to Shampoo Lounge for a manicure and pedicure — tried bian for the first time there and was obsessed. On a different afternoon, I went looking for something quick and ended up walking into a small, unnamed local place near Icon Mall — a 30-minute foot massage followed by 30 minutes on the back and shoulders, for about a fifth of what the higher-end spots charge. If you just want a solid walk-in massage without booking days ahead, that’s the move.
Nest Spa is the one everyone in Sanur talks about — they’ve got a beachfront location and a regular one — but it books out fast. If you want to go, get in at least a week ahead.
Good for: A rest day, quick pampering between activities, splurge or budget depending on your mood Tip: Nest Spa needs advance booking. For a same-day walk-in, the small local spots near Icon Mall are a genuinely good (and cheap) option.
6. Shop and Cool Off at Icon Mall
Icon Mall is Sanur’s main shopping centre, and it’s bigger and nicer than I expected — I’d only ever driven past it before this trip. Most of the villas and resorts in the area run a free shuttle service straight there, which we used constantly.
We picked up Laneige products at the Korean beauty store (there were some great sale prices while we were there), grabbed a new t-shirt at Uniqlo, and it doubles as a genuinely good midday-heat escape with air-con, food options and a supermarket if you need supplies for the villa.
Good for: Shopping, air-con breaks, restocking snacks and essentials Tip: Ask your hotel about the free shuttle before booking a Gojek — most Sanur properties run one straight to Icon Mall.
7. Have a Kid-Focused Arcade Day at Time Zone
This one turned into a proper “Kylo Day” for us — we’d done something similar in Seseh the year before, where the whole day was just about him, one-on-one, without Zadie. This time round, we took him to lunch at Kayumanis Seaside first (beautiful views, great food), then headed to Time Zone in Icon Mall.
He loved the racing games. My husband and I had a game of air hockey, did a fair bit of basketball, and then Kylo and I had a turn on the VR Paraglider — which was fun, but genuinely overstimulating. We actually had to stop it halfway through because Kylo got scared, though honestly I think I wanted off more than he did — it was making me nauseous. The videos of us screaming and laughing are hilarious in hindsight. He came away with a Hot Wheels car from his tickets and was on a high for the rest of the day.
Good for: A dedicated one-on-one day with an older kid, rainy days, a break from the beach Tip: If you’re doing a big VR or motion ride with a child, be ready to bail early — it hits harder than it looks.
8. Eat Your Way Through Sanur
Sanur’s food scene doesn’t shout about itself the way Seminyak’s does, but it’s genuinely excellent — and a lot of it comes with sea views you don’t get further south.
Jalapeño was our go-to for an easy dinner — it’s just around the corner from the Hyatt, which made it perfect on nights everyone was cooked from a big pool day.
Byrd, right on the newer beachfront strip near Icon Mall, has stunning views and does a genuinely excellent tuna salad, kingfish ceviche and mushroom pizza.
Gong, the on-site restaurant at Kayumanis, does an incredible satay barbecue buffet (five or six types of satay, all you can eat) some nights, and their nasi campur — with pork rib, grilled prawns, satay and tuna steak — was one of the best versions of the dish we had on the whole trip.
Moreno — For coffee and a light lunch, also near Icon Mall — is where my best friend and I went for a proper girls’ morning.
👉🏼 Read our full Best Restaurants in Sanur guide for the complete list, addresses and what to order.
Good for: Every occasion — beachfront lunch, family dinner, a proper night out
9. Meet the Turtles at Sanur’s Conservation Centres
Sanur is home to two turtle conservation projects worth knowing about if you’re travelling with kids. Sea Turtle Village, on Karang Beach, is a private project run in partnership with Andaz and the Hyatt Regency Bali — it offers talks, turtle feedings and craft sessions for children. Further north, Sindhu Dwarawati Turtle Conservation is a smaller, community-run centre caring for hatchlings and sick turtles.
Good for: Families, an easy educational activity, animal-loving kids
10. Get Your Adrenaline Fix at AeroXSpace
For something completely different, AeroXSpace is a newer indoor adventure park in Sanur with trampolines, slides, climbing walls, parkour routes, free-fall airbags and more. It’s entirely indoors, which makes it a solid rainy-day option, and apparently it’s just as much fun for adults as it is for kids.
Good for: Rainy days, older kids and teens, groups wanting something active
11. Try Watersports on Sanur’s Reef
Sanur’s calm, reef-protected water makes it one of the more beginner-friendly spots on the island for watersports that need flatter conditions than the surf beaches further south or west. Jet skiing, stand-up paddleboarding and windsurfing are all easy to book right along the beach, and Sanur’s reef is also known for kitesurfing, best from around May to September when the wind picks up. For something different again, Bali Seawalker lets you walk along the seabed in a diving helmet to see the reef without needing to swim or dive.
Good for: Beginners, families with older kids, a change from lying on the sand Tip: Kitesurfing conditions are best in the dry season (May–September) — outside that window, stick to SUP or a jet ski.
12. Browse Pasar Sindhu Night Market
At the northern end of the boardwalk, Pasar Sindhu is Sanur’s local night market — a small but tasty stretch of food stalls that’s worth a wander once the sun’s gone down. It’s a good spot for an easy, cheap dinner if you want something more local than a sit-down restaurant.
Good for: Budget dinners, local food, an evening wander Tip: Bring cash — most stalls won’t take cards.
13. Step Into Sanur’s History at Le Mayeur Museum
Sanur has more layered history than its laid-back reputation suggests. Le Mayeur Museum, right on the beachfront, was once the home and studio of Belgian painter Adrien-Jean Le Mayeur and his Balinese dancer wife, Ni Polok — it’s now a small gallery of his paintings and a nice half-hour cultural stop if you want a break from the beach.
Good for: A quick cultural detour, art lovers, rainy mornings
14. Find the Blanjong Inscription
Tucked away in a small temple compound, the Blanjong inscription is one of Bali’s oldest surviving written records, dating back over a thousand years. It’s a low-key stop — more for the genuinely curious than a must-see — but it’s a good example of the kind of history that Sanur has quietly held onto while the rest of the south got busy building beach clubs.
Good for: History buffs, a quick, quiet stop
15. Day Trip to Nusa Lembongan or Nusa Penida
Sanur’s biggest logistical advantage is that it’s the main departure point for fast boats to the Nusa Islands — Nusa Lembongan, Nusa Ceningan and Nusa Penida are all reachable in 30–45 minutes from Sanur harbour, which is a big part of why families base themselves here.
Nusa Lembongan’s beaches — Dream Beach, Mushroom Bay and the calm
er stretches near the Yellow Bridge to Ceningan — make for an easy day trip or overnight if you want to add island time to your Bali itinerary without the longer transfer other areas require.
Good for: Island-hopping, snorkelling, a change of scenery mid-trip Tip: Book fast boat tickets a day ahead in peak season — the early departures sell out first.
16. Wander the Bali Orchid Garden
A few minutes inland from the beach, Bali Orchid Garden is a quiet, well-kept botanical garden with a huge collection of native and hybrid orchids across landscaped grounds. It’s a gentle, shaded activity if you want a slower morning that isn’t beach or pool related.
Good for: A calm morning, plant lovers, photos
17. Join a Yoga Class
Sanur has a genuinely good, low-key yoga scene — less performative than some of Ubud’s studios, more locals-and-long-stayers than tourist drop-ins. A number of the family resorts here, including Kayumanis, run complimentary daily yoga sessions as part of their activity schedule, which is a nice way to try it without committing to a studio class.
Good for: A slow morning, wellness-focused travellers
Tip: If your hotel runs daily activities, book in advance through WhatsApp — spots fill up fast.
18. Visit the Abandoned Taman Festival Bali
For something a little different, the ruins of Taman Festival Bali — an abandoned theme park a short drive from central Sanur — have become a favourite for photographers chasing an eerie, post-apocalyptic backdrop. It’s not officially open to visitors, so this one comes with a caveat: access can be informal and isn’t something we’d recommend with young kids.
Good for: Photographers, older kids and teens, a genuinely different side of Bali
19. Take a Day Trip Further Afield
Sanur’s location on the southeast coast makes it a workable base for day trips, even if it’s not quite as central as Seminyak. Ubud is around 45–60 minutes away and worth it for the rice terraces, temples and a full change of pace — see our full Ubud itinerary for how to structure the day.
Uluwatu is close to an hour south, worth the trip for the clifftop temple and a completely different stretch of coastline — our best things to do in Uluwatu guide covers it in full.
For something further and slower, Sidemen in East Bali is a couple of hours away and worth an overnight rather than a rushed day trip.
Good for: Travellers using Sanur as a base for a wider Bali itinerary
Where to Stay in Sanur
Sanur has accommodation that suits families particularly well — big resort pools, calm swimmable water instead of surf, and a genuinely relaxed pace compared to the south.
Our stay split across two properties, and I’d recommend both depending on what you’re after. Hyatt Regency Bali (Sonu wing) is the resort-style pick — lush, green grounds that somehow don’t feel overcrowded despite being a proper family resort, a waterslide the kids didn’t want to leave, and that food-cart breakfast I still think about.
Kayumanis Sanur is the villa pick, and it might be one of my favourite villa stays in Bali. We had a 3-bedroom villa with a genuinely huge pool (I hate when 3-bedroom villas have tiny pools — this wasn’t that), a bamboo-roofed lounge area overlooking the water, and a full outdoor living and dining space. The staff were warm from the second we arrived, there’s a free shuttle into town, and the daily complimentary activities — we did a Balinese offering-making workshop and a yoga session — were a lovely touch. One thing to know: their happy hour drink deals only apply in the restaurant, not villa room service — we found that out the expensive way.
👉🏼 Read our full Kayumanis Sanur Review for the complete breakdown.
How Many Days Do You Need in Sanur?
Two to three days covers Sanur comfortably — a sunrise walk, a pool day, a couple of the restaurants, and a spa afternoon. If you’re using Sanur as your base for a Nusa Islands day trip, add an extra day. As part of a longer Bali itinerary, Sanur works well early in the trip — it’s an easy, low-stimulation place to land and adjust before heading somewhere busier like Seminyak or Canggu.
Getting to Sanur
Sanur sits around 20–30 minutes from Ngurah Rai International Airport, similar to Seminyak in terms of convenience. From Uluwatu, allow around 45–60 minutes; from Ubud, around 45–60 minutes; from Seminyak, 20–30 minutes.
Getting Around Sanur
The boardwalk makes Sanur genuinely walkable in a way that a lot of Bali isn’t — most of what’s on this list sits close enough to the water that you can cover it on foot or by bike. For Icon Mall and anything slightly further out, check whether your hotel runs a free shuttle first (ours did) before booking a Gojek. For day trips further afield, we’d always recommend a private driver, especially with a car seat in tow.
BEST THINGS TO DO IN SANUR — FAQ SECTION
How many days do you need in Sanur?
Two to three days covers the main highlights. Add a day if you’re planning a Nusa Islands day trip from the harbour.
Is Sanur good for families with kids?
Yes — more than almost anywhere else in Bali. The calm, reef-protected water is far safer for young kids than the surf beaches in the south, the boardwalk is pram- and toddler-friendly, and most of the family resorts run daily kids’ activities
Is Sanur better than Seminyak?
They suit different trips. Sanur is calmer, more walkable and better for families with young kids or anyone wanting a slower pace. Seminyak has stronger nightlife, shopping and fine dining. Many people base in Sanur and day-trip into Seminyak for a night out.
Is Sanur safe?
Yes, it’s one of the more low-key, family-oriented areas in Bali. The usual precautions apply around belongings on the beach and at the night market.
Can you day trip to the Nusa Islands from Sanur?
Yes — Sanur harbour is the main departure point for fast boats to Nusa Lembongan, Nusa Ceningan and Nusa Penida, with crossings around 30–45 minutes.
Sanur isn’t the loudest or flashiest part of Bali, and honestly, that’s exactly why we keep coming back with the kids. After our stay across the Hyatt and Kayumanis, these are the things we’d genuinely tell a friend to do here.
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Let us know in the comments — what’s your favourite thing to do in Sanur? 🏝✨
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