Enjoying the Sunset at Balangan Beach, Bali

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Kuta Beach is probably one of the most popular places in Bali to watch the sunset. It is beautiful, especially when the evening light is reflected on the wet sand after the waves roll back.

However, because Kuta Beach is such a popular sunset destination, it can get very crowded, making it difficult to enjoy the scenery peacefully.

When I visited Bali, I decided to look for another place to watch the sunset. This time, I chose Balangan Beach.

Where Is Balangan Beach?

Balangan Beach is located in the Jimbaran area of South Kuta, Badung Regency, Bali. It is one of the beautiful white-sand beaches on the southern part of the island.

The beach is surrounded by two fairly high cliffs, offering beautiful views of the ocean. From certain points, you can also see aircraft flying to and from Ngurah Rai International Airport, although they appear quite small in the distance.

How to Get to Balangan Beach from Denpasar

There is no public transportation directly to Balangan Beach, so you will need to arrange your own transportation.

You can rent a scooter or car, or use a taxi, motorcycle taxi, or an online ride-hailing service.

If you use an online transportation service, I recommend arranging a return trip or asking your driver to wait for you. Getting an online ride back to Denpasar from Balangan Beach can be difficult, especially later in the day.

From Denpasar, you can head toward Ngurah Rai International Airport or take Jalan Raya I Gusti Ngurah Rai. Continue toward Jimbaran and Garuda Wisnu Kencana (GWK).

After passing GWK, you will find Nirmala supermarket. Turn south and simply follow the road and signs toward Balangan Beach.

What Is Balangan Beach Like?

Balangan Beach has a long stretch of relatively wide white sand. The beach is framed by two tall limestone hills, creating a beautiful natural setting.

The hill on the left side of the beach is near the Bali Golf Academy area and leads toward Dreamland Beach.

The hill on the right is often known as Tanjung Balangan. This is one of the favorite places to enjoy panoramic views of Balangan Beach, especially during sunset.

Relaxing on the Beach

At the bottom of the cliffs, you will find sun loungers that visitors can rent. You can use them to sunbathe or simply relax while enjoying the beach.

If you are worried about the strong Bali sunshine, umbrellas are also available to provide some shade.

Personally, I chose to sit at the only café I found along the beach. The café is painted orange, making it quite easy to spot.

The menu was not extensive, but there were several cold drinks available to help visitors cool down. I ordered a young coconut and enjoyed it while taking in the atmosphere of Balangan Beach.

While sitting there, I noticed several couples having their pre-wedding photo sessions. The men were dressed in black suits, while the women wore beautiful white wedding dresses.

The tide was also going out at the time. Some local residents were walking down toward the exposed coral reef, apparently looking for seaweed that could be harvested.

A Photo Spot on the Cliff

After finishing my coconut, I headed up the hill on the left side of the beach.

The top of the hill was surprisingly spacious. Near the edge of the cliff, I noticed a classic Volkswagen car. It seemed to have been brought there specifically as a photo prop for a pre-wedding photography session.

There were also several local visitors gathering near the cliff edge. They were casually sitting there while taking photos.

Honestly, watching them made me nervous because the cliff edge looked quite steep. However, they seemed completely comfortable and relaxed.

The cliffs overlooking Balangan Beach are clearly a popular photography spot.

If you want to take photos there, however, be careful. If you are uncomfortable with heights or the edge looks unsafe, there is no need to get too close. You can still take beautiful photos from a safer distance.

Sunset at Balangan Beach

So, why did I visit Balangan Beach in the afternoon?

Of course, I wanted to see the sunset.

I'm not exactly a coffee-and-sunset person, but watching the sunset has somehow become one of those things I like to do whenever I travel.

Balangan Beach turned out to be an excellent place to experience a Bali sunset.

You have two choices: enjoy the sunset from the beach below or head up to Tanjung Balangan for a view from above.

I chose the hill.

As the afternoon got later, more and more people arrived. There were also plenty of pre-wedding photography sessions taking place along the cliff, with couples posing against the sunset.

At one point, I saw a pre-wedding photographer shouting at visitors to move because they had accidentally entered the photographer's frame.

Personally, I thought that was a little unnecessary. It was a weekend, after all, and the beach was busy with visitors.

If you are doing a professional photo shoot in a public place, you probably have to expect other people to appear in the background.

Fortunately, the visitors who were asked to move did not seem to get angry, so the situation did not turn into a bigger problem.

Watching the Sun Disappear into the Ocean

The sunset at Balangan Beach was spectacular.

The sun slowly disappeared toward the horizon, seemingly sinking into the ocean. Unfortunately, I didn't bring a telephoto lens, so I couldn't capture those final moments of the sun disappearing beyond the horizon as well as I would have liked.

Everyone enjoyed the sunset in their own way.

Some people chatted with their friends or loved ones. Others simply sat quietly and watched the changing colors of the sky.

Some visitors were busy taking photos and videos, trying to capture the perfect sunset moment.

And, of course, there were photographers moving around and taking photos from different angles.

At one point I thought, "Take a break, guys. Just enjoy the sunset!" 😄

Is Balangan Beach Worth Visiting for Sunset?

Absolutely.

If you are visiting Bali and want to experience a beautiful sunset away from the crowds of Kuta Beach, Balangan Beach is definitely worth considering.

You can relax on the white-sand beach, enjoy a cold drink or fresh coconut, explore the cliffs, watch the surfers and local activities, or simply sit on Tanjung Balangan and watch the sun go down.

Balangan Beach is one of those places where the journey is just as enjoyable as the destination.

So, if you are looking for a different place to enjoy a sunset in Bali, add Balangan Beach to your itinerary.