Dreamland & Bingin Beach

★★★ Bingin Beach

Bingin is the beach surfers and bohemians call Bali's most beautiful—and they are right. A steep, narrow staircase (about 200 steps) leads down the cliff to a narrow strip of sand, lined with white limestone rocks and simple warungs balancing on stilts over the beach. The atmosphere is raw, original, and miles away from the polished tourism of Seminyak.

At low tide, a wide sandy beach invites you to walk and sunbathe. At high tide, it gets tight—the beach partially disappears under water. Midway up the cliff, boutique guesthouses and cafes with panoramic views cling, among the most photogenic accommodations in Bali.

Accommodations directly on the cliff: from 400,000 IDR (~24€) for a simple room to 1,500,000 IDR (~90€) for a boutique studio with sea view. Nasi Campur at the warung on the beach: 30,000 IDR (~1.80€).

★★ Dreamland Beach (New Kuta Beach)

Dreamland was once an untouched dream beach—hence the name. Today, the bay is part of a large development project (New Kuta) that has brought hotels, a golf course, and infrastructure. Nevertheless, the beach itself remains beautiful: wide, white, with strong surf and dramatic cliffs on both sides.

Dreamland is a bodyboarding hotspot—the waves break strongly on the sand (shore break) and are sometimes too intense for regular swimming, but perfect for bodyboarding (board rental: 50,000 IDR/hour). Sun loungers and umbrellas are available for 50,000 IDR per set.

Entrance: 10,000 IDR. Parking: 5,000 IDR (scooter), 10,000 IDR (car).

Surfing in Bingin

The Bingin wave is a fast, hollow left that breaks over a sharp reef. For advanced surfers (at least intermediate level) and surfable only under the right conditions: mid-tide, swell from the southwest, offshore wind from the northeast. With a big swell (over 6 ft), the wave gets serious—helmet recommended due to the shallow reef.