Unlike Bali’s popular beaches at Kuta and Seminyak, Sanur’s beach does not have a main beachfront road. The beach has to be accessed through a number of smaller streets and alleyways leading from off Jalan Danau Tamblingan — the main street running through Sanur. Each access point leads to a different section of the 7km stretch of coastline.
If you are not staying in a beachfront hotel it may not be obvious how to get to the beach. This guide shows you every access point from the southern end of Sanur to the north, with notes on parking, GRAB drop-offs and what you will find at each one.
Is Sanur Beach open to the public?
Yes — Sanur Beach is fully public. The beach itself and the 7km beachfront path that runs the entire length of Sanur are open to everyone at no cost. You do not need to be staying at a beachfront hotel to access the beach or walk the path. There are no entry fees and no gate.
Some beachfront hotels have their own sun lounger areas on the sand in front of their property — these are reserved for guests. But the beach path and the sand beyond the lounger areas are public. You can walk, swim and sit on the beach anywhere along the 7km stretch.
What is the Sanur beach path?
The Sanur beach path is a 7km paved walkway that runs parallel to the beach connecting the full length of Sanur’s coastline. It passes in front of beachfront hotels, beach clubs, warungs and restaurants. You can walk, cycle or rent a bicycle and ride the whole length comfortably.
The beach path is one of the best things about Sanur. Early morning it is busy with locals exercising, dogs being walked and the occasional Balinese Tai Chi group near the water. By mid-morning tourists arrive and the beachside warungs open up. The northern end near Pantai Sindhu is the most developed — the southern end near Mertasari is quieter and less crowded.
Bicycles can be rented along the beach path for around 30,000 to 50,000 IDR per day — the easiest way to explore the full 7km without melting in the heat. Early morning is the best time to ride before the sun gets serious. Most access streets are too narrow for cars but fine for scooters and bicycles.
Beach access points in southern Sanur
Jl. Tirta Empul — Mertasari Beach
At the far southern end of Sanur. Jl. Tirta Empul runs off Mertasari Street which itself runs off Jl. Cemara. This access point leads to Mertasari Beach and the Mercure Hotel. It is one of the quieter access points — fewer tourists, less development at the beach end. Good if you want a more local experience away from the busier northern sections.
Parking: Small roadside parking available along Mertasari Street for scooters. Limited car parking.
Jl. Cemara — Cemara Beach
A few hundred metres north of Jl. Tirta Empul. If you are staying near the Prama Sanur Beach Resort, the Akana Hotel or the Segara Villas, Jl. Cemara is your closest beach access at Cemara Beach.
Parking: Scooter parking available on the street. Not ideal for cars.
Beach access points in central Sanur
Jl. Kusuma Sari — Pantai Semawang
Jalan Danau Tamblingan, Jl. Poso, Jl. Cemara and Jl. Kusuma Sari all meet at a roundabout. Head down Jl. Kusuma Sari past the Artotel, Holiday Inn and The Intercontinental and you arrive at Pantai Semawang on the Sanur beachfront.
Parking: Car parking available near the beach end of Jl. Kusuma Sari. One of the better options for drivers. Works well as a GRAB drop-off point — the street is wide enough for vehicles.
Jl. Duyung — central beach access
One of the most popular access points to the beach path in central Sanur. Scooters park along Jl. Duyung and tourists use it to access the beach path restaurants and warungs. A good mid-point entry if you are staying on or near Jalan Danau Tamblingan.
Parking: Popular scooter parking along the street. Narrow for cars — GRAB drop-off works here but through-traffic is limited.
Jl. Pantai Batu Jimbar
More of an alleyway than a street — runs down beside the Maya Resort and Spa and provides access to the Parigata Resort and Spa. No shops, no restaurants or warungs at the beach end — just a quiet access point to the path.
Parking: Very limited — alleyway width only. Not suitable for cars. GRAB can drop off at the Jl. Danau Tamblingan end and you walk down.
Jl. Pantai Karang — central Sanur
Runs to the beach past several villas and the German Consulate, right in the heart of central Sanur. At the beach end you will find a small market, public toilets and a car park where the street meets the beachfront path.
Parking: Dedicated car park at the beach end — one of the few access points with proper car parking. Good GRAB drop-off point. Public toilets available.
Jl. Pantai Karang is the best access point if you are arriving by car or need parking. It has a dedicated car park at the beach end and public toilets — both rare at Sanur beach access points. It is also a reliable GRAB drop-off as the street handles vehicle traffic better than most.
Beach access points in northern Sanur
Jl. Pantai Sindhu — northern Sanur
One of the most popular and busiest beach access points in Sanur. Jl. Pantai Sindhu gives you access to the Baruna Beach Market, the Byrd House Beach Club at Segara Village, the Inna Sindhu Beach Hotel and a string of beach warungs and restaurants. If it is your first time in Sanur and you want to see what the beachfront is all about, this is the access point to use.
Parking: Scooter parking available along the street. Limited car access — narrow in sections. GRAB drop-offs work at the Jl. Danau Tamblingan end.
Jl. Segara Ayu — Pantai Segara
Only 150 metres further north than Jl. Pantai Sindhu. Jl. Segara Ayu leads down to Pantai Segara and provides access to the Segara Village Hotel and the Consulate of Norway. A quieter alternative to Jl. Pantai Sindhu if that access point is busy.
Parking: Scooter parking on the street. Limited car access.
Jl. Hang Tuah — far northern Sanur
At the far northern end of Sanur, Jl. Hang Tuah runs off the Sanur Bypass Road near the Prime Plaza Hotel. This road historically led to the Sanur port and joins the beach close to the northern end of the beach path. Less used as a general tourist access point — more relevant if you are staying in the northern accommodation strip.
Parking: Roadside parking available. Wider road than the central access streets — better for cars than most other access points in Sanur.
All the beach access streets in Sanur are no longer than about 200 metres from Jalan Danau Tamblingan. You are never far from the beach wherever you are staying in Sanur — it is one of the best things about the area.
Can non-guests use beach facilities at Sanur resorts?
The beach path and sand are public — anyone can walk and swim there. However, the sun lounger areas set up in front of beachfront hotels are generally for hotel guests. Some beach clubs like the Byrd House at Segara Village welcome non-guests for food and drinks and you can use the beachfront seating when ordering. Others are strictly for guests only.
The simplest approach — walk the beach path, find a section of sand you like, and sit down. You are not obliged to use a hotel’s sun loungers. There are also warungs along the path where you can order a drink and use the chairs as a paying customer.
FAQs — getting to Sanur Beach
Is Sanur Beach open to the public?
Yes — Sanur Beach and the 7km beachfront path are fully public and free to access. You do not need to be staying at a beachfront hotel. There are no entry fees or gates anywhere along the coastline. Some hotels have sun lounger areas in front of their property reserved for guests, but the beach itself is open to everyone.
How do I get to Sanur Beach from the main road?
From Jalan Danau Tamblingan — the main street in Sanur — there are a series of access streets branching off towards the beach. The most popular are Jl. Pantai Sindhu (north), Jl. Pantai Karang and Jl. Duyung (central) and Jl. Cemara and Jl. Kusuma Sari (south). All access points are around 200 metres from the main road and easily walkable.
Where can I park at Sanur Beach?
The best car parking is at the end of Jl. Pantai Karang which has a dedicated car park near the beach. Jl. Hang Tuah in the far north also has good roadside parking. Most other access streets are narrow and better suited to scooters. If arriving by GRAB, Jl. Pantai Karang and Jl. Kusuma Sari are the easiest drop-off points for vehicles.
What is the best beach access point in Sanur for first timers?
Jl. Pantai Sindhu is the best first entry point — it gives you access to the Baruna Beach Market, the Byrd House Beach Club, beachside warungs and the busiest and most vibrant section of the beach path. For a quieter experience, Jl. Duyung or Jl. Pantai Karang in central Sanur are good alternatives. Where you access the beach will most likely depend on where you are staying in Sanur.
Can you walk to Sanur Beach easily?
Yes — from most accommodation on or near Jalan Danau Tamblingan the beach is a 2 to 5 minute walk via one of the access streets. All access points are under 200 metres from the main road. Early morning and evening are the most pleasant times to walk. Mid-afternoon the heat is intense and a GRAB or bicycle is more comfortable.
Are there private beaches in Sanur Bali?
No — there are no private beaches in Sanur. All of the sand and the 7km beach path are public. Some beachfront hotels have reserved sun lounger areas in front of their property for guests, but these are a small section of the beach. The rest of the sand and the entire beach path are freely accessible to everyone.
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