In the print dialog pick “Save as PDF” to keep it on your phone. A5 makes a pocket booklet; A4 suits a desk printer.
Voykit pocket guide · Indonesia
Sanur
Base here 3 nights if you want calm water, a flat 5 km beach path and boats to Nusa Penida; skip it if you want surf or nightlife.
Sanur is Bali's oldest resort strip, on the east coast 20–30 min from the airport. The water is reef-sheltered and shallow, the beachfront path runs about 5 km, and the crowd is families and older couples rather than surfers. It works as a quiet base, a first or last night near the airport, and the departure point for fast boats to Nusa Penida and the Gilis.
- Country
- Indonesia
- Best months
- Apr–Oct (dry season)
- Avoid
- Dec–Feb (rain and afternoon storms)
- Stay
- 3 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- IDR
- Money
- Rupiah (Rp) in small notes for warungs, parking, offerings and drivers; large cards are common in tourist restaurants but not everywhere.
- Daily spend
- Budget Rp500,000–900,000 excl. bed · Mid Rp900,000–2,000,000 excl. bed · High Rp2,000,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Telkomsel, XL and Indosat sell tourist SIMs at airports; foreign phones must be IMEI-registered if staying over 90 days — check.
- Emergency
- General emergency 112 · Police 110 · Ambulance 118 · Fire 113
- Plugs
- Types C, F · 230 V · 50 Hz · European round pins.
- Tipping
- Warung: Nothing.; Restaurants: Often 10% service + tax on the bill; nothing more needed.; Drivers and guides: Rp50,000–100,000 a day.; Spa: Rp20,000–50,000.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap; refill stations common in Bali.
- Toilets
- Western in hotels and cafés; squat toilets with a water scoop elsewhere; paper in the bin.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee at a beach café | Rp25,000–50,000 |
| Local warung meal (nasi campur, mie goreng) | Rp30,000–70,000 |
| Mid-range restaurant main | Rp70,000–150,000 |
| Large Bintang beer | Rp30,000–60,000 |
| Bicycle rental, one day | Rp30,000–50,000 |
| Scooter rental, one day | Rp70,000–120,000 |
| Fast boat to Nusa Penida, one way | Rp150,000–200,000 |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | Rp100,000–200,000 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- DPS · Ngurah Rai International (Denpasar)
- 20–30 min by car; pre-paid airport coupon around Rp250,000
Typical fares
- Airport (DPS) → Sanur, pre-paid coupon
- about Rp250,000, 20–30 min
- Fast boat Sanur → Nusa Penida
- Rp150,000–200,000, about 30–45 min crossing
- Bicycle rental, one day
- Rp30,000 in town, Rp50,000 on the beach
Get around
Walk or cycle: the beach path and Jalan Danau Tamblingan cover most of what you need. Bicycles rent for about Rp30,000/day in town and Rp50,000/day along the beach. Metered taxis patrol the main street; rideshare apps are blocked by local drivers on the harbour road, so walk out to the main road to book one.
See and do
Known for
- Sheltered east-coast beach and reef
- 5 km paved beachfront path
- Fast-boat harbour to Nusa Penida and the Gilis
- Le Mayeur Museum and Blanjong inscription
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Nusa Penida | Fast boat from Sanur Harbour at the end of Jalan Matahari Terbit | About 1–1.5 h including boarding |
| Nusa Lembongan | Fast boat from Sanur Harbour | About 1–1.5 h |
| Denpasar | Taxi or Trans Metro Dewata bus routes 3 and 5 | 20–30 min |
| Ubud | Car or taxi via the bypass | About 1 h |
| Serangan Island Turtle Conservation Centre | Car or scooter, about 3 km southCar or scooter, about 1.9 mi south | About 20 min |
Sleep
- Jalan Danau Tamblingan (main street)
- Shops, cafés and mid-range hotels along one north–south road; walkable to the beach path.
- Beachfront / Jalan Hangtuah
- Resort gardens opening onto the sand; quietest at night, highest rates.
- Mertasari and Semawang (south)
- Near the boat harbour and southern beach; good for early ferry departures.
- Bypass Ngurah Rai side
- Cheaper rooms and big supermarkets, but a 10–15 min walk or short ride to the beach.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Thank you | Terima kasihterima kasih |
| How much is it? | Berapa harganya?berapa harganya |
| This one, please | Yang ini, yayang ini, ya |
| Can I pay by card? | Bisa bayar pakai kartu?bisa bayar pakai kartu |
| Where is the toilet? | Di mana toilet?di mana toilet |
| Help | Tolongtolong |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Light handshake then hand to chest; smile; avoid: Firm grips
- Left hand: Give and receive with the right; avoid: Passing anything with the left
- Temples: Sarong and sash; step around offerings; avoid: Standing higher than priests
- Keeping calm: Patience; indirect requests; avoid: Anger in public
- Pointing: Thumb; avoid: Index finger
Scams and watch-outs
- Rideshare pickup is refused on Jalan Matahari Terbit near the harbour: walk to the main road first.
- Rental bikes vary in condition; test brakes and pedals before you pay.
- Riptides and reef cuts at low tide: swim between the flags and wear shoes on the reef.
- Monkey and bag snatching is rare but keep phones out of reach on the beach path at night.
Sanur is one of Bali's calmer beach areas; the real risks are traffic on the bypass, reef cuts at low tide, and unlicensed boat touts at the harbour. Use hotel-arranged or well-reviewed crossings.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Sanur yet. Suggested stay: 3 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Sheltered east-coast beach and reef
- 5 km paved beachfront path
- Fast-boat harbour to Nusa Penida and the Gilis
- Le Mayeur Museum and Blanjong inscription
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Indonesia.travel — official tourism site: www.indonesia.travel/gb/en/home
- Sanur Harbour: sanurharbour.com
- Wikivoyage: Sanur, revision 5319694 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5319694
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Sanur
Ke alamat ini, ya
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
Most embassies and consulates are in Denpasar or Jakarta; check your country's listing before you travel.
Carry small notes for warungs and boat touts; many places add a card surcharge.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/sanur). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.