Seminyak is often a first stop for many people when they arrive on the Indonesian island of Bali. Highly recommended, if you ask me. By Balinese standards, Seminyak is a fairly large city that does seem to become more western every year, but where you are fortunately still surrounded by warung (small eateries in Indonesia).
Seminyak is not just a city with cultural appeal but is also renowned for its luxury living. The city offers a great number of Hotel deals in Seminyak (Bali) at all-balihotels.net, suitable for different preferences and budgets. So whether you are a luxury seeker or a budget traveller, it's always possible to find suitable accommodation.
Seminyak is a good base for various day trips, a day of relaxing or just going out. Check out the 10 best tips for Seminyak in Bali here! Below I share some practical tips that will make your holiday in Seminyak just that little bit easier.
Visit a beach club in Seminyak
Of course, holidays are also about resting, and this is possible in Seminyak very well and very affordably. The beach club Potato Head is my personal favourite, with delicious (healthy) food, delicious cocktails, a nice pool and also by the sea.
Also, be sure to explore other nearby cities in Indonesia for diverse experience. At top hotels at tophotels.com , you can find excellent hotel options in various Indonesian cities, matching your unique tastes and preferences.
Just a side note: Seminyak is located by the sea, but the beach is not equally beautiful everywhere and the sea can be quite wild. That's why most people opt for a beach club. Be there early, between 10am and 11am, and ask for a day bed.
You then have to spend a minimum amount (at most about 1 million rupiah, which is about €65), from which you can then order food and drinks all day. This is very cheap compared to the Dutch beach bars, and they are also a lot more luxurious and beautiful.
Take a day trip to the village of Canggu
The village of Canggu is just above Seminyak and is a lot quieter. It is known as a surf village and unlike Uluwatu (which is in the south of Bali), this is quite suitable for the beginner surfer. So should you want to try out a surf lesson, you can do so here for a very reasonable price.
Also, the breakfast and lunch spots here are teeming with smoothie bowls and smashed avocado. If you prefer to see some of the 'real' Bali, they offer lots of bicycle tours through the rice fields here. Highly recommended. Totally fun: you can also ride through the rice fields on horseback, or watch the sunset on Canggu beach. Want to know more? ► Read on for 10 tips what to do in Canggu
Enjoy the sunset at Tanah Lot
Tanah Lot temple is a popular attraction, an hour's drive from Seminyak. Many people go here for the sunset, and admittedly, it is quite beautiful too. The view is not bad during the day either, so should you not make it to the sunset, this is still great fun to do.
The temple is located in the sea, on top of a small rocky island. Depending on whether it's low or high tide, you can reach the temple, up to about 5 metres away. You are not allowed on the rock itself, but you can access a spring that locals say is magical. If you want to catch the sunset here, make sure you get there on time. There is often a traffic jam and it would be a shame to see the sunset from your car.
Visit Seminyak's many hotspots
As I said, Seminyak does seem to become more western every year, but a nice touch is also that it has added so many new fun hotspots. From breakfast to dinner, drinks or lunch, they really have every kind of cuisine you can think of here.
For dinner, I really like Mama San (Asian with really good cocktails), for lunch Sisterfields (which is near Seminyak's shopping centre - for when it's too hot to sit in the sun in the middle of the day), the extravagant Sunday brunch at the W Hotel is fun if you really want to go over the top.
Made's Warung is where you want to be for delicious Indonesian food (as is Biku). And if you still feel like dancing you definitely want to do so at La Favela.
Head to Ubud for a day (and night)
Want to do something outside Seminyak? Ubud is about an hour and a half drive from Seminyak, so staying here for a night is also an option. In any case, it is definitely worth going there. Ubud is known for its beautiful rice fields, Mount Batur volcano and the Monkey Forest.
Beware in the Monkey Forest though: the monkeys are now very cunning and know how to open the zip of your bag. Getting rolled by a monkey on Bali is probably not very high on your list... So be careful. You can buy some bananas in the park itself and before you know it you'll have three monkeys on your shoulder. Next, take a look at Saraswati Temple, also known as the 'water palace of Ubud'. You reach the Hindu temple via a path across a picturesque lotus pond. Especially the large ornate doorways are Insta-worthy!
Snorkelling or diving in Seminyak
From Seminyak, there are lots of options to go snorkelling or diving (you can also get your PADI if you want). The water near Seminyak itself is not known as a great snorkelling or diving spot, but you are taken by boat to the middle of the sea and there it is teeming with fish. Big, small and in all kinds of colours (even if you don't want to/don't dare to dive; you'll see plenty of them with snorkelling too).
Thus, the waters around the islands of Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Penida are a popular spot for a snorkelling or diving trip. These islands are located just southeast of Bali. Underwater, you will see beautiful coral reefs here and may encounter marine animals such as sea turtles, eels, parrotfish and moray eels. If you book a tour, you will be picked up from your accommodation in Seminyak. You will be given a snorkel and flippers to borrow and lunch will be served on the beach.
Relax with a Balinese massage
In the Netherlands, I've never actually booked a massage. I always find that too expensive and too much hassle. In Bali, I always really look forward to the massages. It's very affordable, and those Balinese massages also make you feel very relaxed.
You'll find several more luxurious spas in Seminyak (which are still very affordable by our standards), but the smaller spas are just as good as far as I'm concerned. You can often get a one-hour Balinese massage for around 200,000 rupiah. That converts to about €13, so it's a really good deal.
Admire the temple Pura Petitenget
Seminyak is not really known for its many cultural attractions, but the Petitenget Temple is one of the few. It is an ancient Hindu temple located in the centre of Seminyak. So a real shame not to visit it when you are in Seminyak. Ceremonies are still regularly held at this temple (or on the beach), check which day if you want to experience this.
Become a kitchen prince(s) at a Balinese cooking class
Indonesian cuisine is personally one of my favourites, so a Balinese cooking class was something I really enjoyed doing. You learn to make traditional Indonesian dishes, with a few intricacies here and there. Great fun if you already like to cook at home, but my travelling companion (who is not a hero in the kitchen) also really enjoyed an afternoon.
Several places offer this, I'd recommend booking it a little outside Seminyak; that way you'll have a nice view of the rice fields while cooking.
Get up with a yoga class
Bali is now also known as a yoga island, with many retreats and a yoga school on every corner. Honestly, at home I did yoga exactly once, but I still thought I should try it in Bali. And it didn't disappoint. I think the view of a rice paddy or the beach helped a lot too. If you are already a yoga lover, you can't push your luck here.
What to do in Seminyak, Bali: practical tips
Accommodation in Seminyak
In Seminyak, you can find suitable accommodation for any budget, often with (very tasty) breakfast included. The Brown Feather Hotel is a very nice hotel, also in terms of price-quality ratio. If you want real luxury, book the W Hotel (and make sure you also catch the Sunday brunch there). This chic 5-star hotel is the favourite address for the jet set in Seminyak. One of the highlights is the lush pool surrounded by palm trees. The design of the pool is inspired by Bali's rice paddies.
The Legian is also very luxurious and beautiful. This 5-star hotel is right on the beach, with insane ocean views. There is a gorgeous pool and you can join yoga classes or group fitness. The Tijili Hotel is a very nice and affordable hotel with a good location too. If you want more privacy and comfort, there are also several holiday villas and bungalows for rent in Seminyak. Ideal if you are with a group of friends or family.
Travelling to Seminyak
Seminyak is located in the south of Bali, about 8 kilometres from the Ngurah Rai International Airport or Denpasar International Airport (DPS). If you depart from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, there is almost always a stopover. Travel time is between 16 and 20 hours. One of the fastest options is a flight with KLM, with a stopover at Singapore. Travel time is then 16½ hours.
If Seminyak is your first stop during your Bali holiday, it is advisable to book a taxi from the airport in advance. This is because no Go Jek or Grab cars are allowed here and the taxis never want to drive with a meter. Pre-ordering a taxi online will cost you between €10 and €15 and the driver will drop you off at your hotel.
Transport in Seminyak
Be very careful with taxis. There is an official taxi company, BlueBirdbut there are just as many taxis driving around with the same logo but without the name - so this is not an official company and chances are very high that you will be transported for a much more expensive fare. So if you want to hail a taxi on the street, always say you want to ride with a meter.
If you don't like hailing taxis on the street, download the app Go Jek. I have used this app all over Bali and really: it is SO handy. You can order a taxi (and pay cash in the taxi, the price is indicated in advance in the app so you never get ripped off), a scooter taxi or even order food. The app Grab is also an option, but it is often slightly more expensive.
Don't fancy all the hassle of taxis at all? Then hire a scooter. This is usually around €3 per day and is the easiest (and fastest) way to get around in Bali. A helmet is not compulsory but of course wise. Be careful though, they drive on the left in Bali and often the way to take priority is to honk as loudly as possible.
More handy tips for your holiday in Seminyak
Seminyak itself is nice, but the town of Kuta below it all the less so. I would recommend skipping it, as this is the nightlife area for many Australian tourists. So good to pay attention to which area you are in when booking a hotel. The Kuta and Legian areas are best avoided.