Hello, dear readers. Popular resorts in Bali include Sanur, Padang Bai, Jimbaran, Amed, and Canggu. Today, we will talk about another popular resort village on the island of Bali – Nusa Dua.
The article includes:
- Description of Nusa Dua village.
- Nusa Dua Beaches – Description and Photos.
- Attractions in Nusa Dua.
- Things to do in Nusa Dua.
- Pros and cons of Nusa Dua.
- Hotels in Nusa Dua.
Nusa Dua is located in the southern part of Bali, on the Bukit Peninsula, 25 km away from Denpasar and 15 km from Ngurah Rai Airport. It takes about forty minutes to drive from the airport to Nusa Dua on a highway. The Bukit Peninsula has a drier climate compared to the rest of Bali, which means it lacks the lush jungle vegetation or rice fields that the island is famous for. However, the Bukit Peninsula boasts picturesque beaches, limestone cliffs, legendary surf spots, the Uluwatu Temple, and the resort villages of Nusa Dua and Jimbaran. Today, we will talk about the Nusa Dua resort, its highlights, and what it has to offer.
The name “Nusa Dua” translates to “Two Islands” in English. Peninsula Island is located next to the bay in the south, and Nusa Dharma Island is situated in the north. Nusa Dua emerged in the 1970s when there was no human activity on the Bukit Peninsula, except for a prison and limestone cliffs. Within a couple of years, a massive development of the Bukit Peninsula for tourism purposes began. The first resort areas to be constructed were Nusa Dua and Jimbaran. Nowadays, Nusa Dua is a popular tourist destination on the island of Bali. It is known for its luxurious five-star hotels and is often included in tour packages from Russia. However, it is also possible to rent houses and villas at reasonable prices for Bali. Overall, the area is favored by families, honeymooners, and retirees. The infrastructure in the village is not highly developed, with restaurants concentrated in the Bali Collection shopping complex. The beaches in Nusa Dua were created artificially by constructing a dam. Nusa Dua Beach resembles its twin in the resort village of Sanur. However, the neighboring beaches of Geger and Nikko offer a true oceanic atmosphere.
Nusa Dua Beach is suitable for swimming due to the coral reef located several hundred meters from the shore, which breaks the large ocean waves, creating a calm and tranquil bay. Daily low tides occur in the lagoons, making it knee-deep and not ideal for swimming. As a result, most visitors prefer to enjoy the pool or simply relax on beach loungers, observing the white fluffy clouds resembling galloping horses as they blend into the endless blue ocean on the horizon.
Nusa Dua Beach can be visually divided into two parts, with the Peninsula forming the central area. The Peninsula is home to a park and the Waterblow, a natural phenomenon where waves beautifully crash between the rocks. The northern part of Nusa Dua Beach stretches for about 800 meters and is lined with hotels such as Westin Resort, Lagona, and Melia. The southern part of Nusa Dua Beach extends for a little over 2 kilometers, starting from the Peninsula Island and reaching the southernmost point where Nusa Dua Beach gradually transitions into Geger Beach (with the Mulia hotel located at the very southern end). In this section of the beach, you can also find hotels like Grand Hyatt Bali, Inaya Putri Bali, and Ayodya Resort Bali.
The beach sand in Nusa Dua is light yellow, coarse, and artificial. There may be seaweed and debris on the beach, but hotels take care of cleaning and burying the trash in the sand. Waves along the coastline are rare, and there is a consistent low tide in the afternoon, making the water entry smooth. It is suitable for young children. Adults may need to get used to the shallow water, which reaches knee-deep. Beach loungers can be rented starting from 50,000 rupiahs.
The beaches of Nusa Dua
Specifically Pantai Nusa Dua Beach, are not known for their picturesque beauty. The sand is artificial, and there are many seaweeds, although efforts are made to clean them up, but not everywhere (each hotel only cleans its own area). The beach is not crowded. There are various types of beach loungers, canopy beds, ottomans, and more available everywhere. Natural shade is provided by trees and gazebos. Access to the beach is free.
Pantai Geger Beach is a crowded beach, with half of the beach area occupied by the Mulia Hotel, which has its own sun loungers and a beachside pool (accessible through this part of the beach). The other part of the beach is intended for tourists from other hotels and locals who enjoy coming here in the evenings and on weekends. During low tide, the water is shallow and calm, while during high tide, there are waves.
Nikko Beach (also known as Sawangan Beach) is a charming, small beach located near the Hilton Bali Resort. It is relatively quiet and picturesque. The waves are usually present. Sun loungers and umbrellas are available for rent, and there are also cafes nearby.
Tanjung Benoa Beach is located to the north of the main beaches of Nusa Dua. It is a narrow strip of land that extends northwards from Nusa Dua.
Attractions in Nusa Dua
Puja Mandala or the Five Temples, which consist of an Hindu temple, a Catholic church, a mosque, and other religious structures, symbolizing religious harmony. These temples are active, and visitors can attend services during specific times.
Bali Collection is an open-air shopping area with shops and restaurants. Prices vary, ranging from inflated to regular prices for Bali. (Google coordinates: -8.801297, 115.229209)
Peninsula Island is a park that features the statue of Arjuna and a large Bhagavad Gita book. Visitors can relax on the grass, meditate, or go for a morning jog here.
Waterblow is an interesting natural phenomenon that occurs only during high tides. Waves crash against a volcanic reef, creating a spectacular sight. It is worth seeing if you are staying nearby.
Museum Pasifika Bali showcases cultural artifacts, with over 600 art pieces displayed in 11 galleries.
Garuda Vishnu Park is an unfinished park with the world’s tallest statue of Vishnu and Garuda, large rocks, and landscaped design. Currently, the park admission fee is 100,000 rubles. Visitors can watch a cartoon about Garuda, Balinese dances, and enjoy tea. However, the park is still under construction.
Devdan Show is a Balinese theater performance that portrays the history of Indonesia and Bali. It is a visually stunning show featuring acrobats, gymnasts, dancers, and special effects. The show takes the audience on a journey across Indonesia. Performances are held on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 19:30 to 21:00. Ticket prices for adults are as follows: Category “A” – 1,105,000 rupiah, “B” – 845,000 rupiah, “C” – 520,000 rupiah, “VIP” – 1,560,000 rupiah. Children’s tickets are available at a 50% discount from the adult rate, except for VIP tickets.
What to do in Nusa Dua? I won’t go into detail about what to do in Bali here, as there are already hundreds of articles dedicated to it on our travel guide blog. But at the very least, you can:
- Visit Ubud, the city of artists, rice fields, and jungles.
- Explore various attractions in Bali, where you can see volcanoes, jungles, luxurious rice terraces, and magical temples.
- Take a scenic drive to the beautiful beaches of Bukit, which are a 15-30 minute car ride from Nusa Dua. Some favorite beaches in Bukit include Gunung Payung and Melasti, where you can experience the true ocean beauty and take stunning photos.
- If you’re a surfer, visit picturesque surf spots like Balangan, Bingin, Dreamland, and Uluwatu Beach.
- Witness the sunset at Uluwatu, a beautiful spot with cascading small restaurants where you can enjoy Balinese coffee and watch surfers conquer huge waves (Uluwatu is more suitable for advanced users). From there, you can descend a hundred steps to reach Suluban Beach, a beautiful small beach ideal for photography.
- Explore Pura Uluwatu, a large temple complex where you can spend over two hours wandering around.
- Catch the Kecak Dance performance at sunset (around 18:00), a show based on the Hindu epic Ramayana with a duration of approximately 1.5 hours.
- Discover the abandoned Boeing 737 plane near Pandawa Beach.
- Play golf at the expansive and scenic Bali National Golf Club.
- Visit The Pirates Bay, a pirate-themed restaurant with treehouses and straw-roofed huts, offering entertainment programs for children like treasure hunts.
- Spend time at Surf & Turf, a beach club and water park that offers a large area for relaxation, including pools, restaurants, water slides, and an artificial wave (weekday admission costs 270,000 IDR, and weekend admission costs 300,000 IDR).
- Experience a traditional tea ceremony accompanied by classical piano music at St. Regis Bali Resort (from 15:00 to 17:30, price: 350,000 IDR).
- Explore Indonesia through the Dewdan Show, a highly beautiful performance mentioned in the “Nusa Dua attractions” section.
Additionally, if you have a two-week vacation dedicated to Bali, consider dividing your time in half. Spend the first week actively exploring the island, visiting waterfalls, volcanoes, lakes, participating in ceremonies, and visiting the most sacred temples. Use the second week to relax and enjoy the five-star resorts in Nusa Dua.
Other beaches in Bukit that you can visit from Nusa Dua include:
- Gunung Payung Beach: 15 minutes by car from Nusa Dua.
- Pandawa Beach
- Karma Beach
- Bingin Beach
- Dreamland Beach
- Melasti Beach
- Balangan Beach
- Thomas Beach
- Padang-Padang Beach
- Tegal Wangi Beach
- Jimbaran Beach
The infrastructure in Nusa Dua
is relatively limited. There is a supermarket called Coco, as well as small shops and stores. The BIMC Hospital is located in Nusa Dua for medical facilities. Within the tourist reservation area of Nusa Dua, you will find the Bali Collection shopping complex, which offers restaurants, clothing and souvenir shops, beauty salons, banks, and ATMs.
Guests staying in hotels in the Nusa Dua and Tanjung Benoa areas can enjoy free transfers to Bali Collection from 10:00 to 21:00 since the complex opens.
In the shopping complex, you can find stores such as Pink Eleven, Levi’s, Ady’s Tailor, Billabong, Giordano, Nike, Pocket Friendly Fashion, Cool Kids, Wikowi Art & Craft, Tirta Batik & Accessories, Sweet Angel Boutique, and more.
There are also various restaurants and bars, including Mai Mai Restaurant, Coco Bistro, Uno Italian, Loco Café, Pica Pica, Prada Exclusive Lounge & Grill, Frangipani Bali International Restaurant, Paon Bali Fusion, Kizuna Teppanyaki, Bebek Tepi Sawah, and others. ATM machines from banks such as Danamon, Simb Niaga, Bank Mandiri, Commonwealth, and OCBC NISP are also available.
Advantages of Nusa Dua:
- Concentration of hotels in one place.
- Warmer climate compared to other parts of the island.
- Receives less rainfall even during the rainy season compared to other parts of Bali.
- Nusa Dua Beach is known for its calm shallow waters, making it suitable for children and the elderly.
- The Bukit Peninsula, located near Nusa Dua, offers beautiful beaches such as Melasti, Gunung Payung, Balangan, Pandawa, Dreamland, Bingin, Karma, Thomas, Padang-Padang, and more. While not all of them are suitable for swimming, they are picturesque.
- The Bukit area (not in the Nusa Dua village itself) has scenic surf spots for advanced surfers, such as Green Bowl Beach, Uluwatu, Bingin, and Balangan.
Disadvantages of Nusa Dua:
- Lacks the authentic beauty, aesthetics, and spiritual life of Bali.
- Limited natural attractions such as rice fields, jungles, and volcanoes.
- Minimum infrastructure, mostly limited to tourist facilities like souvenir shops, beauty salons, and restaurants.
- Limited dining options.
- Far from major attractions, with long travel times to Bedugul (3 hours), Ubud (1.5-2 hours), Amed (3 hours), and the airport (1-1.5 hours) without considering traffic.
- Nusa Dua resembles the resort village of Sanur but is less conveniently located.
- Nusa Dua Beach may not have an impressive appearance, often with seaweed and a significant low tide in the afternoon.
Here is the translation of the top 10 hotels in Nusa Dua:
- Mulia – One of the most popular hotels among Russian-speaking tourists. It occupies half of Geger Beach and offers excellent service, comfortable rooms with all necessary amenities, and a beautiful well-maintained area. The breakfast and lunch options are diverse and abundant.
- Ayodya Resort Bali – The second most popular hotel among Russian-speaking tourists. Ayodya is a beautiful hotel with picturesque surroundings. Tourists especially appreciate the pond with golden carp and various waterfowl, as well as the almost tame squirrels on the beach. The hotel offers a variety of restaurants, a fitness center, and a spa. The staff is friendly and attentive, and there are evening entertainment programs and various water sports activities during the day.
- The St. Regis Bali Resort – A secluded place surrounded by lush vegetation, suitable for those seeking privacy. The accommodation and dining prices correspond to the hotel’s level. The hotel features 123 rooms, including suites and villas with balconies/terraces overlooking the ocean, garden, or pool. It also has a children’s center, main and lagoon pools, 2 spa tubs, a spa center, a gym, 4 restaurants, 2 bars, a picnic area, an ATM, an excursion desk, and a water sports center.
- Hilton Bali Resort – The hotel is located on Nikko Beach and offers a beautiful, well-maintained area. It is situated on different levels, providing beautiful views, and has an elevator to access the beach. The hotel is part of the Hilton network, allowing guests to accumulate hotel rewards. The corporate style and polite staff are notable, although the hotel is somewhat old and in need of renovation. It offers 389 rooms and 19 villas with private terraces or balconies, 4 pools, a sandy lagoon, a 30-meter water slide, 3 tennis courts, a kids’ club (4-12 years), express mail, an ATM, a souvenir shop, and a clothing store.
- The Ritz Carlton – The hotel boasts a very clean and well-maintained area with plenty of greenery. Guests appreciate the delicious breakfast with a wide selection of dishes and the wonderful kids’ club. The ocean offers a gentle and calm tide. The hotel features 313 luxury suites and villas, a spa center with 14 treatment rooms and 4 spa villas, 6 restaurants, a beach, a chapel, a pool, a club lounge, a fitness center, a yoga studio, and a beauty salon.
- The Laguna – This hotel receives excellent reviews with everything at the highest level. The large area features fountains, pools, waterfalls, landscaped design, tame squirrels, and birds. The price includes breakfast and airport transfer, and the staff is friendly, including a Russian-speaking manager. Despite being fully booked, the quality landscape design creates a sense of seclusion. The hotel has 287 rooms, including lagoon access suites where guests can jump into the water from their rooms, a fitness center, a spa center with a waterfall, 7 pools, a rooftop terrace, 3 bars, 3 restaurants, 2 tennis courts, and a hair salon.
- Grand Aston Bali Beach Resort – The hotel offers 187 rooms, 4 restaurants, a spa center, a pool, a terrace, a business center, a fitness center, a billiard room, a game room, and a children’s pool. The Roof Ocean Front Suite is available starting from $310.
- Ulu Segara Luxury Suites & Villas – The hotel features 46 rooms, a library, a pool, a currency exchange, a gym, a garden, a spa, a terrace with umbrellas, and 4 restaurants. The villa with 1 bedroom and a private pool starts from $300.
- Grand Hyatt – The hotel has a lotus pond, 636 rooms, a conference room, 9 restaurants, a spa, 5 pools, a terrace, and a tennis court.
- Novotel Bali Benoa – The hotel offers 187 rooms, including family rooms, a kids’ club (5-12 years), 3 pools, a gym, 3 restaurants, 2 bars, a conference room (capacity up to 100 people), a spa, and a tennis court. The hotel provides entertainment activities for children and adults, as well as special offers for honeymooners.
Please note that the prices and other details mentioned in the translation may be subject to change.
We are always happy to share the magic of Bali Island with positive people!
Sincerely, Bali Open Group, authors of the blog baliopen.org
