Jimbaran Bay is considered one of the most beautiful beaches in Bali, so it’s no surprise most activities here revolve around the water. On the beach, sun loungers and water-sports equipment are available to rent, and most vendors—including those at seafront restaurants and the fish market—speak English. Many tours visit Jimbaran Bay as one stop on a broader Bali itinerary, typically swinging by for sunset followed by a fresh-fish dinner.
Jimbaran Bay is a must for beach lovers and photographers.
Be sure to establish prices for the specific fish you are eating in Jimbaran fish restaurants before you dine.
A good fish restaurant will encourage you to inspect the fish and pick the one you want. Look for bright eyes, red gills, and shiny, firm skin.
Accompany your fish with sambal, Indonesia’s national chili condiment.
Jimbaran Bay is 5.5 miles (9 kilometers) south of Kuta and Ngurah Rai International Airport and is reasonably well signposted from elsewhere in south Bali. From Kuta, the public shuttle bus Kura-Kura services Jimbaran Bay. If you’re braving Bali’s traffic and left-side driving, parking is ample and inexpensive.
For the Bali sunset connoisseur, Jimbaran Bay is a must, with the sun sinking gently into the ocean between 6 and 7 all year round. While you can eat lunch at the seafood restaurants, dinner is more popular. Seafood is least likely to be fresh on Sunday, when many boats stay in.
Test your haggling skills at Kedonganan fish market (Pasar Ikan Tradisional Kedonganan) in Jimbaran. After you choose your fish, local vendors will cook it up with rice, sambal, and an Asian green known as water spinach (kangkung) for a delicious plastic-chair feast. Pick carefully: Some of the swimmers here are showing their age.
