Things to do in  Kuta

There are two beach destinations called Kuta in Indonesia: one on Bali and one on neighboring Lombok. Kuta Bali is very touristy but worth visiting if you like malls, water parks, family attractions, or surfing. Kuta Lombok has a spectacularly beautiful coastline and is popular with surfers.

Kuta Bali was one of the first destinations to become popular with the surfers who brought tourism to the island in the 1970s, thanks to its sweeping beach and metronomic surf. Today, it’s best known for attractions like the Waterbom water park and malls like Beachwalk Shopping Center and Discovery Shopping Mall.

Get active on the water in the morning, either taking a surf lesson or hitting the Waterbom water park. After lunch, do some shopping at the malls or the art markets, grab a Balinese massage at a spa, then head out for sunset drinks followed by dinner and a club.

September is a great month to visit Kuta Bali. It’s still the dry season, but the European summer tourist season and Australian winter tourist season are mainly over. That means both traffic conditions and accommodation prices are better than during the July–August peak, while the beach and attractions are less crowded.

Seminyak is better than Kuta, but generally more expensive. Seminyak has a wide range of accommodations, and the stores, bars, nightclubs, and restaurants are generally higher class than Kuta. Kuta is a popular package tour destination that’s also good for families. Legian, between Kuta and Seminyak, can make a good compromise.

Taxi fares vary widely on Bali, and Kuta and Seminyak are large areas. A ride from Kuta to Seminyak can cost anything from 30,000 IDR (under $2) on local rideshare apps like Grab and Gojek to 100,000 IDR (roughly $6.50) from a street taxi. Bluebird is the most affordably priced metered taxi.