Seminyak Travel Guide: 8 Top Things to Do in Seminyak Bali Indonesia

Seminyak is an upscale tourist area on the west side of the island of Bali, Indonesia. It has a long stretch of beach for sunbathing and surfing and excellent local and western restaurants. Moreover, it has many boutique shops where you can buy all your souvenirs like coffee, colourful sarongs, and local handicrafts. And not to mention all the world-class beach resorts for a very reasonable price.

If you have never been to Bali before, you might want to make Seminyak your first stop in Bali. It is an excellent introduction to Bali and a central place for visiting other parts of Bali like Canggu, Ubud, Uluwatu and all the Nusa islands (Nusa Lembongan, Nusa Ceningan, and Nusa Penida).

The first time I travelled solo to Bali I stayed in Seminyak. I immediately fell in love with the island. I love the laidback feel, the friendly locals and everything else about it. There is such a good vibe about Seminyak, and there is nothing else like that anywhere else.

Let me show you all the best things to do in Seminyak Bali so you can maximize your time while vacationing on the Island of Gods.

Want to read this post later? Pin it on your Pinterest board!

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. If you buy something through them, I will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting this website. For more information, please read the disclosure for more info.

What you need to know before visiting Seminyak in Bali

Before you visit Seminyak, take a look at my post on everything you need to know before going to Bali. I included a lot of information, including how to get around Bali, how to get a prepaid SIM card and other essential Bali travel tips.

Here are a few additional travel tips for visiting Seminyak:

• It is possible to explore Seminyak on foot. Many main roads have sidewalks for pedestrians.
• To save time and energy, rent a scooter for 60K IDR daily. There are many scooter rentals along Jalan Kaya Aya and Jalan Petitenget.
• If you don’t want to rent a scooter, ordering a GoJek bike or card ride is cheap, especially within Seminyak. Download GoJek on your smartphone.

How to get to Seminyak in Bali, Indonesia

Seminyak is about 10km north of Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali, Indonesia.

The distance is not far, but it will take anywhere between 30 to 60 minutes to get to Seminyak depending on the time of day and the specific area of Seminyak you are going to.

You can arrange with your hotel for transportation from the airport. It might be the easiest (but not the cheapest) option. Pre-arranged transportation costs about 200K IDR.

Or you can hire transportation at the airport. It might feel chaotic because there will be many people approaching you to offer you a ride to Seminyak. And you must haggle with the drivers to get the best price. To avoid chaos, I always pre-arrange a pick-up with my hotel.

How to get around Seminyak

My go-to answer is always to walk! Ha! But Seminyak is quite a big area, and typically the weather is quite hot so walking might not always be the answer.

You can rent a scooter and scoot around yourself. There are many scooter rentals along Jalan Kaya Aya and Jalan Petitenget, the main shopping streets. Renting a scooter costs about 60K IDR daily (not including petrol). It is the most efficient way to see all the best Seminyak tourist attractions.

Or you can order a Go-jek bike or car. Go-jek is similar to Uber or Grab where you can order a car. But in Bali, you can order a scooter as well. The simplest way to order a Go-jek bike or car is to download Go-jek on your smartphone. A ride within Seminyak is really cheap and you can pay cash after your ride.

Where to stay in Seminyak Bali

There are many excellent places to stay in Bali and many of them are in Seminyak. And most of all, they don’t cost a lot! A decent budget can get you a fantastic hotel room at a beach resort with all the bells and whistles.

I stayed at many places in Seminyak and here are some of my favourite places:

• Best hotel for minimalistic design: Lloyd’s Inn Bali ($)
  • I love the minimalist aesthetics at Lloyd’s Inn Bali! Read my full review on Lloyd’s Inn Bali and see why I love this hotel!
  • Check prices & reviews: Agoda
• Best budget private accommodation: Hotel Taum Resort Bali ($)
  • A mid-size budget hotel with a spacious guest room that includes a king bed, a sitting area, a bathroom, a kitchenette and a balcony.
  • Check prices & reviews: Agoda
• Most convenient hotel: Dash Hotel Seminyak ($)
  • You don’t need a scooter when you stay at this centrally-located hotel.
  • Check prices & reviews: Agoda
• Most luxurious hotel: Alila Seminyak ($$$)
  • If you want to go all-out and splurge on a hotel, then you will want to spend a night (or a few nights) at Alila Seminyak, one of the best hotel brands in Asia.
  • Check prices & reviews: Agoda

Seminyak Travel Guide: What to do in Seminyak Bali

Whether you are backpacking in Bali or taking a luxury vacation, Seminyak is a great introductory place for first-timers going to Bali. There are many things to do in the central areas of Seminyak including cafe hopping, shopping and lounging at a beach or beach club.

I pinned all the best things to do in Seminyak mentioned in this blog in the interactive map above. You can click on the individual to get more information and also read my description below.

1. Best Seminyak activities: beaches and beach clubs

Seminyak is located along the southwest coast of the island of Bali. This means there are many beaches along the long stretch of the city.

However, these are not some of the best beaches of Bali. Since Seminyak is a major tourist hub, that means a lot of people visit the area. This also means there are a lot of pollution and specifically, a lot of garbage on the beach.

But don’t let that discourage you from visiting the beach. It is still worth visiting! Plus, there are beach clubs and cafes which will make your time on the beach that much more enjoyable!

Here are some of the top beaches and beach clubs in Seminyak:

• Double Six Beach – the best beach in Seminyak for anyone who wants to learn surfing and a premium spot to watch the sunset.
• La Plancha – a casual, laidback cafe with colourful beanbags at Double Six Beach. Best spot to relax and watch the sunset.
• Potato Head Beach Club – The beach club has three restaurants and three bars, and a huge infinity pool. They also have nightly events where local and international DJs and musicians are featured.
• Petitenget Beach – easily accessible beach that is close to the centre of Seminyak
• Batu Belig Beach – cleaner and not as touristy as other Seminyak beaches

2. Cafe hop around Seminyak

Eating is a big part of every trip, and Seminyak has some of the best cafes in Bali. And it is easy to eat healthy in Seminyak because many cafes serve the healthiest food, including vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options. And most of all, they are all very affordable!

Here are some of the top cafes in Seminyak that I keep going back to:

• Sisterfields Cafe ($$) – A modern Australian cafe that serves the most appetizing brunch food
• Nook ($$) – You can have brunch or eat traditional Balinese food while overlooking the lush green rice fields
• Shelter Cafe Bali ($$) – Excellent vegan restaurant for good wholesome food and a great place to work
• Sea Circus Restaurant & Bar ($$) – a colourful cafe opens early and stays open late
• Kynd Community ($$) – an Instagrammable cafe that serves 100% plant-based food while giving back to the community

3. Shop to your heart’s content

There are many local shops and boutique stores all over Seminyak selling local handicrafts, souvenirs, clothing, and other trinkets.

Jalan Kaya Aya, the main road of Seminyak has retail stores on both sides of the street between Jalan Drupadi to the east and Jalan Sari Dewi to the west. I’m not someone who shops a lot, but if I like to browse along Jalan Kaya Aya.

When Jalan Kaya Ayu ends on the west, it becomes Jalan Petitenget. The long and bendy street is full of boutique clothing shops, souvenir shops and stands, spas, cafes, restaurants, etc.

Here are some stores in Seminyak that I really like (as a non-shopping person):

• Monsieur Blonde Jewels – they sell the most unique silver and brass-gold plated earrings, necklaces, bracelets and rings. And oh, they also sell sexy lingerie!
• Kim Soo – the boutique store sells eclectic homeware in matching monochromatic colour schemes and there is a cafe there too!
• Bali Boat Shed – a cute clothing boutique store
• Seminyak Village – a two-storey indoor shopping centre with retail stores that carry mostly clothing, jewellery and souvenirs. On the upper level, there are few coffee shops, more retail stores and H&M.

4. Enjoy a spa treatment at a Seminyak day spa or salon

Going to the spa has to be one of the best activities for solo travellers! And similar to other things in Bali, getting a spa treatment is very cheap especially when you compare it to your home country.

And while you are in Bali, you have to try the traditional Balinese massage. It is a full-body massage with aromatherapy and deep-tissue massage technique. The overall treatment is relaxing and calming. Generally, a 60-minute Balinese massage costs between 240k to 300k IDR.

I’ve tried many day spas in Seminyak and keep going back to these ones:

• Re Day Spa – a light and airy day spa on Jalan Petitenget
• Spring Spa – they have two locations: Seminyak Village and Jalan Petitenget. And there is also a Spring Spa in Canggu
• The Shampoo Lounge Bali – the full-service hair salon offers many services, including manicure, pedicure, massage and many other treatments.
• Jari Menari – try their “dancing fingers” massaging technique
• Bodyworks Spa – one of the oldest and best day spas in Seminyak. Their new location just opened!
• Sundari Day Spa – an award-winning day spa with a modern interior. Each treatment room has a massage bed and shower facilities.

5. Work remotely at a local cafe in Seminyak

While most cafes and coworking spaces are in Canggu (a coastal town north of Seminyak), there are a few places in Seminyak where you can do a few hours of work.

If you want to bring your laptop and enjoy a coffee, try one of these cafes:

• Titik Temu Coffee ($) – the coffee shop has an indoor space and outdoor seating just above the shop. They make a strong cappuccino! Try one of their cakes or the coffee-rubbed fries while you work there.
• Pison Coffee ($) – I really like Pison Coffee for their coffee and food. The upstairs space is quiet and usually full of people and laptops.
• The Coffee Library ($) –  even though the space is small and there aren’t many tables, many people come here to work. The staff doesn’t really mind that you are spending a long time there as long as you are ordering food.

6. Watch the sunset at the beach, beachfront restaurant or beach resort

Since Seminyak is on the west side of the island and the beach lines the entire west side of the town, watching the sunset has to be one of the best things to do in Seminyak Bali.

And you can watch the sunset along Double Six Beach, Petitenget Beach, Batu Belig Beach or anywhere in between.

And if you fancy a sunset with dinner, there are many beachfront restaurants in Seminyak where you can enjoy a delightful dinner with a sunset.

My favourite has to be the Breeze Restaurant at The Samaya Seminyak Hotel. The alfresco restaurant serves western food and Balinese food. Call ahead and book a table on the lawn so you can watch the sunset while having dinner. The sun sets around 6:30 pm in Bali, so arrive early.

And if you stay at one of the hotels by the beach, like Alila Seminyak, you can enjoy the sunset from the infinity pool (see the main photo).

7. Visit Canggu: surf, beach, spa and cafe

Canggu is a laidback coastal town known for surfing, black sand beaches, and wonderful cafes. It is located just north of Seminyak where you can easily scoot over or you can order a Go-Jek scooter or car.

While you are in Canggu, you can hang out at the beaches or learn how to surf.

And when you are hungry, many western cafes serve delicious and healthy food. I have many recommendations for cheap, healthy eats in Canggu. Eating in Canggu is slightly cheaper than in Seminyak.

If you want to have more spa time, then you are in the right place. Like Seminyak, Canggu has many affordable day spas. Get a Balinese massage, facial, manicure or pedicure. Whatever you want to do to pamper yourself, you will find it in Canggu at a very affordable price.

8. Take a day trip to Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan

It is easy to take a day trip from Seminyak and spend the day scootering around Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan. The little islands are just off the east coast of Bali near Sanur and you can see both Nusa islands on a day trip.

Here is what you can do on your self-guided trip to the Nusa Islands:

• Purchase a high-speed boat ticket online. The ticket includes a pick-up from your hotel in Seminyak to Sanur beach.
• Catch the 9:30 am the fast boat to Nusa Lembongan.
• Once you are on the island, hire a scooter for the day.
• Check out the Devil’s Tear, and Dream Beach on Nusa Lembongan.
• Cross the Yellow Bridge to visit Blue Lagoon on Nusa Ceningan.
• Make sure you catch the last ferry back to Bali at 4:30 pm.

I included all the details for a great day trip to Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan in my blog post. Make sure to check it out before you go.

Or you can join a tour and visit both Nusa Islands on the same day.

And if you have time, you can extend your day trip and get on a ferry and explore Nusa Penida as another day trip.

RELATED POST – Learn more about Bali travel deals with Scoopon

What are you going to do in Seminyak Bali?

I hope this post inspired your future trip to Seminyak Bali. It is one of the best spots for first-time travellers to Bali.

Are you ready to book your ticket to Bali and check out Seminyak? Let me know in the comments!

Thank you for reading my Seminyak solo travel post

You might also like these other posts on solo travel in Bali:

• Things I wish I knew before going to Bali Indonesia
• 10 Day Bali Solo Travel Itinerary
• Where to stay in Bali for solo travellers
• Hotel Review: Lloyd’s Inn Bali in Seminyak
• 6 Best Spas in Seminyak Bali
• 8 Best Cafes in Seminyak
• Ubud 2 day Itinerary alone
• Best things to do in Canggu for solo travellers
• 10 Best Canggu Day Spas
• 10 Best Cafes in Canggu
• Top 4 Airbnbs in Canggu
• Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan from Bali: 1-day Itinerary
• How to spend one day in Nusa Penida

Like this blog post? Pin it on your Pinterest board!