Don’t let Seminyak’s hectic neighbour Kuta turn you off from visiting this area. Though they are close in proximity, Seminyak is far from Kuta’s lifestyle. Seminyak oozes modern, trendy and luxury from its streets.
Expats have flooded to the area, creating what is Seminyak today to provide you with boutique shopping, mouthwatering restaurants, fabulous bars and fist-pumping clubs. Seminyak has a scene all on its own that’s distinct from the rest of the island.
Visit Seminyak and you’ll understand why it is well-known as being a luxury base for many holiday-makers but all are welcome to enjoy the golden sand beaches, rolling waves, trendy hot spots and delicious food.
Stop by here during your Bali holiday and you’ll find more than a few things to do in Seminyak that you’ll love.
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Things to do in Seminyak
Discover what to do in Seminyak for all budgets and styles of travel in this top and detailed Seminyak travel guide.
Hit the beaches
Seminyak, though a popular area for travellers, is lucky to have beaches that feel less crowded. Seminyak Beach has golden sand and is an optimal place to catch sunset.
During the day you can try the waves with some water activities or chill out on a lounge chair. The beach is good for swimming too. There are plenty of places for you to grab a drink and some food so you can spend the whole day without leaving the beach.
Other beaches in Seminyak include Double Six Beach and Legian Beach. Kuta Beach is also not far but busier.
Enjoy the beach clubs
Seminyak is home to one of Bali’s best beach clubs, Potato Head (also known as one of the top places to see in Seminyak) is great if you want a day to just chill out either in the sand or by the pool.
The beach is lined with umbrellas and bean bags while around the pool there are cabanas where you can lounge and sip on cocktails all day long.
Be sure to get in early though as many of the cabanas are often claimed for by 10am. You can snack on tapas and large meat and cheese platters or move to sit-down Seminyak restaurants that are available within the beach club.
Another popular beach club is Cocoon on Double Six Beach that has become known as the beach with the best nightlife in Seminyak. Cocoon Beach Club is very inviting with a pool right in the centre and serving funky cocktails all day and night.
Ku De Ta is also another popular choice.
You can also book beach club transfers so you can avoid any hassle with the taxis and not have to drive yourself if you drink!
Keep up your fitness
To counter all that partying and beach lounging time there are a number of options to keep up your health regime (or start one) while staying in Seminyak. You can even keep fit on the beach with boot camps right by the water.
You can find these classes at 2BeFitBali. Another option is a sunset run where you’ll be spoiled with excellent and colourful views.
Join a yoga retreat
There are a number of yoga retreats in Seminyak that are the perfect length to add onto your Bali holiday. Many are only a couple of days while some are a week long. Either way, joining a yoga retreat could be the perfect way for you to start or end your trip feeling relaxed and calm.
READ MORE: 11 Hand-Picked Bali Yoga Retreats
Take a cooking class
You can’t leave Bali without taking a cooking class. Seminyak is one of the best areas to take a cooking class as there are a number of options available.
Balinese dishes are different from others in Indonesia with their own complex and unique flavours. It’s very interesting to learn about and you’ll have the pleasure of making multiple dishes from soups to dinners and desserts.
Go shopping
There are few Seminyak attractions but shopping is one of them as its a top shopping destination in Bali. Since so many expats choose to set up base here they open boutiques ranging from clothing to home furnishings and more.
The area is definitely known to be more high-end with trendy pieces and the latest fashion. Big brand names also open up shops too that include surf shops and fashion. You can find the majority of shopping in Seminyak on Jalan Laksmana which is one of the top shopping streets in all of Bali.
READ MORE: Everything You Need to Know About Shopping in Bali
Spend the day at Tropicola
This is a beach club but deserves a mention on its down because it’s one of the trendiest (and brightest) beach clubs there is in Bali!
Tropicola is great as a daytime hangout on the striped lounges and under the bright yellow umbrellas. Some days there are giant watermelon floaties in the pool and big balls being thrown around. At night the upstairs turns into a dance floor and the beat drops.
The food is yummy, the cocktails colourful and the entire space is awesome not just for a fun day but also for the perfect Insta pic. It’s one of the places to visit in Seminyak.
Get cultured
Though Seminyak is most known for being a high-end holiday destination, there are still local things to see in Seminyak as culture is still present. It’s often masked by the shops and villas throughout Seminyak but visiting one or two of the temples will give you a glimpse into Balinese life.
Pura Masceti is an agricultural temple which is used by farmers. Pura Petitenget is a sea temple. Both fend off evil spirits and if you’re lucky you might catch a celebration at these places to visit in Seminyak!
Pamper yourself
Is it really a proper holiday if you didn’t spend some time pampering yourself? Allow yourself some time to truly relax with a visit to the spa for a manicure, pedicure, massage or to get your hair done.
Spas are really attractions in Seminyak with how beautiful some are! A traditional Balinese massage uses oil and is not as rough as a Thai massage but still enough to work the deep tissue.
Prices at spas are very affordable, starting at 90,000 and going up, but you can also choose to splurge and get a luxury treatment. Luxury treatments are still very affordable, typically 250,000 at a high-end spa.
Check out Nyaman Gallery
Art lovers need to head to Nyaman Gallery where they can find art from up and coming Balinese and Indonesian artists. The gallery is great to check out because of the range of art available. Paintings are prominent but there is also hand blown glass, sculptures, ceramics and even wearable art.
All of the pieces that are displayed are for sale so stop by here if you’re looking to decorate with something unique and to support local artists.
Try the waves
Get yourself active in the water by surfing, windsurfing, wakeboarding or kite surfing with these Seminyak activities. You can hit the waves just off of the beach which makes the water conditions ideals for kite surfing.
Though the waves aren’t as consistent as other areas in Bali, you’ll still have a good chance of getting some. There are several surf schools in Seminyak or you’re able to rent your own equipment along the beach.
Enjoy water sports
If surfing or kite surfing isn’t your thing, try a change of activities in Seminyak. There are a few options to enjoy that are less active and more leisurely water sports such as jet-skiing, sea walking (those big yellow helmets you wear to go underwater), parasailing or banana boating.
Get your caffeine dose at cute cafes
Along with the boutique shops, expats have opened plenty of cafes for you to get your daily caffeine dose from. Honestly, the cafes are some of the best places to visit in Seminyak!
Either way, you won’t be disappointed with the cafe scene in Seminyak as they’re pretty much Seminyak tourist attractions that you can’t miss. Some good places to check out are Revolver, Cage Organic and Grain Bali.
Visit Escape Room Bali
Just in case you need a break from the beaches or you hit an especially rainy day in Bali, you can hide from the heat or rain with some indoor entertainment at Escape Room Bali. There are four immersive escape rooms where groups of 2-6 figure out puzzles and use clues to escape the rooms in a limited amount of time.
Experience the Seminyak nightlife
This is one of the best things to do in Seminyak. Nightlife in Seminyak varies from wild club parties to chilled out lounges to relaxed fine dining restaurants. Whatever you choose, there is an option for you.
Clubs often bring in well-known DJs from around the globe so for a night of dancing hit up these hot spots: Ku De Ta Bali, Potato Head Beach Club, Red Ruby Club, OPIVM Bali Nightclub, Mirror Bali Lounge and Club or Motel Mexicola.
For dining or lounge options that are relaxed visit La Favela, Single Malt Bar, Sarong Bali, La Lucciola or Barbacoa Bali.
Visit Tanah Lot
Tanah Lot is one of the most famous temples in Bali not only because of its scenic location but also because it has significant religious meaning to the Balinese.
A Hindu shrine sits atop of a rock that juts out of the water which is only too fitting as Tanah Lot translates to “land in the sea.”
Tanah Lot is most spectacular (and popular) during sunset so if you wish to avoid the crowds then visit during the day. It is about a 30-minute drive away, making it popular for things to do near Seminyak. Transfers are available, and the entrance is 65,000 rupiah.
Take a day trip
Seminyak has plenty to do but it’s also a great place to base yourself because of its central location. Taking a day trip is a great option to see more of Bali and many tours and trips have pick ups in Seminyak so you can see even more beautiful parts of Bali!
A few popular day trips are to Ubud, the culture hub of Bali that’s also known for its nature and Nusa Penida, the island made famous because of Kelingking Beach (T-Rex Cliff), it’s extremely blue waters and manta rays!
Canggu is also the area next to Seminyak and has even more trendy cafes and beach clubs (and is my personal favourite area of Bali because I live there part of the year!).
Seminyak Accommodation
Read my detailed Seminyak accommodation guide to find the best places from budget to luxury, hostels to hotels and villas.
How to Get to Seminyak
Seminyak is a 40-50 minute drive from the Bali airport. To get from the airport to you can hire a taxi which will be the most expensive option, a private driver transfer or book a transfer through your accommodation. I recommend booking a private driver or arranging something through your accommodation to avoid the hassle of taxis at the airport.
From other areas in Bali, you can also choose to use a taxi or private driver. Or you can choose to use Grab, Uber or Go-Jek (the Indonesian version of Grab and Uber). Be aware that these apps don’t pick up in all spots because of the taxi mafia but they do drop off everywhere.
I recommend booking a private driver as they usually around the same price or a little bit higher than the ride sharing apps without any hassle.
Getting Around Seminyak
To get around Seminyak you have the same options are you do for getting to Seminyak. Hire a taxi, private car or organize transport through your accommodation. You can also hire a Grab, Uber or Go-Jek. These ride-sharing services also offer motorbike drivers too so you can get around even cheaper than a driver with a car.
Lastly, you can hire a motorbike to get around for 50,000 per day. Be careful driving! There is a lot of traffic in Bali so I recommend learning in a parking lot before you head out if you’ve never driven before.
Enjoy your time sightseeing in Seminyak and enjoy Bali!