Skip to content
Bali Frontier
Traditional jukung fishing boats on the black sand at Amed on Bali's east coast

Amed · Where to stay

Where to stay in Amed

Amed and Jemeluk, Lipah, or Bunutan and the eastern coves, and what each does to the diving and the quiet.

The short answer

Stay in Jemeluk on a first visit. It has the main bay, a coral garden you can swim out to from the beach and most of the dive shops and warungs. Choose Lipah for a smaller, sandier cove with a wreck close to shore, and Bunutan for clifftop views and quiet, accepting that meals and trips mean driving. Whichever you pick, plan on more than one night: the airport is 2.5 to 3 hours away.

Amed refers to a string of fishing villages along the quiet north-east coast of Bali, below the slopes of Mount Agung, known for black-sand beaches, calm snorkelling and easy diving. It is a slow, low-key area, so where you stay is a matter of which cove suits you and how close you want to be to the main dive sites, including the USAT Liberty wreck at Tulamben up the coast. Jemeluk has the main bay and snorkelling, Lipah offers a sandy cove, and Bunutan spreads along quieter stretches to the east.

Where to stay in Amed at a glance

First visit Amed and Jemeluk Snorkelling and dive shops Amed and Jemeluk Small sandy cove Lipah Views and seclusion Bunutan and the eastern coves
Best area for you

Start with what your trip is about

Pick the line that fits, then read the full area below.

First time in Amed Amed and Jemeluk The most services on the coast, with warungs and guesthouses along the bay on foot. Learning to dive Amed and Jemeluk Most of the dive shops, and calm shore entries over the reef in Jemeluk Bay. Learning to freedive Amed and Jemeluk The freediving schools train in the deep, clear water off Jemeluk. Snorkelling a wreck from the beach Lipah A shipwreck close to shore that can be snorkelled or dived. A couple wanting quiet Lipah Quieter than Jemeluk, with beachfront cafes and sunset views towards Mount Agung. Seclusion and a sea view Bunutan and the eastern coves Villas and small resorts on headlands, with clifftop pools above quiet coves.
Compare

The areas side by side

Area Best for Feel Price Getting around
1Amed and Jemeluk Snorkellers and divers wanting the main bay and services Snorkelling and dive base $ to $$$ Bayside cluster on foot
2Lipah Couples wanting a small sandy cove with dining Quiet cove $$ to $$$ Local cove on foot; ride along the coast
3Bunutan and the eastern coves Travellers wanting seclusion and clifftop views Secluded and scenic $$ to $$$ Car-reliant; steep coast between coves
1 Amed and Jemeluk $ to $$$ Best forSnorkellers and divers wanting the main bay and services FeelSnorkelling and dive base Getting aroundBayside cluster on foot 2 Lipah $$ to $$$ Best forCouples wanting a small sandy cove with dining FeelQuiet cove Getting aroundLocal cove on foot; ride along the coast 3 Bunutan and the eastern coves $$ to $$$ Best forTravellers wanting seclusion and clifftop views FeelSecluded and scenic Getting aroundCar-reliant; steep coast between coves

Price is a relative guide to typical nightly rates, from $ (best value) to $$$$ (premium), not an absolute figure.

In depth

The best areas in Amed, in depth

Amed and Jemeluk

Snorkelling and dive base

Snorkellers and divers wanting the main bay and services

The Amed and Jemeluk end is the busiest part of the coast, with the best concentration of dive shops, warungs and guesthouses along a curving black-sand bay. Jemeluk Bay has a coral garden and an underwater temple statue reachable from the shore, making it a popular snorkelling and shore-diving spot. The traditional fishing boats, or jukung, line the beach and still go out at dawn. It is the most convenient base for services, though still very quiet by the standards of southern Bali.

Price$ to $$$
Getting aroundBayside cluster on foot
Good for snorkellersdiversbudget

Why stay here

  • Coral garden off the beach
  • Most dive shops and warungs
  • Traditional fishing-boat setting

Bear in mind

  • Black-sand, pebbly entry
  • Very quiet at night
By road from here

Well-rated stays in Amed and Jemeluk

The best-rated properties closest to Amed and Jemeluk, by Agoda guest score among places with at least fifty reviews. We have not stayed in them: the ranking is Agoda’s data, not our verdict.

Lipah

Quiet cove

Couples wanting a small sandy cove with dining

Lipah is a small bay a few kilometres east of Jemeluk with one of the more sandy stretches on the Amed coast and a cluster of guesthouses, dive centres and beachfront cafes. There is a shipwreck close to shore that can be snorkelled or dived, adding to the appeal for water lovers. The pace is relaxed, with sunset views back towards Mount Agung on clear evenings. It is quieter than Jemeluk and spread along the coast road, so a scooter helps for getting about.

Price$$ to $$$
Getting aroundLocal cove on foot; ride along the coast
Good for couplessnorkellersquiet-seekers

Why stay here

  • Sandier cove for the coast
  • Shore-accessible shipwreck
  • Relaxed, low-key feel

Bear in mind

  • Spread out along the road
  • Few evening options
By road from here

Well-rated stays in Lipah

The best-rated properties closest to Lipah, by Agoda guest score among places with at least fifty reviews. We have not stayed in them: the ranking is Agoda’s data, not our verdict.

Bunutan and the eastern coves

Secluded and scenic

Travellers wanting seclusion and clifftop views

East of Lipah the coast road climbs past Bunutan and Selang, where villas and small resorts sit on headlands above a run of quiet coves. It is the most secluded and scenic part of the Amed area, with clifftop pools looking over the sea and good freediving and snorkelling sites offshore. The setting is peaceful and far from crowds. Amenities are sparse and scattered, so meals and trips generally mean driving, and the steep coast is not walkable between coves.

Price$$ to $$$
Getting aroundCar-reliant; steep coast between coves
Good for couplesfreediversseclusion seekers

Why stay here

  • Quiet clifftop coves
  • Sea views and infinity pools
  • Good freediving nearby

Bear in mind

  • Spread out and car-reliant
  • Few shops and restaurants
By road from here

Well-rated stays in Bunutan and the eastern coves

The best-rated properties closest to Bunutan and the eastern coves, by Agoda guest score among places with at least fifty reviews. We have not stayed in them: the ranking is Agoda’s data, not our verdict.

Distances by road from each area, routed with OSRM on OpenStreetMap roads. For the time a journey takes, read the area's own notes: Bali's traffic makes a routed time far too short.

Type of stay

Dive lodge or a clifftop villa

Amed has no resort strip. What it has is simple guesthouses and dive lodges, from around Rp 250,000 a night, and a smaller number of boutique and mid-range stays, many with sea views towards Mount Agung. For 24 to 27 October 2026, Agoda listed 35 villas and 49 hotels and resorts across the area, at a median of about 100 US dollars a night for a villa and about 38 for a hotel room, for two adults.

Choose a guesthouse or dive lodge if

  • Diving or snorkelling is the reason you came
  • You want the dive centre and the warungs a short walk away
  • Budget matters, or you are staying long
  • You are basing yourself in Jemeluk
  • An early start for the Liberty wreck is the plan

Choose a villa or boutique stay if

  • The view and a pool are the point
  • You are staying in Bunutan or the eastern coves
  • You have a driver or ride a scooter confidently
  • It is a couple's trip rather than a dive trip
  • You are happy to eat where you stay most evenings

Dive courses do not include accommodation, but several operators run their own bungalows next to the dive centre. For a course or a multi-dive package, it is worth asking.

How long to stay

Matching a base to your trip

The transfer decides the minimum: 2.5 to 3 hours each way from the airport, the longest of any base on the island.

One night

Hard to justify. Most of it goes on the road, and the coast is at its best early in the morning, which a single night barely reaches.

Two to four nights

Time for a morning snorkel at Jemeluk, a sunrise at Lahangan Sweet and a dawn dive or two on the Liberty wreck at Tulamben. An Open Water course runs over three to four days, so a course needs the longer end.

A week or more

Costs run lower than in the south, which is why long-stay divers settle here. Amed also fits a loop through Kintamani and Munduk, or a fast boat of about an hour on to the Gili Islands.

Safety

Is it safe, and where to take care

Amed is quiet and low-key, and its risks come from the water, the road and the distance from services.

Stony entries

The beaches are black sand and pebbles, and the Tulamben shore is loose cobble. Water shoes make the entry far easier.

Sea conditions

The coves are generally calm, but check conditions locally and dive with reputable operators. The wet season from November to March can bring rougher water and reduced visibility.

The coast road

Hilly and winding, it demands care, and a helmet is required by law. The steep lanes up to Lahangan Sweet are best left to a driver before dawn.

Cash

ATMs are few and scattered between the villages, and many warungs and dive lodges take nothing else. Arrive with enough rupiah for a few days.

Fuel

Where petrol stations run out, fuel is sold from roadside stalls in bottles. Fill up when you can if you are riding the length of the coast.

Getting around

From the airport, and around town

Getting to Amed is the main hurdle. Once here, the coast road connects everything.

From the airport

About 2.5 to 3 hours by car, at Rp 600,000 to 900,000 (38 to 57 US dollars) for a private transfer. Book a driver ahead, since Grab and Gojek coverage thins out this far east.

Along the coast

Amed is a chain of hamlets along roughly ten kilometres of coast. A scooter, around Rp 70,000 a day, suits confident riders hopping between coves. The Bunutan stretch is steep and not walkable between coves.

To Tulamben

The Liberty wreck is about 20 to 30 minutes up the coast road from central Amed, so many divers stay in Amed and drive over at dawn. Dive operators usually handle the transport.

Onward

Amed is the shortest hop from Bali to the Gili Islands, about an hour by fast boat. Ubud is roughly a couple of hours by road, and Kintamani and Munduk fit a northern loop without returning south.

Before you book

What to know before booking accommodation in Amed

With the cove chosen, these are what decide the property.

Walk to food

In Jemeluk the bayside cluster is on foot. Lipah is spread along the road and Bunutan is car-reliant, so check what is within a walk before booking a place with no restaurant.

Dive packages

If you are diving several times, a multi-dive package brings the per-dive price down sharply. Ask whether the dive centre has rooms of its own.

Cards or cash

Many smaller places take cash only. Check how the property takes payment before you arrive with a card and no rupiah.

The transfer

Ask the property to arrange the airport run. It is a long drive and ride-hailing is unreliable this far east.

Facing the sunrise

The coast faces east, so a sea view means sunrise over the water, with Mount Agung behind on clear mornings.

Ready to book?

Each area above lists real properties, and they go straight to Agoda’s live results so you see current prices and availability for your own dates. To browse the whole island instead, start here.

Browse every Bali stay on Agoda

This page contains affiliate links. If you book through them we may earn a small commission, at no additional cost to you. It helps keep this guide free.

Good questions

Where to stay in Amed: FAQ

Is Amed a good place to stay?

For divers, snorkellers and anyone after a slow coast, yes. Coral reefs are within reach of the beach and the Liberty wreck is a short drive away. Nightlife is minimal and the beaches are black sand and pebbles, so it suits people who want the sea and very little else.

Which part of Amed is best to stay in?

Jemeluk for a first visit, with the main bay, the coral garden and most of the dive shops. Lipah is a smaller, sandier cove with a wreck close to shore. Bunutan has the clifftop views and the quiet, and very few shops or restaurants.

How far is Amed from the airport?

About 2.5 to 3 hours by car, and a private transfer usually costs Rp 600,000 to 900,000 (38 to 57 US dollars). Book a driver in advance, as ride-hailing apps are unreliable this far east.

Can you dive the Liberty wreck from Amed?

Yes. Tulamben is about 20 to 30 minutes up the coast road, and many divers stay in Amed and drive over for dawn, when the site is calm. The wreck lies in about 5 to 30 metres of water off the beach, so snorkellers can see the shallower sections too.

Is Amed good for families?

It suits families who love the sea, with calm coves, easy snorkelling and a relaxed pace, and older children often enjoy learning to dive here. There are few organised attractions beyond the water, and water shoes help on the stony beaches.

Do you need a scooter in Amed?

Not if you stay in Jemeluk and dive with an operator who handles transport. To move between the coves, a scooter suits confident riders, and a driver is the better choice on the winding coast road and the steep lanes into the hills.

Villas here that had a rate for 24 to 27 October 2026, 3 nights, 2 adults, checked on 14 September 2026 came in at a median of $100 a night; the figures for every base are on Bali villas by area.

Not sure Amed is the right base at all? Where to stay in Bali sets all twelve areas against each other, in order of how far they sit from the airport.