Mertasari Beach is at the southern end of Sanur, in the quiet Semawang neighbourhood. It is about a 10 to 15 minute drive from central Sanur and 30 to 40 minutes from Ngurah Rai airport, depending on traffic. There are no beach clubs here and few tourists. What you get is wide sand, shallow water behind the reef, local families, and, in the windy months, kites in the sky.
Where it sits on the Sanur coast
The Sanur beachfront path runs south from Sanur Beach past Sindhu Beach and Karang Beach to Semawang and Mertasari, so Sindhu is a different beach, further north. Mertasari is also the end of the 5.1 km stretch of coast, from Matahari Terbit Beach to Mertasari Beach, that was reclaimed in 2008. A kiteforum entry calls the spot Pura Mertasari. A January 2026 guide describes the atmosphere as relaxed and local, with kite flying, food stalls and walks along the promenade. A handful of casual warungs and beach stalls serve grilled corn, bakso and cold drinks.
Kitesurfing and the wind season
Mertasari is one of the places on Sanur’s reef where people kitesurf. The best season is May to September, when the wind blows from the east to south-east. June to August is the steadiest, at 10 to 20 knots every day according to Kiteforum, and a January 2026 guide gives June to August for kitesurfing and foiling as well. A Bali Advice page updated in October 2026 says the dry season brings the steady winds that attract kitesurfers. The same January guide names Froggy Kite Surf School as an option for lessons.
Conditions are less forgiving than they look. Kiteforum says the wind is not guaranteed, mostly 10 to 15 knots, so a large kite is needed, and that the spot is only kiteable around high tide because the water is a large pool protected by a coral reef. Its own tide field lists other states of the tide as best, so the sources are not consistent; check a tide table first. Outside the season, from December to March, it describes the wind as unpredictable, anywhere from 15 to 35 knots.
Swimming and local life
The offshore reef blocks big waves, so the water is calm and shallow enough for children and for anyone who wants an easy swim. The January 2026 guide says that after heavy rain the water can carry in some rubbish, so dry-season mornings are best if clarity matters to you. Weekday mornings are practically empty, while weekends after 4pm bring Balinese families to swim, snack and fly kites. It can also get windy in the late afternoon, so bring something warm for after your swim.
Boats and the planned port
Mertasari has a link to the Nusa islands, although today’s boats leave from Sanur Harbour on Jalan Pantai Matahari Terbit. In July 2018, when waves of around 2 metres at the entrance to the Sanur dock stopped crossings, the harbour authority moved boarding to the Mertasari jetty, about 1.5 km south, where the sea was calmer. In July 2024 the mayor of Denpasar said the city wanted to split Sanur Port into two sites, at Matahari Terbit and Mertasari, if the transport ministry handed the port over. In October 2025 the city said it would develop local feeder ports at Mertasari, Serangan and Sanur. We found no confirmation that a regular ferry service has started at Mertasari.
Getting there
The easiest approach is on foot or by bicycle along the Sanur Beach Walk from Sanur Beach. By car, the car park is large and parking is Rp 2,000 for a scooter and Rp 5,000 for a car. For the rest of your plans, see the Sanur destination guide, the list of things to do in Sanur and where to stay in Sanur.
