Sanur is a coastal strip east of Denpasar, about a 30-minute drive from Ngurah Rai airport, and it has grown into a small town in its own right. Its beach faces east across a lagoon sheltered by a coral reef, so people come for sunrise and calm water rather than surf. It is also where most fast boats to Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Penida depart, so many visitors pass through it on the way to the islands.
The oldest beach resort in Bali
Wikipedia describes Sanur as predating Kuta, Nusa Dua and Uluwatu as Bali’s oldest beach-tourism destination. Work on the Bali Beach InterContinental hotel began here in 1963, and when it opened in 1966 it was the first five-star resort on the island. After a long closure for renovation, the same property reopened in early 2024 as the Meru Sanur.
The coast has older history too. In 1906 the northern part of Sanur Beach was the landing site for Dutch invasion troops, and during the Second World War the Japanese forces also came ashore here. Today the 5.1 km stretch of shoreline between Matahari Terbit Beach and Mertasari Beach, reclaimed in 2008, is lined with hotels, cafes and a paved promenade.
Sunrise and calm water
Sanur is the place to see the day begin. Local guides describe a gradual change from deep blue to orange and purple, with fishing boats on the water and Mount Agung behind. Sunrise falls at about 6am to 6.15am by the guides we checked, and cloud, especially in the rainy season, can hide it, so look at the forecast the evening before.
The reef is the reason the water stays gentle. It keeps waves small close to the sand, which suits children, less confident swimmers and anyone hiring a paddleboard. It also means the beach is not a surf beach. Local operators rent boards and run sea-walking and snorkelling trips. In the evening, Sindhu Night Market runs from 6pm to 10pm according to a 2026 hotel guide.
Boats to Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Penida
Sanur Harbour is on Jalan Pantai Matahari Terbit in the north of the beach. Boats to Nusa Lembongan take 30 to 40 minutes, and boats to Nusa Penida take 35 to 45 minutes. An operator site lists one-way tickets to Nusa Lembongan from Rp 115,000 when booked online, and a 2026 ticket guide quotes Nusa Penida from Rp 110,000 for foreign visitors. Prices and timetables change by operator, season and weather.
The harbour is expected to change. In October 2025 the Denpasar city government said it intends to develop local feeder ports at Mertasari, Serangan and Sanur, but the plan had not been carried out in the sources we found.
Visiting the beach
The beach is free, and you can reach it at many points along the seafront. Parking was reported at Rp 2,000 for a motorcycle and Rp 5,000 for a car in a 2023 guide, but we found no newer figure. Most visitors walk from their hotel or take a short ride.
Start at sunrise and then walk or cycle along the Sanur Beach Walk towards the quieter Mertasari Beach. The Le Mayeur Museum is the house of the Belgian painter Adrien-Jean Le Mayeur, who lived in Sanur from 1932 to 1958. For the wider area, see the Sanur destination guide, the list of things to do in Sanur and where to stay in Sanur.
