Where to stay in Uluwatu

Bingin is a compact cliffside settlement above a reef break of the same name, reached by a warren of steep steps down to a narrow beach of warungs and simple rooms. It is one of the most atmospheric surf bases on the Bukit, with cafes and stays clinging to the cliff and terraces looking over the reef. The break suits confident surfers and works best at mid to high tide. Getting in and out means carrying bags up and down steps, and swimming is tidal.

The Pecatu area around the Uluwatu temple holds many of the peninsula's clifftop resorts and the well-known beach clubs perched on the limestone above the sea. It is the base closest to Pura Luhur Uluwatu, the sea temple famous for its sunset Kecak dance, and to the Suluban and Uluwatu surf breaks below the cliffs. Stays here range from luxury resorts to villas set back on the plateau. It is spread out and car-reliant, with the coast reached down cliff paths.

Padang Padang centres on a small, sheltered beach reached through a gap in the rocks, one of the easier beaches on the Bukit to get down to. The area has a good spread of guesthouses, cafes and surf shops within reach of both the beginner-friendly beach and the more demanding Padang Padang reef break offshore. It is busier and more accessible than Bingin, popular with day trippers as well as surfers. The main beach is small and fills quickly in high season.

Balangan sits on the north-west side of the Bukit, above a long, sandy beach lined with warungs at the foot of the cliffs. It is calmer and less developed than the surf villages further south, with a slower pace and a spread of villas and small stays on the plateau. The beach is one of the more relaxed on the peninsula, with a surf break at its far end. It is a short drive from the airport, and reaching other beaches and the temple means a ride.