The Hustle and Bustle of Bali Kuta Beach

Bali Kuta Beach is one of the tourism hot spots in Bali which attracts people from all over the world who are looking for the same thing: a tropical place where you can relax during the day and have fun at night until the early hours.

In 1936 the Americans Bob and Louis Koke recognised the beauty of the beach and started Kuta Beach Hotel(now the Inna Kuta Beach hotel) which became popular among wealthy Europeans and Americans who travelled the world by ocean liners.

After WO II not many travellers visited the island until the 1960s when this quiet and laid-back beach became a magnet for hippies who travelled from Australia to Europe.

Getting around: Plus important addresses and handy phone numbers...
Things to do: Take a surfing lesson, pamper yourself at the spa, party all night long or shop till you drop...
Restaurants: Eat at the beach or dive into poppies lane for some surprising good restaurants, Indonesian, Mexican, Western food it's all there...
Hotels: Here are our favorite types of accommodation in and around Kuta beach...

Surfers followed and more Balinese with the help of foreigners started to built hotels, restaurants, bars and shops.

With its increasing popularity, Kuta slowly started to expand towards the neighbouring villages of Legian, Seminyak in the north and Tuban in the south.

 

Taking a surfing lesson on Bali Kuta beach

 

In these villages tourism has grown in similar proportions however their character has remained slightly different.

Tourism has provided income for a village that was once very poor but is now one of the wealthiest on Bali. This has resulted in a place that is now one of a kind and probably found no where else...

From a cultural point of view you can say that tourism has had a negative impact on the Bali Kuta beach area.

Today the traditional Bali life is only seen behind the wooden doors of the common Balinese court yards and many Balinese have to leave their villages in order to cater to the boom of tourists.

Fortunately you can still bump into colorful Hindu processions around Kuta's temples, on the beach or here at the end of Jalan (street) Legian.

 

Hindu procession on the corner of Jalan Legian and Jalan Pantai

 

People who visit Bali Kuta beach are mostly there for the perfect waves and busy nightlife. Everyday you can find surfers riding the waves or beginners trying to stand on the board for the first time.

The Bali Kuta Beach atmosphere is also more or less determined by this type of crowd, giving it a relaxing, a bit shaby and pretty lazy character.

Besides the perfect waves it is also a good stretch of ocean to go for a swim. So if you are not a surfer you can still enjoy yourself, especially during sunset when the sky turns into an orange or purple colour.

I have seen a couple of these stunning sunsets at Bali’s most famous beach and still I can’t restrain my self of making another set of pictures.

So you can imagine, I am pretty happy with the digital-cameras:-)

 

Kuta Beach Bali and its amazing sunset

For those who want more than just partying and surfing there are tour information booths which offer various tours around Bali Kuta Beach but also to destinations which I think are pretty out of the way, such as driving all the way up to Lovina to spot some dolphins and to take a dip in the hot springs in Banjar.

If you really want to experience something I always recommend an attraction where you don’t have to sit in the car for hours.

From Kuta day tours to Tanah Lot, Uluwatu or Ubud's Monkey Forest are perfect. Check out the Bali Things to See and Bali Things to do section...

Despite its prosperous tourism industry the Bali Kuta beach area has suffered immensely from the bombing in 2002. What was previously a crowded village had turned into a place with empty hotels, restaurants and closed-down shops.

 

Everybody comes to the beach and waits for the famous the sunset

 

Tourists kept away for years and only since 2006 have the numbers started to increase again.

It seems that this famous beach spot and the whole of Bali has recovered with tourists rediscovering the charming side of Bali again.

I’m still amazed how all of a sudden tourists have started coming back again.

Then again, it is not surprising that this crazy little town is attracting their visitors again.

People know that they can always have fun here and that you will definitely head home with unforgettable stories.