Bali beaches are the stuff of dreams – and movies, and there’s one to suit the whim of every traveller.

The Island of the Gods is known for many things – its spirituality and culture, its luxury resorts and wellness experiences, its rice paddies and tropical jungle. But topping the list of attractions is its sandy shores – Bali beaches are some of the world’s best.

Here we’ve selected seven to suit the gamut of travellers, be they surfer, swimmer, sunbather, snorkeller or just plain old sightseer.

In short

If you only visit one beach in Bali make it Virgin Beach. For a sandy slice of old Bali, Virgin Beach, in East Bali’s Karangasem, is a southeast-facing white stretch of sand protected by rocky peninsulas at each end. It is accessed via a scenic winding road through Bukit Asah, a natural parkland featuring beautiful ocean views (It’s worth the small entry fee). The beach is well appointed with a small carpark, a stretch of coconut tree shaded grassland for camping, and a mix of Indonesian eateries, from a smart restaurant with a pool, to simple warungs cooking local fish on open grills. Fishermen Cafe, with recliners spread out on a grassy lawn and a covered pavilion set up with tables and chairs, is my favourite. Traditional reef boats along the shoreline add character to the place, so too the friendly warungs that rent out their recliners so beach-going parents can have a massage while the kids play in the gentle swell.

Jungut Batu Beach, Nusa Lembongan

Best for: Explorers

Jungut Batu Beach is the showstopper strip of white sand on Nusa Lembongan, the sleepy surfy getaway a 30-minute ferry ride away from mainland Bali. Boats travelling the 12 kilometres from mainland Sanur dock along Jungut Batu and visitors to the island don’t need to travel much further for the action.

Accommodation options line the foreshore, from four-star resorts and villas to basic beachfront huts and the main shopping strip, Jalan Jungut Batu, runs along the street behind. Surf breaks, including Lacerations, Playgrounds and Shipwrecks (named for the dilapidated rusty wreck just offshore), are accessible from the beach and are mostly suited to experienced surfers, but there are plenty of surf lessons on offer along the beach.

With views (depending on the weather) of cloud-topped Mt Agung, Bali’s highest mountain, this is an idyllic place to drink and dine with your toes in the sand, whether it’s under the shady tree at Ombak Cafe & Huts, in the beach chic ambience of Indiana Kenanga restaurant or under the fairy lights at Nyoman Warung.

Padang Padang Beach, Uluwatu

Best for: Romantics

Picture a pirate’s cove on a treasure island and you’ll have some idea what Uluwatu’s Padang Padang Beach looks and feels like. As seen in the ‘Eat, Pray Love’ movie, this paradisical slip of golden sand on the Bukit Peninsula, on Bali’s most southern tip, has rainforest-covered limestone cliffs on each side and a blue-green shoreline with rocky outcrops and coral reef.

Protected waters and surf lifeguards make it a popular choice for swimming closer to shore but mind yourself further out where it’s known for its currents, high swell and epic barrelling waves suited to guru surfers only.

Access is via a carpark on Jalan Labuan Sait in Pecatu Village where there’s a small cash fee payable for parking and entry. Plenty of vendors here sell beach supplies including sarongs and water. From the car park it’s a fittingly idyllic walk to the beach walk down a well-maintained cliff-hugging set of (very) steep stairs. It’s a tiny beach so it does get busy and mind the monkeys don’t steal your wallet!

Medewi Beach, Jembrana Regency

Best for: surfers

In Jembrana Regency in West Bali, this under-the-radar black sand beach backed by a tropical hinterland is home to Bali’s longest left-hand wave, a highlight that has attracted an easy-going surfer community.

The village is chill and slightly retro with surf-front cafes, surf shacks where you can rent boards and a laidback surf camp or two including Medewi Secret Surf Camp. The distance from the airport – about a three-hour drive, likely also helps keep the place on the down-low.

The main break is on a rocky point best accessed via a tricky swim-through channel at low tide (ask for directions at the beach warung). There’s an easier right-hand break south of this wave.  Bombora Medewi hotel is right on the beach and (to the right of the car park) Magic Hand Massage is good for a post-surf rub-down.

Echo Beach, Canggu

Best for: Party-people

If there’s ever a beach that truly captures the vibe of Bali’s southern shores, it’s Echo Beach in Canggu. This touristy neighbourhood known for its traffic, tourists and a bustling array of shops, eateries and bars, also features a black volcanic sand beach and some of the island’s most popular waves.

Best accessed via Jalan Pantai Batu Mejan, Echo is home to La Brisa beach club along with casual warungs serving the likes of nasi goreng, pizza and sushi. Customers sit on squat tables and beanbags in the sand, the perfect place to watch surfers queuing for a wave and to admire the unbeatable sunsets. Echo’s pinky, lemony evening skies are some of the island’s most idyllic, whether sipping a cocktail or a coconut.

Melasti Beach

Best for: Families

Located in Uluwatu’s Ungasan on Bali’s most southern tip (the next stop south being Exmouth in Western Australia), Melasti is an all-rounder beach destination perfectly equipped for long Bali days in the sea and sun.

It is about 2 kilometres long with rock pools at its eastern end and limestone cliffs sitting behind it. But what swimmers, sunbathers and sandcastle-builders like best is access to calm turquoise Indian Ocean waters and a wide expanse of white sand.

Melasti is easily accessible with beachfront parking (where you pay entry fees) and practical for day-trippers who will appreciate toilets, changing rooms and showers.

Cruisy beachfront warungs have rows of umbrella-shaded recliners along the shoreline or upgrade to a beach club. The pick of them is Uma Beach Club, part of nearby Umana Resort Bali, which has an oceanfront pool and restaurant metres from the waves.

Keramas Beach

Best for: Pro surfers

In Gianyar Regency, also in East Bali, Keramas Beach has a world-class right-hand wave that puts on a particularly good show in the wet season when professional surfers flock to the area.

The volcanic black sand beach feels wind-swept and remote, a feeling amplified by the magnificent views to Mt Agung, but in fact it’s spitting distance from Hotel Komune, a surfer-cool, family-friendly hangout whose poolside sun loungers and restaurant overlook the waves.

In the dry season, the beach is good for amateur surfers, daring swimmers and beach-lovers who will appreciate Bali’s wilder side.