Best Things to do in Canggu

Watch the Sunset from Echo Beach

Canggu is known for its amazing surf and black sand beaches, but it’s also one of the best places on the island to watch the sunset.

The best place to watch the sunset is at Echo Beach, the famous Echo Beach House. It’s the perfect seafront spot to grab a cool beer or cocktail and watch the last surfers of the day. At dusk, the barbecue is fired up, and you can choose from delicious seafood, ,or meat which is freshly cooked to order.

Before you sink back into a beanbag with a drink, check out the beautiful Pantai Batu Mejan Hindu temple next door that serenely overlooks the sea.

Have a Massage

You can’t visit Bali without trying a Balinese massage – in my opinion, it is one of the world’s most relaxing  pastimes!

Canggu has a plethora of spas and massage places along the main strip on Jalan Pantai Batu Bolong, but our favorite was Anjani Bali Spa. The ladies here do an excellent deep tissue massage with divinely scented oils for incredibly reasonable prices.

Go Surfing

If you’ve always wanted to learn to surf, then Canggu is a great place because of the variety of waves for all levels. There are many surf schools out at Echo Beach and most offer a combination of theory followed by practical lessons in the water.

If you’re already a surfer, you can hire a coach to fine-tune your technique or join in a surf safari where locals take you to the best and hidden local breaks. You can bring your own board or there are plenty to rent at the beach in reasonable condition. Alternatively, if you’re looking for something a bit longer, you can also look into taking surf & yoga camps during your time in Canggu.

Listed here are a few breaks that are worth checking out if you’re a beginner:
– Batu Bolong
– Berawa
– Old Man’s

Visit Finns Recreation Club

Formerly known as the Canggu Club, Finns is a great place to spend a day. The vast venue has facilities including a lap pool, splash water park, ten-pin bowling, a trampoline center, tennis courts, a spa, a sports bar, and multiple restaurants all in one place.

For families, the space around the club is large enough for you to bring your own inflatable water slides, floaters, and more.

You can either buy a day pass for the specific facilities you want to use, or if you’re staying for longer, you can purchase a club membership. Finns also holds regular movie nights and screens most large sporting events.

Treat Yourself to a 24k Gold Facial at Goldust Beauty Lounge

For the luxe end of the spectrum and something completely different from your average spa, visit Goldust Beauty Lounge for a 24k gold facial. After cleansing your face to remove impurities, pure gold is applied to lift, firm, and hydrate your skin. You’ll come out glowing!

Goldust has all the usual spa treatments on offer as well, and a gorgeous selection of resort wear for sale that’s typical Canggu boho-chic style.

Rent a Scooter or Bike and Explore the Local Area

Canggu’s not overly car-friendly and is reasonably spread out, so a great way to get around is to hire a scooter or bike. Scooters can be rented for as little as 4 euros per day, and some even come with surfboard racks.

The roads and driving can be a bit crazy at times, so think about getting a helmet as well. Be sure to journey down the ‘Canggu shortcut’ – an elevated path connecting Berawa to Batu Bolong through stunning rice paddy fields.

Take it easy, though. At least once every couple of weeks, a car falls off the path, and the local community’s busy making a photo book of all these epic traffic fails!

Yoga Classes

Bali is a yoga enthusiast heaven, and there are loads of places to take classes or retreats. In Canggu alone, there are heaps of yoga centers that offer various classes, from acro yoga, Vinyasa to Surfer’s Yoga Classes.  Schools like Serenity Yoga, the Practice, Samadi, and Desa Seni are all pretty popular places.

Desa Seni, in particular, offers both individual classes and longer-term yoga retreats or teaching courses where you can stay on-site in one of their gorgeous original antique wooden homes.

There’s a variety of classes, all offering different styles of yoga from highly experienced teachers. All props are provided, along with a glass of delicious lemongrass tea.

You’ll even find some yoga classes on the beach, so it doesn’t hurt to have your own travel yoga mat to join in on the fun.

Shop Till You Drop

Canggu is full of cute boutiques selling everything from bikinis to hammocks to macrame plant holders. It’s nearly impossible to walk by the picturesque shops without stopping. But the best place to buy local Indonesian treasures is at one of the lively Canggu markets!

Love Anchor Canggu Market is open seven days a week from 9:00 am – 11:00 pm. There are just a few vendors here, but they have some adorable dresses and jewelry to choose from. Prices are higher than you might expect but lower compared to the boutiques in the area. Be sure to negotiate here – their first price is just a jumping-off point.

The Samadi Bali Market takes place every Sunday from 9:00 am – 2:00 pm. If you are looking to check out local artisans’ products, or want to buy some fresh, organic produce, this is the place to do it!

Eat at a Traditional Local Roadside Warung

Throughout Canggu, you’ll notice little roadside warungs or restaurants with a variety of dishes that you can buy to either take away or eat at the plastic tables and chairs.

For just a couple of dollars you can buy delicious nasi goreng (rice with vegetables) and nasi campur, which is a selection of vegetables, chicken, fish all topped with a divine peanut sauce. We found them clean and hygienic –pick one with lots of locals eating there, and you’ll be fine!

Two favorite local warungs near Batu Bolong are :
– Cafe Varuna
– Bu-Mi

Get your Caffeine Fix at Milk and Madu

Coffee aficionados, listen up! The BEST place for coffee in Canggu is at Milk and Madu. This fantastic cafe overlooking beautiful rice paddy fields takes coffee extremely seriously. They serve Revolver Espresso in perfectly sized imported latte glasses.

Their milk comes from ex-pat Australian cows living in Java (true story!), and they always serve a double ristretto. As well as on-point coffee, they have fast, reliable Wi-Fi, a fabulous all-day breakfast menu, cabinet food, and open for dinner as well.

Get Fit

Last but not least, apart from yoga, Canggu has heaps of other fitness options. If you’re not a person who enjoys the gym, you can also try attending Beach Boot Camp classes.

To sum up, Canggu is a great place to visit if you’re looking for a relaxing atmosphere, fantastic food, divine sunsets, and a glimpse into more of an authentic Bali than some of the tourist hotspots further south.

Party at Old Man’s

Old Man’s is a popular beach bar directly behind the surf break that bears the same name. As a self-described “beachfront beer garden,” people gather here to eat, drink, and be merry at all hours of the day. It’s popular with locals and ex-pats, and you’re guaranteed to make some fun new friends here.

Don’t miss their happy hour from 5:00 – 6:00 pm every evening or the popular “Dirty Ol’ Wednesday” drinking game night. Prepare to groove to live music in the evenings and jam out as a DJ spins your favorite hits later into the night. It’s one of the most popular bars in all of Canggu!

Explore Canggu’s Nightlife

When the party starts to die down at Old Man’s, the young and hip begin to move inland to enjoy other lively bars scattered throughout Canggu.

Some of Canggu’s best bars are located on the infamous “shortcut” connecting Berewa and Batu Bolong. Pretty Poison is a combination skate park, tattoo parlor, and bar. You can see ex-pat and local skateboarders showing off their moves, get some new ink, and sip an ice-cold Bintang.

Or head a few doors down to the Black Cat Mini Mart. Try the handle on the broken freezer at the back of the convenience store, and you’ll find an actual speakeasy serving up good cocktails in a rad (but also super-secret) setting. It’s one of the unique things to do in Canggu at night!

Enjoy your stay in Canggu!