Kuta Beach Area / Kuta Bali ( Part 4 ) { Kuta Streets, Kuta Map }

Kuta Beach Area ( Part 4 )
Kuta Streets

 

Kuta Map 

Kuta Beach Area ( Part 3 ) { Shopping in Kuta , Shop in Kuta )

Kuta Beach Area ( Part 3 )

Kuta, located in southern Bali, was a sleepy fishing village half a century ago, but it has slowly expanded since the 1960s after its long sandy beach was discovered by travellers from Asia and wandering surfers from nearby Australia.

Nowadays Kuta is quite busy and packed with varied accommodation from four-star hotels to budget hostels. Cheap bars and clubs make it a party centre, while local and international restaurants offer great dining. Kuta also offers shopping aplenty, from the chic beachfront ‘Discovery Shopping Mall’ and Kuta Square to the souvenir shops lining Jalan Kartika Plaza, Jalan Pantai Kuta and up to Legian and Seminyak – all within easy walking distance.

Despite its negatives, Kuta has its own beauty and attractions and remains one of Indonesia’s major tourist destinations; particularly during the peak season from July to August and the holiday season for Christmas and New Year: at these times Kuta will be fully booked by a local younger crowd, Asian travellers and Australian ****agers who are intent on enjoying an affordable vacation in Bali.


Where to Stay in Kuta Beach

Over the years Kuta development has spread out - almost absorbing the neighbouring villages of Legian and Tuban which now provide a quieter alternative to Kuta central. New hotel developments, guest houses and resorts fill every available space, yet almost all amenities are within walking distance or a short taxi ride.

Shopping in Kuta Beach

Where to Shop in Kuta Beach - Bali
Kuta is a shopping Mecca for visitors, shopaholics and locals who wish to sport the fashionable look of well-known locally made Bali designs and established international brands. Don’t miss out on a spot of bikini, swimwear and surf wear shopping while in Bali. There are numerous shops in Kuta, lined up on Kuta Beach, Kuta Sidewalk, Legian Street; even small alleys called Poppies that are famous for small hotels, guesthouses and villas. Shops selling clothing, leather goods, pirated DVDs and handicrafts line the streets.

Prices differ from store to store but with the variety of choices, you will be sure to find something that matches your budget. To find some souvenirs to bring home to your family and friends, there plenty of art shops selling Balinese crafts in Kuta. Although they offer similar items, prices can vary, depending on the quality of the merchandise and how good you are at bargaining. During the high season from July to September and at Christmas, some stores hold clearance sales where you can save up to 70%.


Kuta Art Market



Kuta Art Market is a traditional market where you can get souvenirs and goods crafted by local people. The prices vary, depending on your haggling skills. The most important thing to remember is to be polite and friendly (certainly not confrontational) and to treat it all as a kind of game. Haggling is expected and indeed encouraged as part of the fun of shopping, and as such theatrical expressions and claims of bankruptcy will soon have you laughing together with the shop owner. It is often helpful to decide upon the most you want to pay for an item before you start bargaining.

Then you should try offering one third of the price first offered, and wait for them to come down in price before slowly raising your own offer in small increments. Don’t be afraid to take your time: your patience will be rewarded with much lower prices. If the price offered is still much higher than your maximum budget, walk away slowly from the shop. Often the vendor will call you back and offer you a lower price. Make sure you check the quality of your item before you pay and move along to the next store. Once you have won the negotiation battle, you can bet you will be addicted and will have fun shopping at this kind of market.
Location: next to Kuta Square


Kuta Square


Just nearby the Kuta Art Market, Kuta Square is a shopping centre approximately 50 metres from Kuta Beach. Designed in boulevard style, Kuta Square is packed with a lot of international and local brands from surf wear outlets, dining areas, a hypermarket and fashion stores; such as Billabong, Quiksilver, Hurley, Giardano, Reebok, Nike, Levi’s, and two famous local brands – Milo’s and Animale.
Location: Jalan Bakung Sari

EXPERT SURF SHOP

Small surf shop , sell Surf acc, board , surf wear  and fashion ; such as CULT, WEST, EXCITE, etc...
Location: Jalan Bakung Sari

Discovery Shopping Mall

Discovery Shopping Mall, the only mall with a beachfront view, is located in Kuta’s prime area. This mall has facilities such as banks, restaurants, caf?s, bookstores, opticians, pharmacies, amusement arcades, home accessories, jewelry and international brand outlets such as Sogo, Guess, Esprit, Giardano and many more. Live bands perform every Saturday and Sunday nights to liven up your weekend shopping.
Location: Jalan Bakung Sari


DFS (Duty Free Shopping)


DFS Galleria brings an exciting and luxurious retail environment to a downtown location for fashion, beauty, fine jewelry and alcoholic drinks. It features an impressive portfolio of the world’s most sought-after brands, including established labels such as Cartier, Chanel, Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Tiffany and emerging brands like Bottega Veneta, Pucci and Valentino. If you need assistance, the multilingual staff will be delighted to help you. Located in Mall Bali Galleria, you can also find a hypermarket and mid-range department store for fashion and accessories next door.
Location: on Jalan Bypass Ngurah Rai Kuta


69 Slam

69 Slam offers lingerie and underwear for men and women, designed in funky and colourful styles. The products are created for a dynamic young stylish upscale market. For ladies, the prices range from IDR 99,000 to 199,000 and IDR 155,000 to IDR 225,000 for men. There are four other branches spread throughout Kuta and Seminyak.
Location: opposite the Memorial Statue

Surfer Girl

 

Surfer Girl sells T-shirts, tank tops, dresses, skirts, trousers, surfing rash vests, flip flops, swimwear, bikinis and accessories to match your style during your visit to Bali. Surfer Girl own brand products come in happy colours and often feature a funky cartoon design of the Surfer Girl characters (Summer, Niki, Grinder and friends). Adjoining the Surfer Girl store, Quiksilver offers beach-themed fashion wear for him.
Location: on Jalan Legian Kuta


Camper Shoes

Having opened its first store in 1981 in Barcelona, Camper expanded their reach to Bali last year. Now, Camper’s fans can shop for their latest edition of flats, wedges, pumps, boots, mules, athletic shoes or sandals here in Kuta, all made from high quality leather, rubber and suede in a wide selection of sizes.
Location: Southside Hard Rock store


Body & Soul



Body & Soul provides the most competitive prices compared to other local fashion brands in Bali. In addition to their clothing collection for women, they offer an extensive range of accessories from jewelry to belts, scarves and handbags – not to mention their hot range of Body & Soul swimwear. For kids, they have Body & Soul Bambini – funky gear for your young boys and girls, aged between three and eight years old. Apart from their outlet, check out Body & Soul Factory Outlet in Kuta and Seminyak, where you can get items from their collection at half price.
Location: at Discovery Shopping Mall, Kuta Square, on Jalan Legian Kuta


Rip Curl


Rip Curl has been a market leader in wetsuits for over 30 years. They produce surfwear, swimwear, bikinis, flip flops, surfboards (especially handcrafted custom boards) and mountain wear. All the designs are stylish and comfortable to wear. Although the prices can be expensive, they give you the best quality garments for beach activities and sportswear.
Location: on Jalan Sunset Road


[b]Batik Keris

Batik Keris sells most Javanese patterns of batik in the form of clothing for women and men, scarves, table linen made from cotton and small souvenirs. Unlike Balinese batik patterns, Javanese batik only uses natural colours such as indigo, black and brown.
Location: on Jalan Legian Kuta and Discovery Shopping Mall 1st floor


Wira’s Batik

If you are wondering where to purchase Batik in high quality fabric, Wira’s is the place to go. The women’s clothing blends the traditional and modern in dresses, tops and skirts, with shirts and trousers for men, all printed on beautiful high-quality silk and cotton. Prices are high but the quality is totally worth it for high-end fashion couture in traditional patterns.
Location: on Jalan Kendedes and SOGO Department Store at Discovery Shopping Mall


Star Surf

If you happen to be just passing by Legian Street, Kuta, have a look inside a big hangar-like store with a real single seat combat plane in it. This unusual accessory has helped make Star Surf one of the biggest surf stores in Bali. Star Surf is loaded with almost every major surfing brand with a wide range of products from surfboards to fashion accessories.
Location: on Jalan Legian Kuta


Motion Skate Shop

The only skateboard dedicated shop in Kuta, Motion aims to promote skateboarding in Bali and Indonesia and hopes the government can be made aware that the sport and its athletes deserve equal opportunity to participate in international competitions. Despite its small number of devotees, Motion Skate Shop stocks almost every leading skate brand like Birdhouse, Nike SB, Plan B and many others.
Location: on Jalan Legian Kuta


MSD (Motor Sport Division)

Formerly a motorsport dealer, MSD has turned into an extreme sports division for adrenalin-fuelled activities from mud terrain biking to paragliding. MSD distributes various international extreme sports brands such as Fox Racing, Troy Lee Design, DC Shoes, Thor, and many others. If you feel that your current sport is not macho enough, you should try riding on a hi-speed motor trail over limestone hills or paragliding off the Bukit Peninsula’s cliffs.
Location: on Jalan Bypass Ngurah Rai Kuta

Kuta Beach Area / kuta BALI ( Part 2 ) ( Kuta Beach Nightlife , Kuta Beach Restaurants )

Kuta Beach Area ( Part 2 )
Kuta Beach Nightlife

The nightlife scene in Kuta usually starts late – around 23:00 to midnight with bars and pubs offering different atmospheres and types of entertainment. Some clubs and bars showcase live bands, DJs, sexy dancers and ‘fashion shows’. Price wise, compared to the nightlife places in Seminyak, partying the night away in Kuta is way cheaper.

Hard Rock Cafe



Facing the famous Kuta Beach is the time-honoured catalyst of the resort, the Hard Rock Caf?. Set on two floors, with nightly live bands that regularly change every three months, this place is full of younger crowds, especially during the weekend. Every two months Hard Rock invites a well-known Indonesian singer or band to play live. Hard Rock Caf? serves up burgers, fries and colas in large portions.
Price range: pricey
Location: Kuta Beach Street

Kama Sutra



Kama Sutra is a feast for the senses: scent, taste, sight and sound. This is a restaurant, club and a lounge with Indian and Mediterranean design in the outer areas where all the youngsters gather. Kama Sutra hosts live bands, DJs and features some of Bali’s best live performances by famous Indonesian figures.
Price range: affordable
Location: Kuta Beach Street

The Wave



The Wave is a three-in-one club housing The Coffee Bar (an al-fresco caf? and beach bar), Sailfin (a fine-dining restaurant), The Club (a long bar and a discotheque) and a beachfront shopping arcade. The Wave sits majestically on the shores of Kuta Beach and offers mesmerizing and spectacular views of the Indian Ocean and the famous Kuta surf. Characterized by its striking architecture with International cuisine and drinks, and accentuated by great music, The Wave is a place not to be missed during your visit on the island.
Price range: pricey
Location: Kuta Beach Street

Ocean Beach Club



The Ocean Beach ClubOcean Beach Club is a beachfront venue where you can catch the sunset from the open wood deck or lounge pool side on one of the cosy day beds. With DJ's and a lively later atmosphere.
Price range: affordable
Location: Kuta Beach Street

Ocean 27 Sundeck Lounge & Restaurant

Ocean 27 is a sundeck and restaurant offering a beach dining experience, luscious food, great sunset views, refreshing cocktails and a wide selection of wines and champagnes from all over the world, as well as imported beers. As the night approaches, be prepared to party into the wee hours with well-known local and foreign DJs dishing out tunes from chill out to house.
Price range: pricey
Location: Discovery Esplanade

Sky Garden

Located in the heart of Kuta, ESC’s rooftop Sky Garden Lounge has been a popular destination for local, expat and tourist guests since its opening. This open-air lounge is known for its unique concoctions such as the '14 day' infused martinis. Set in comfy seating with an intimate 'garden' atmosphere, funky dancers are accompanied by International DJs spinning their stuff seven days a week. Recently, Sky Garden bought two floors of the adjacent My Room Club and re-designed it to be their new Sky Garden Lounge. Get their daily promos starting at 6pm and special Sunday offer – a girls’ night-out where all girls are offered free drinks!
Price range: affordable
Location: Legian Street

Vi Ai Pi

Vi Ai Pi is a newcomer to the nightlife scene in Kuta. It is styled on the Balinese form fused with modern European design, embracing the natural elements of green and open space. Their dinner menu carries Eastern and Western infusion flavours at their best. Look out for the events calendar, which will be peppered with well-known DJs and sexy dancers.
Price range: pricey
Location: Legian Street


M Bar Go

M Bar Go is one of the fancy hip hop clubs in Kuta, dedicated to a younger clientele. Every Friday and Saturday night the place is full. Watch out for their beach couture fashion show every Thursday and their hot salsa nights.
Price range: affordable
Location: Legian Street

Musro

Musro Bali is the only live cabaret show venue in the area where all the dancers are professionally trained. Spanish choreographer Raphael Gomez provides the expert knowledge needed to produce such a high quality show. You can enjoy their various spectacular performances with extravagant costumes every night for only IDR 100,000 per person. Before the show begins, a live band plays on stage and DJs will perform to fill the air with their selection of R&B, Rock and Club Hits before the real show starts.
Price range: affordable
Location: Discovery Kartika Plaza Hotel


Planet Hollywood


Planet Hollywood first came to Bali in 2001 and it comprises five different rooms; an adventure room - designed with an Egyptian theme, the whirlpool bar - an island bar with a four-metre whirlpool dropping from the ceiling, a submarine, a hill area and the sky garden – where you can see a large maple tree and a diorama of New York’s skyline, giving the effect of dining in Central Park. Try their popular international specialties of fajitas, Hollywood burger and turkey club sandwich. A live band plays every Wednesday-Saturday starting at 20:00.
Price range: affordable
Location: Kuta

Hulu Bar

Do you want to enjoy your dinner in a different way? Here, you can enjoy your meal whilst watching an Indonesian style cabaret drag show. The place is popular due to the fun entertainment, good service and friendly atmosphere. The shows are free and a wide selection of beverages is offered at a reasonable price. It draws mixed crowds: straight, gay, families, locals, expats and tourists all come to enjoy the show. Two shows commence at 10 pm and 11.15 pm from Thursday to Sunday.
Price range: affordable
Location: Bali Beach Shack Legian

Gracie Kelly’s Irish Pub

Gracie Kelly’s was the first original Irish Pub in Bali and serves a la carte dinner daily from 11 am until late. Located in Bali Dynasty Hotel, their specialties are Irish Stew, Beef and Guinness Pie, Dublin Coddle, Hot Sticky Pudding and other traditional wholesome food served from Gracie’s kitchen. You’ll be impressed by their large selection of local and international beers and traditional Irish pub grub. Try their real ales from Storm Brewery, a local micro-brewery in Bali. Live entertainment from their resident Irish band starts at 8 pm to help you swing your night away.
Price range: pricey
Location: Kartika Plaza Street Kuta



Kuta Beach Restaurants



Kuta is a gastronomic heaven for travellers on a mid-range budget. Most of the restaurants are open from 10:00 till around to midnight and a few eateries in the main tourist areas keep their kitchens open 24 hours a day. With most international cuisine, although based on original recipes, the preparation of the dishes is often adapted to local tastes and the unavailability of certain ingredients makes the results unpredictable; so don’t be too surprised if your meal is not exactly what you expected.



However, in more up-market eateries, the chef produces a more authentic taste by using imported ingredients from the original country. In return you have to dig a little bit deeper in your pocket. For backpackers, tiny food stalls and roadside warung offer a good selection of healthy and fresh Indonesian and International food.

ESC


ESC is a casual dining place in the heart of Kuta, just in front of the Memorial Statue at Ground Zero. It offers comfy seating, a big flat-screen TV and free internet for its customers, and is open 24 hours a day for breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner and late night snacks. The variety of food ranges from big sandwiches, boost juices, smoothies, Driscoll coffee, pancakes and steaks and much more and the big portions, delicious tastes and reasonable prices make this place stand out. What’s more, if you are too lazy to make an effort to go there yourself, just call them to get your meal delivered to your door 24/7.
Price range: affordable
Location: 61 Legian Street

Rosso Vivo Dine & Lounge


This minimalist Balinese style poolside restaurant is set in a perfect position to view those famous Kuta sunsets. Rosso Vivo has an adjoining bar and lounge where DJ’s can spin the decks after sunset, offers international cuisine and is open for breakfast, sunset grills and dinner. Choose from a wide selection of happy hour creative cocktails and wines at reasonable prices.
Open daily from 07:00 to 01:00
Price range: affordable
Location: Kuta Beach Street

Kopi Pot


Kopi Pot provides Indonesian and international cuisine set in a Balinese environment of gardens and grass-rooted pavilions. Opened in 1990, it quickly established itself as a firm favourite with visitors keen to try their great Kopi Bali, Javanese Tongseng Kambing (spicy lamb stew) and homemade desserts, which some say are the best in town. Recently they added a Lone Palm Bar, which provides visitors with a bird’s eye view of life on one of Kuta’s busiest thoroughfares.
Open daily from 08:00 to 24:00
Price range: affordable
Location: Legian Street

Kori


This restaurant comfortably seats 200 guests upstairs and downstairs in the bale and private gazebo area. It offers International cuisine: be sure to try the Singaporean chili crab or giant meaty spare ribs – two of the most frequently ordered main courses by Kori’s regulars.
Open daily from 12:00 to 22:00
Price range: affordable
Location: Poppies Lane 2

Papa’s Caf?


Papa’s is located on Legian Beach, adjacent to Alam Kulkul Hotel. It offers International dishes with the freshest possible ingredients from Bali and imported carefully from Australia and Italy. Here, you can experience making your own pizza, mixing your own favourite toppings together with the kitchen staff who are ready to help anytime you call.
Open daily from 08:00 to 24:00
Price range: affordable
Location: Legian Beach Kuta

Sailfin


Sailfin features a gourmet experience crafted by Australian master seafood chef Jesse Lee. You can enjoy an array of fine cuisine set in contemporary luxury at this romantic beachfront setting. Romantic outdoor dining is also available on the deck overlooking Kuta Beach, where you can experience stunning views of the Kuta sunset. Since space is limited on the deck, reservations are highly recommended.
Open daily from 11:00 to 24:00
Price range: pricey
Location: Kuta Beach Street

Gabah Restaurant & Bar


Gabah (means unhusked rice) is a spacious, elegant, traditional style restaurant located on the famous Kuta sidewalk. It features authentic Balinese cuisine and other traditional dishes from around the archipelago. Here, you’ll experience a lovely romantic meal.
Open daily from 06:30 to 01:00
Price range: affordable
Location: Kuta Sidewalk

Queen’s Tandoor


Voted by a local tourist magazine as the best Indonesian and Indian restaurant in town two years in a row, this is a restaurant you shouldn’t miss. The original Queen’s Tandoor in Seminyak has been serving top quality authentic Indian fare for years and has a fiercely loyal following.
Open daily from 11:00 to 23:30
Price range: pricey
Location: Kartika Plaza Street

Un’s Restaurant


Under Swiss management ever since opening in 1989, Un's offers good service, European cuisine, Indonesian specialties and excellent meat dishes, prepared with fresh non-frozen food. With its gracious and fragrant frangipani trees, Un’s is the place for a romantic candlelight dinner. Want to hang out after dinner? Swing into Un’s bar; located at the centre of the restaurant it has a wide selection of the finest cocktails.
Open daily from 16:00 – 24:00
Price range: affordable
Location: between Poppies Lane 1 and Kuta Beach Street

Blue Fin


Blue Fin is a fusion Japanese restaurant and is part of the Kuta Sidewalk complex. The d?cor is decidedly oceanic and underscores the fresh Japanese sushi and sashimi on offer. Blue Fin's chefs have created one of Bali’s freshest and finest mixes of traditional and fusion Japanese cuisine. Limited seating in Blue Fin means that reservations are recommended.
Open daily from 10:00 to 24:00
Price range: affordable
Location: Kuta Sidewalk

B’ Couple Bar N’ Grill


B’ Couple Bar N’ Grill is a huge open-air restaurant and bar across from Stadium Caf?. Another option for 24-hour dining in Kuta, this place cranks out some noise in the evenings, with a live band in the back of the place every day and a wide-screen TV. They offer Indonesian and International cuisine for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Price range: affordable
Location: Kuta Paradiso Bali Hotel

Take Restaurant


Take Restaurant specialises in authentic Japanese cuisine and offers a wide selection of sakes and wines from across the globe. The restaurant is divided into distinct dining areas: a robatayaki bar where customers can watch the chef create dishes; a teppanyaki counter; and a tatami room – a cosy space for private functions. The restaurant’s d?cor reflects warm traditional Japanese style with light coloured wood.
Open daily from 11:00 to 24:00
Price range: affordable
Location: Patih Jelantik Street and Padma Legian Street

Flapjacks


Flapjacks is a new place in Kuta that offers a delicious wide array of pancakes, waffles, crepes and magic fusion desserts, as well as mouthwatering homemade gelato, coffee and smoothies. All sweet treats are served fresh and with beautiful presentation. This place is easy to spot with its artificial pancakes, crepes and gelatos made from wax in the display adjacent to Ramayana Hotel, just like a dessert version of the famous Madame Tussaud’s Waxwork Museum. With such a variety of delectable dishes this place could be an option for your breakfast or for an easy snack at any time of the day.
Open daily from 07:00 to 24:00
Price range: affordable
Location: Kuta Sidewalk

Stadium Caf?


Are you a sports lover? If so, this is an ideal place for you to dine and hang out. Set in three dining areas (on the terrace, indoors and in the orchid garden), it has three big screen TVs and 10 LCD TVs. The Caf? shows live sports and music events and also provide European, Western and Asian cuisine, along with a wide selection of international cocktails and 'mocktails'. Try out their best-selling dishes: oxtail soup and barbeque combo. One thing to note is that during a big match or game this place will be packed with customers who want to enjoy the game in an exciting atmosphere, so be sure to get there early to pick a good viewing position for you and your friends.
Open daily from 10:00 to 01:00
Price range: pricey
Location: Kuta Sidewalk

Maccaroni Restaurant & Lounge


Maccaroni is an atmospheric restaurant featuring modern Italian cuisine at a reasonable price. The restaurant is an aesthetically stunning venue which provides the utmost in first-rate Italian food, an extensive drink menu and live entertainment. During the holiday season, this place will be crowded with local tourists from other cities.
Open daily from 08:00 to 02:00
Price range: affordable
Location: Legian Street

Sushi Tei


Sushi Tei, an award-winning restaurant is centred around a large open kitchen and garden seats, and has combined the best that the expensive range of Japanese cuisine has to offer. For a huge selection of mouth-watering Japanese delicacies in Bali, this restaurant comes highly recommended.
Open daily from 11:00 to 23:00
Price range: affordable
Location: Sunset Road

Made’s Warung


Owners Peter and Made opened Made’s Warung in 1969 and since then it has developed to be a sociable eating and meeting venue for locals, expats and tourists alike. It has grown from a traditional roadside warung into a cosmopolitan restaurant serving a wide variety of food including Indonesian, Japanese and Western dishes. Their other branch in Seminyak – opened in 1996, features a similar menu but is larger and more comfortable.
Open daily from 10:00 to 24:00
Price range: affordable
Location: Kuta Beach Street

Bianco Restaurant & Bar


Bianco is believed to be the first restaurant to offer mixed Italian and Indonesian cuisine in Bali. Its d?cor and design combines classical colonial colour schemes fused with old Indonesian elements. It also features centuries-old artifacts from Java and Bali. An acoustic quartet plays live music every Tuesday night and a solo singer with piano accompaniment entertains guests every Thursday.
Open daily from 10:00 to 24:00
Price range: affordable
Location: Padma Street

Kuta Beach Area / Kuta Bali ( part 1) { Kuta Beach Activities , Kuta Beach Attractions }

Kuta, located in southern Bali, was a sleepy fishing village half a century ago, but it has slowly expanded since the 1960s after its long sandy beach was discovered by travellers from Asia and wandering surfers from nearby Australia. 

 
Nowadays Kuta is quite busy and packed with varied accommodation from four-star hotels to budget hostels. Cheap bars and clubs make it a party centre, while local and international restaurants offer great dining. Kuta also offers shopping aplenty, from the chic beachfront ‘Discovery Shopping Mall’ and Kuta Square to the souvenir shops lining Jalan Kartika Plaza, Jalan Pantai Kuta and up to Legian and Seminyak – all within easy walking distance.

Despite its negatives, Kuta has its own beauty and attractions and remains one of Indonesia’s major tourist destinations; particularly during the peak season from July to August and the holiday season for Christmas and New Year: at these times Kuta will be fully booked by a local younger crowd, Asian travellers and Australian ****agers who are intent on enjoying an affordable vacation in Bali.

Kuta Beach Attractions



Kuta, located in southern Bali, was a sleepy fishing village half a century ago, but it has slowly expanded since the 1960s after its long sandy beach was discovered by travellers from Asia and wandering surfers from nearby Australia. Nowadays Kuta is quite busy and packed with varied accommodation from four-star hotels to budget hostels. Cheap bars and clubs make it a party centre, while local and international restaurants offer great dining.

Kuta Beach




 The five-kilometre long arching sandy stretch of Kuta Beach is still possibly the best beach front of Bali. A very short drive away from the airport, meter taxis and motorcycle taxis are easily found around the area to take you anywhere in Kuta or elsewhere. The beach is safe, partially clean and well maintained, although the vendors fill up the beach side haphazardly.

However, this beach is really famous for its spectacular sunsets and waves, and attracts tourists who spend hours here swimming, surfing and sunbathing. This place is a well-known destination among surfing enthusiasts: the long sandy beach with its lack of dangerous rocks or coral makes the waves ideal for beginners.





Memorial Statue


The government has built a permanent memorial on the site of the destroyed Paddy's Pub on Legian Street. (A new bar, named ‘Paddy's: Reloaded’, was reopened further along Legian Street).

The memorial is made of intricately carved stone, set with a large marble plaque, which bears the names and nationalities, flanked by the national flags of the victims. The monument is well maintained by the local government and is illuminated at night. Every year on 12th October there is a memorial ceremony.

Temples



 Kuta does not have a popular main temple to visit, but sprinkled along the main road you can find regular temples worth a peek at during your holiday here. Positioned on Jalan Pantai Kuta you’ll find Pura Batu Bolong; on Kuta Sidewalk is Pura Penataran; and on Kuta Beach a few metres east from the main gate is Pura Kalangan Majelangu. Every morning and late afternoon right after sunset, the Balinese who live in the neighbourhood come here to pray and present offerings.



The temple is busy only on special occasions during holy days and ceremonies such as Melasti: three or four days prior to Nyepi (the Balinese day of silence that falls on Bali’s Lunar New Year), the Balinese gather to send prayers and put offerings that are dedicated to Sanghyang Widhi/Vishnu-Devas-Bataras and performed on the beach to respect them as the owners of the land and sea.

Discovery Shopping Mall Esplanade




Discovery Esplanade is a new concept of entertainment located in the Discovery Shopping Mall’s backyard. Occasionally used for celebrations or some annual events, the Esplanade also offers weekly free entertainment from DJs, and is used for band parades, concerts, product launches, and much more. With a line up of open-air caf?s, a deck spinning beats, and a beautiful sunset, what more could you possibly want?


Kuta Beach Activities

Most of the activity in Kuta is related to the beach. The options are endless – you may try surfing, swimming, wakeboarding, sunbathing or kite flying, or heading into neighbouring Tuban for some waterslide action. If you just want to have fun or relax, you can try kite flying or employ a team of masseurs while you sunbathe.

You will know the massage ladies immediately from their cries of ‘Hello, yes? Massage?’ and if you aren’t accosted by a team of them offering pedicures, manicures and hair-braiding alongside a massage as soon as you step onto the beach, you will easily spot them sitting along the beach, waiting for their next customer.

Bungy Jumping

 
Most of the bungy jumping company locate in Kuta. In Kuta, skysurfer, and slingshot are available beside the bungy jump.You can jump with the motorbike with you as well.

Slingshot

Care for a little bit of adventure? Kuta has its own way to slake your adrenaline thirst. At a spot in front of Kuta Paradiso Hotel, there is a giant slingshot that can catapult you 52 metres in the air. The forked Y-shaped frame has two rubber strips attached to the uprights, leading back to a pocket for holding two safely designed seats. Open every day 11:00 – late.


Surfing

 

Kuta Beach is famous for its breaking waves and waist-deep water, making it such a perfect beach for surfing beginners. To get some basic knowledge of surfing, sign up for lessons with one of the well-known surfing schools located just in front of the beach such as Odysseys, Rip Curl Surf School or Surfer Girl Surfing School.

A three-day surfing course in an accredited school costs approximately US$ 100. The next time you come back, as long as you keep in practice, you’ll be able to explore the hidden surf beaches on the island, for sure! For more advanced surfers, you can choose from over 30 other surfing breaks, all within 30 minutes drive from Kuta.


Waterbom Waterslide Park


 Waterbom is a sprawling 3.8 hectare tropical adventure park of thrilling water rides. It has 15 high-speed slides, some reaching up to 50kph, dizzying trails, cardiac-pounding rides and wall climbing. Even for the faint hearted, there are a lot of facilities; try the river raft that leads you down a lazy river where you can enjoy drifting along in a tube raft through cascading waterfalls, languid ripples and even luxuriant tropical foliage to screen you from the flurry of excitement, not to mention the spa facilities for an even more relaxing option.



On top of that you can sunbathe in the grassy gardens, relax in a gazebo or swim along to the Poolside Bar, to quench your thirst before a second round of adrenaline-charged adventure! For children, the park features a Kiddy Park, which is designed for child safety and is supervised at all times. If you get hungry during all the activity, head to the food court in the centre of the park as it is forbidden to bring any food or beverages in from outside.

 Kite Flying


 Here is an idea for a safe, fun activity on the beach with your family – kite flying! Wondering where to buy one? You can easily find a line up of small shops and vendors selling traditional Balinese kites ranging from small to giant size, such as Bebean (fish-shaped), Janggan (bird-shaped) and Pecukan (leaf-shaped), the prices vary according to size and the material. Now, find a deserted windy spot and away you go!

Soccer Beach


Getting tanned but have extra calories that need burning off? No worries, Kuta is full of beach activities. Try a soccer game with some locals. They usually set up goal posts at around 16:00 between Hard Rock Caf? and Discovery Shopping Mall. Just come along to play, or even better, bring a friend so the teams will be even. It’s time the world knew about your dribbling skills!



Sunbathing





 If you are coming from more temperate countries, sunbathing must be tempting. Kuta Beach is a magnet for beachgoers, especially for those who are keen to get that much-coveted tan. Lying on the beach wearing your bikini or shorts and sunglasses could be an effortless way to spend the day in Kuta or you can rent a sun-lounger for only around IDR 30,000 a day.

However, beware of the harsh rays – you will be very uncomfortable the following day if you don't apply sunscreen! Choose protection with a high SPF content and avoid the intense midday heat to be sure you get a beautiful glowing tan before you return to your home country. To avoid dehydration you are advised to drink plenty of water and soft drinks – all available from vendors patrolling the beach, also selling snacks, ice cream and fruit.