The port city on the west coast of Bali is often visited only to take the ferry to the neighboring island of Java. 24 hours a day, a ship departs here every 20 minutes to Banyuwangi (Ketapang) on Java. Gilimanuk is strongly influenced by Muslims due to the Javanese influence and so there are several mosques to admire. The magnificent houses of worship look very majestic with their colorful domes. In addition, from here you have a beautiful view over the sea strait of Java and the mountains of the neighboring island.
But is there anything else to discover here and is a visit to Gilimanuk worthwhile?
Where is Gilimanuk located?
Gilimanuk is about 3.5 hours drive from Denpasar International Airport. Ubud can be reached in just over three hours and Lovina in only one and a half hours. Within an hour you can cross over to Java.
The village is also only about 15 minutes away from the Bali Barat National Park and this is already the first and probably the most impressive sight in the region.
Sights and activities
Bali Barat National Park
The Bali Barat National Park, also called Taman Nasional Bali Barat, is located very close to the town and is definitely worth a visit. The nature reserve includes the mountainous peninsula “Prapat Agung” and the surrounding coastal waters. The landscape, which consists of forests, mangroves and beaches and islands with surrounding coral reef, provides a protected habitat for rare animal and bird species. Here you can also admire some ancient Hindu temples. The park combines scientific research and conservation efforts with tourism and recreational activities.
To visit the park, you need a permit and a guide. You can get both in Gilimanuk at the park’s information center.
The bay of Gilimanuk
Opposite the harbor is a small park that offers a beautiful view over Gilimanuk Bay. The shallow bay, about two kilometers wide, and the surrounding mangroves are home to many fish and birds. In the bay itself you will find two small sand islands, “Pulau Burung” (the bird island) and “Pulau Kalong” (the bat island), which you can have a closer look at during a guided boat tour through the bay. Here you can snorkel and marvel at the respective animal species after which the islands are named.
Diving in Gilimanuk
The muck diving spot called Secret Bay is located just off the docking area of Gilimanuk harbor. Although it is not a coral reef but fine black volcanic sand and rubble, visibility is still 5 to 10 meters as long as you don’t stir up the bottom. The water here is comparatively cold (23 to 25°C), so you should wear a thick wetsuit, hood and gloves. The spot is known for its rare and unusual marine treasures such as ghost pipefish, cardinalfish, yellow tip moray eels, stonefish, gobies, sand eels, devilfish, Ambon dragonheads, mimic octopuses and many other species that live on sand.
There are no dive operators directly in Gilimanuk. For this you have to go to Pemuteran, 30 minutes away.
Bird watching in Gilimanuk
The bay of Gilimanuk is ideal for bird watching. Rare and special bird species like the unique oriental plover, the small adjutant, the savannah nightjar or the black-winged starling cavort here. Guided bird watching tours are offered by the national park.
Museum Situs Purbakala
The small museum displays architectural excavations that indicate the earliest human settlement in Bali. The artifacts were found during World War II in Cekik, near Gilimanuk, and are believed to be 3,000 to 4,000 years old. Simple tools, clay pots and bones of sacrificed animals were found in ancient graves. The museum is located only about 500 meters from the ferry terminal.
Tour of the local villages around Gilimanuk
A tour of the local villages around Gilimanuk can be well worthwhile. They are inhabited by different ethnic groups and offer great examples of Balinese, Javanese and Buginese architecture and their traditional boat building methods, which are unique.
Culinary in Gilimanuk
In Gilimanuk there are numerous warungs and cookshops that offer Balinese, but also typical Javanese food. Something very special, however, is the dish “Ayam Betutu”. This is a famous local dish: braised, spicy chicken. For this, the chicken is cooked for three hours in a broth with local spices and then smoked over wood. It is served with rice and spicy spinach. The dish is considered a local delicacy and many a person has traveled to Gilimanuk for this reason alone. Attention spicy!
Conclusion – Is a visit to Gilimanuk worthwhile?
If you are on your way to Java and have to go to Gilimanuk anyway to take the ferry, you can definitely spend a day here and have a look around. For visitors of the West Bali National Park a side trip to the place is also worthwhile. Or rather, you can live well in Gilimanuk and look at the national park from here.
However, it must be honestly said that the village is not necessarily one of the top 10 most impressive sights of the island and it is not a place where you absolutely must have been on your Bali trip.
