In the 1960s, the first tourists found their way to Kuta on the Indonesian island of Bali. It’s no wonder that they quickly took a liking to the little town by the sea. The ideal location to the airport and the beautiful long, white sandy beach made it easy to fall in love with the place. It quickly grew to become the island’s package vacation hotspot. Both large hotel chains and small so-called “homestays” settled in abundance to accommodate visitors from all over the world. Meanwhile, Kuta has a rather dubious reputation and is avoided by many travelers.
But where exactly is Kuta actually located, what makes the place special, what is there to do there and is it really as bad as its reputation?
Where is Kuta located?
The city is located in the southwest of the island of Bali, about ten kilometers from the capital Denpasar and only five kilometers from its airport. Kuta refers to both a government district that includes the towns of Seminyak and Legian, and the town of Kuta itself, which forms its center.
The urban region is fringed by long, bright sandy beaches that are ideal for swimming and surfing. Since the surf here is rather gentle, the beaches around Kuta are ideal for surfing beginners. There are several surf schools waiting on the beach to offer their services.
Authentic Kuta Flair
Until a few years ago, the place was packed with tourists and vendors as well as famous for its infamous nightlife. After sunset, revelers of all ages cavorted in the streets and nightclubs of the town.
In the meantime, the Mecca for Bali travelers and party lovers has moved a bit further north, to Canggu, and Kuta has become quieter. However, you can still find some old-established Australians who like to drink the local beer “Bintang” in a bar and wear it just as proudly on their chest.
Even though the demand for souvenirs from Kuta has dropped considerably, there is still one souvenir store after the next, where you can also buy the aforementioned Bintang T-shirts. In addition, you can find all kinds of fake branded goods there. A “Rolex” for 3€? No problem! At the beginning, the dealers usually demand a completely overpriced price and claim with a wink that it is an original. Not haggling and laughing with the sellers in such a case would almost be an insult.
Kuta is certainly not the most beautiful and idyllic destination of Bali and quite westernized, but it is despite everything authentic and has a certain charm. Nowadays it’s not so crowded and you could almost affectionately call it the original heart of Balinese mass tourism. So maybe it is worth a visit after all?
Activities and Sights
Beach in Kuta
The famous “Kuta Beach” is located right in the center of town and is only a few minutes walk from the famous alleys Poppie’s Lane I and Poppie’s Lane II. These are fully designed for tourism. What you can find here are cheap accommodations, souvenir stores, surf stores, restaurants, spas and tattoo studios. So if you want to plunge into the waters in the morning with or without a surfboard, you can do it comfortably on foot. The beach is lined with a promenade where restaurants of all price ranges invite you to have breakfast afterwards.
Strolling & Shopping
On the way back to the hotel, you can stroll and trade for all you are worth. From small stores with Balinese handicrafts to posh boutiques, everything can be found here. If the selection in “Poppie I and II” is not enough, you can try your luck in the Beachwalk Mall or in the surrounding factory outlets of bigger brands. Here, original brand-name items are offered at low prices. For lunch, the many small, local “warungs”, which serve typical Indonesian dishes at a ridiculous price, are inviting.
Temples in Kuta
If you are in the mood for culture, you can visit the Buddhist temple Vihara Dharmayana. The ancient structure was built in 1876 in Chinese style. In 1982 the Dalai Lama visited the temple, which is also called “Kongco Leeng Gwan” by the locals. It is one of the few Buddhist buildings on the island.
The Ground Zero Monument is certainly worth a visit as well. It commemorates the Islamic extremist bombing and its victims in 2002.
Turtle breeding station
To cheer up your mind afterwards, you can visit a hatchery for sea turtles in the south of the city. Here the eggs and the babies hatched from them are cared for until they are ready to be released into the sea. To protect them from their natural enemies, they are escorted under cover to the water’s edge before sunrise. This is the way to fight against the extinction of the turtles. The hatching season always takes place from April to October, and for a donation, one may participate in such a release action and escort a baby turtle into the sea.
Water park and bungee
And if you haven’t seen and done enough yet and are in the mood for a lot of action, you can visit the water park Waterbom Bali in the south of the city. The water park offers sliding and swimming fun for all ages and adrenaline tolerance.
Alternatively, the “5GX Bali Reverse Bungee” provides even more excitement. Here you can be catapulted to dizzying heights and see Kuta from above. Provided you manage to keep your eyes open.
As an absolute contrast to this, you can be pampered from head to toe in one of the numerous spas. The treatments are very affordable and relaxing and afterwards you feel like new born.
The best way to end such a packed day is to relax with a drink at sunset on the beach. Here, numerous restaurants of all price ranges are waiting to spoil their guests with culinary delights.
Conclusion: Is a visit to Kuta worthwhile?
As already mentioned, it is certainly not the most beautiful and representative place of Bali. But if you are looking for a little beach vacation, nightlife, action, shopping and a massage, then Kuta is certainly worth a visit for every age group.
If you are rather looking for rest and relaxation and want to get to know Bali’s original side, you can safely leave out Kuta on your itinerary.
