It seems that almost all the time, Kuta appears at the top of the itinerary list when one begins their plan to visit Bali. “If you haven’t been to Kuta, you haven’t been to Bali”, as the saying goes.

It is often confusing when the word Kuta is mentioned. Try doing a Google search and you’ll get at least a hundred different hotels and restaurants. Officially speaking, Google is right. After all, Kuta actually represents the name of a district in Bali, covering a total area of ​​17.52 km2. But the heart of Kuta, where all the thrills happen, kids build their sandcastle, newbies learn to surf, stretches only around 1km long.

The beach line in the Kuta district is segmented into three parts: Tuban Beach, Kuta Beach and Legian Beach. So next time you head to Bali, make sure where you’re going. As the name implies, Kuta Beach is a “central” beach, accessible from Jalan Raya Pantai Kuta. In recent decades, Kuta Beach has evolved into Bali’s central magnet. As you enter Jalan Raya Pantai Kuta, you will be greeted by the Hard Rock establishment. Due to their aggressive marketing in places like Singapore, many first timers coming to Bali for a short period of 3 days 2 nights think Hard Rock is the best Bali has to offer. As you go down the street (Jalan Raya Pantai Kuta), you will find Harris followed by Mercure Hotels. Personally, I think these three hotels are comparable. The view from the Mercury pool is unbeatable. As you continue walking through the streets, you can find a myriad of dining options, from Pizza Hut to McDonalds, from Nanxiang Restaurant offering excellent Chinese cuisine to Vivo Rosso offering a dine-in and lounge experience.

If you prefer something that is small in budget but great in taste, there is a food court located right in the center of Jalan Raya Pantai Kuta. You can choose from Chinese seafood to traditional Indonesian and Western dishes. Just be prepared to be aggressively courted by the stall vendors. They won’t force you to buy, just politely tell them you want to look first before deciding on your choice.

As you continue down the road, some more decent hotels (Grand Istana Rama, Kuta Seaview Cottages, and Kuta Bali Hotel) add to your list of accommodation options. Choose one of these hotels (along the main street) only if you plan to spend your whole days doing nothing but hanging out on Kuta beach. Otherwise, smaller (but no less decent) hotels or inns offer cheaper alternatives.

kuta beach

Hundreds of thousands of tourists visit Kuta Beach every year. In the absence of major disasters or disruptions, the beach is crowded year-round. This is a place where many Balinese (and even immigrants from lands as far away as Java and Sumatera) depend to live.

What you can do. At Kuta beach, there are many things you can do. You can simply bring your own towel or sarong (or purchase one if you didn’t), lay it out on the sand, and begin your tanning treatment. If you want something hassle-free, you can rent one of the canopies on the beach and even the wooden or plastic chair (if you prefer not to sit on the sand). If you’re a bit more adventurous, you can sign up for a surf lesson that covers a bit of theory and practice. After all, Kuta Beach used to be a favorite surfing destination. Today, due to the crowds, advanced surfers are forced to seek a greener pasture. Or if you want to know how it feels to be Queen of Kuta for a day, you can choose one of the places under the tree. Sit on the towel or chair. Pamper yourself from head to toe. Hair braiding costs you anywhere from US$2-5, depending on how many knots you tie (and of course your bargaining skills). The tattoo costs between US$2-3 and lasts 2 weeks. Manicures and pedicures are between $5 and $10 each. Reflexology back or foot massage costs US$3-5 for 90 minutes each. (Have you covered everything from head to toe? I hope I didn’t miss anything)

After you are a Royal Queen and you start to feel hungry, you can try some of the stalls. There’s sweet rojak (Javanese style), nasi padang (Sumatera), nasi uduk (Jakarta), bakso (Obama says it’s delicious). When you’re thirsty, try Teh Botol (bottled iced tea). But keep in mind that these stalls do not come with a guarantee of hygiene. So try them at your own risk and if you think your stomach can cooperate with your taste buds.

Just sitting by one of the stalls, enjoying the gentle touch of the sea breeze and people watching of all walks of life – age, race, nationality and fashion – would make my day. In the evening you can sit back, relax and watch the sun disappear over the horizon.

With so much to see, do, taste and discover, it’s no wonder Kuta is probably one of the most famous beaches in the world.

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