Sanur and Canggu are both small coastal towns in Bali. Canggu is 10 km north of Kuta with around 10 km of beach with a laid-back vibe. Canggu tends to attract surfers types and digital nomads. While Sanur is on the east coast of Bali with its own beach. Sanur is more a quiet coastal town and tends to attract people for 2/3 night stays looking to relax.

Canggu and Sanur are both decent spots to visit in Bali. Both these two towns have awesome beaches and chilled nightlife. The nightlife in Canggu is a relaxed chilled surf vibe while Sanur is relaxed. They both have a good range of restaurants and opportunities to try local food. And there are other fun things to do in each town.

In this post, we will compare Canggu and Sanur in Bali. Let’s get started!

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Sanur Or Canggu

Canggu and Sanur have a very similar and very different feel from each other with Canggu having a more laid-back surfing and digital nomads-type vibe. And Sanur is a quaint little seaside town with a decent range of resorts.

Canggu and Sanur are close to each other, they are only less than 20 km apart or 35 minutes by taxi.

What’s The Nightlife Like?

Bali is known for its nightlife, but Sanur and Canggu both have decent nightlife but it is not wild. Generally speaking, they have a more relaxed nightlife. As well as a decent nightlife they offer more.

Let’s compare the nightlife between Sanur and Canggu.

Sanur Nightlife

Sanur does not have a wild nightlife, it does have restaurants, cafes shops, and bars that play music but they usually close around midnight.

The Casablanca, Bamboo Bar, and Beatles Cavern bar have been the standout bars in Sanur.

Sanur Beach in Bali

Canggu Nightlife

The Canggu nightlife is more of a chilled-out vibe. Canggu can be too quiet at times. It is only developing but it has some good bars, beach bars, and live music bars. With Flynn’s bar being the standout.

Finns in Canggu Bali

Which One Has The Better Beaches?

Bali is home to my beautiful beaches there is one difference from other tropical beaches is that some have black sand rather than white sand but their beaches stretch as far as the eye can see. Canggu and Sanur are both blessed with amazing beaches.

Beach In Canggu

The beach in Canggu is busier than the beach in Sanur. The beach in Canggu has a hipster vibe. You find on the beach a lot of people learning to surf or trying the surfing lifestyle along with bean bags on the beach.

Sunset on Echo beach in Canggu

Beach In Sanur

Sanur is a quiet beautiful beach with a local feel. The beach is dotted with small eateries and bars, so you will get your cold beer and meal. The sunset is amazing here at the beach.

Sanur Beach Sunrise

Accommodation In Sanur Or Canggu

Canggu and Sanur are both good places for people with a particular interest in relaxing on the beach and enjoying a few drinks.

Choosing the right accommodation is important regardless if it is in either Canggu or Sanur.

Staying In Sanur

Sanur has a decent range of hotels, hostels, and resorts with beach views and amazing sunset bars. The prices in a little bit pricey compared to Canggu.

There are cheaper hostel options and hotel options that are only a few minutes walk from the beach or more. Especially in the low season.

Staying In Canggu

Canggu has a decent range of hotels, hostels, and resorts with beach views and amazing sunset bars. The prices in Canggu are affordable compared to Sanur.

There are cheaper hostel options and hotel options that are only a few minutes’ walk from the beach or more. Especially in the low season.

What To Do See In Sanur And Canggu?

Canggu and Sanur are both similar and different in many ways. Sanur has been known for beaches and resorts while Canggu is known to learn to surf and more.

Here are some of the best things to do in each place.

Things To Do In Sanur

Sanur is not the busiest place in Bali, it more or less is a seaside town. It offers good local food as well as other things like diving, learning about a turtle, or relaxing on the beach.

Sea Turtles in Sanur Bali

Here is our list of things to do in Sanur Bali.

  • Relax on Sanur beach.
  • Learning about sea turtles.
  • Visit the spooky park.
  • Visit Blanjong temple.
  • Explore Bali Orchid Garden.

Read more about things to do in Sanur here.

Things To Do In Canggu

Canggu is developing and growing in popularity, especially as a surfing destination. It is also a great place if you want to relax and enjoy the laid-back vibe.

Go Surfing

Here is our list of things to do in Canggu Bali.

  • Enjoy snorkeling.
  • Enjoy the sunset at the beach.
  • Visit the Pura Tanah Lot temple.
  • Try yoga and go for a massage.
  • Take a hike up an active volcano.

Read more about things to do in Canggu here.

Best Time To Travel To Bali

Bali has an average temperature of between 25°C to 33°C all year round. Generally, Bali gets very busy between July and August as this is the tourist season. If you avoid visiting during the tourist season, prices for accommodation get a lot cheaper.

The best time to visit Bali is between April to June and then from September to October.

Wrapping Up

Finally, which one to choose depends on your plans. For people interested in surfing and a hipster vibe with a good range of restaurants and bars, then it is Canggu. On the other hand, if you are looking interested in somewhere that is not too busy with a nice beach, and just want to enjoy a laid-back vibe, then it is Sanur.

And that’s it for now! I’d love it if this post on Sanur or Canggu in Bali, which is better to visit was helpful to you. Let me know if you have any questions and let me know if there is more to add.

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Canggu or Sanur Bali